Cover songs versus the original track, which ones are better?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the comparative quality of cover songs versus their original versions. Participants explore which covers are considered better or worse, including both singles and album tracks, and express personal opinions on various songs and their interpretations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the quality of a cover depends on personal judgment and taste, while others argue for an independent standard of "better."
  • Several examples of covers and originals are presented, with participants expressing preferences and discussing the emotional impact of different versions.
  • There are claims that some covers add new interpretations or arrangements, while others feel certain covers do not justify their existence compared to the originals.
  • Participants mention specific songs and artists, such as "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and Johnny Cash, and "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles, highlighting varying opinions on their respective covers.
  • Some participants express a desire for arguments or reasoning behind preferences, while others emphasize the subjective nature of musical appreciation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach consensus on the criteria for evaluating covers versus originals. Multiple competing views remain regarding the subjective nature of musical quality and the validity of personal taste in judgments.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include references to specific songs and artists without resolving the subjective interpretations or emotional responses elicited by different versions. The conversation reflects a range of personal experiences and preferences, which may not align universally.

Who May Find This Useful

Music enthusiasts, fans of specific artists, and those interested in the dynamics of musical interpretation and cover songs may find this discussion engaging.

  • #2,431
This is great. Especially impressed with the drums. It is hard to get all the fils exact like that even if it is not challenging technically. The rhythm is very unsettling too, the vocal comes in a weird place.

 
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  • #2,432
The original.

 
  • #2,433
Neil Sedaka passed recently, he wrote this but I like both versions.

 
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  • #2,434
Neil Sedaka.

 
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  • #2,435
pinball1970 said:
Neil Sedaka passed recently, he wrote this but I like both versions.


pinball1970 said:
Neil Sedaka.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Will_Keep_Us_Together (1973)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Sedaka

(2024) "It’s not stealing, it’s called inspiration!" Here’s how I wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together”- neilsedakamusic - instagram



(1976) Por Amor Viviremos · Captain & Tennille [audio]

(1975) Captain Tennille with Neil Sedaka Love will Keep Us Together
Ep 144 - The Midnight Special Episode | November 14, 1975
&t=19m22s
(other Sedaka performances in this episode: visit YouTube for timestamps or use the slider to navigate chapters)


(2009?) NEIL SEDAKA & Mike Huckabee Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - "Lunch Will Keep Us Together"


(1997) Jimmy Scott & Flea - Love Will Keep Us Together [audio]


(2003) Nickelback Love Will Keep Us Together - fan video


(2026) Dudja - Love Will Keep Us Together (Hard Rock Cover) [Official Audio]
 
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  • #2,436
pinball1970 said:
Neil Sedaka.


The bassist can't complain he is low in the mix!
 
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  • #2,437
robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Will_Keep_Us_Together (1973)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Sedaka

(2024) "It’s not stealing, it’s called inspiration!" Here’s how I wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together”- neilsedakamusic - instagram



(1976) Por Amor Viviremos · Captain & Tennille [audio]

(1975) Captain Tennille with Neil Sedaka Love will Keep Us Together
Ep 144 - The Midnight Special Episode | November 14, 1975
&t=19m22s
(other Sedaka performances in this episode: visit YouTube for timestamps)


(2009?) NEIL SEDAKA & Mike Huckabee Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - "Lunch Will Keep Us Together"


(1997) Jimmy Scott & Flea - Love Will Keep Us Together [audio]


(2003) Nickelback Love Will Keep Us Together - fan video


(2026) Dudja - Love Will Keep Us Together (Hard Rock Cover) [Official Audio]

Ha ha! What a brilliant guy, "Lunch will keep us together!" Hear the quality in his voice still. A natural.

"Midnight Special" preserved some great moments in music history.
Lovely duet with the Captain.
 
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  • #2,438
This misses the harmony but like her voice and his playing.

 
  • #2,439
South of Heaven (1988) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_Heaven
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slayer

Slayer South Of Heaven 1989

- (2001) Slayer - South Of Heaven (Live At The Warfield, San Francisco CA / 12/7/2001)

- Songsterr - South Of Heaven


(2025) The Arroyo Sister's Slayer - South of Heaven Cover (intro)
- #2,407 Got the Time

(2024) South Of Heaven (SLAYER) By Maya & Yoyoka! (short)

- ( Maya Neelakantan on PF) ( yoyoka on PF )

(2012) The Evil You Dread: The String Quartet Tribute To Slayer - South of Heaven - Vitamin String Quartet

(2018) Kids' EPIC "South of Heaven" by Slayer / O'Keefe Music Foundation

- (O'KMF on PF) - their covers of #775 Raining Blood , #2,183 War Ensemble

(2016) Slayer "South of Heaven" Drum Cover (by Nea Batera)


Honorable mention:
- (2023) Slayer - South Of Heaven - Drum Cover by Kristina Rybalchenko
- (2022) SLAYER - South of Heaven cover | Mel & Elena (guitars, with solos)
- @ShredmasterScott - Slayer’s South Of Heaven but major ...."North of Hell" - haha
 
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  • #2,442
pinball1970 said:
This is great. Especially impressed with the drums. It is hard to get all the fils exact like that even if it is not challenging technically. The rhythm is very unsettling too, the vocal comes in a weird place.


I'm bugged that the drums are right in your ear while everyone else is 40 feet away. Nice playing though. The not-on-one accents are pretty cool.
 
  • #2,443
Here is a weird one: written by Lionel Richie (pitched to The Commodores but rejected), first sung by Kenny Rogers in 1980, and a cover in 1998 by ... Lionel Ritchie.




And finally, as a duo in 2012:

 
  • #2,444
The Beatles wrote The Rolling Stones' first hit record, then recorded it themselves as a better version.

Cat Stevens' first hit song was recorded by The Tremolos then later did it himself.
 
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  • #2,445
robphy said:
#1,607 Kids in America

Hornbein said:
This song was a big hit in the UK in 1981 for Kim Wilde. Catchy. Fine singer and composer. I however the production on the orig is too cheesy for me. So here's a cover.
  • (broken YouTube link to No Secrets cover?)
No Secrets - Kids In America - Live Kids Choice Awards 2002

Hornbein said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_in_America

(1981) Kim Wilde - Kids In America (Official Music Video)


(1993) Nirvana - Kids in America (LIVE Sao Paulo Hollywood Rock 93)
(2007) Jonas Brothers - Kids of the Future
and others



(2022) Kids In America (Kim Wilde) SKA-PUNK COVER - Ska Tune Network


(1991) Kids In Tyne and Wear - Toy Dolls


(2021) THE HEIMATDAMISCH: Kids in Bavaria (Kim Wilde)


(2016) Rude Boy George - Kids in America (Official Music Video)


(1991) Lawnmower Deth - Kids In America


Honorable Mention:
Verliebt in Veronika (Kids in America) - Robert Haag
Jealousy - Hye-Eun 질투 - 혜은이 (1983.12.29) [ KBS 같이삽시다 시즌2 ]
 
  • #2,446


To me the stars are the uncredited keyboard and bass players. Maybe they're AI....
 
  • #2,447
MC5 -> first rock concert I ever saw. I once defeated the bass player in arm wrestling. He was tall and his arms too long.

This was ahead of its time. Back then there was nothing else like it.



 
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  • #2,448
 
  • #2,449
 
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  • #2,450
Hornbein said:

Didn't expect that! Those fret boards freak me out.
 
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  • #2,451
Rattlesnake (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake_(King_Gizzard_&_the_Lizard_Wizard_song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Microtonal_Banana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Gizzard_&_the_Lizard_Wizard
https://kinggizzardandthelizardwizard.com/

From Wikipedia...

"Rattlesnake" has been considered a highlight of Flying Microtonal Banana as well as a highlight of the band's discography as a whole, having won Song of the Year at the Music Victoria Awards of 2017 as well as being considered one of the band's best songs by publications like Guitar World and Exclaim!

However, the song has been criticized for its length and repetition. In a mixed review of Flying Microtonal Banana in The Heights, "Rattlesnake" is said "to be going for a more artistic expression, but eight minutes of 'artistry' is not much fun to listen to".
(2016) King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake (Official Video)




(2021) 'Rattlesnake' by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard | Classical Microtonal Guitar - Ken Murray


(2016) King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake (Guitar Cover) With Tabs - Jonn Cult


(2020) Rattlesnake (King Gizzard Big Band Cover) - Band at Home


(2024) Dopapod- Rattlesnake King Gizzard cover, Far Out Lounge. Austin, Texas 1/27/24

- (audio) Rattlesnake Track 10 - Dopapod Live at Paradise Rock Club on 2024-03-30


(2025) King Gizzard’s Rattlesnake on Lego microtonal guitar - tolgahancogulu

- Mikrotonal gitar koleksiyonumdan örnekler… - interesting collection of microtonal guitars
 
  • #2,452
That arrangement of "Rattlesnake" on a microtonal-fit classical guitar (Ken Murray) was interesting. As with many Rock type musics, arranging for a classical guitar, or for a piano, makes the goodness of the music more plain (or easier to sense).
 
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  • #2,453
Original guitar solo on The Trooper.



Cover by Sakura Yoshida.



I prefer the cover. The double guitar style of Iron Maiden has also been adopted by today's Nihon.

Heavy metal music is not popular there though. The bands play this sort of thing in tiny clubs. There are no chairs so that more fans can be packed in. If you want to make it big it is going to have to be overseas. If you manage to do that then the government will show its appreciation by giving you the theme song on a popular TV show. That's the only way to fill the Nihon arenas. Television rules.

Encore! Good Lord that's impressive. This song is about the dark side of drug abuse.

 
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  • #2,454
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_for_Teacher (1984)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen

(1984) Van Halen - Hot For Teacher (Castle Donington, Monsters of Rock Fest, UK 08-18-1984) (HD 60fps)

- Van Halen - Hot For Teacher (Official Music Video)




(2026) Hot for Teacher — Van Halen (Drum Cover by YOYOKA)


(2013) Hot For Teacher (6 year old Drummer) Avery Drummer Molek


(2020) Hot For Teacher - Van Halen (Multi-Instrumental Cover) by Owen Davey


(2020) Brown M&Ms Video front shot Hot for teacher at whiskey a go go


(2026) Hot For Teacher by Deraps - Live at Reggies, Chicago

- (2023) Deraps Play Van Halen Hot For Teacher Solo Live at Stonedead UK 2023
- (2013) Van Halen Hot For Teacher Cover - Deraps (at 16)
- (2026) Highway Star by Deraps - Live at Reggies, Chicago - great!
 
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