Song covers that are better than the originals

SR-71 was the original band that did "1985". The lyrics are slightly different I think.

 

I wouldn't say it's better per se, but here are two of my favourite covers ever. Muse also did HOTRS, but I prefer Lauren's

 

The cover most people knew of - both songs were a product of it's era

vs
The extremely obscure original

 

Oh shit! I can get behind this discussion!
I have a ton, but i'll name a few that are fantastic.

Nina Simone - "Sinnerman"
I can honestly put almost all of Nina Simone's songs because she takes the original and completely reinvents it and make its her own.
She's the High Priestess of Soul and Jazz for a reason! Legend, icon, and genius.


VS

Les Baxter's - "Sinnerman"



The Rolling Stones - "Shake Your Hips"
Holy shit, does this song drip of primal, raw sexual prowess!
Makes me wanna strip myself of all mi clothes and get my hump on... or get into a bar fight!
Slim Harpo is a legend and he should not be forgotten either.


VS

Slim Harpo - "Shake Your Hips"



Dead Kennedys - "Viva Las Vegas"
Utterly buries the original completely, but then again, it's the fucking Dead fucking Kennedys!
One of my absolute favorite covers ever! Not sorry Mr. Presley


VS

Elvis Presley - "Viva Las Vegas"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MO1KyNUOIs


Mr. Bungle - "The Stroke"
Just like Dead Kennedys, you can never go wrong with Bungle.
Fucking hilarious and badass cover of Billy Squire!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWsG-4V31Ns

VS

Billy Squire - "The Stroke"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtIlG87_D28


Diamanda Galas - "Pardon Me I've Got Someone To Kill"
Once again, can never go wrong with Diamanda, my main woman!
The Devil's wife they call her, the Mistress of Distress coming from the disemboweled guts of Hell.
Don't worry, this is a calm cover and not one of her scary songs, and she sings it quite beautiful as well!
She never ceases to leave me in absolute awe.
Another fucking genius! I love her so much, she buries the original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27inffaNVps

VS

Johnny Paycheck - "(Pardon Me) I've Got Someone to Kill"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJsMaCoqkkg


There's plenty of more where zat came from, but there ya go!

 

Pretty much anything by Robyn Adele Anderson. She tends to totally transform anything she covers and makes it her own. I won't post her videos because they might be triggering to some. They're not as bad as most pop music videos and I've never been triggered by them but some might struggle with them.

Grace VanderWaal's cover of I Can See Clearly Now is wonderful, it's on my mental health playlist on Spotify.



Hannah Grace's cover of Praise You is beautiful.

 

Funkytown:

The original by Lipps Inc:



The cover, which I like more, by Pseudo Echo:

 

I’m not gonna lie. First version annoys me, Listening to it at work24/7 does get to you though. I can’t stand Candy anymore either… Lol

 

Bon Iver - I Can't Make You Love Me / Nick of Time - YouTube

AURORA covers The Beatles 'Across The Universe' for Like A Version - YouTube

Sturgill Simpson - "In Bloom" - YouTube

Passenger, The Once & Stu Larsen | America - YouTube

 

I find I take more notice of the lyrics with this version. The part when she sings, "I accept all the things that I cannot change" speaks to me. It's important to accept that there are you cannot change.

 

Jorge Ben is a genius regardless, but I believe it still that Zé Ramalho have done it better. In a lyrical and musical sense, the original one has a lot of mystical feeling. However, Ramalho's version kept this quality while adding a modern tone.

 

Well, I first noticed it by listening to the audio only. Really I don't watch many videos.

 

I absolutely love GNR's original "Patience"

But I'd have to give Chris Cornell's cover a slight edge because the emotional impact is harder from his death.

 

Strength Beyond Strength by Whitechapel (originally by Pantera).

They took Pantera's version and made it so much more...evil! It just sounds amazing.

 

Orgy - Blue Monday (originally by New Order)

This is the single version, which is better than their watered down studio version