What songs have had covers that were better than the original?

[MorganL4]

I was recently going through the songs I listen on youtube (because I'm a cheap SOB who doesn't pay for much) and I was recently listening to "Black Betty" by Spiderbait. It is an awesome song since it starts out with a banjo

Spoiler: Spiderbait's version

Anyway, I noticed it had originally been made by a band named Ram Jam. I listened to the original and found I didn't like it as much, which is weird because I usually don't like covers. Don't get me wrong, the original is good too. However, I think I like the intensity of Spiederbait's version more.

Spoiler: Ram Jam's version

So escapists, do you have a song in which you prefer a cover more than the original?

Wow, just proves the average age of people on this site.... Ram Jam was a cover dude, this song was from the 1930's done by a guy named Leadbelly..... And it has been suggested that HE covered it....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Betty#Early_recordings.2C_1933-39


But for my part Johnny Cash's
Hurt originally done by Nine Inch Nails

 

[meglathon]

either i missed it or it not here but Metallica's cover of Wisky in the jar is so much better that the original, to the point that in my opining it is one ofd the greates metal song ever

Metallica (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw4g9EWRiHQ

 

[JillsSabre]

Blinded By the Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, originally written (also recorded) by Bruce Springsteen.

 

[Isalan]

Cash did a load of excellent covers in his later years, Hurt and Rusty Cage having already been mentioned. Saying that I do prefer Depeche Mode's version of Personal Jesus.

However, best cover ever is Cash covering Nick Cave's "Mercy Seat". It was already a superb song, but Cash's version is just the best thing EVAR.

Also, Rise Against did a version of "Anyway you want it". That's pretty damn good too.

 

[GartarkMusik]

Simple Man by Shinedown. It was a cover of Lynard Skynard. They were both great but I thought that Shinedown's version told the story better.

 

[Ninjat_126]

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower, it's always the first one to come into my mind alongside Johnny Cash - Hurt.

Hell yes. Possibly the best cover ever. As well as his American National Anthem.



Compare that to:


Gotta love Faith No More

 

[Soulpunch]

Rufus Wainwright - Hallelujah
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Michael Jackson - Come Together
Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtover
Nirvana - Lake Of Fire
Metallica - So What
Reel Big Fish - Take On Me (I Just Can't Get Enough Ska)
Richard Cheese - Baby Got Back
Disturbed - Shout 2000
Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons

Just Mine

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Only version of that song I can stand.


I like this version a bit more then the original.

 

[mcpop9]

Korn's shoots and ladders

 

[SuperVegas]

Joe Cocker's cover of "a little help from my friends"


so much better than the almost throw away Beatles version (and I'm a big Beatles fan)

Also while the original is ball smashingly amazing, this cover is one of my favorite songs ever.

Monster Magnet covering Black Sabbaths Into the void.

 

[Helmet]

And again, I bring up Van Canto- an A capella metal band. Yes, you read that right.

Spoiler: Kings of Metal

The original The cover

Spoiler: Master of Puppets

The original The cover

Spoiler: Wishmaster

The original The cover

Spoiler: The Bard's Song

The original The cover

 

[skullhammer]

I think that a cover of "run to the hills" by the Town Pants was better than the original Iron Maiden version.
you can listen to a preview of the cover version here:
http://www.amazon.com/Run-To-the-Hills/dp/B002ZNXLJW
the original version is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xR4TZsZOPU

 

[DANCEMASTERAFRO]

Thin Lizzy's version of Whiskey in the Jar pales in comparison to Metallica's

 

[FunKing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXjZJAHM-S8

Foo fighters- Baker Street (orig. done by gerry rafferty)

and another great Foo Fighters cover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nDGwp7MChU&feature=related

 

[mikespoff]

The first that leaps to mind is "All Along the Watchtower" - Hendrix's version is still teh definitive one for me.

Tori Amos' version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is awesome.

The Pretender's version of "Forever Young" (the Dylan song, not the Alphville one) is certainly as good as the original, if not superior.

I prefer many of the covers of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" to the original.

The Travis version of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" - just brilliant.

 

[Instinct Blues]

Behind Blue Eyes covered by Limp Bizkit, The Who (afaik) are the original singers, felt like it had no emotion, wasn't being sung so much as being...I dunno, uttered?

I'm all for people having different opinions and out of all the opinions in this thread I find this one to be the most egregious out of all of them. Except for maybe those people claiming that the Alien Ant Farm cover of Smooth Criminal is better than Michael Jackson.

OT: I never really find many cover versions that can outdo the original, but I do enjoy this cover by The Flaming Lips.

 

[SD-Fiend]

jumpin jack flash on elite beat agents


pure awesome. simple a that

 

[RandallJohn]

I'd say "Heart it Races" originally by Architecture in Helsinki and covered by Dr. Dog. Both are nice, though.

Spoiler: Architecture in Helsinki

Spoiler: Dr. Dog

 

[Gralian]

Stahlhammer's cover of Can't Touch This, originally by MC Hammer. It's just so much awesome. Especially when playing UT3 to it.

 

[Ninmecu]

Behind Blue Eyes covered by Limp Bizkit, The Who (afaik) are the original singers, felt like it had no emotion, wasn't being sung so much as being...I dunno, uttered?

I'm all for people having different opinions and out of all the opinions in this thread I find this one to be the most egregious out of all of them. Except for maybe those people claiming that the Alien Ant Farm cover of Smooth Criminal is better than Michael Jackson.

OT: I never really find many cover versions that can outdo the original, but I do enjoy this cover by The Flaming Lips.

Being told I'm part of that group galls me =(