Covers that are better than the original

Thank God no one said "Shadowplay".... the Killers did an OK job, but Joy Division is just not something one should look to improve upon... their songs' flaws and rough edges are their charm. I guess it's fine to cover it. Everyone should be allowed to cover them, but I wouldn't expect a better result..

 

A couple I have not seen.

1. Walk On By - I know it is probably impossible to beat the original by Dionne Warwick, but I love the cover by Cockeyed Ghost. Love the feedback, the guitar, and the screams. Just such a different take.

2. 99 Problems - Have never really listened to a lot of rap music, so the first time I ever actually heard this song was by Hugo.

 

Have you heard the STRANGLERS version?
It's great.

 

OK...this probably won't be a popular choice here but I prefer THE BEAT FARMERS version of Powderfinger.
They have two versions and after listening to them I find Neil's too slow.

 

This is the best version of "Happy Together" I've ever heard. The local radio station here used to play it all the time.

It's by a group from Quebec City called J. Gaines & the Soul Attorneys. They had two top ten singles in Canada in the 1990s.

 

The YES BBC session version of Paul Simon's America - plus it's three times as long!

 

also the Deep Purple version.

 

The Detroit Cobras outdo the Beatles (who outdid Larry Williams)

 

Me too

It was actually the first version I ever heard

 

I must disagree. The Merilee Rush version has a quiet dignity and power totally missing in JN's bombastic remake

And this is the original:

 

Clearly you must have been swayed by all the cute kittens in the video, that's the only explanation unless you were flat out kidding in the first place. I had a tough time getting through that whole recording, it doesn't even outdo Larry Williams IMO.

 

Sinead O'Connor "Sacrifice"

 

Sacriledge, I know - the Zoot cover of Eleanor Rigby

 

The Raindrops, Book of Love:

 

Gin and Juice - The Gourds

 

I just can't get into the Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
While I like the more minimal 60's sound of it...
Elton John just nailed it for me. Two different animals, I guess.

 

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley - Corpus Christi
This Mortal Coil - I Must Have Been Blind
The Hope Blister - Let The Happiness In (the orig is by David Sylvian - and that is incredible)
Trust me, this one is even better.
Listen in HD

 

I don't know if I'd say it's "better" but I like it. I'd never heard it before -- thanks.

 

Bertha - Los Lobos

 

The (English) Beat "Tears of a Clown": I don't know if I'd say it's better than the original now, but it was the first version I heard and for a long time Smokey's version was just too. darn. slow.

 

Also: "Can't Get Used to Losing You".

 

I think Fairground Attraction´s cover of Billy J. Kramer/The Beatles´s "Do You Want to Know a Secret" takes an OK song and turns it into a memorable one. Love Fairground Attraction.

 

The Pixies version of "Head On" is far superior to The Jesus and Mary Chain's.