Best covers of songs?

**stann** · 31/07/2007, 3:57 PM

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

**Stuttgart88** · 31/07/2007, 9:28 PM

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.

**superfrank** · 01/08/2007, 1:01 AM

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

**Bluebeard** · 01/08/2007, 10:30 AM

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.

**superfrank** · 01/08/2007, 11:20 AM

I really like Wild Is The Wind as well.

**Wolfie** · 01/08/2007, 3:20 PM

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.

**declan hide** · 01/08/2007, 10:45 PM

[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/

**Neish** · 02/08/2007, 11:39 AM

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

**Marked Man** · 02/08/2007, 5:48 PM

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.

**Iorfa** · 06/08/2007, 8:03 PM

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.

**declan hide** · 09/08/2007, 12:51 PM

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.

**Marked Man** · 09/08/2007, 10:02 PM

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.

**The Good Son** · 14/08/2007, 9:53 AM

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'.

**superfrank** · 20/09/2007, 5:04 PM

Save Ferris - Come On Eileen

Undoubtedly, the WORST cover of any song I've ever heard. And also a terrible working of a classic.

**Thomo** · 21/09/2007, 9:52 AM

pj harvey - monkeys gone to heaven

**inexile** · 21/09/2007, 4:09 PM

i love oasis' version of come on feel the noise

**Lionel Ritchie** · 22/09/2007, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by inexile

i love oasis' version of come on feel the noise

While I do not.

**Bluebeard** · 25/09/2007, 9:28 AM

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.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 25/09/2007, 11:19 AM

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.