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.
  • #1,501
jack action said:
Speaking of Ankor, I thought I posted it before but I cannot find it. At the risk of repeating myself:

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish:



The cover by Ankor:


Yours is the 1500th post on this thread. It's a nice round number.
 
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  • #1,502
Some highlights? Josh Turner/ and friends are brilliant, just so natural, mature and trying to emulate great music.
Foxes and Fossils, incredible.
All the Japanese guys co @Hornbein are crazy, jazz, fazz fusion, technique I dream of.
Female guitar players who done everything, tune, chords bass. If I would have met them at 16 I would have sold my guitar for a few beers.
This lady. Not the greatest recording, slick and cinematic BUT she chooses such crazy songs. Kate Bush!? Who does that? Even Kate Bush did not want to do that after 1979.



 
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  • #1,503
And a snippet from a UK DP tribute

We were aiming for Made in Japan

 
  • #1,504
I know it is not Halloween yet but here are some Chrismas songs from Lyric Noel that kind of mix the two holidays:

Carol of the Bells:



Silent Night:

 
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  • #1,505
Slade were a UK rock pop band in 1970s. Unique voice and really good song writers. This is a live concert and the last track is "born to to wild," at 22.50

 
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  • #1,511
Hornbein said:

A shuffle! Different
 
  • #1,512
Actually three versions of increasing amazingness.



I wish she would collaborate with others. Surely this is possible so evidently she doesn't feel like it. I wonder how many people there are like this in this world, playing amazing music in their bedrooms only for themselves. Could be a lot.
 
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  • #1,513
A bluegrass version of The Monkees' hit, done as a ballad.



They say they got the idea from Shrek. Is that Eddie Murphy singing?

 
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  • #1,514
Foxes and Fossils live. CSN

 
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  • #1,515
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_of_Destruction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth - https://www.megadeth.com/







(2023) Symphony of Destruction (Cover) - Megadeth - RUMPUS - Family Band / Kids Band / Rock Band


(2008) Hellsongs - Symphony Of Destruction (OFFICIAL VIDEO)


(2018) VERSUS playing MEGADETH - Symphony of destruction (Cover)


(2019) Symphony Of Destruction. (Bluegrass Cover of Megadeth) - DD and the Butterlovers


(2017) Tengger Cavalry - Symphony of Destruction (Megadeth Cover)



Honorable mention
(2024) Aixa y Nirvana tocan Symphony of Destruction de MEGADETH
(2019) School of Rock Students Perform "Symphony of Destruction'" by Megadeth
(2015) Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction - Guitar performance by Cesar Huesca
(2023) SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION - Megadeth | Guitar Cover by Sophie Burrell
(2012) Mellowdeth - Symphony Of Destruction
 
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  • #1,516
The orig, an anime theme song on NHK (Japan TV). I greatly like some anime theme songs. They can be quite complicated. Jazz bands often cover them. Even shows for girls have music like this.

I never watched the show. It's something about fighting down giant robots while clothed in a black and red string bikini.

Today there is a real honest-to-god sixty(!) foot tall robot that I have seen. It doesn't walk or move a lot but it sure is big.

In my estimation this version is even more badasss.



Rhythm guitar is a lot more developed in Japan. Except for Eddie, but no one seems able to copy his rhythm playing so it wasn't that influential.
 
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  • #1,517
I think I prefer her on her own

 
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  • #1,518
Jan Hammer/Jeff Beck Blue Wind



Rie. Bail out though once it gets to the drum solo.



As far as I know she only plays at Blue Mood, a club that holds 50 people. And it doesn't sell out. Such is the world in which we live.
 
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  • #1,519
Duran Duran Ordinary World



Not exactly a cover but it's a lot better than the hit version. This song cried out for vocal harmony, here supplied by Anna Ross.

This song attracts good singers so there are several very good covers. This is the only one with vocal harmony.



There was no such doubt about the WORST cover.
 
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  • #1,520
Hornbein said:
There was no such doubt about the WORST cover.
What the hell!?
 
  • #1,521
Original by "Illusion" beautiful track.



This cover by one of my favourites on YT


 
  • #1,522
Orig by Sam Cooke, Yeah Man



Plagiarized by Arthur Conley and Otis Redding. Big hit in 1967. Better than the orig, if you ask me.



Cover by The Time Bandits

 
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  • #1,523
Orig Sam Cooke



Sam and Dave



Sam Cooke is Keith Richards' favorite artist.
 
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  • #1,524
Orig by Joe South



Cover by Deep Purple. Way better than their hit. Can't beat Steve Morse.

 
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  • #1,525
and Mark one. Richie actually smiling and having fun???

 
  • #1,526
A truly inexhaustible topic.

For a smorgasbord of highly enjoyable and oxymoronically 'original' covers, look no further than the 1997 album Five O'Clock Shadow by Frank Bennet (the performing name of Australian artist David Henry Wray) which provides a rather obvious clue as to what style of music the songs have been carefully and often ingeniously reworked into.

Grab a free listen at bandcamp[dot]com. 'Top Tip' for first time listeners: have someone else play you the tracks and see how long it takes you to recognise the songs.
 
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brigman said:
A truly inexhaustible topic.

For a smorgasbord of highly enjoyable and oxymoronically 'original' covers, look no further than the 1997 album Five O'Clock Shadow by Frank Bennet (the performing name of Australian artist David Henry Wray) which provides a rather obvious clue as to what style of music the songs have been carefully and often ingeniously reworked into.

Grab a free listen at bandcamp[dot]com. 'Top Tip' for first time listeners: have someone else play you the tracks and see how long it takes you to recognise the songs.
The only song I was familiar with was this one.



He sounds just like Frankie.

Tony Bennett did a similar thing with Smells Like Teen Spirit.
 
  • #1,528
Rockin' in Germany.



Acoustic 370 bass amplifier, fifty years old.
 
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  • #1,529
The late Melanie sings Purple Haze, posthumously backed up by Cactus(!).

 
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  • #1,530
She cut the chorus.

 
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  • #1,531
Frabjous said:
She cut the chorus.


That took me by surprise!
Very nice, totally different.

The first cover was "Satisfaction" by Residents on the thread and that took me by suprise too, for totally different reasons. C/o @Hornbein
 
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Hornbein said:

Hey! You can stop that right now. THAT, is a mash up, a mash up of gargantuan proportions.
 
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Hornbein said:

I had this argument with V50, a mash is different from a cover. We have a mash thread, for mashes.
I appreciate your contribution to this thread.
 
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Hornbein said:
They are from Kyiv.



Or how about this from the Czech Republic? Gabriela Gunčíková

Or this?


She is incredible. Wow.

Truthsurge sometimes altered his vocal, sang in one key then transposed it.
Not sure about that one.
 
  • #1,539
These are covers by a family band named Missioned Souls.

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE by LED ZEPPELIN cover by MISSIONED SOULS


SEPARATE WAYS (Worlds Apart) by JOURNEY | Missioned Souls family band (studio) cover


LIVIN' ON A PRAYER (Bon Jovi) Missioned Souls family band cover


MISSIONED SOULS LIVE @ FIDDLER'S Cebu

(Hysteria muse, Rock Around the Clock, BillHaley&HisComets, All The Small Things blink182, Dreams TheCranberriesTV, What It Is To Burn OfficialFinch, Letters To You OfficialFinch)
 
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  • #1,540
Love that Motown style ebass.



This ebass player is growlin' it out too.

 
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Mister Sandman



Foxes plus Mom.

 
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I'd say that ballads on instruments are one of the biggest challenges in music. There is nowhere to hide.

 
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In Tokyo there was a concert called Skullmania. The whole thing was a parody of heavy metal. I witnessed a handsome young woman in a business skirt -- she looked exactly like the Minato secretaries one sees on the Metro, quite possibly was one -- play the organ solo of Highway Star. This song is very well known. It's even the model name of a popular van.

1733718376851.png


Nissan Highway Star.

Skullmania was not without a bout of Japanese professional wrestling, which is exactly the same as in the USA. A very stylized form.
 
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I like the color match between the tennis shoes and the guitar.
 
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Nine years ago.

 
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