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

[Hornbein]

The orig.

 

[Anachronist]

Which songs were performed, arranged or produced better in a cover than the original version?

The one that amazed me was Dolly Parton's bluegrass version of Collective Soul's hard rock song "Shine". I'm not a fan of country music, but honestly, it's difficult for me to decide which I like better.

Compare them yourself:

• Collective Soul's original version
• Dolly Parton's version

It helps that her backup band (Nickel Creek) seems to be really into the song.

 

[pinball1970]

The one that amazed me was Dolly Parton's bluegrass version of Collective Soul's hard rock song "Shine". I'm not a fan of country music, but honestly, it's difficult for me to decide which I like better.

Compare them yourself:

• Collective Soul's original version
• Dolly Parton's version

It helps that her backup band (Nickel Creek) seems to be really into the song.

I'll check them out thanks

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

Dolly has a recent album entirely of rock covers. They're pretty good. There's one about picking up a 17 year old.

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

Ami Nakazono -- Thinking Out Loud

 

[morrobay]

Nina Simone remix cover

 

[morrobay]

Original version

 

[Hornbein]

 

[robphy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsta's_Paradise (1995)

• Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise (feat. L.V.) [Official Music Video]

Coolio ft. L.V. & Stevie Wonder! "Gangsta's Paradise" Live! [Billboard Awards 1995]
&t=44s

• (1976) Pastime Paradise [ Stevie Wonder ]

---

(2023) “Gangsta’s Paradise” - Coolio - ukulele cover [ Patsy Walker ]


(2017) Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio (Kina Grannis Cover)


(2013) Acoustic Cover Of Gangsta's Paradise - Video [ James Morrison ]


(2019) GANGSTA´S PARADISE (Coolio/Stevie Wonder) - Luca Stricagnoli - Fingerstyle Guitar Cover Arrangement


(2022) BASSta's Paradise (Official Video) [ Davie504 ]

---

Honorable mention:
"Weird" Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise (Parody of "Gangsta's Paradise" - Official HD Video)
[Coolio] Coolio and Wierd Al - Gangsta's Paradise
Weird Al and Coolio

Gangsta's Paradise in the style of Ozzy Osbourne

Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio / Harp Cover [Orlando Harpist Christine MacPhail - Wedding Harp Music]

 

[Hornbein]

Imelda May - Tainted Love​

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

If you like The Lady Shelters I bet you would like Superfly. They were a sensation in Japan about 15 years ago. Singer Shiho Oshi performed with Big Brother and the Holding Company at the more recent Woodstock festival. How much more cred do you need?

Piece Of My Heart.

Their original stuff is easy to find. The guitar player quit long ago. Today Shiho is still a big star who fills arenas under the name of Superfly but it doesn't rock like he used to.

This isn't a cover but it clearly draws from The Rolling Stones' Start Me Up.


But the original Emma Franklin Piece Of My Heart roolz.

 

[rcgldr]

Cover of Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, by Allison Young and Josh Turner

 

[rcgldr]

Brothers Igniting A Groove - cover of Skin Tight (it was cold that night).

 

[rcgldr]

Josh Turner and friends - live studio cover of Late In The Evening

 

[DennisN]

That's one of my absolute favorite songs! I've always loved it.

"Weird" Al Yankovic - Amish Paradise (Parody of "Gangsta's Paradise" - Official HD Video)

That version is hilarious!

I also love his version of Smells Like Teen Spirit:
(and it's about the nonsensical lyrics of the song, and both when the cow moos and when Yankovic gargles in the solo I find myself on the floor rolling with laughter )




By the way, regarding "Weird" Al Yankovic I saw a recent video on the youtube channel Professor of Rock about the few artists who didn't allow Yankovic to spoof their songs. Furthermore, the youtuber Professor of Rock has talked to Yankovic about doing an interview, and I wouldn't be surprised if it happens, he has managed to get interviews with quite famous musicians before, e.g. Toto*.

* Edit: For instance this interview about the song "Rosanna" and this interview about the song "Africa".

 

[morrobay]

 

[DennisN]

"Weird" Al Yankovic

this interview about the song "Africa".

Oh, by the way, Weezer made a cover of "Africa" where "Weird" Al Yankovic played the frontman.
Small world .

Weezer - Africa (starring Weird Al Yankovic)


Of course I prefer the original but the cover isn't bad at all. It's quite similar but rougher in the chorus.

 

[morrobay]

 

[Hornbein]

 

[Hornbein]

Here's the orig. I'd forgotten this song. By Andy Williams.

 

[pinball1970]

This is the original though right?

 

[morrobay]

This is the original though right?

I guess same title different songs

 

[morrobay]

 

[morrobay]

 

[pinball1970]

I guess same title different songs

Yes the songs are quite different ;)

The video is great though. I particularly liked the Adams family clip.

 

[pinball1970]

Red Spandex outfit was never going to end well! Started out ok, she is playing a Ricky which is always cool.
Three cool dudes at the back however.....roller skater fella just killed me! That was a thing in the 70s, roller disco!
Wonderfully awful :)

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Red Spandex outfit was never going to end well! Started out ok, she is playing a Ricky which is always cool.
Three cool dudes at the back however.....roller skater fella just killed me! That was a thing in the 70s, roller disco!
Wonderfully awful :)

That and cocaine.

 

[Hornbein]

That's mastery.

 

[pinball1970]

That's mastery.

Pure jazz to my ears. Chords are great, crunchy!

 

[pinball1970]

This lady does some great (mainly)
rock covers.

 

[pinball1970]

And this lady! Both from Moscow.

 

[fresh_42]

Pure jazz to my ears. Chords are great, crunchy!

I have read a quote by Lou Reed - presumably since it was without a reference as always nowadays on the internet - in the context of people complaining about the few chords Quo normally uses:

"One chord is enough. Two chords are borderline, and three chords are jazz."​