OT: Original vs. Cover Song
misterorange
Kamala, you're FIRED!
Okay folks. As much as I enjoy the political back and forth, let's not fight each other (or maybe we will... heh heh). This question was inspired by skibum's thread about history near where you live, as it's just something interesting and fun.
It's been a little while since we did something like this, so here it is:
Name two iconic songs. One where the original writer/performer was the best, and the other where a cover artist did it better. I've found the question to be more difficult than it seems at first glance.
Here are my two:
Desperado. Written by Glen Frey and Don Helney and recorded for the Eagles second album of the same name in 1973. It did not become a hit until Linda Ronstadt released a cover of the song later that same year. I love both versions, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Eagles.
I Shot The Sheriff. Written by Bob Marley and released by The Wailers in 1973. Clapton did his cover version a year later. I'm a big fan of Bob Marley, as well as other Reggae artists like Burning Spear (a fucking genius) and Black Uhuru. But I like Clapton's cover of I Shot The Sheriff.
One last mention: Ziggy Marley has done several beautiful versions of Redemption Song, and it's a fitting tribute to his father. But I don't think he'd mind me saying that Bob's original is my favorite.
It's been a little while since we did something like this, so here it is:
Name two iconic songs. One where the original writer/performer was the best, and the other where a cover artist did it better. I've found the question to be more difficult than it seems at first glance.
Here are my two:
Desperado. Written by Glen Frey and Don Helney and recorded for the Eagles second album of the same name in 1973. It did not become a hit until Linda Ronstadt released a cover of the song later that same year. I love both versions, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Eagles.
I Shot The Sheriff. Written by Bob Marley and released by The Wailers in 1973. Clapton did his cover version a year later. I'm a big fan of Bob Marley, as well as other Reggae artists like Burning Spear (a fucking genius) and Black Uhuru. But I like Clapton's cover of I Shot The Sheriff.
One last mention: Ziggy Marley has done several beautiful versions of Redemption Song, and it's a fitting tribute to his father. But I don't think he'd mind me saying that Bob's original is my favorite.
55 comments
“Blinded by the Light”
Manfred Mann > Springsteen
walkin the dog: aerosmith < ratt
if walkin the dog is considered not iconic enough then i'll go with
knockin' on heaven's door: bob dylan < guns n' roses live version 1988 nyc at the ritz shown on mtv
rattdog, Walking the Dog may not be "iconic" but nobody will ever do it better than Aerosmith. Also GNR absolutely blew the roof off with Dylan's classic. In my opinion, Clapton also was better than Dylan, but GNR was the best by far.
Harry Warren < Flamingos
"Hurt"
NIN > Johnny Cash
"Walk This Way" ... Aerosmith > Run DMC
"Roll Over Beethoven" ... Chuck Berry > The Beatles > Electric Light Orchestra
Dead Or Alive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGNiXGX2… > Jessica Simpson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MlAlTWy…
kidding they both are horrible!
All Along the Watchtower
Jimi > Dylan
Original Better than Cover:
Hasten Down the Wind
Zevon > Ronstadt
Having said that, her album cover was absolutely killer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasten_Dow…
Borrowing from rattdog, if Hasten Down the Wind is not iconic enough, then I will go with for "original better than cover":
Come Together
Beatles > Aerosmith
Aerosmith really should not have gone there, tbh.
Johnny Cash > NIN
"Turn the Page"
Metallica > Bob Seger
"Smooth Criminal"
AAF > MJ. Yes, I believe that.
"Sound of Silence"
Disturbed > Simon & Garfunkle. Disturbed is pretty much awesome on anything they sample or cover. There is a lot of Chicago bias in that statement.
"Come Together"
Aerosmith > Beatles. The Beatles suck. Most overrated band of all-time. They were, what? Fifty Years ago? Ge over it FFS. Their music means nothing, we do not live in a yellow submarine.
"Watchtower"
Hendrix > Dylan
The Ramones > The Trashmen
Cornell > Prince > O'Connor
"Heathens"
Halestorm > 21 Pilots
What is wrong with you man? Both are delightful. If you capture a zebra you should put it in a room with the Jessica Simpson version of You Spin Me Round playing at full volume for 48-72 hours straight. Then, when the zebra is begging for its life to end….IT’S WILDEBEEST TIME!!!
"Angel From Montgomery" written and performed by John Prine first, but Bonnie Raitt's version is iconic.
She also has big tits. Especially during her fatty phase. I was once so drunk that I went to bang a water buffalo and whoops it was Jessica Simpson.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPtfsk4E…
The bikini in the last minute is legendary.
Sound of Silence, Shout 2000, Ishfwilf all beat the originals.
I Shot the Sheriff- I like Marley’s version better
For something new,
You Really Got Me - Van Halen did it better than The Kinks
Summer Breeze - love Type O Negative but Seals and Croft’s version is iconic and so captures the 70’s
BJ Thomas <. Blue Swede.
Oooga Chaka.
my favorite was by a group named Head East.
https://youtu.be/TbIKMIji6HM
I Love Rock and Roll : Joan Jett > The Arrows
Carl Perkins = Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes
Pearl Jam > The Who
https://youtu.be/d7yEqPMlQH0
All Along the Watchtower
Jimi > Dylan
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
GNR > Dylan
Smooth Criminal
Michael Jackson > Alien Ant Farm
Boys of Summer
The Eagles > The Ataris
Nothing Compares 2 U
Cornell > O'Connor > Prince
Whiskey in the Jar
Metallica > Seger
Walk Don’t Run. Ventures > Johnny Smith.
gary moore > the animals simply for the guitar playing. animals > nina simone.
just found out she was the first to sing this song. anyway all versions are great.
ANY song covered by Miley Cyrus is going to suck ass. She's awful.
Pearl Jam >>> Wayne Cochran
The original takes a song about a dying girl and makes it a dance tune.
Counterpoint- not exactly a cover, but Miley sang Nothing Else Matters with Metallica on Stern. As you’d expect, her voice sounds a little weird on the lows and she tried some vibrato there. But… she fucking nailed the highs on the chorus. I don’t want to say she’s better than Hetfield on the song, but her voice is more suited to the chorus than his. Her voice has enough power to hang with Metallica. That’s no slouch. Skip to the last 3 mins if you can’t make it through the whole song but it’s worth a listen.
https://youtu.be/hBmSS8fDmek
That wasn't bad, but like you said, not really a "cover" since Metallica was backing her up. Not saying she has a bad voice, but she's done too many covers she wasn't well suited for, and just left me SMH.
Like this piece a shit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbdRLyix…
Or this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceIt-dOA…
Really hard to listen to.
I agree with many of the songs referenced above, as some remakes are best left unremade.
Train In Vain: The Clash original > Annie Lennox cover
Bobby Hatfield's (The Righteous Brothers) version is orders of magnitude better than anyone else's, before <em>or</em> after.
srv > hendrix
only reason: srv's version is longer. hendrix's version is just too too short, and always made me wish that he extended it further.
The original version by Shocking Blue rocks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPEhQugz…
"Shapes Of Things To Come" was originally released by the Yardbirds in 1966, and was covered by David Bowie for his 1973 album Pin Ups.
I like Bowie's version better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8QY46uZ…
This is difficult one for me since Axl's vocals are great but
Wings > Guns n Roses