Best covers of songs?

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31/07/2007, 3:57 PM
stann

Heard or re-heard a few more over the last few days:

Senor Coconut - Beat It
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Miss Dynamite-ee
Kasabian - Pictures of Matchstick Men
31/07/2007, 9:28 PM
Stuttgart88

Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" has to be up there in terms of totally reinventing a song and making it a classic.

Gary Jules's "Mad World" made an impact as soon as I heard it first in Donnie Darko. Decent film, a really great track.

For its sheer brilliant simplicty, the Lemonheads' "Mrs. Robinson".

I liked the feel good vibe to The Communards' "Don't Leave Me This Way".

Here's an odd one: I thought Duran Duran's version of "White Lines Don't Do it" by Grandmaster Flash was superb.

I also liked Pet Shop Boys' "You Were Always On My Mind" not really knowing previous versions until afterwards.

I just heard "Word Up" by Gun on a commercial on TV and thought maybe it's a good one for this thread too.

I have a Leonard Cohen trubute album and The Pixies' version of "I Can't Forget" is just brilliant.

As a rule of thumb I like a cover version to totally reinterpret a song, taking it into another genre and, importantly, as CTID said above "making the song their own". I think many of the above do that and do it well.

On that theme, I have a CD by Luther Wright & The Wrongs (I think) which does a country & western remake of the whole "The Wall" album by Floyd. File under "novelty". Well worth a listen.
01/08/2007, 1:01 AM
superfrank

I know it's not popular with many people but I actually quite like Bowie's version of "Across the Universe".
01/08/2007, 10:30 AM
Bluebeard

Quote:

Originally Posted by superfrank

I know it's not popular with many people but I actually quite like Bowie's version of "Across the Universe".

I also particularly like Bowie's version. He's done loads of covers over the years, but that, The Alabama Song, Sorrow, Cactus, and possibly Try Some Buy Some are the best of the Bowie covers, in my opinion.

On the other hand, despite the fact that Tony Asher, one of the original writers of the song, has said it is his favorite re-working of the song, Bowie's version of God Only Knows is the pinnacle of his 1980's crimes against music.
01/08/2007, 11:20 AM
superfrank

I really like Wild Is The Wind as well.
01/08/2007, 3:20 PM
Wolfie

Dazed and Confused - Led Zepellin (Originally recorded by Jake Holmes, 1967...........apparently!!)

Always thought that was a Led Zep original. Not so according to the infallible Wikipedia. :rolleyes:
01/08/2007, 10:45 PM
declan hide

[QUOTE=sadloserkid;736383]I'm almost sure it was mentioned as a particularly pointless cover way further back? Now if you'd said Faith No More - "I Started A Joke" on the other hand... there was a cover ;)

QUOTE]

another FNM cover is their version of Dead Kennedys "let's Lynch The Landlord", which is superb.

ah Faith No More...how great an album was Angel Dust? \m/
02/08/2007, 11:39 AM
Neish

Quote:

Originally Posted by declan hide

ah Faith No More...how great an album was Angel Dust? \m/

Absolute quality, Have loved the song "Everythings ruined" since the time I saw them on The Word in the early 90's. One of the most underratted bands (outside the U.S.). Mike Patton is gone a bit mad of late
02/08/2007, 5:48 PM
Marked Man

Quote:

Originally Posted by declan hide

[

another FNM cover is their version of Dead Kennedys "let's Lynch The Landlord", which is superb.

Nomeansno have an a capella version of this song which is simply amazing. On the subject of DK covers, Napalm Death's version of Nazi Punks **** Off is pretty damned good too.
06/08/2007, 8:03 PM
Iorfa

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Good Son

Haven't heard it, must get my hands on it.

It's on The Shy Retirer EP if you're interested.
09/08/2007, 12:51 PM
declan hide

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marked Man

Nomeansno have an a capella version of this song which is simply amazing. On the subject of DK covers, Napalm Death's version of Nazi Punks **** Off is pretty damned good too.

what is that NoMeansNo version on? Theyre playing here end of September. Cant get "The Peoples Choice" best of cd off my mp3 player. Every track is superb.

Napalm Death are playing here next weekend.
09/08/2007, 10:02 PM
Marked Man

Quote:

Originally Posted by declan hide

what is that NoMeansNo version on? Theyre playing here end of September. Cant get "The Peoples Choice" best of cd off my mp3 player. Every track is superb.

Napalm Death are playing here next weekend.

Actually, got the name of the Nomeansno cover wrong. They do "Forward to Death"; it's on the Virus 100 Tribute to the Dead Kennedys.
14/08/2007, 9:53 AM
The Good Son

A couple of good one from The Fall that I'd forgotten about, and I don't think they've come up already, 'Victoria' & 'Lost In Music'.
20/09/2007, 5:04 PM
superfrank

Save Ferris - Come On Eileen

Undoubtedly, the WORST cover of any song I've ever heard. And also a terrible working of a classic.
21/09/2007, 9:52 AM
Thomo

pj harvey - monkeys gone to heaven
21/09/2007, 4:09 PM
inexile

i love oasis' version of come on feel the noise
22/09/2007, 11:43 AM
Lionel Ritchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by inexile

i love oasis' version of come on feel the noise

While I do not.:cool:
25/09/2007, 9:28 AM
Bluebeard

I have a strong liking for Frankie Goes to Hollywood's version of Born to Run.

I now expect the harsh repudiation of this by the foot.ie music police.
25/09/2007, 11:19 AM
Lionel Ritchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebeard

I have a strong liking for Frankie Goes to Hollywood's version of Born to Run.

I now expect the harsh repudiation of this by the foot.ie music police.

Well I must be off duty coz I agree with you. Crackin' version.
25/10/2007, 1:20 PM
SligoBrewer

Josh Ritter Covering The River.

me like a bit..undecided
25/10/2007, 11:20 PM
DaveyCakes

tATu do a good How Soon is Now?
26/10/2007, 10:03 AM
Lionel Ritchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyCakes

tATu do a good How Soon is Now?

I've never heard it but that has to be a miserable lie. It simply has to be.
26/10/2007, 10:31 PM
CollegeTillIDie

SOme unusual cover versions appear on those Free CD's which come out from time to time with Monthly music mags like MOJO and Q.
27/10/2007, 9:44 PM
Paddyfield

Any singer that covers a Smiths song sould be slapped.

Has anyone mentioned Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor. She made it her own even if the artist known as Prince (again) is enjoying the royalties.
28/10/2007, 8:27 AM
Lionel Ritchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

Any singer that covers a Smiths song sould be slapped.

Has anyone mentioned Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor. She made it her own even if the artist known as Prince (again) is enjoying the royalties.

I'm inclined to agree re The Smiths. There's very, very few covers of Smiths songs I can think of that rise above pitiful attempt to bask in the greatness of others status.

By way of possible exception I'll pitch just two for consideration

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want covered by Dream Academy

and

London covered by Anthrax (very, very good!!)
29/10/2007, 7:30 AM
CollegeTillIDie

I happen to like Sid Vicious' reworking of My Way....
29/10/2007, 9:04 PM
DaveyCakes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

I've never heard it but that has to be a miserable lie. It simply has to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9imXrBK5iX8
30/10/2007, 1:07 PM
Dr. Ogba

Don't know if these have been mentioned (i.e couldn't be arsed going through 6 pages!):

Futureheads - Hounds of Love
Fountains of Wayne - Baby one more time (not to be confused with Travis' utterly crap version)
Ben Folds - Tiny Dancer
Ben Folds Five - Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head
30/10/2007, 6:26 PM
Neish

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveyCakes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9imXrBK5iX8

Shi*e
30/10/2007, 6:48 PM
Lionel Ritchie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neish

Shi*e

Agree with Neish. An absolute war crime.
01/11/2007, 6:41 AM
CollegeTillIDie

Something Happens did an acoustic version of Madonna's '' Borderline'' came free with the Burn Clear single way back in 1987.
02/11/2007, 6:48 AM
endabob1

Quote:

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Something Happens did an acoustic version of Madonna's '' Borderline'' came free with the Burn Clear single way back in 1987.

They also did Sabrina's boys boys boys as the B side to Petrol (I think) and they used to do a mean live version of Abba's Does your mother know
02/11/2007, 12:32 PM
citizenerased

Jeff Buckley - Hellejlujah(cant spell it)
Muse - Feeling good
The Strokes - Clampdown
03/11/2007, 7:56 AM
CollegeTillIDie

Quote:

Originally Posted by endabob1

They also did Sabrina's boys boys boys as the B side to Petrol (I think) and they used to do a mean live version of Abba's Does your mother know

Thanks for reminding me of the Sabrina cover version... :D
05/11/2007, 2:12 PM
Ozymandias

echo and the bunnymen- peoples are strange
something happens- boys boys boys
something happens- borderline
greenday- working class hero
bruce- this land is your land
bruce-Jersey Girl
the waterboys- because the night (mixed with the pan within)
the frames- heyday (only done live )
the flaming lips....plastic jesus
07/11/2007, 7:21 PM
gustavo

Alejandro Manzano of Boyce Avenue acoustic cover of Rihanna song Umbrella
07/11/2007, 10:05 PM
SligoBrewer

Quote:

Originally Posted by gustavo

Alejandro Manzano of Boyce Avenue acoustic cover of Rihanna song Umbrella

Delorento's Version is better

http://bootlegs.delorentos.net/delo_umberella.mp3
11/11/2007, 12:25 PM
Pauro 76

ive just heard Foo Fighters do a great cover of Sex Pistols 'God Save the Queen' on MTV music awards...
14/11/2007, 2:15 PM
RogerMilla

great call on because the night OZY
also the killers have a good version of RUBY dont take your love to town .
the raconteurs , crazy
01/12/2007, 11:04 PM
DmanDmythDledge

Plain White T's- Umbrella

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