housemate and i are having a (friendly) arguement about covers and wanted other peoples thoughts...
what covers are better than the originals?
My premise is that if the original was good, then the cover can't be better....
2 songs in discussion are 'Pissing' (originally by Low, covered by Carla Bozulich) and 'Hurt' (originally by NIN, covered by Cash). I DO really like these covers, but are they BETTER? the original was very good and i give the credit more to the composer....
I think the only way/reason to do covers
is if you can do something different to the original version.
Certainly there's covers I prefer to the original songs (predictably I prefer Buckley's Hallelujah despite being a Leonard Cohen fan and I prefer Cash's version of One to the U2 version) but I don't know if I could say they were empirically better.
^ second
just like to add.
hendrix - 'all along the watchtower'
big black - 'the model'
breeders - ' happiness is a warm gun'
to name a few good covers, although that list just says that playing a song heavier is something different. which it is not. but it can be done very well
Hendrix...
all along the Watchtower is fantastic!
AGREED
Up there with the best..
totally agree ^
hendrix''s version is the definitive version of all along the watchtower, even dylan admits it!
there isnt many
if any covers i ca nthink that are better than the original, even cash's version of hurt i dont really rate, the original is so much better.
even cover versions which i like (weezer velouria) i still prefer the pixies version by a mile, i cant think of a cover i liek though where i dont liek the original, maybe if this was the case i might say the cover was better
I prefer the Soft Cell cover
of 'Tainted Love', although the original is good too, and likewise with Devo's 'Satisfaction'. There's nothing worse than a pointless cover that brings nothing to the song at all though, particularly novelty 'live favourite' covers (e.g. when DIOYY? attempt to cover 'Whip It' and get the words wrong. Blasphemous)
Covers
Better implies a value judgement. I meant I prefer them.
^
my housemate. verbose as ever!
tho i do think this is the crux of the arguement though, I will listen to Cash's 'Hurt' over NIN's 9/10 times... but BETTER?!
well...
my band do a rather spiffing version of 'push the button' by the sugababes.
I think the Pet Shop Boys'
cover of 'Always on My Mind' is actually better than the original. And if that's wrong, I don't wanna be right.
You're right
Though it stopped Fairytale of New York from being Xmas no. 1, so minus points there.
why?
re PSB
If someone put a gun to my head i'd prolly say that 'always on my mind' is the best (pop) song ever.. and yes, my fav version is by PSB, but i still have to give credit to the write... but this is an odd one as Elvis first sang it didn't he?
Allmusic sites Johnny Christopher/Mark James/Wayne Carson Thompson
PSB's version
is vastly superior to any other I've heard.
I much prefer The Slits' version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine too.
Agreed, although Marvin Gaye's
cover is also preferable to the original methinks
you
cannot possibly make that song better, no offence.
^ about Johnny Cash's version of Hurt
I have to disagree with you mate, I am a big NIN fan but for me Cash's verison adds something very raw and intimate to it. Not that i dislike the original as its good but Cash's stripped down version is stratospheric for me and many would argue that its better although I accept loads of people prefer the original.
Not a popular opinion on here
but I think Heartbeats (Gonzalez) is better than Heartbeats (The Knife)
yo la tengo
have done some great covers. iron and wine of postal service.
Wait a second. I've got it!
Mudhoney - Hate The Police
Can't even remember if i've heard the original but it surely can't be better.
Mommy mommy mommy!
The original is ace!
Not much between the two though,.
Heartbeats
is the one that i'm toying with... the cover is SOOO different that it's nearly a diferent song.. but the original is still good (though only decent to me)
agreed 100%
No way Jose (like what I did there?)
his version is SO bland. The original is amazing, as is the Rex the Dog remix.
nope
love the run of bass notes and the singing is so much better it's not even funny.
the Jose cover
sounds like something you'd hear at an open mic acoustic night (granted, an accomplished performance). It's just a bit dull, like. The original is so unique, particularly the vocals. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (remix it).
yup!
agree... was about to add that!
definately
agreed.
Song to the Siren
by This Mortal Coil is more thrilling and transcendent (to me) than Tim Buckley's original (although I concede his is pretty good!).
Half Man Half Biscuit
do it better.
seconded X a quabillion
i rate Tim Buckley but Liz Fraser's voice is the serenity of drowning.
In a good way.
Even better than that...
I LOVE Tim Buckley and the Cocteau Twins, but The Czars version destroys them both.
I've heard it...
... and it certainly doesn't.
My favourites are:
Hurt - Johnny Cash
Wild Horse - The Sundays
You can call me Al - by Hot Club de Paris is quiet good.
there's also an amazing cover of 'Summertime' by Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix (His guitar Solo is phenomenal!)
Where Did You Sleep Last Night - Leadbelly
is supposed to be a cover and that's pretty damn good. Also Black Betty - Ram Jam is better than Leadbellys.
Elliott Smith's
cover of Thirteen by Big Star, Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear's cover of Too Little Too Late by Jojo (surely?)
Evan Dando's cover of Thirteen
is ace.
my band did a cover of Millionaire by KELIS
for our session on radio1. The original is pretty Shit hot but i think we did a good job covering it...its on our myspace if anyone wants to slag it off!
myspace.com/thespecialrelationship
I prefer Ella Fitzgerald's
version of 'Sunshine Of Your Love' to the original. Which is also good.
Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
GREAT CHOICE
the original is boring/bland really isn't it??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOnocP-A-0
ok... heres the first example i'd agree with so far.... (obv we are all never to agree but thought i'd point this out)
I love Tindersticks version of Here
... it strips away that annoying Pavement smugness.
Best of all though is Sisters Of Mercy's take on Hot Chocolate's Emma.
Giant Drag's version of Wicked Game is pretty ace
and QOTSA's cover of "Never Say Never" is better than the original, but that may be because the early 80s production is horrifying to my youthful ears.
I can't decide...
if I prefer Kirsty Maccoll's version of 'a new England' rather than the original by Billy Bragg.
Sinyad O'conner's version...
of "Nufink Compare 2 U, innit" is better than the original, u dig?
Chromatics - Running Up That Hill
Currently my favourite song at the moment, cover or no cover. Heart meltingly beautiful version.
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Ok, not the greatest tune ever, but David Gray version is certainly better than Soft Cell. Therapy's version of the Joy Division's Isolation is also pretty good.
Ciccone Youth - Into The Groove(y)
I'd say this is another example
soft cell's version is quite weak/boring...
Yes that's an example
of a good Kate Bush cover. China Drum's cover of 'Wuthering Heights' less so.
^ Running Up that Hill
that is
Why in the world...
has noone mentioned Sloop John B by the Beach Boys. The best track off one of the best albums ever.
Also good is the QOTSA cover of Everybody's Gonna be Happy.
my vitriol
oh father...
13th Floor Elevators
cover of Dylans "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" is fantastic. As are:
Flying Burrito Brothers - Wild Horses
Happy Mondays - Step On
Grace Jones - La Vie On Rose
Spacemen 3 - When Tomorrow Hits
Merry Clayton - Gimme Shelter
Make Up - Hey Joe
.......off the top of my head
Full marks
for 'When Tomorrow Hits'.
Also The Field Mice cover of Loop's 'Burning World' is pretty special.
Also
Polyphonic Spree - Lithium!
Fyfe Dangerfield - Day in the Life.
Does anyone dare suggest...
Futurehead's, ahem, sorry, Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love?!
I was just about to
then I saw you had. Good call.
Also, Ryan Adams makes Wonderwall a million times more beautiful
I love that lithium cover
Possibly
the greatest cover EVER.
Covers are a sign of respect
to the other band so the original must realy be better cause its what the artist wanted to do i can only think of 2 exeptions "All Along the watch tower" is an amazing cover by Jimi Hendrix taking bobs song. Even bob admited it. The other is if the bands which are coverd from are bad bands or unfamous so dont have good recording capebiltys and dont have a good presence. I am very suprised if you know what im talking about.