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

[robphy]

To kick off summer...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Song_(Joe_Satriani_song) (1992)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Satriani

(2010) Joe Satriani Plays "Summer Song" Live at Sweetwater

( official video - (1992) Summer Song )

---

(2023) Joe satriani - Summer Song Cover | Cort X500 Menace GS (SENA_DIH)

(see also #1057 Satch Boogie and #766 and #1046 Tornado of Souls )

(2009) Summer Song - Satriani (Cover by Thirsty Betty - Andrew Kesler )
&t=37s


(2007) Summer Song(Joe Satriani) by 2 violins ( Jimmy Kim )

(their (2007) Far Beyond the Sun cover is also good)

(2020) Joe Satriani - Summer Song (Violin cover) - Thousands Army


(2016) Joe Satriani - Summer Song (cover by Ale_Keyboards) - Pasquale Bubbico

(see also his cover of #1109 Tears of Sahara )

 

[Hornbein]

Damn! Superproducer Andrei Cerbu is full of surprises. Today Romania, tomorrow the world.

 

[Hornbein]

And Your Bird Can Sing -- Sweet/Huffs​

 

[Hornbein]

American Girl, Tom Petty | Larkin Poe​

 

[robphy]

#478
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar_18_(song)

Megadeth - Hangar 18 [Live on Arsenio Hall Show, 1990]


[covers] in #478

---

This bassist plays the whole song, including all the solos, on... a bass.

(2021) MegadetH - Hangar 18. but it's ALL ASS ( with solos, feat. GhostFace Drummer) - mgrocki



(2019) Hangar 18 BACKWARDS - Bradley Hall (and mgrocki )

• reversal begins at &t=2m35s

(see also #760 Tornado of Souls)


This violinist also does a great job with the solos.

(2013) Heavy Metal Violinist performs Megadeth Hangar 18 - Monty Bloom





This acoustic version has its own vibe...

(2015) Megadeth – Hangar 18 (violin & guitar duet by Doralice) - yates brown

( here's their "Rusted Pieces EP" )

https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/megadeth-hangar-18-tab-s12836
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/megadeth-hangar-18-solos-tab-s580864

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

​

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Arjan82]

 

[Arjan82]

Just this guy...

 

[pinball1970]

Come together - Robin Williams & Bobby McFerrin​

​

​

​

I Am The Walrus (sung by JIM CARREY)​

He always goes crazy.Calm down dude, record a track in your own voice.
He can sing I just don't know what that is.

 

[pinball1970]

He always goes crazy.Calm down dude, record a track in your own voice.
He can sing I just don't know what that is.

Like this clip, this is a parody but you can tell he can sing.

 

[pinball1970]

​

That slide is lovely. I am not usually impressed with additions to perfection.

 

[robphy]

BOSTON - "Peace Of Mind" - KIDS Collaboration Cover​

#1089

This is great!

That video was posted by the bassist Ellen Alaverdyan ( ‪@EllenPlaysBass‬ ),
who you featured in #372 EllenAlaverdyan (playing Penny Lane and Blackbird).
See also #637 The Ocean where Ellen collaborated
with this song's drummer Yoyoka Soma ( ‪@yoyoka_soma‬ ), who posted the same video.
See your #396 Summertime Blues , and
also #592 Yoyoka (playing YYZ, Stone Cold Crazy, Over the Mountain, Mr. Crowley, Satch Boogie, and Good Times Bad Times), #673 Killing in the Name , #908 Jump , #991 Satch Boogie .

The YouTube video description links to the other musicians
and to www.kidsrockforkids.com ( @kidsrockforkids3929‬ ).

They also collaborated to play
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hysteria_(Muse_song)

KIDS ROCK FOR KIDS Global Collab - Hysteria (by Muse)

 

[Hornbein]

That slide is lovely. I am not usually impressed with additions to perfection.

Megan Lovell truly is something.

 

[Hornbein]

Covering the Grateful Dead.



I think what makes this so good is that the Dead were just learning to sing harmony. They didn't know what the rules were.

But the original still rules.

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

I have always loved Larkin Poe’s John the Revelator

Here's the orig.

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Glass_(song) (1979)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blondie_(band)

(1979) Heart of Glass - Blondie | The Midnight Special (October 5, 1979)

---

(2020) Miley Cyrus - Heart Of Glass (Live from the iHeart Festival) (180M views)


(2021) HEART OF GLASS (BLONDIE) Cover - OV Studios


(2017) ハイコーフェス８「KETTLES／Heart Of Glass (Blondie cover)」

• ...and now some very different covers...

(2017) Tiger Lion - Heart Of Glass (cold cover)


(2022) Nick Shoulders - Heart of Glass (official video)

(see also Nick Shoulders- ‘Heart of Glass’ - Blondie *cover* )

(2012) Mini Mansions- "Heart of Glass" OFFICIAL VIDEO


Honorable mention:

• (in the spirit of PostmodernJukebox )
  
  (2016) Heart Of Glass - Gypsy Jazz Blondie Cover ft. The Sons [of Pitches]
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YubIYJIniZE
  
  
• (2019) Blondie - Heart of Glass (Cover by Michael Shynes feat. Anica) | VIDEO PREMIER
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=x-opTF4Mi5o

 

[jack action]

​

Rebekah Del Rio (the singer at Club Silencio) first met director David Lynch when a talent agent took her, on a whim, to a recording studio where Lynch happened to be and asked her to sing a song for him. She performed an impromptu version of "Llorando" which, also on a whim (and without her knowledge), was being taped by the audio engineer. Years later, Lynch decided to incorporate the song into this film. However, except for a few minor tweaks, this was the exact same recording used in the movie.​

​

 

[pinball1970]

and....

 

[jack action]

Not really a cover, more of different versions since it is the same singer (maybe also the same musicians).

The original has a more mystical sound. The arrangements are more complex with a lot of fine details to listen to.

​

The second version was done for the movie Rock Star where they gave it a more hard rock sound. The drums are more prominent and the guitar solos are more hardcore. It seems to have a slightly faster tempo too.

​

Very subtle differences but I still like the movie version better. How about you?

 

[pinball1970]

Not really a cover, more of different versions since it is the same singer (maybe also the same musicians).

The original has a more mystical sound. The arrangements are more complex with a lot of fine details to listen to.

​

The second version was done for the movie Rock Star where they gave it a more hard rock sound. The drums are more prominent and the guitar solos are more hardcore. It seems to have a slightly faster tempo too.

​

Very subtle differences but I still like the movie version better. How about you?

So in two minds about Neil Young. I do not mean I am trying to decide, I mean I am in two minds.

I never liked his nasal voice, I hated it in fact, until I saw a 1970s one man performance by him.
Very impressive, just his voice, piano guitar and harmonica.
I still do not like that quality in his voice, I did not like in "Deja vu," even though the album is brilliant.
I heard"After the gold rush" by prelude and was blown away, I still am. No idea he wrote it! I didn't like his version.
He is Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to me. Admire his talents, prefer the covers!

 

[Hornbein]

Orig.

You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond - Blind Willie Johnson​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYtT8owyJ0

Worthy cover



Some say Blind Willie Johnson invented this style.

It was pretty late in life that I learned the Mississippi Delta was actually a huge river bottom and not a delta. I guess that's because it's more similar to the original delta of the Nile than is the actual Mississippi delta, which is more like an iota.

 

[Hornbein]

Another nice one.



I thought it meant you would need someone to pay the bail bondsman to get you out of jail but it seems more abstract than that.

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groove_Is_in_the_Heart (August 1990)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deee-Lite

(May 1990) Deee-Lite "Groove Is In the Heart" Live May 1990 NYC

Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (Official Video)
DEEE-LITE-RARE- Arsenio (9/4/1990) 4K HD-BEST COPY!

• Who Played This ICONIC Dance Bass Line From 1990???
• Bring Down The Birds - Herbie Hancock (from "Blow Up" soundtrack)
  
  
• Deee Lite Interview 1992
• Erica Ehm with DeeLite Interview 1994

---

Mandrakke - Groove Is In The Heart (Deee Lite cover) [with a little Blurred Lines]


Groove is in the Heart (Country Version) - Deee-Lite | HonkyTonk Party Band Cover

@mikerogers9660 - 2 years ago
Having recorded and mixed the original version of this record, none of the covers really did it for me. But this cheeky country version is really charming. Hats off to you all for having fun with an already fun record.

'Groove Is In The Heart' Acoustic, Megan Reece wit


Groove Is In The Heart- Soul Chic Cover ( Deee-Lite) - Georgia Byrne


Groove Is In The Heart (metal cover by Leo Moracchioli - Frog Leap) - one of many videos of metal covers

 

[Hornbein]

The original Confirmation. Written by Charlie Parker, performed by Dizzy Gillespie and Milt Jackson.



Charlie's version is pretty sloppy. He must have been high. So instead let's go with Saori Yano.

 

[Hornbein]

"Here, There, and Everywhere" Peter Sprague Solo Guitar​

 

[morrobay]

Original

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

John Scofield covers The Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band. Not crazy about the weird improv but the head is great.

 

[pinball1970]

This girl is crazy. How did a young lass get into Kate Bush? This album is 40 years old and she has covered two tracks.
Both amazing.

 

[Hornbein]

The orig. Covered by The Rolling Stones.

(And he clearly doesn't sing "gotta".)

 

[robphy]

"Far Beyond the Sun" (1984)
is track 2 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rising_Force
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yngwie_Malmsteen

Yngwie J Malmsteen - Far Beyond The Sun Live 1985 (HQ)


https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/yngwie-malmsteen-far-beyond-the-sun-tab-s13478

---

(2021) Y. Malmsteen - Far Beyond The Sun - Flute Cover - Sailens Flute

(also has a nice cover of Steve Vai - For The Love Of God - Flute Cover ,
which could be added to #1118 For the Love of God )

(2008) 三味線 ROCK! Shamisen 80s Heavy Metal, Yngwie cover! Far beyond the sun! - shamisendemon


(2017) Netta Skog - Far Beyond The Sun (Yngwie Malmsteen cover) - accordion
&t=35s


(2017) Yngwie Malmsteen - FAR BEYOND THE SUN piano cover - John Yang


(2007) Yngwie Malmsteen Far beyond the Sun by Violin ( Jimmy Kim )

(see #1151 Summer Song )

---

and some covers by artists featured earlier

• (live) violin cover by Unlucky Morpheus:
  (2022) 【QUADRATUM From Unlucky Morpheus】Far Beyond The Sun （Yngwie Malmsteen Cover）2022 LIVE
  
  - for a selfie video, see Jill plays violin, Far Beyond the Sun
  - (see #108 music video version of Unlucky Morpheus Far Beyond the Sun )
  - (see #1118 For the Love of God and #681 and #682 (Dance of Eternity )
  
  
  
• keyboard cover by Pasquale Bubbico :
  (2016) Yngwie Malmsteen - Far Beyond The Sun (cover by Ale_Keyboards)
  
  - (see also #1109 Tears of Sahara and #1151 Summer Song )
  
  
  
  
• backwards cover by Bradley Hall:
  (2019) Bradley Hall's Far Beyond The Sun BACKWARDS -
  ( reversal at &t=3m47s )
  
  - (see also #760 Tornado of Souls and #1155 Hangar 18 )

 

[pinball1970]

This girl is crazy. How did a young lass get into Kate Bush? This album is 40 years old and she has covered two tracks.
Both amazing.

This is the original.



Check out the fretless bass work, everyone was using them in the early 1980s and it was annoying as hell like synth drums but somehow Kate Bush always made it sound great and not contrived.

Even for Kate Bush this album was very weird at the time, with no "pop" or commercial hits but for me it her best out of the first 5 albums.

 

[Hornbein]

The original. OK but not much, eh?



Sweet and Hoffs explore undiscovered potential. Sweet's low harmony part is what makes it. Those electronics he's using on the eguitar is pretty slick too.

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smells_Like_Teen_Spirit (1991)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(band)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live At The Paramount, Seattle / 1991)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

• Rick Beato - What Makes This Song Great? "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana

---

• (2022) 15.07.22: PAUL ANKA "Smells Like Teen Spirit"@Tanzbrunnen Köln (Germany)
  (2007) Paul Anka - Smells like teen spirit [on Letterman]
  
  
• (2007) Patti Smith - Smells Like Teen Spirit
  (2007) Smells Like Teen Spirit · Patti Smith (studio version)
  
  
• (1992) Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit

(2022) Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (LIVE Cover by. Jewel Box)

(see #493 YYZ , #500 Welcome to the Jungle, #538 Back in Black )

(2020) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya feat. Kim and Shturmak)

(see #539 Back in Black)

(2023) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover) by Jazz Overhaul


(2021) Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain



(reference in #850 to Weird Al's parody cover "Smells Like Nirvana")

 

[Hornbein]

Check out the fretless bass work, everyone was using them in the early 1980s and it was annoying as hell like synth drums but somehow Kate Bush always made it sound great and not contrived.

Please have some respect for the tragedy that was Jaco.

The only synth drums I ever liked were the Bush version. She used them to command a feeling of oppression.

A work of genius. Warning : it is meant to be disturbing. Very disturbing.



Pop music comes and pop music goes, but The Ninth Wave will live as long as ... as long as it does.

Even for Kate Bush this album was very weird at the time, with no "pop" or commercial hits but for me it her best out of the first 5 albums.

She said that this was her "I'm going mad" album. She later wrote "The Red Shoes" which is about that very topic. Having myself gone completely insane and committed to an asylum, I can attest her view is very accurate. So accurate I feel certain she went through the same. I felt I was doing the right thing. It was insidious.



To avoid ending on a bummer,



She later married the eguitar player. He's pretty good.

 

[symbolipoint]

The orig. Covered by The Rolling Stones.

(And he clearly doesn't sing "gotta".)

Just now listened to both. I hear "gotta" being pronounced in both.

 

[jack action]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smells_Like_Teen_Spirit (1991)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(band)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live At The Paramount, Seattle / 1991)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

• Rick Beato - What Makes This Song Great? "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana

---

• (2022) 15.07.22: PAUL ANKA "Smells Like Teen Spirit"@Tanzbrunnen Köln (Germany)
  (2007) Paul Anka - Smells like teen spirit [on Letterman]
  
  
• (2007) Patti Smith - Smells Like Teen Spirit
  (2007) Smells Like Teen Spirit · Patti Smith (studio version)
  
  
• (1992) Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit

(2022) Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (LIVE Cover by. Jewel Box)

(see #493 YYZ , #500 Welcome to the Jungle, #538 Back in Black )

(2020) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya feat. Kim and Shturmak)

(see #539 Back in Black)

(2023) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (cover) by Jazz Overhaul


(2021) Smells Like Teen Spirit - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain



(reference in #850 to Weird Al's parody cover "Smells Like Nirvana")

Like everybody of my generation, I love that song that was meant to be a call to arms: "The generation's apathy is getting out of hand. [I'm] pleading to the kids, 'Wake up!'" The inspiration for the song was a quote written on his apartment's wall by a friend of his then-girlfriend: "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit". This guy who has felt unloved, ridiculed, and persecuted for the major part of his life took that as a suggestion that he was an inspirational figure.

The sad side of this story is that after he wrote and recorded the song, he learned that the meaning of his friend's quote was meant to laugh at him. Because he was so in love with his girlfriend and followed her everywhere, trying to spend every minute with her, the quote actually states that the scent of his girlfriend's deodorant (of the Teen Spirit brand) rubbed off on him. Too late to do anything about it.

Worst, once the song became popular, the manufacturer of Teen Spirit asked permission to use the song to sell their product which, of course, was refused.

Once you learn the guy committed suicide not long after, most likely because of self-esteem issues, the song takes a whole new meaning that saddens me every time.

 

[Hornbein]

The Beatles' All You Need Is Love



Nowadays the Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra performs a more upbeat version of All You Need Is Love as an encore.

It took me over a month to put two and two together. The Beatles, Liverpool.... The orchestra was honoring their homeboys.

 

[Hornbein]

I went to a "popular music" concert at Suntory. This was played as an encore. Takamitsu is the most honored Japanese composer. He also wrote orchestral works and so forth. Too "modern" for me.

 

[Hornbein]

Like everybody of my generation, I love that song that was meant to be a call to arms: "The generation's apathy is getting out of hand. [I'm] pleading to the kids, 'Wake up!'" The inspiration for the song was a quote written on his apartment's wall by a friend of his then-girlfriend: "Kurt smells like Teen Spirit". This guy who has felt unloved, ridiculed, and persecuted for the major part of his life took that as a suggestion that he was an inspirational figure.

The sad side of this story is that after he wrote and recorded the song, he learned that the meaning of his friend's quote was meant to laugh at him. Because he was so in love with his girlfriend and followed her everywhere, trying to spend every minute with her, the quote actually states that the scent of his girlfriend's deodorant (of the Teen Spirit brand) rubbed off on him. Too late to do anything about it.

I dunno, that he loves his girlfriend so much her perfume rubbed off on him, that's romantic, touching. Nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe he could have had a more positive attitude towards such things. And life in general. But did he listen to me? Nah...

 

[robphy]

#1187

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smells_Like_Teen_Spirit (1991)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(band)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live At The Paramount, Seattle / 1991)

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)

(covers in #1187 )

Here's another cover...

by the drummer Yoyoka and, later, with her family
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoyoka_Soma

(2018) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit / Drum Cover by Yoyoka, 9 year old

( #592 Yoyoka )

(2021) Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit / Covered by YOYOKA family (KANEAIYOYOKA) at Home
The singer is Yoyoka's brother Shido , who is also a drummer and guitarist.

(see Yoyoka and her mom in #673 Killing in the Name)

 

[Hornbein]

Orig



Cover

 

[Hornbein]

I met a man who was such a fan of Yoyoka he had dinner with her and her family in Los Angeles. They moved there from Hokkaido to further her career. She transformed him into a Japanese female fusion addict, away from his former alligiance to AC/DC and KISS. Not only did he attend every Jazz Avengers gig in the big island of Honshu, he was going to every individual show of the eight bandmembers. His goal was to get something signed by each one.

Another man walked up who resembled guitarist Etsuji Ogawa. It was close enough that I wondered whether it really was Etsuji but he wouldn't be hanging out in the audience. This man had gone to see the Jazz Avengers all the way up in Hokkaido so he was perhaps even more of a fan. I didn't have that sort of dedication but had been following some of the individual members for years before the JA even existed so that gave me senior status.

Etsuji Ogawa​

 

[robphy]

"Speed Metal Symphony" is the last track on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Metal_Symphony (1987)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacophony_(band)

( #767 on Marty Friedman ; #760 Tornado of Souls )
( #891 on Jason Becker who began suffering from ALS a few years after this video below )

(live, 1989) Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony (Marty Friedman and Jason Becker) - Becker is about 19 here
&t=1m00s

(Speed Metal Symphony studio version 9m32s)

- Marty Friedman on Jason Becker and Cacophony (2011 interview)
- Story Behind The Song - Cacophony's Speed Metal Symphony (2002)

SPEED METAL SYMPHONY
This makes me think of Jason and me practicing on the rooftop of my downtown apartment on Taylor St. in San Francisco. Like 'Concerto', we could sleep through this one. There is a slow passage in this that Jason plays that is so gorgeous that it was the one sole deciding factor that made me want to start a band with him. Varney (executive producer) hated the dissonant ending of this song and quite appropriately referred to it as a trainwreck. Jason and I fought hard to keep it on the record. I can see Varney's point but there was something in the randomness and 'cacophony' of all that noise that attracted me and Jason to it.

- more videos are on pages of Jason Becker and of (drummer) Atma Anur and of (drummer) Ken Stavropoulos

- https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/cacophony-speed-metal-symphony-tab-s3807t1

---

(2018) Speed Metal Symphony - Cacophony cover (Gabriel Guardian) - solo excerpt


(2021) Cacophony | Speed Metal Symphony | Piano/ Guitar arrangement ( Alessandro Marino / Edoardo Taddei)


(live, 2015) Luís Kalil: Speed Metal Symphony Laney Booth 2015 - Luís Kalil is 15 years old here

(2014) Luís Kalil - Speed Metal Symphony (Cacophony)

(2020) Speed Metal Symphony - Cacophony (Tribute The Jason Becker and Marty Friedman) - Henrique Guitar Player

 

[morrobay]

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout_(Yes_song) (1971)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes_(band)

(1972) YesSongs #7: YES - Roundabout

• Rick Beato - What Makes This Song Great? "Roundabout" YES
• BassBuzz - Why This Bass Line Effin’ Kills It → Roundabout by Yes (+Tab)

---

(2020) The Band Geeks play Roundabout (Quarantine Edition) - Richie Castellano (Band Geek and Blue Oyster Cult)


(2023) Yes - Roundabout / Drum Covered by Shido

(see also #1194 Yoyoka's family cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit )

(2019) JOJO的奇妙冒險 | Roundabout | YES | Fingerstyle Guitar cover - Feifei Du


(2014) ROUNDABOUT full cover- One man band - FridayNightLullaby


(2019) Pretty lovely maid girl plays bass(Yes Roundabout cover) - H.J.Freaks

 

[Hornbein]