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

[difalcojr]

like this cover version better, even. Fun to watch hear guitar players this good.

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_More_Tears (1991)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzy_Osbourne

(1992) Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (Live)

- OZZY OSBOURNE - "No More Tears" (Official Video)
- ( more Ozzy on PF )

• OZZY OSBOURNE "No More Tears" Zakk Wylde playthrough | RIFFHARD

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(2015) Tornado - No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne Cover) live at Parking Toys - (nice vocals and guitar work)


(2013) Kids Cover "No More Tears" by Ozzy / O'Keefe Music Foundation - (great!)

- ( more O'Keefe on PF )

(2023) NO MORE TEARS w/ SOLO Live Acoustic Ozzy Osbourne | Ben Richey cover - (one man band)



(2025) Brass Against - No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne Cover) [Official Video] - (this rocks! great instruments with Morgan James on vocals, especially the closing vocals!)

- (more Brass Against on PF )

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honorable mention:
(2025) Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (cover by Prime Orchestra) [mainly instrumental]
(2020) Deep Voice Guy - No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne) Full Cover

 

[fresh_42]

 

[robphy]

#1,950
Staying Alive (1977)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stayin'_Alive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_Gees

Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (Official Music Video)

• Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive 1989 Live Video

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move covers

( see also #1,997 )


(2023) Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (Otamatone Cover by NELSONTYC)


(2014) Stayin' Alive - Cereus Bright (Bee Gees Cover)


(2025) Royal Republic - Stayin' Alive (Official Video)

 

[Ibix]

(2015) Final Countdown on Musical Tesla Coils (Bobinas de Tesla) (Fabricio H. Fra

Thunderstruck on Tesla coils (had to be done).

 

[robphy]

(1988) Eleven Blue Egyptians from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_Burn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Becker - (played guitar, bass, and keyboards)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Friedman played a guest solo (both were in Cacaphony )

• (see also my post #11 in the Metal, Rock thread )
• (more Jason Becker on PF)

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(1988) Cacophony - Eleven Blue Egyptians [Live In Los Angeles '88]
- (Jason Becker is 19 here. Marty Friedman is 25.)



(2018) Drum parts video of Jason Becker's "Eleven Blue Egyptians" ( Atma Anur , the drummer on the album)

Here is my drum parts video of Jason Becker's original composition Eleven Blue Egyptians, featuring the note for note grooves and fills that I played originally on this piece. This is possibly my favourite track on Jason's epic Perpetual Burn album, which also celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! Also on this track is master musician, and blistering guitarist, Marty Friedman. As always I've re-recorded the drums and mixed them over the original recording. Happy 30th anniversary Jason! - Atma Anur

TAB: https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/jason-becker-eleven-blue-egyptians-tab-s29703

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(2013) Eleven Blue Egyptians cover (Ryan Khan)


(2016) Eleven Blue Egyptians - Jason Becker // Recreation by Devin Mysyk


(2016) Jason Becker - Eleven Blue Egyptians (Concerto for Electric Guitar) Full Cover by Sami Jawahir


(2017) Jason Becker - Eleven Blue Egyptians קאבר - (not the best sound... but credit for playing live)

 

[pinball1970]

Alonya, brilliant voice.



Original

 

[fresh_42]

Alonya, brilliant voice.



Original

I guess I have a few more years on my tacho, as we say here, so I love their reminiscences of the 60s. Here are the covers:

 

[robphy]

(1987) Desert Island from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_Metal_Symphony
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacophony_(band)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Friedman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Becker

(Jason is about 20. Marty is about 26.)
(1989) Cacophony - Desert Island [Live in Japan '89] - (I'm not a fan of the vocals here.)

So much obnoxious noise
I wanna spend my life at the beach
I'm gettin' tired of the daily shoutin'
City gets the worst of me.... https://genius.com/Cacophony-desert-island-lyrics

• part of Cacophony 1989 Interview Japan + Desert Island and Black Cat live - Desert Island &t=8m48s

• (1987) studio album version of Desert Island (Cacophony) from Speed Metal Symphony
• Marty Friedman on Songwriting, Cacophony, and Jason Becker

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(2024) Cacophony - Solo Desert Island ( Cover por Nelson Navarro )


(2022) Desert Island -- Full Band Cover - Franco Lama



The following are far from polished.

• (2010) Desert Island (CACOPHONY Cover) by "G SPOT HEROES" - (tribute band from Chile)
  
  

  @JasonBeckerOfficial
  14 years ago
  You guys are so awesome!
  Jason Becker

• (2016) desert island cover of cacophony by bad apple at verna rock show rock in goa 2016 20 march - (band from India)
  

 

[fresh_42]

T.I.L. That Jackie Lee sang backing vocals on Hendrix's "Hey Joe."

This was after getting all nostalgic reading the three months summer break thread. Jackie Lee sang "White Horses," which all 1960s/70s Brit kids remember.
Anyway she is still going 89.

I found a nice cover:

 

[Hornbein]

I thought it slow so sped it up a lot.

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Vai
(1995) Tender Surrender and Bad Horsie from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Love_Secrets

Steve Vai - "Tender Surrender"


Steve Vai - "Bad Horsie"

(2020) Steve Vai - "Bad Horsie" from the Harmony Hut

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Here are two recent covers by kids...
both just signed with Enya Music (electric guitar brand) [no relation to the musician Enya].

• (2025) Tender Surrender comes from the guitar master, Steve Vai, cover by Maituo (Maitio is 10)
  
  
  An interview with Maituo, Maituo's father, and Enya about their music creation
  (more Maituo on PF )
  
  
  
• (2025) Bad Horsie - Steve Vai Covered by Evlee (Evlee is 16)
  
  
  Evlee Exclusive Talks about Joining Enya Music
  (more Evlee on PF ; #1,611 cover Legato Etude From Hell )
  
  
• (see also #1,118 (Vai) For the Love of God in covers thread)

 

[difalcojr]

Wow!!! Those youngsters are musical prodigies, just amazing how skilled the very young can be.

Don't see this one yet on thread. Huge amount of covers. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/644/versions

Found a good original, though he covered it too, but he made the most recognized version.


Youtube has this one listed as "best" cover.

 

[JT Smith]

Stick Season - Noah Kahan



Olivia Rodrigo (cover)

 

[difalcojr]

cover of Kate Wolf song:

 

[jack action]

Wipe Out guitar riff ... on drums!

​

 

[robphy]

(1978) Kill the King from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Live_Rock_'n'_Roll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_(rock_band)

Rainbow - Kill The King (Live in Munich 1977) | Stages
&t=1m45s

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(2025) HAGANE -【Cover】Rainbow / Kill the King


(2023) Killington Pit - "Kill The King" (Official Music Video)


(2014) Kill the King - The Band Geeks with Rocco Monterosso


(2016) Metallica - Ronnie Rising Medley (A Light In the Black / Tarot Woman / Stargazer / Kill the King)
4:23 Kill The King


(2021) Rainbow - Kill the King / Drum Covered by YOYOKA

(more Yoyoka: #592 , #1,624 , Yoyoka on PF )

Honorable mention:
KILL THE KING Cover - oh yes - (this is different)

 

[robphy]

(2000) Kill the King
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_the_King_(song)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth

Megadeth - Kill The King (Medan, Indonesia - July 31, 2001) [Pro Shot]


Megadeth - Kill The King (Music Video)

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Aydin Zahedi -Megadeth - Kill The King (Cover)


Megadeth - Kill The King(Cover) - Jasonhide (instrumental)


Kill The King - A Megadeth Drum Cover - Third Power Studios

 

[jack action]

Ghostbusters by ...

Sershen&Zaritskaya feat. Kim and Shturmak - Always a favorite!

​

This Wild Life - Accoustic guitars with such nice percussions with the guitar at the end!

​

Vicky Psarakis & Cody Johnstone - Starts "normal" but what an ending!

​

Broken Peach - Check out their other covers!

​

Sam Tsui, Alyson Stoner, & Kurt Hugo Schneider - Nice video, with a modern twist!

​

Heavy Metal Heroes

​

Leo Moracchioli

https://youtu.be/hF39e_hnFb8​

The Bass Gang ft. Peter Hollens - Nice acapella version!

https://youtu.be/Krs-0_CVj5o​

Xentrix

https://youtu.be/FFob3FZA7qg​

No Small Children

https://youtu.be/g1XQEKmLsPg​

 

[pinball1970]

Some amazing musicians on YouTube. I could listen to this guy all day.

 

[pinball1970]

Wipe Out guitar riff ... on drums!

​

So, you have a gig and check in with the sound engineer before hand because you're a pro.
Engineer: So you're ok with our back line?
Manager: Yeah that's fine.
Engineer: Vocals?
Manager: Just the one and effects peddle.
Engineer: Great, drums? He's not a lefty is he? An absolute pain to change round for the support band
Manager: No.
Engineer: Great, set up?
Manager: One bass drum, one snare and 25 toms.
Engineer:

 

[pinball1970]

Wow!!! Those youngsters are musical prodigies, just amazing how skilled the very young can be.

Don't see this one yet on thread. Huge amount of covers. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/644/versions

Found a good original, though he covered it too, but he made the most recognized version.


Youtube has this one listed as "best" cover.

As a rule I do not like Hendrix covers because Hendrix was, is Hendrix.
This lad though has such a great voice and can play too.
I would go to his gig.

 

[pinball1970]

Unbelievable talent, a one in a million player like Buddy Rich.

 

[pinball1970]

Really good vocals in this live performance, they are two talented girls:

Guy TIPPED $100 for this PERFORMANCE!! ABBA - S.O.S. | Allie Sherlock cover & Zoe Clarke

Im upvoting because it's ABBA, she can sing and they are doing their version BUT....I miss those keys parts.

 

[Hornbein]

Heart - Alone

 

[Hornbein]

Musicians like this make me feel that I know nothing of harmony. I like that.

I like Oscar in the rare cases he deigns to play slowly.

 

[pinball1970]

Heart - Alone

Actually i-ten.

 

[Hornbein]

 

[fresh_42]

Does that count as a cover?

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ran_(So_Far_Away) (1982)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Flock_of_Seagulls

A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away) (Video)

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I Ran (so far away) - Flock of Seagulls - Acoustic Cover - Lady Stardust Backyard Noise


I Ran(So Far Away) A Flock Of Seagulls Cover by Massive Grass


I Ran - A Flock Of Seagulls (Fingerstyle Cover) Daniel James Guitar



I Ran So Far Away - A Flock of Seagulls Cover (Dark Fantasy Version) - King Vagabond


I Ran - Rotation -metal

Kings County - I Ran (So Far Away) (Official Video)

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Honorable mention:
I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock Of Seagulls [acoustic cover] by João Peneda -vocal+acousticGuitar
I Ran - John Hollier (A Flock of Seagulls Cover) -band
I ran (so far away) - A Flock of Seagulls (cover with Night Attack) -pandemic collab
Video 76: I RAN by A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS (Ukulele Cover by The Fruity Ukuladies) -ukelele
A Flock of Seagulls cover - I Ran So Far Away - Antigravitypop - one man, all parts
ALL for ROME - I Ran (metal cover by Mike Jaxsin) -one man, all parts, metal

I RAN (if it was on broadway) | A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS | Cover by Kerrin Connolly -vocal
I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls (Janet Devlin cover) -vocal

Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away) - Ska Cover by The Holophonics -ska
Hidden In Plain View - I Ran (A Flock of Seagulls) -punk