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

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Hornbein said:
That guitarist is really good.
Nice. I have no idea who the guitarist is, but he/she did really well.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If you blindfolded me and told me it was the real thing I might believe it.

 
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robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Countdown_(song) (1986)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe_(band)

Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video) - 1.2B views

- Europe - The Final Countdown - Live 1986(Stockholm)

robphy said:
  • some more covers in #2035
not-so-Honorable Mention: (2006) worst cover ever! *the final count down* (6M views)


(2026) Europe - The Final Countdown Acoustic Guitar Cover ft. William Halajyan Solo - Neo Acoustix


(2019) THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (Music Video) - Gabriela Bee (solo &t=2m31s )


(2026) THE FINAL COUNTDOWN by Europe | Missioned Souls - family band studio cover


another not-so-Honorable Mention: (2012) Worst Cover Ever - The Final Countdown
 
Orig I've long thought this could become a jazz standard. But jazz people these days take things seriously. Patrick Bartley is the exception but he says in jazz school he caught grief for having fun.



Cover
 
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From the Department of Silly Covers

 
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Hornbein said:
It almost seems too good to be true. Can they really do this?


Apparently not. The piano continues when there is nobody playing it. The voices sound layered too, all done in the studio then mime to the vid. A lot of tribute bands do this to advertise themselves, then you go and see them live and there is stuff missing.
 
If there is ever a Best Rock Guitar Solo poll this will get votes.



Gramps does it his own way while staying faithful to the orig.



I used to think the lyric was "you can still buy a house baby, by the riverside."
 
robphy said:
#1,539
These are covers by a family band named Missioned Souls.

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE by LED ZEPPELIN cover by MISSIONED SOULS


SEPARATE WAYS (Worlds Apart) by JOURNEY | Missioned Souls family band (studio) cover


LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (Bon Jovi) Missioned Souls family band cover


MISSIONED SOULS LIVE @ FIDDLER'S Cebu

(Hysteria muse, Rock Around the Clock, BillHaley&HisComets, All The Small Things blink182, Dreams TheCranberriesTV, What It Is To Burn OfficialFinch, Letters To You OfficialFinch)


more Missioned Souls on PF

1782949472825.webp
 
Dig the sax and the first chorus of that epiano solo.

 
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Hornbein said:


The splash cymbal is making a comeback.




This drummer has at least three splash cymbals.

She's sponsored by a drum/cymbal company.
 
Last Rites / Loved To Deth (1985) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Is_My_Business..._and_Business_Is_Good!#Songs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth
https://megadeth.fandom.com/wiki/Last_Rites_⁄_Loved_to_Deth_(song)

(1984) Megadeth- Last Rites/Love To Deth

Megadeth At Berk[e]ley '84 with Kerry King and junior on bass. Drummer unknown. Either Lee Raush or Dijon Carruthers.

(2019) Bach: Toccata and Fugue, BWV 565 - Tariq Harb, guitar
- &t=2m32s



(2019) Last Rites/Loved to Deth - Megadeth - GUITAR COVER - ANALOGIC


(2017) Megadeth - Last Rites / Loved To Death (Piano Cover) - SirTeclas


(2022) Last Rites/Loved to Deth- Last Rites (Megadeth Cover)


honorable mention
- (2022) Megadeth - Last Rites / Loved to Deth (Guitar Cover) Seba Castillo - this is really good
- (2022) Megadeth - Last Rites/Loved to Deth intro cover (piano + guitar) - Atomic Wanderer
- (2024) Last Rites/Loved to Death - Megadeth Guitar Cover - anacopolus
- (2022) MEGADETH - LAST RITES / LOVED TO DETH - BASS COVER - Dr Burn
- (2024) Loved to Deth - Megadeth (Drum Cover by Junkyarddude)
- (2010) Megadeth - Last Rites/Loved to Deth - Drum Cover - MegaChickenOnFire - this is also really good
 
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Covers the whole thing, vocal and guitar.
 
robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(The_Cranberries_song)

Zombie (Acoustic Version) @-&t=12m00s - ( from The Cranberries: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert )


more covers at #1663, #1310

Nene Royal
(2026-July 7) 16-Year-Old Nene Royal Is Shy... Until She Starts Singing "Zombie" | Auditions | AGT



(2024) Zombie - The Cranberries (Live Cover By Nene Royal feat. Headbanging Mike)



(2020) Zombie - The Cranberries (Cover by Nene Royal 9 y/o)

another from (2020) Zombie - The Cranberries (Cover by Nene Royal)


more Nene Royal on PF (a preview of upcoming performances on AGT??)
#1410 Master of Puppets, #1545 Highway Star (and when Nene was 10y.o.) , #1702 The Final Countdown
 
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It wasn't crazy enough so I messed with it.
 
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Ibix said:
What is that guitar body? A cooking oil can?
Marvel Mystery Oil. They say it cleans combustion engines.
 
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Sax and pop/Ai. Alot of unsung talent in Eastern Europe
Screenshot_20260713_061837_Google.webp
 
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Point Conception said:
Sax and pop/Ai. Alot of unsung talent in Eastern Europe View attachment 372981

I wondered about the weird gloomy setting. It turns out it's a WWII memorial.
 
Grateful Dead's St. Stephen. Just found out Jerry Garcia's funeral was in St. Stephens church. Or maybe it was because St. Stephen was stoned to death.



With a harp. Doesn't that sound nice? They even included the glockenspiel. The bass player channeling Phil Lesh, a rare thing.

 
Jailhouse Rock sounds better in Japanese.



"we aimed to create an atmosphere where a prison becomes a rock and roll party." Kindly accept our unworthy effort.
 
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Orig



Sea Shanty Version


Funk Version
 
Insomnia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem_(band)
Anthem (アンセム, Ansemu) is a Japanese heavy metal band that was formed during the early 1980s in Tokyo. They are among the many heavy metal bands founded in Japan during that time and are considered to be one of the most successful and influential, alongside Loudness and Earthshaker.


(2010) INSOMNIA by Anthem

- in studio: Anthem - Insomnia

- https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/anthem/insomnia-guitar-pro-1678238
- https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/talent-worthy-of-wider-recognition.1064653/post-7248226



(2021) Anthem - Insomnia (Bass Cover) - Luciano Reis


(2017)【BASS COVER】　INSOMNIA（Studio Live版） / ANTHEM - YAGI CHANNEL --punchy



(2022) ANTHEM - INSOMNIA (GITAR & BASS COVER) w/ SONY J-ROCKS - Swara Wimayoga --This sounds really good.



(2009) Insomnia (ANTHEM Cover) - gianjmf --This also sounds really good.



Honorable mention:
(2014) INSOMNIA ANTHEM V drum Cover - sugarplay777
 


The old school rock way was that live was what mattered and recordings were pale reflections. Then it changed and the goal became "sounding just like the record." I prefer the old ways.
 
Orig



Amazing cover. The saxist plays very well but the orchestra arrangement is the greatest. It makes me wish I were still in Tokyo.



By golly the saxist is reading those lines. Not improvised. Only in Japan...
 
If you blindfolded me and told me it was Prince I would believe it.



And the audience ignores them! Tough being a musician in the USA.

Encore!

 
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robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painkiller_(Judas_Priest_song) (1990)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judas_Priest
more covers in #1,915 (with three acoustic covers)


(2026) JUDAS PRIEST ／ Painkiller ( cover ) 松島フェス-RockBarステージ- #松フェス
- solo 2m10s

- a different vantage point: (at 15m51s of a 52m video) 2026年6月28日RockBar- 松島フェス -【完全版】最初から最後まで


(2012) Judas Priest - Painkiller - Single-Take, Uncut Vocal Cover by David Lyon



(2022) Painkiller - JUDAS PRIEST (Violin Cover/Drums Cover) - Miq - Miquel Serrahima ---- no guitars
- solo 2m10s



(2018) Judas Priest - Painkiller (string quartet cover) - 4Tune Quartet
- solo 2m05s



(2020) Judas Priest - Painkiller flute cover (recorder) na flauta doce - Phillipflute2368
- solo 2m10s

- Judas Priest - Painkiller (1.5x speed) flute cover (recorder) - solo 1m20s


(2020) Painkiller (Judas Priest Cover); Sina introducing Manou Rao feat. Girish Pradhan
"Introducing Franco-Indian guitar virtuoso Manou Rao (16 y.o.) featuring India's most amazing Rock Singer Girish Pradhan."
 
robphy said:
Master of Puppets (1986)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Puppets_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica

more covers at:
#1410 Master of Puppets [kids]
#1942 Master of Puppets [keyboards, acoustic, Tina S]
#2159 Avery Drummer (6 years old)
#2224 Ami Inoi (acoustic)
#2460 Ariel Hyatt (tapdancing)

(June 2026) Metallica: Master of Puppets (Live in Cardiff, Wales - June 28, 2026)
- solo#1 t=3m30s - solo #2 t=5m40s

(more Metallica on PF)


(2025) Master of Puppets / METALLICA - あおい - 11 years old
- solo#1 t=3m30s - solo#2 t=5m40s



(2024) MASTER OF PUPPETS (Metallica) - Cover by OZONE Kids Band - (guitar: Nene Royal in #2505 , see also #1410 Master of Puppets )
- solo#1 t=3m20s - solo#2 t=5m20s

(more OZONE: #1815 Highway Star)


(2022) Metallica - Master Of Puppets (Short Version with Solo) - Flute Cover - Sailens
- solo#1 - t=2m10s - solo#2 t=4m20s

(more Sailens: Perpetual Burn and Far Beyond the Sun)


(2022) Master of Puppets - Heavy Metal Brass Band cover Metallica - Shane Cox
- solo#1 t=2m20s - solo#2 t=4m00s



(2026) Master of Puppets（Metallica　cover) - NEMOPHILA
- solo#1 t=3m25s - solo#2 t=5m30s

(more NEMOPHILA on PF)

Honorable mention:
- K&G Leiden - Master Of Puppets - Streetparade Vlaardingen 2024
 
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