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

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The discussion centers around the merits of cover songs compared to their originals, exploring which covers are considered better and which should have been avoided. The subjective nature of evaluating music is emphasized, with opinions varying widely based on personal taste. Notable examples include Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower," which many argue surpasses Bob Dylan's original, and Johnny Cash's rendition of "Hurt," which evokes deep emotion. Other covers, such as those by Eva Cassidy and the Bare Naked Ladies, are praised for their unique interpretations that enhance the originals. Conversely, some covers are criticized for lacking originality or failing to add anything new, with specific songs mentioned as examples of covers that should have been left alone. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of musical interpretation, the role of the listener in evaluating art, and the complexities of genre classification, particularly in jazz. Overall, the thread highlights the rich landscape of music covers, showcasing both celebrated interpretations and those deemed unnecessary.
  • #751
Josh Turner & band - Late In The Evening

 
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  • #752
rcgldr said:
Josh Turner & band - Late In The Evening


Wow, that's uncanny! He sounds so much like him!
 
  • #753
 
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  • #754
Hornbein said:

Wow, that's different! I loved it.
 
  • #755
Hornbein said:

This could go on the funk thread!
 
  • #756
This lass is from Yorkshire, the original was by The Toys and the tune is a based on Bach piece.

Listen to the girls tone, she captures the original I think.

 
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  • #757
Some Yes, just voice and piano.

 
  • #758
Tell me you don't want to be 19 again living in a student house like this.
Baby Driver

 
  • #759
These guys are great.

And your bird can sing

 
  • #760
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_of_Souls
When I finished the solo to this one, Mustaine came into the studio, listened to it down once, turned around and without saying a word, shook my hand. It was at that moment that I felt like I was truly the guitarist for this band.

https://martyfriedman.com/info_archive_detail.php?id=13&det=83

Megadeth - "Tornado of Souls" [London '92] | Remastered 4K 60FPS
(solo)



each version below has its merits



[ funny ]
Marty Friedman - Tornado of Souls (Solo) - Live at Bogota (Colombia) Fernando Sor Auditorium 12/04/2018


Megadeth - Tornado Of Souls - Cover by Tina S
(solo)


Tornado of Souls - Megadeth - Solo Cover by Federica Golisano with Cort X700 Duality


Tornado of Souls cover by Metabrigade @IET LUCKNOW
(solo)


Tornado of Souls - Megadeth (Multi-Instrumental Cover) By Owen Davey
(solo)



Honorable mention:

(update) - SENA_DIH - Megadeth - Tornado of souls Guitar Cover | Cort G300 Glam #윤세나 - (solo)

[silly but creative, last one is serious]
Bradley Hall - Tornado Of Souls Solo But It's REALLY HAPPY
Bradley Hall - Playing The Tornado Of Souls Solo With My Shoes (Tornado Of SOLES!)
Bradley Hall - Tornado Of Souls Solo On STEROIDS (150% Speed)
Bradley Hall - Tornado Of Souls Solo BACKWARDS
(update) - Bradley Hall - If Tornado Of Souls And Hotel California SWITCHED Solos!
Bradley Hall - ☢️ RUST IN PEACE ☢️ Full Album, Full Band Playthrough! - (solo)
 
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  • #761
While touring Marty Friedman needed something to do other than drugs, so he took courses in Japanese. He then moved there long ago. He has his own tv show.
 
  • #762
pinball1970 said:
These guys are great.

And your bird can sing


I believe this is the origin of the double guitar thing, later picked up by Thin Lizzy.
 
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  • #763
Hornbein said:
I believe this is the origin of the double guitar thing, later picked up by Thin Lizzy.
I always thought George recorded this double track as it is so hard to play.
That sound was unique at the time, I cannot think of a harmonized solo like this prior to 1964 in popular music. Some of the jazz guys did that George Benson octave stuff and guys like Joe Pass could play insane things but I don't think the Beatles would have been exposed to that sort of Jazz very much? From what I remember anyway, it was Rock and roll, concert hall, ballads, skiffle, folk. Specifically Elvis, Bill Hayley, Roy Orbison,Lonnie Donegan, Everly Bros, Buddy Holly.

EDIT: Paul and George played this and I had forgot about The Byrds. They were listening to Dylan and those guys at that time too.
 
  • #764
The great thing about the Beatles was that they did everything in one take in those days, hardly any wasted studio time. Totally professional at such a young age.

Mostly....

 
  • #765
This lady likes prog! Fantastic classical technique, she plays some Rick Wakeman stuff but I am a Focus nut too so ..

 
  • #766
Sylvia is an organ piece after all so I have posted this in the interests of balance. I watched this and wondered what he was doing with his left hand. He is controlling vibrato, I would have thought that would be a peddle function? How can he do bass? What do I know, I'm just a drummer!

 
  • #767
robphy said:
Hornbein said:
While touring Marty Friedman needed something to do other than drugs, so he took courses in Japanese. He then moved there long ago. He has his own tv show.


(2016) https://bravewords.com/news/marty-friedman-named-official-ambassador-of-japan-heritage

(2018) https://blog.jacksonguitars.com/marty-friedman-composes-japans-official-heritage-theme-song/
“It was a thrill and an honor to be asked by the Japanese government to compose this music,” he said in a statement. “It will be played and performed at official events and functions from now on. As a foreigner living in Tokyo, I`ll always appreciate the gracious treatment I’ve received here and welcome this kind of responsibility in the future.”

(2019) https://www.tokyojournal.com/big-in-japan-marty-friedman/item/930-marty-friedman-279.html

(2023) Marty Friedman becomes cultural Ambassador of Japan Heritage.


(2023) Marty Friedman - 日本遺産プロモーション映像【JAPAN HERITAGE OFFICIAL THEME SONG】




YouTube (2023) Rick Beato - The Marty Friedman Interview: From Megadeth to Japanese Guitar Icon
 
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  • #769
This girl is just so good. Backing track I am not keen on, performance always preferred BUT, she mixes everything and presents it so well it needs a mention.
Also the backing sounds like the Album, exactly. Software to take out the vocal? Probably, she makes the best use.

 
  • #770
Girl Gone Bad - Van Halen (1984) on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(Van_Halen_album)
Girl Gone Bad (2015 Remaster) - isolated guitar track - backing track

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_(Van_Halen_album)
Other songs on 1984 included "Girl Gone Bad", parts of which previously had been played during the 1982 tour amidst performances of "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" (including the US Festival show)...

Eddie Van Halen told an interviewer that "Girl Gone Bad" was written in a hotel room that he and then-wife Valerie Bertinelli had rented. Bertinelli was asleep, and Van Halen woke up during the night with an idea he had to put on tape. Not wanting to wake Bertinelli, Van Halen grabbed a cassette recorder and recorded himself playing guitar in the closet.

(1983) Girl Gone Bad Intro (before its release in 1984)
The Mighty Van Halen🔥Girl Gone Bad / I’m So Glad

is a segment at &t=47m40s from
Van Halen - Live in Devore - US Festival - 1983 - Best Quality


(2020, Oct 7) Nili Brosh plays Girl Gone Bad intro / Van Halen - WE LOVE YOU EDDIE!


(2022) Jacob Deraps - Van Halen Girl Gone Bad / 1984 Guitar Tone

earlier collaboration - (2015) Van Halen - Girl Gone Bad - Drum Cover by Josh Gallagher (FEATURING JACOB DERAPS)

(2020) Brown M&M's/Girl Gone Bad (Toshi Yanagi - Guitar, Eric Dover - Vocals, Sean McNabb - Bass, Joe Travers - Drums)


(2021) (drum and guitar cover) Toby Semain
Van Halen - Girl Gone Bad


(2022) Mike Conway - Van Halen – Girl Gone Bad (Drum Cover)


honorable mention:
(2020) Cully Meier -Drum Jam - Van Halen - Girl Gone Bad
(2021) Fabio Cacace - Van Halen - Girl Gone Bad (split cover) - (solo)
 
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  • #771
 
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  • #772
I think LeonarD got the percussion. Carl Palmer was busy on those sets.

 
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  • #773
"Mean Street" by Van Halen (1981) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Warning_(Van_Halen_album)

[ Gary Cherone [Extreme] is the singer in this lineup of Van Halen III ]
(1998) EDDIE VAN HALEN (VH) - mean street


Here is the original lineup with David Lee Roth... but the video is only a lipsync for tv
Van Halen - "Mean Street" - 1981 Italian TV Performance Lip Sync [HIGHEST QUALITY]




and probably inspired this video


update:
 
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  • #774
http://www.queensrycheofficial.com/music/greatest-hits/track/take-hold-of-the-flame/

(1984) Queensryche - 7. Take Hold of the Flame [Queensrÿche - Live in Tokyo 1984/08/05]
@60s




(2020) Chad Barnes - Queensryche "Take hold of the flame" Cover
@75s


(2010) Chris Miyai - Take Hold Of The Flame - Queensrÿche (Cover - Technique Demonstration)
start @34s , @90s


(2020) Will Shaw - Queensrÿche - Take Hold of the Flame (LIVE Vocals by Will Shaw)
@55s

see also (2008) Will Shaw @58s




(2020) AJP Music Works - Queensryche - Take Hold Of The Flame Cover Collab
@56s


(2020) Phoenixx - Take Hold Of The Flame (Queensryche Cover)
@58s


Honorable Mention:
(2019) Bscoㅣ비스코 - Queensryche - Take Hold of the Flame(cover by Bsco)
@55s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mIy5gn-JEE
 
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  • #775
From the A Rain Song thread,

I posted Slayer's Raining Blood and published covers by Tori Amos and by Ice-T.
I found some more interesting covers that I thought might be worth sharing.

robphy said:

Live in Brazil - Slayer - Raining Blood | Vkgoeswild piano cover
@40 - after offering choice between Ace of Spades (Motorhead) or Raining Blood (Slayer)

earlier version up-close: Slayers - Raining Blood - on a 134 years old Bösendorferg grand | Vkgoeswild piano cover


( VishapKnight57 ) Slayer - Raining Blood: Violin Cover
@30


(again) Mel cover SLAYER - "RAINING BLOOD" [Guitar Cover + TIPS]



( Christophe Deremy ) Raining Blood on Acoustic ... For the skeptics (Slayer Cover)




( Rob Scallon ) Slayer - Raining Blood (Banjo cover w/ solos)



(silly, but creative)
(Andy Rehfeldt's Variety Show ) Raining Blood by Slayer, but it's Straining Puff #slayer #rainingblood #fart #piano


honorable mention:
[with his hands] Man Farts Slayer | Metal Hammer - (this guy was on Britain's Got Talent )
 
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  • #776
I recently stumbled upon an impressive cover of ABBAs awesome song "Lay All Your Love On Me"...

What I like about it is that it's so emotional and passionate, really emphasizing the intense emotion of the lyrics (regretfully the clip doesn't show the entire song, if anyone can find the entire song from this performance please let me know :smile: ) :

Cover: Cody Frost performs ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’


An alternative version: Cody from The Voice - Lay All Your Love On Me


Original: ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me

-----

Bonus video:

I recently saw an interesting video where the producer Rick Beato interviews ABBA member Björn Ulvaues on how ABBA wrote and recorded some of their hit songs, and they also talk about the entrance of AI tools into the music scene.

I think the video is extra interesting for those who have been into composing, recording and mixing music (in short: they basically jammed a lot, and chose only the very best of what they came up with, and they were very careful that every piece had to be really good to make it on an album).

(and e.g. the beat to "Dancing Queen" was inspired by a US disco song in slower tempo, and the lyrics to "Take A Chance On Me" originates from the sound of the hihat (cymbal). 😀)

ABBA Interview: Björn Ulvaeus On Making ABBA's Timeless Hits
 
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  • #777
Another great rendition, I have hope for the youth!

 
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  • #778
Artfrob is a true artist, getting pleasure from videoing players in Cardiff. This is one.
My heart sank a bit when I saw this (my favourite pop song.... possibly. It changes.)
This is nice though. Misses the harmony but just a guy with a guitar, not bad.
 
  • #779
Last of this Russian lady for now. She mainly plays the track BUT sticks the melody in as well which is not simple.

She impressed me because it's young crazy kids playing 1960s and 70s.

 
  • #780
Here are some covers by Matteo Mancuso - (Matteo Mancuso Youtube) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Mancuso
He's got an interesting finger-style technique (without using a pick).

YT (2012) Paul Gilbert - Technical Difficulties
( (1999) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_Difficulties_(Racer_X_album) )

YT @2m00s (2012) Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover - Live
( (1990) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffs_of_Dover_(composition) )
  • (2016) Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover - Matteo Mancuso
    Poor audio but I really Enjoy playing it! there's one cut at the end

#154 ( The Kinks - You Really Got Me )
(1964) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Really_Got_Me
  • (2023) Matteo Mancuso - "You really got me"
    @37s


#167 (Van Halen - Eruption)
YT Eruption (2015 Remaster) - audio only
YT (1994) Eddie Van Halen - Eruption (Live) High Quality
(1978) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruption_(instrumental)
 
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  • #781
That is crazy technique!
 
  • #782
 
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  • #783

Dreams - Van Halen by Alyona​



What a genius was Eddie. But he could not quit the booze.
 
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  • #784
I just happened to listen to an amazing cover of a song, and of course I had to post it in this thread :smile:.

The song is U2:s "Red Hill Mining Town" from their fabulous album The Joshua Tree.

Note this: this song is so difficult to sing that U2 never performed it live on their Joshua Tree tour in 1987, because the singer couldn't do it.

But here is a singer that manages it brilliantly live:
(what a performance! :kiss:, and at 4:20- he just blows the roof of the building :smile: )

U2 - Red Hill Mining Town LIVE by Lemon Chile


The original song is here.

The song is about this:

Wikipedia said:
The focus of the song is on the National Union of Mineworkers' 1984 strike in Great Britain that occurred in response to the National Coal Board's campaign to close unprofitable mines.
 
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  • #785
Man of Constant Sorrow
apparently some traditional folk song
I first heard in the movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?:



I just recently heard this acapella version which I really like.
They use no instruments, only mouth sounds.

 
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  • #786
robphy said:

(2010) eddie van halen eruption in his backyard live


These are mostly tributes done shortly after Eddie Van Halen passed away on Oct 6, 2020.

(2020) Deraps - Eruption - Eddie Van Halen Tribute


(2020) Marc Giovanetti - "Eruption" One Handed- Tribute to Eddie Van Halen


(2020) CharlesBerthoud -Van Halen ERUPTION Performed By PRO Bassist
&t=1m51s


(2020) "Stevie-T" Steve Terreberry - Van Halen - Eruption (In 20 Different Styles)


(2020) Regina Rothe -"Eruption" (Van Halen) auf der Querflöte: "Flute Eruption"


(2020) Eruption Van Halen on Accordion! CPez - Cory Pesaturo


Honorable mention:
(2021) Unlucky Morpheus - violin【Live Cover】Eruption(Van Halen) ~ The Dance of Eternity(Dream Theater) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC2A1hbuLmI
 
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  • #787
A cover of "To sir with love," by Foxes and Fossils

 
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  • #788
The original here.

 
  • #789
This doesn't really belong here but I thought it would be the place to be appreciated:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_Lover#45_rpm_playback_incident said:
In 1978, an FM radio station accidentally played the song at the wrong speed of 45 rpm. The radio station received favorable calls and opted to let the song play at the incorrect speed. Sonically, the vocals resembled the voice of Stevie Nicks, who later heard of the incident and purchased the record. Upon playing the record at 45 rpm, she said that it gave her the chills and that it sounded "exactly like something I’d sing, the way I’d sing it". While Nicks was presenting demos for the Tusk album, she mixed in the sped up version of "Imaginary Lover" with her other material. One of her bandmates, Christine McVie, assumed that it was an original composition from Nicks and complimented her. Fleetwood Mac engineer Hernán Rojas later heard that the Atlanta Rhythm Section learned of the incident and "didn't find it as funny as we did".

45RPM version:



33RPM version:

 
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  • #790
jack action said:
This doesn't really belong here but I thought it would be the place to be appreciated:
..snip..
45RPM version:
..snip..
33RPM version:

Along these lines is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Spring_Harbor_(album)
by Billy Joel

emphasis mine
Through an error in the album's mastering, the songs played slightly too fast, causing Joel's voice to sound unnaturally high (one-half of a semitone higher—Joel joked that he sounded more like the Bee Gees or one of Alvin and the Chipmunks than himself). According to a long-standing rumor, when Joel first heard the finished product, he "ripped it off the turntable, ran out of the house, and threw [the record] down the street."[1] Artie Ripp, owner of Family Productions and hence the owner of the original master tapes, was responsible for the production error, and the mistake cost him his friendship with Joel.

(30m49s)
Billy Joel Cold Spring Harbor Family Productions (Original 1971 Incorrect Speed Pressing) FULL ALBUM


(32m33s)
Billy Joel - Cold Spring Harbor [Vinyl Remastered]
 
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  • #791
 
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  • #792
Imaginary Lover -- 35% percent is an awful lot of speedup. I thought the sound was poor so sped up the original by 16% myself.

 
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  • #793
Hornbein said:

Nice techniques.
Here's another one by Tory Slusher:
Flight of the Bumblebee (IMPOSSIBLE DIFFICULTY LEVEL)
 
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  • #794
And from City Radio Pattaya, FM 90.25 . On my new retro radio: 3"x6"x8" Up tempo.
 
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  • #795
robphy said:
Nice techniques.
Here's another one by Tory Slusher:
Flight of the Bumblebee (IMPOSSIBLE DIFFICULTY LEVEL)

That's amazing.
 
  • #796
First time I've heard this cover:
 
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  • #797
morrobay said:
First time I've heard this cover:

It's good but I knew what kind of approach he would take to it. Soul and blues it up and the song doesn't need that.
I think the Mamas and the Papas harmony is too ingrained in my mind on this one.
 
  • #798
The Original, "Sunny" Bobby Hebb.

 
  • #799
What about this, two of the greatest voices of the 1960s/70s possibly all time for their genre? It's great BUT less is more when the tune and words are this good.
Bobby Hebb just starts with voice and bass. I am not 100% sure about the claim regarding why he wrote it. He allegedly started writing an album after his brother was killed, the day after JFK was assassinated as he was devastated by both events.

EDIT: correct video this time, Ella Fitzgerald and Tom Jones

 
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  • #800
I found a live version, just him on guitar and bass accompanying just amazing.
It deserves to go in the "music to lift my soul" thread.
 
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