Cover Songs Better Than the Originals

It happens sometimes; a cover song eclipses the original version. I believe it's an amazing feat for an artist to take a song and rework it so that it becomes even better than it originally was. In my opinion, Tori Amos' version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is better than Nirvana's version. I must have heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana a thousand times before I heard Tori Amos' version. When I found her version, I knew I had never understood the song previously. She brought out the meaning, and I think she made it an entirely new and far better song.


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a reply to: Profusion

I like the original better... But its an aesthetic pow

a reply to: tikbalang

I think they're both great. To me, Amos took a song that had no special meaning and made it extremely profound. She did it without changing a word, too. I think it's miraculous. I prefer Amos' version because the meaning of the song becomes the salient point. I also prefer the sadness of Amos' version.

Dax RIggs - What a Wonderful World - Over The Rainbow
...the transition from one song to the next still gets me every time.


Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers (Rolling Stones)


Bonnie Prince Billy - Worlds Greatest (R Kelly)

a reply to: Profusion

I love early AC/DC.
Not too keen on Brian Johnson. So, the singing helps make this a better song for me.
Some love it. Some hate it.
Living Colour, Back In Black.
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a reply to: Profusion

Hurt by Nine Inch Nails - covered by Johnny Cash (you could probably include most of Cash's covers in this thread).

Original:


Cash cover:

a reply to: Profusion

The Original by The McCoys.



Made Better By The Merseys



And made better again by Bowie

S&F..Live and let die cover by Guns n Roses version,imo is better than the original Paul McCartney's..

originally posted by: greydaze
S&F..Live and let die cover by Guns n Roses version,imo is better than the original Beatles.

The original was Paul McCartney not The Beatles.

a reply to: alldaylong
Yeah I just edited it..Thanks I had a brain fart..Heh.

My vote would go to Rage Against the Machine's cover of The Ghost of Tom Joad. youtu.be...

Layla by Michael Schenker and Davey Pattison on the album Endless Jam Continues.

Now I shall I duck since saying that is about as bad as denying the existence of God....in the eyes of some people

However, listen and be amazed.....

"Easy" by Faith No More


Original by the Commodores


Both great, but I just "feel" the Faith No More version more!

a reply to: alldaylong

I think The Beasts of Bourbon had the best cover of the song:




Another good cover: (I like it better than the Kinks)

Satirical Covers Yeah! These made me laugh a little, so i had to add. Sorry.






ok done, now back to being 'mature' again. sigh. KEEP CALM but Laugh sometimes too.

a reply to: BelowLowAnnouncement

I'll see you a Johnny Cash cover and raise you one.

a reply to: yorkshirelad

I love the song Layla, but the tuneless noodling at the end sounds like a couple of cats doing the dirty.

a reply to: DrumsRfun

Wow. Never expected that lol. At first I was "but ... nnnahhhhhhh" then the tune sorta clicked in my head about 4 seconds later. I thought they were gonna do it way too fast when I heard the style of distortion. Excellent cover!

a reply to: DrumsRfun

Wow! That's a GREAT cover. Nice one.