Songs that you believe can not be covered

[Nazulu]

I always see 'cover songs better than the original' threads. And while I do find them interesting sometimes, I reckon it's time to spin it the other way around.

What are songs you believe that have never been covered as well or can never be covered in general?

For example, I don't think anyone will ever be able to make a cover that lives up to Mahavishnu Orchestra's Hymm To Him - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVnDx9e0zE

 

[Wing Dairu]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

 

[DJDarque]

I don't think most Mudvayne songs can be properly covered. Ryan Martinie's bass playing is much more complex than your average metal bassist's, and would just be too difficult to replicate.

 

[The Shade]

Anything by Pink Floyd cannot be improved upon. I've heard some "okay" covers but nothing more.

My policy is, "If you can't do it better than the original, don't do it at all."

For example - when Bob Dylan heard Jimi Hendrix do 'All Along the Watchtower', Dylan said, "Yep. It's your song now, kid."

When Jeff Healey covered 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', George Harrison came all the way from Britain to play back-up on the recording because he believed in it so much.

THAT is how you do a cover.

 

[5t3v0]

Anything by tool for me. Or the Mars Volta really.

 

[Nazulu]

Anything by Pink Floyd cannot be improved upon. I've heard some "okay" covers but nothing more.

My policy is, "If you can't do it better than the original, don't do it at all."

For example - when Bob Dylan heard Jimi Hendrix do 'All Along the Watchtower', Dylan said, "Yep. It's your song now, kid."

When Jeff Healey covered 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', George Harrison came all the way from Britain to play back-up on the recording because he believed in it so much.

THAT is how you do a cover.

You got any other amazing examples to share with the class? I never knew George Harrison went all that way just to help with a cover. Actually, I didn't even know Jeff Healey made a cover of any Beatles song.

I'm going to listen to that now

 

[ajh93]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

oh i dont know about that,i found a pretty damn good jazz cover of Jackson's Billy Jean on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIUfXMoyEEE

anyway,i dont think you should go out to cover other musicians work.sure it's a good way to get gigs in restaurants or bars,but if you want a real band dynamic you need to find your own sound and build upon that...plus most covers turn out like shit anyway

for example: Peaches by The Stranglers,a British (pop-ish) punk band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aI9k06dGpg
not the best song in existence,far from it,but it's got a nice groove,a nice bass line...

now,twisted and mangled by this douchebag in wayfarers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UouIVXBdkvE&feature=related

*sigh*,at least The Stranglers had a unique sound to them...

 

[KingCrInuYasha]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

Don't know about MJ, but as for the Beatles, there have been some successful covers:

"Day Tripper" - Jimi Hendrix

"With A Little Help From My Friends" - Joe Cocker

"Every Little Thing" - Yes

"Ticket To Ride" - Vanilla Fudge

"Strawberry Fields Forever" - Richie Havens

"I Wanna Be Your Man" - The Rolling Stones

"Taxman" - The Music Machine

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

Oh I beg to differ.

 

[ThatSexyGuy]

Anything Queen,Bowie, or AC/DC. The insturments and stuff sure but the way the vocals are on each, I don't think you could ever make a good cover.

 

[Sacman]

just about anything by the Butthole Surfers, not that anyone would ever want to but they're too unique of a band to cover...<.<

 

[Treefingers]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

What about Michael Jackson covering The Beatles?


EDIT: IMO people getting all upset about covers is silly. It's not your song, you have no right to get all precious about it. (The obvious exception is where it is actually your song, in which case you ought to take it as a compliment and enjoy the royalties)

I also don't think that covers serve to improve on the original. The greatest covers reinterpret and pay tribute to the originals.

Spoiler: Here is a selection of awesome MJ and Beatles covers.

...and everything from Across the Universe.

 

[Tanis]

Anything by Michael Jackson or the Beatles. Yes, I know they've been covered plenty of times. And you know what? It always sucks.

The 'Across The Universe OST' begs to differ there, bub.

 

[skitzo van]

First of all most musicians probably couldn't get tight enough to play this, and the fact that certain parts of the vocals are HEAVILY overdubbed that still sound amazing

 

[Aetera]

Anything by tool for me.

When I saw this thread, I immediately thought to post this same thing, but then I remembered this amazing string quartet that covers rock songs as classical music. It's not really a cover; kind of a tribute, I guess? I don't know what you'd call it. Here:


For absolutely un-coverable songs, I'd have to say Smells Like Teen Spirit.

 

[Whateveralot]

Well if the same counts for remixes, I'd go for Tiesto classics like Lethal Industry and Traffic. Especially traffic. There's just no way on improving on it wihout it sounding crap, no matter what genre they put it in.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Absolutely anything by Coheed and Cambria. You just can't replicate Claudio Sanchez's voice. Ever.

I could probably replicate his style, but I hesitate to clamp my balls in a vice, so I won't bother.

Honestly, I don't think any band listed is "uncoverable". I challenge someone to cover John Zorn's Moonchild project though.