Now playing: Cake - I Will Survive
What makes a good cover song? In my opinion, it’s when the cover is better than the original, and not identical in style. Now I’m sure this list will draw some debate, and maybe I’ve forgotten a song or two, so please let me know what you think of my top ten cover songs of all time.
- 10. Tesla – “Signs” (OK it’s very similar to the original, but it’s a live version.)
- 9. Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You” (I’d like to sing this for karaoke, but I think Holly would pretend she didn’t know me.)
- 8. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Higher Ground” (Kick-ass song.)
- 7. The Gourds – “Gin and Juice” (Commonly mistaken as a Phish version.)
- 6. Orgy – “Blue Monday” (Far better than the original.)
- 5. Alien Ant Farm – “Smooth Criminal” (Great video spoofing Jacko as well.)
- 4. Johnny Cash – “Hurt” (I’ve never liked NIN, and this song really fits Cash’s depressing musical style.)
- 3. Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower” (Originally a Bob Dylan tune, but most people only know the Hendrix version.)
- 2. Guns ‘n Roses – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Sorry Bob, but I enjoy the covers of your songs more than the originals.)
- 1. Cake – “I Will Survive” (This has a great bass line and is definitely not disco.)
Covers that didn’t even come close to making my list include Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss,” Britney Spears’ “My Prerogative,” and Tom Jones’ “Kiss.”
A couple of bands that specialize in covers that are pretty funny are Richard Cheese and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Richard Cheese covers popular songs in a lounge singer style, while Me First… cover popular songs in a punk style. Me First… do a great version of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” in which the funniest part is the talking part with different lyrics at the beginning. Definitely check these guys out if you come across their material.
7 comments:
You forgot William Hung's "She Bangs".
How about Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help From My Friends" (originally a Beatles song), "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds, and the Fountains of Wayne version of "Hit Me Baby, One More Time" is the only version that I'll listen to.
Wow, thanks Kahn for the info on "Gin & Juice". I knew it wasn't Phish, but I thought it was OAR. The reason it's mistaken as Phish a lot is because one of the backup rappers in the original was called Phish.
The ones I like that didn't make your list are:
Lenny Kravitz - American Woman (Guess Who)
Black Crows - Hard to Handle (Otis Redding)
Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide (fleetwood Mac)
Guns N Roses - Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney & Wings)
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee (done 1 year earlier by Kris Kristofferson)
Those are all good covers as well, and I actually thought about putting the Fountains of Wayne version on "Hit Me Baby, One More Time" on the list. GNR's "Live and Let Die" just isn't all that different from the original. I actually have all these songs that I listed and that you guys have listed on a "Cover song" playlist, and that's what I was using to come up with the list. However, I didn't know that "No More I Love Yous" was a cover. Good info, and who originally did "Turn, Turn, Turn?" Was it the bible?
"Turn, Turn, Turn" was originally by Pete Seeger. I only know this due to the power of the internets.
I thought of mentioning "Live and Let Die" too, but I think I like the original better.
I went kindof nuts with my post and lists since this topic is top-of-mind.
A co-worker does a halloween cover CD every year. It's pretty funny because he's very eclectic and has more CDs that anyone I've ever met and he puts in a ton of time. I help him research songs each year. The trick it to find covers that are either REALLY bad, REALLY surprising and just plain sesnsesless.
I was very pleased with how this year's CD turned out.
Kahn, if you're interested I can send you a copy.
There are so many good 80's covers. I've made several CDs for this specific genre. Here's some good ones:
Alient Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
The Ataris - Boys of Summer
311 - Love Song
Blink 182 - 867-5309 (Jenny)
Dope - You Spin My Right Round
Kelly Osbourne - Papa Don't Preach
KoRn - Word Up
Limp Bizkit - Faith
Marilyn Manson - Tainted Love
Oasis - Cum on Feel the Noize
PUSA - Video Killed the Radio Star
Scapegoat Wax - Wishing Well
Shades Apart - Tainted Love
Wheatus - Little Respect
Bloodhound Gang - Kids in America
Real Big Fish - It's The End of the World
Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus
Sheryl Crow - Sweet Child O' Mine
Here are some of my other all-time favorite covers:
Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter (Simon & Garfunkel)
Kula Shaker - Hush (Deep Purple)
Foo Fighters - Darling Nikki (Prince)
Limp Bizkit - Behind Blue Eyes (Who)
Nickelbakc & Kid Rock - Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting (John)
RHCP - High Ground (Wonder)
Shinedown - Simple Man (Skynyrd)
Ugly Kid Joe - Cats in the Cradle (Harry Chapin)
Aeromsmith - Come Together (Beatles)
Cake - I Will Survive (Gainer)
Fountains of Wayne - Baby One More Time (Spears)
Guns n Roses - Sympathy for the Devil (Stones)
Kid Rock - No Woman No Cry (Marley)
Johnny Cash - Hurt (NIN)
Mushroomhead - Crazy
Urge Overkill - Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon (Diamond)
Wallflowers - Hero (Bowie)
I'm sure I could list another 20-30, but this post is already way too long.
Limp Bizkit's Behind Blue Eyes? Seriously? THat was the worst cover ever. Sorry, that one was 100 times worse than Britney's.
And Neil Diamond should NEVER be covered. Just my 2 cents worth
Guys do live performances count?
If so, Nirvana's 'The Man Who Sold The World' (David Bowie) is a highlight for me. Pearl Jam also does an awesome rendition of Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song' and Audioslave has a pretty good version of 'Seven Nation Army' too.
Thatll be all
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