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.
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Orig (not recommended)



Hit version with Louis Armstrong



Cover by Marianne Faithful

 
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How did I miss this?

Orig Black Muddy River


 
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Some catching up to do!
 
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Gabriella Quevedo outdoes herself.

 
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Hornbein said:
Gabriella Quevedo outdoes herself.


Stunning. She is simply brilliant
 
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The singer is OK. The real star is the arrangement and recording quality. My that sounds nice.

 
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Hornbein said:
#1310
Orig : Cranberries -- Zombie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(The_Cranberries_song)

Zombie (Acoustic Version) @-&t=12m00s - ( from The Cranberries: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert )



Guitar Cover | Zombie (The Cranberries ) | Diễm Hương & Thanh Điền Guitar


Bad Wolves - Zombie (Official Video) - 554M views


The Cranberries - Zombie (Violet Orlandi cover)


Zombie - The Cranberries (Soul Cover ft. Maiya Sykes) - PostmodernJukebox


The Cranberries - Zombie (Cello & Piano Cover) - Brooklyn Duo
 
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robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(The_Cranberries_song)

Zombie (Acoustic Version) @-&t=12m00s - ( from The Cranberries: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert )



Guitar Cover | Zombie (The Cranberries ) | Diễm Hương & Thanh Điền Guitar


Bad Wolves - Zombie (Official Video) - 554M views


The Cranberries - Zombie (Violet Orlandi cover)


Zombie - The Cranberries (Soul Cover ft. Maiya Sykes) - PostmodernJukebox


The Cranberries - Zombie (Cello & Piano Cover) - Brooklyn Duo

Certainly a mixed bag!
I hated the soul one, number 5.
Obviously the original and the acoustic versions of the band are amazing.
I liked the cello version number 6.
 
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robphy said:
Alice Cooper & Pat Boone present Metallica best Heavy Metal band American Music Awards Jan 27th 1997
Even funnier Pat Boone on The Tonight Show:

 
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pinball1970 said:
Certainly a mixed bag!
I hated the soul one, number 5.
Obviously the original and the acoustic versions of the band are amazing.
I liked the cello version number 6.
Violet Orlandi got an amazing sound for her bedroom and the cat wasn't disturbed once!
Probably recorded in the studio then mimed on?
 
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pinball1970 said:
Probably recorded in the studio then mimed on
Or the bedroom's green-screened in - that might be easier to do.
 
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pinball1970 said:
I hated the soul one, number 5.
I agree - not the right style for that one, IMO.

Is the Thai guitarist (Thanh Điền) blind? (Edit: yes, and sadly passed away in 2023.)
 
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Orig



Cover
I didn't realize what a good song it was until this. Very nice chords. And that guy can sing. He's Paul Hoffman.



Encore! Another good choice.

 
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Then there's "U.N. Owen Was Her?" Originally an eight-bit "boss theme" in a computer game, it caught on internationally with classical musicians, spawning a great many covers. Here's my fave.



Wow! Can computer sequencing produce such a natural violin sound? I tend to think not, but maybe I'm behind the times.

There are numerous bombastic orchestral versions. You've got to be impressed with the quality of today's computer simulations of orchestras. This one seems to contain a short section from The Rite of Spring. There is considerable disagreement about the title of U.N. Owen Was Her? with at least four names floating about.



Then there's the acapella version. It's more faithful to the original.



Surely a labor of love.

Here's the orig. I read that this is heard over and over again in every Japanese MacDonalds. I can't stand it when companies do that.

 
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Note how she can just barely play that guitar but it still sounds pretty good.
 
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Hornbein said:
Then there's the acapella version. It's more faithful to the original.



Surely a labor of love.
Just wow!

But it would have been cooler if there had been only 8 sources instead of 9, you know, to relate to the 8-bit sound. :smile:
 
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A family band from the Philippines. For me the main attraction is the John Bonham Mini-me.

 
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Hornbein said:
A family band from the Philippines. For me the main attraction is the John Bonham Mini-me.



For more, see...
robphy said:
#1539

These are covers by a family band named Missioned Souls.
and #1582 and #1604
 
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robphy said:
For more, see...

and #1582 and #1604
Hah! Well, you beat me to it.
 
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Orig


Cover


 
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Showcasing harmony.

 
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Hornbein said:
Showcasing harmony.


The family is from the Philippine island of Cebu. In Tokyo I met a couple from Cebu. They looked just like this.

During his round-the-world voyage Magellan was killed while attacking Cebu in an attempt to convert it to Christianity. Though heavily outnumbered the Portuguese believed their superior technology coupled with the mandate of God would bring victory. Today this family is Christian, displaying an icon of Jesus.


Here's the orig by The Top Notes.

 
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The original Girls Just Want To Have Fun. His Mom wants him to get married but all the girls are reveling in frivolity.



"Cyndi heard the demo years later and told Robert she would do the song if he would give her half the copyright. He emphatically told her no and the song sat till she recorded it with the Hooters(?) and had the legendary hit. Some years later Robert sold half the copyright to Sony for a million dollars and the Magic Mailbox, as he called it, started. Checks for 200K 175K 300K. Every few months or so. I think the money only really mattered to him so that he could eventually have the perfect Adirondack lifestyle in the gorgeous camp he created. Apart from anything else, he and Susan were the most gracious hosts I've ever known. It was a strange departure from how he was on gigs. "

? So why didn't Hazard get the money until he sold half the copyright? Frank Zappa says you have to sue record companies to get your money, I guess that was it. Sony had the muscle to do that. Frank Zappa also forbade his family to get into the music business but they did it anyway.
 
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Hornbein said:
A family band from the Philippines. For me the main attraction is the John Bonham Mini-me.



just posted
LIVE Cover of LED ZEPPELIN's WHOLE LOTTA LOVE by Missioned Souls - Family band
 
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Orig



The historical name was actually John Wesley Hardin. Maybe Bob didn't want to give a boost to rival Tim Hardin. Or maybe he wanted to get away from his prior ersatz West Virginia accent.

Cover by Dead & Company

 
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Hornbein said:
A family band from the Philippines. For me the main attraction is the John Bonham Mini-me.


Better than this.

 
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Orig (1966). Hard to beat, eh?


Cover
 
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Cory Wong big band covers Gloria Gaynor's disco hit.

 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Still_Loving_You (1984)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpions_(band)

Scorpions - Still Loving You - Peters Popshow (30.11.1985)

- with violin accompaniment Scorpions & Vanessa-Mae - Still Loving You (Taratata, 28 Apr 1996)


Phuket Night Street / Still Loving You Cover By. Queen On Street [probably 15 years old in this video]


Guitar Cover | Still Loving You (Scorpions ) | Diễm Hương & Thanh Điền Guitar


Scorpions - Still Loving You | Antidote x JayHeartMusic


instrumentals:

Scorpions - Still Loving You (Abim Finger Version)


Still Loving You - Damian Salazar - Scorpions - Cover

- on stage with the Scorpions: Still Loving You - Scorpions - feat Damian Salazar ( 27.07.2018 - Ludwigsburg Castle, Germany )



Honorable mention
 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_You_Like_a_Hurricane (1984)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpions_(band)

(1985) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane (Live in California)





(2024 March) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane | Antidote x JayHeartMusic

- another performance where the guitarist is more visible: (2024 July 17) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane | Antidote x JayHeartMusic
(I liked their cover for "Still loving you" #1691 that I posted recently.)

(2022) Rock You Like A Hurricane - Scorpions cover by Lockdown (Roel) (other covers by Lockdown)


(2021) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane (cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya feat. ‪@VioletOrlandi‬)


(2024) Scorpions - Rock You Like A Hurricane (cover by The Voodoo Child & ‪@sina-drums‬ )


(2018) The Starbreakers - Rock You Like a Hurricane (Scorpions Cover) #nitastrauss #jilljanus


Honorable mention:

(other covers of the Scorpions from this thread)
 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Children_Cry (1988)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lion

White Lion - When the Children Cry - 5/5/1988 - Ritz
Vito's solo &t=2m40s


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vito_Bratta
- (MusicGuru) How Vito Bratta Really Sounded on Guitar
- https://ultimateclassicrock.com/vito-bratta-ozzy-osbourne-kiss/
- https://www.guitarworld.com/features/vito-bratta-white-lion-stories-behind-the-solos
Indeed, in the years that followed Bratta’s exodus from our collective consciousness, talks of his exploits have unfurrowed in various directions. Some say he was the most inventive player to pick up a guitar in the ’80s. Others label him as nothing more than a clone of one Edward Van Halen. But Bratta isn’t having any of that. He never did – his influences were far more wide-ranging.

“That always bothered me,” Bratta says. “I read all of it back in the ’80s. Guys will say they don’t read people’s words, but I did. I remember seeing it in magazines, and people would tell me, ‘Oh, you sound and play just like Eddie.’ At one point, it got under my skin enough that I called Eddie. I won’t say all that Eddie told me specifically – I’ll take that to my grave – but I will say that he told me, ‘I love the way you play. We’re a lot alike, but you’re different. Remember that.’”




(2023) WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY_(White Lion) FEMALE Version_Father & Daughters TRIO Cover ‪@FRANZRhythm‬
solo &t=2m34s


(2011) "white lion" (when the children cry) cover by Jevers Live performance.mpg (acoustic)
solo &t=2m20s


(2020) When The Children Cry (White Lion) COVER by KNULP (acoustic)
solo at &t=2m37s

- KNULP's TAB [SLOWTAB] Tutorial - When the children cry /Play Along

(2021) When The Children Cry (White Lion); Cover by The Iron Cross
solo at &t=2m50s


(2007) (White Lion) When The Children Cry - Sungha Jung (instrumental)




Honorable mention:
 
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"Say What You Will" (1983)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastway_(album)

Say What You Will (live) - Fastway

- The history of FASTWAY
- The best of 'Fast' Eddie Clarke - interview



Fastway-Say What You Will, cover Katie Valdetero and AURAL DECEPTION. - great singer... but I didn't like the guitar solo


Fastway - Say What You Will (Cover) - Drum Covers


Gabbie Rae “Say What You Will”-(A Fastway Cover)

- a different performance with better video, but worse audio on the vocals: Gabbie Rae - "Say What You Will" (FASTWAY cover) @ Badlands Pawn 9-30-16

say what you will (fastway cover) - posturex1 - This guy brings a lot of energy!
 
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Letting the white guys sing. They're not bad.
 
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