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!)
Last edited by Primm; 09-04-2008 at 08:50 AM.
Reason: to add another song.
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.
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 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.
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
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.
Best cover songs ever?
The video is great!
