Cover songs that are better than the original?

I think Twist and Shout, and Lake of Fire are cover songs that are better then the original songs. Post some of your opinions.

Wouldn’t have remembered it if it weren’t for the Oasis thread, but I remember Cartel covered Oasis’ song “Wonderwall” awhile back. It’s really hard for me to say Cartel did it “better”, but I do find myself listening to theirs (Cartel’s) much more.

-Deriaz

I’m going to catch flak for this, but almost all of the I’m Not There soundtrack is better then the orginal Dylan songs, minus a few weird ones.

Never heard of a cover song that is way better than the original.

Only heard of mediocre ones like Beat It! by Fall-Out Boy (Original by Michael Jackson).

Worst one is Madonna’s American Pie (Original by Don McLean) which makes the song very happy despite the apocalyptic lyrics.

Lake of fire by Nirvana was amazing :]

I Will Survive by Cake. Awesome coolness.

Hurt by Johnny Cash

cover of a Nine Inch Nails song

I was just listening to Alien Ant Farm.. Their ‘Smooth Criminal’ was sooo much better then MJ’s x]

All along the watchtower is close if not better to listen to, but the original I think is always better, because it was the original writers creation.

Alright, Children of Bodom’s Oops I did it Again is much better than the britney spears version, but that is a rare exception. (Turning it into a Metal song took far more Creativity then writing it I assume.)

there is no such thing as a cover that is better than the original. there is no way that some one can make their cover sound just the same or better than the same because the original will always be the original.

I disagree, better is in the ear of beholder.

When a band plays a cover they are soposed to throw in alittle of their own style into it. That way they arent just playing the same old song. It is never quite meant to sound like the origional.

Anybody like Fall Out Boy’s cover of Beat It? That is pretty amazing. They covered Roxanne pretty well too, back in the day.

I put a spell on you by Marilyn Manson is better than the original.

^ That is such a horrendous lie. Marylin Manson will never come even remotely close to the quality of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Have you even heard the original song? One of the best songs ever, in my opinion. MM transformed it into his typical medium-paced so-called “dark” slightly distorted “introverted”, “reflective”, “intelligent” music. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song is so much better, honestly.

Goddamn, what an awful cover that was. The worst I’ve heard in years.

“Easy” by The Commodores (covered by Faith No More).

“Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis Presley (covered by Dead Kennedys).

there is no such thing as a cover that is better than the original. there is no way that some one can make their cover sound just the same or better than the same because the original will always be the original.

In all seriousness, listen to Johnny Cash’s Hurt. He takes the self-pity and -loathing from NIN’s original, turns it into a meditation on growing old and death. The spare piano sounds so much better, and Cash has got a far better and more expressive voice than Reznor. Plus of course the whole poignancy of him dying a few months after recording it, and the house where the video was filmed then being destroyed by a fire. I really think it’s indisputably better than the original.

I don’t think that songs that are personal can have covers greater than the original. If a singer writes a song for a lost life-long love, death of a loved one, or other traumatic life-altering events, it can’t be done better, because they’re truly showing their emotions/soul, unlike your every day “we broke up” pop song. And even if a song isn’t completely personal, there are definetly some acts out there that have a style that’s just hard to imitate, as it was very unique and original.

Johnny’s cover was most certainly greater than the original. Gave me shivers towards the end, how it built up. His was more meaningful, having lived a full life and lost his fair share throughout.

“Saturday Nights All Right For Fighting” Elton John made the original, but Nickelback gave it an edgier “fight-scene”” sound.