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

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the comparative analysis of cover songs versus their original versions, highlighting specific examples such as Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" and Jimi Hendrix's rendition of "All Along the Watchtower." Participants argue that the quality of a cover is subjective, often depending on personal taste and the context in which the songs are experienced. Notable mentions include The Residents' cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and the contrasting styles of Simon & Garfunkel versus Disturbed. The conversation emphasizes the importance of interpretation and arrangement in determining whether a cover enhances or detracts from the original work.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of music theory and arrangement techniques
  • Familiarity with notable cover songs and their original counterparts
  • Knowledge of subjective versus objective analysis in music critique
  • Awareness of the cultural impact of iconic artists like Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" on music history
  • Explore the nuances of music interpretation in cover songs
  • Analyze the critical reception of Johnny Cash's "Hurt" compared to the original by Nine Inch Nails
  • Investigate the role of personal bias in music appreciation and critique
USEFUL FOR

Music enthusiasts, critics, and artists interested in the dynamics of cover songs versus originals, as well as anyone exploring the subjective nature of musical interpretation and performance.

  • #511
 
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  • #512


 
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  • #513
  • #514
I'm not going to listen to six Whip Its. Pick the best and leave the rest.
 
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  • #515
robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_It_(Devo_song)

Devo - Whip It (Live On Fridays) (1980)

See also Swiffer Wet Jet - Whip It / Devo /commercial 2003
See also Jerry Casale w/ Deva perform “Whip it” @devo5k 2021 in Akron, Ohio (2021)

MOBY - Whip It (DEVO cover) (1996)


Pearl Jam - Whip It - 10.31.09 Spectrum Philly 4 - Halloween (2009)


Dananananaykroyd cover DEVO 'Whip It' for Like A Version (2009)


Whip It (Dev2.0, 2009)


Whip It (Devo cover) - The Engagements (2018)

I like the fact you offer at least four versions!
 
  • #516
Ok, a bit of a guilty pleasure here from me... :smile:

I have to admit I love this song...
...it's Italo Disco, and the sounds are dated and the video is a bit cheesy, but I think the song is darn good; I can't resist the melodies and arrangement :biggrin:.
And I favor the original because it's more rough than the cover.

Raf - Self control (Official Video)


Covered by Laura Branigan in the 1980s:

Laura Branigan - Self Control


And the song has had a huge influence:

Wikipedia said:
"Self Control" is a song by Italian singer Raf, released in 1984. [...]
The track topped the charts in Italy and Switzerland, and started the explosion and dominance of Italo disco-style recordings in continental European charts during the 1980s.
(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Control_(Raf_song))

Wikipedia said:
Although Italo disco was successful in mainland Europe during the 1980s, only few singles reached the UK charts, such as Ryan Paris's "Dolce Vita", Laura Branigan's "Self Control", Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy", Spagna's "Call Me" and Sabrina's "Boys", all of which were top 5 hits. Italo disco maintained an influence in the UK's underground music scenes in the UK, and its impact can be heard in the music of several British electronic acts such as the Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and New Order.
(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_disco)
 
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  • #517
DennisN said:
Ok, a bit of a guilty pleasure here from me... :smile:

I have to admit I love this song...
...it's Italo Disco, and the sounds are dated and the video is a bit cheesy, but I think the song is darn good; I can't resist the melodies and arrangement :biggrin:.
And I favor the original because it's more rough than the cover.

Raf - Self control (Official Video)


Covered by Laura Branigan in the 1980s:

Laura Branigan - Self Control


And the song has had a huge influence:(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_Control_(Raf_song))(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italo_disco)

First look @DennisN it does look heavy on the fromages de belles France but I will give it a go, as it's you!
 
  • #518
pinball1970 said:
First look @DennisN it does look heavy on the fromages de belles France but I will give it a go, as it's you!
:smile: I sure can't guarantee you'll approve of it :biggrin:.
I'd say it's best to try to filter out the dated sound when listening, and listen to the feeling and composition of it, it's very catchy, and with a strange dark feeling to it.

(The bassline is bad though, in my opinion, so try not to listen to that :biggrin:).
 
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  • #519
DennisN said:
:smile: I sure can't guarantee you'll approve of it :biggrin:.
I'd say it's best to try to filter out the dated sound when listening, and listen to the feeling and composition of it, it's very catchy, and with a strange dark feeling to it.

(The bassline sucks though in my opinion, so try not to listen to that :biggrin:).
Cheese vid, 80s sound, meh baseline....This better have a killer chord progression that Bach would be proud of and lyrics that would make Lennon weep!
No, open mind. @fresh_42 posted a strange video that I like to watch. It's so bad it's good kind of thing.
A few pages back! I will repost.
 
  • #520
pinball1970 said:
This better have a killer chord progression that Bach would be proud of and lyrics that would make Lennon weep!
No sorry, it hasn't at all :smile:. It's pop, but I somehow like the dark vibe in it (and the sort of double chorus, which is unusual in a song... in my ears it has two different choruses following eachother, which I think is cool).
 
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  • #521
Hornbein said:
I'm not going to listen to six Whip Its. Pick the best and leave the rest.

pinball1970 said:
I like the fact you offer at least four versions!

For me, it's about first giving credit to the original.
Then, it's about variations of the covers (who is playing it and how they are playing it)...
not just the best (by some standard or by my current opinion)...
and not necessarily note-for-note covers.

Choose the video with the thumbnail or the title that seems appealing to you.
 
  • #522
robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whip_It_(Devo_song)

Devo - Whip It

Whip It (Devo cover) - The Engagements (2018)

That is not your bar by the way, four versions, one is enough!
Some of the overseas stuff has blown my mind.
By over seas I mean, over the English channel. That is very far.
 
  • #523
This is an interesting way ...



to cover ...

 
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  • #524
 
  • #525
fresh_42 said:
This is an interesting way ...



to cover ...


Dang. I thought they were covering Blue Jay Way.
 
  • #526
fresh_42 said:
This is an interesting way ...

to cover ...
Speaking of interesting and weird covers, here is a very weird one :biggrin:...
Of course I favor the original, but the cover is so fun and they play incredibly good in it:

Thunderstruck by Steve'n'Seagulls (LIVE)


Original: AC/DC - Thunderstruck (Official Video)
 
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  • #527
 
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  • #528
Well I would say this is best
 
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  • #530
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Train

[Ozzy Osbourne & Randy Rhoads] Crazy Train Live in 1981


[Crazy Train] Nine-year-old Guitar Player "Yuto Miyazawa" on ellen 2009-may-11 (2009)
Crazy Train starts at 1:40
meets Ozzy at 4:45

Later that year, BLIZZCON 09' ** Ozzy ** Crazy Train ** Featuring 9 year old guitarist Yuto Miyazawa
( https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/BlizzCon_2009 )

[Crazy Train] The Warning | Ellen DeGeneres TV Show (2015)

See also CRAZY TRAIN - OZZY OSBOURNE COVER - THE WARNING @ LICEO
and [The Warning - Patreon] Their Metallica cover went viral. Here's how they kept rocking

Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne (Motown Style Cover) ft. Jennie Lena (Postmodern Jukebox) (2018)
(turn on captioning)


Puddles Pity Party - Crazy Train (2019)


One Man Band Covers Crazy Train (Aaron Paulsen, 2023)


Snippets on various instruments:
 
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  • #531
morrobay said:

Bloody hell! What an amazing voice!
 
  • #532
PMJ. I adore Jazz one of those genres that is not played in the west much.

How about this?

 
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  • #533
My contribution to terrible covers.

 
  • #534
pinball1970 said:
PMJ
Their cover of Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass is fun. Original:

Cover:
 
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  • #535
Ok, and a random youtube crawl from that one brought me to this rendition of Paint It Black to the tune of Back To Black:
 
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  • #536
Ibix said:
Ok, and a random youtube crawl from that one brought me to this rendition of Paint It Black to the tune of Back To Black:

Very PMJ! Loved it.
I could spend a lot of time going through these tracks.

 
  • #537
Hornbein said:
My contribution to terrible covers.


I liked it! I love drums on satellite mikes!
 
  • #538
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_in_Black_(song) (1980)

AC/DC - Back In Black (Official Video)


Sunshiners "Back In Black" (AcDc Cover) (2008)


Back in Black - AC DC Cover - The Warning (2014)


Back in Black - ACDC // Pastors of Muppets cover (2018)


Back In Black - AC/DC (LIVE Cover by. Jewel Box) (2022) - bass solo outro


Back in Black | @acdc | funk cover ft. Joanna Jones & Joe Bonamassa (2023)


Honorable mention:

sElf - Back In Black (2008) one-man-band - some NSFW lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CtO712SCVc

ACDC back in black bass solo by jiwoong Kim bass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk90StzufWk

AC/DC - Back In Black on iPhone (GarageBand) by iSongs - progressively built on GarageBand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OyRQYlg0Kw
 
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  • #539
I can beat all those Back In Blacks. From Kyiv.

 
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  • #540
Hornbein said:
I can beat all those Back In Blacks. From Kyiv.
They were good.

My selections were based on the novelty of the performers and of the re-interpretations.
(This even applies to my Devo Whip It selections, although the diversity of those selections might not have been appreciated.)
Both the influence of the original work and the courage to attempt it in a new way
are pleasantly surprising.
 
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