Now I know that generally the original version of a song is the best. But while listening to my Everly Brothers CD tonight, and pondering on the superiority of Linda Ronstadt's version of "When Will I Be Loved" I started thinking about how there are some cover versions that are in fact far better than the originals.

So what do you all think are the cover versions that rock out over the original artists? I'll start:

When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt is much better than the Everly Brothers.

The Price Of Love - Brian Ferry is much better than the Everly Brothers (noticing a theme here? It's only because that's the CD I'm listening to!)

"Perfect Day" - cover by Duran Duran, but then I've never really been a fan of Lou Reed!

beg to differ here! Linda Ronstadt is NOT better than the Everly brothers!

Aretha Franklin - Respect. Originally an Otis Redding song, Aretha OWNS the definitive version.

Yes! When a song is reclaimed through a cover, especially when it's always known as "Respect" by Aretha Franklin (and it's such a landmark song). Not that Otis Redding isn't awesome, but that song belongs to Aretha.

Honorable Mention: "Halleluja", originally by Leonard Cohen, owned by Jeff Buckley.

Easy Like Sunday Morning - Mike Patton, originally performed by Lionel Richie.

It's a toss-up for me: Oh, Pretty Woman--Van Halen or Roy Orbison. Of course Roy is the original, but I grew up with the Van Halen version. Usually it is the first one you hear that you get used to and that's the one you like best. But in this case, both are extraordinary. (Al Green did it too, but I don't think I've ever heard his version.)

Simple Man by Shinedown, originally by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I like both, but the Shinedown version just gets me more. . .plus they're more my generation than Skynyrd so I'm probably just more naturally biased to their sound

I love Sarah McLachlan's cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Song for a Winter's Night." It evokes such atmosphere I can feel the snow and sorrow. I love Gordon too, but this song I like better in her version.

I love Faith and the Muse's cover of Kate Bush's Running Up that Hill. I like the original as well but it sounds a bit dated to me.

Oh, speaking of which, I love Placebo's version of Running up that hill as well!

And Bryan Ferry's "Jealous Guy" - cover of John Lennon - just gives me goose bumps all over!!

I have to agree with Simple Man...love, love, love the Shinedown version better...Brent Smith GETS me! The video is great!

I have to disagree with the Simple Man cover....Shinedown has never really had a sound that I could get into....they sound far too much like every rock band out there these days.

Yes. Oh GOD, yes. I love both, but Shinedown's version just gives it something else. As long as I don't have the baby in the car, that song gets blasted as loud as I can safely do it.