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.
  • #1,801
Hornbein said:
Instagram wants me to log in, which I won't do. Please tell me what the point is. Is he playing it very stiffly?
I'm not logged into Instagram. It happens to me too. I try to ignore it.
[I just added the URL in a way that it doesn't get embedded.
Here it is: www.instagram.com/reel/DH3MSD5gZ8M/
I ignore the request to sign up by clicking the X in the upper right corner... then I look for the unmute button.]

You can see the clip in Beato's video.
Sterling is doing what Beato calls "rhythmic displacement"... [I'm not a drummer-type.]
 
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  • #1,802
Huh. AC/DC was (is?) all about simplicity. I say that "correctness" has no place in music in general. There are no rules. There is no right or wrong.

If it sounds good, it is good.
-- Duke Ellington

That being said, there is widespread agreement about what sounds good or bad. While containing both objective and subjective elements, I say that objective dominates. So you can make general rules that work pretty well, especially if your goal is popularity. The AC/DC version is far more popular, so it wins. This other guy's version is kind of interesting but not so forceful and strong. AC/DC is not about "interesting." They don't do the rule-averse intellectual thang, which can also be popular ( Mahavishnu Orchestra, Yes, The Beatles White Album ) but only rarely. And not recently, since music has fallen under corporate control.

They don't take chances, they're so removed from romance.
-- Joni Mitchell

Note that later in their careers all three of those intellectual bands gave up on it and went for simplicity, boosting their popular appeal. Thusly we got Hey Jude.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.
-- Seinfeld
 
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  • #1,803
Hornbein said:
Instagram wants me to log in, which I won't do. Please tell me what the point is. Is he playing it very stiffly?
No! He is playing it wrong! He turns it upside down!
 
  • #1,804
robphy said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_(Pharrell_Williams_song) (2013)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharrell_Williams

Pharrell Williams - Happy (Video) [1.4 billion views]


[see also #1438 Get Lucky ]


Pharrell Williams - Happy (Telfaz11 Cover) - Alaa Wardi
(start at &t=25s)


HAPPY - Walk off the Earth Ft. Parachute


Pentatonix - Happy


Happy - Pharrell Williams (on 10 Different Musical Instruments Cover) (ft. Gunhild Carling) - Postmodern Jukebox


Pharrell Mashup (Happy Get Lucky) - Pomplamoose - very creative visual production "shot in one take" from 2014

[ see also #1752 Call Me ]

Honorable Mention:

When I first heard that song I thought I had fell asleep and woke up in the middle sixties.
Absolutely love it.
 
  • #1,805
It reminds me of this.

 
  • #1,806
Orig -- The Clash



Cover by Tico

 
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  • #1,807
Hornbein said:
Huh. AC/DC was (is?) all about simplicity. I say that "correctness" has no place in music in general. There are no rules. There is no right or wrong.
I think he uses the term "correctly" in an ironic way. He has other videos where he plays other songs "correctly":
The only way to play Back in Black correctly:

 
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  • #1,808
Orig by Bon Jovi



Gabriella Quevedo



Austrian Oompah version by The Outgoers. Oompah bands always wear lederhosen.



Why no dirndl? And that guitarist looks like Cory Wong.
 
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  • #1,809
 
  • #1,810
Orig by Neil Diamond



Cover by UB40

 
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  • #1,812
robphy said:
(2020) Bon Jovi - It's My Life (Live from Home 2020)


(2024) ITS MY LIFE - Bon Jovi | Missioned Souls - family band studio cover

- see also #1539 Missioned Souls

(2021) Its My Life | Sri Lankan Version | Sandaru Sathsara [57M views]

- see also #1385 Smooth Criminal

I can't get enough of John Bonham Mini-Me. World's best beat drummer. The sound engineering by Dad is really good too. The perfect reverb.

Orig (sort of)


Cover
 
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  • #1,813
Or how about this?

 
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  • #1,814
Original Do You Want To Dance



Romania does it again.



She has the Mongol face. First invasion, year 440.

The Beach Boys get into the act. Better at 1.2 speed.
 
  • #1,815
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_Star_(song) (1972)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Purple

Deep Purple - Highway Star (German TV, 1972)... but probably 1971

[from the comments:
  • "To everyone who is perplexed by Gillan forgetting the words.. there were no words yet. The song was only conceptualized hours earlier and was in its infancy. They were performing an idea for a song. And yeah they were that good.."
  • "Very Interesting this is before the studio version came out the lyrics are not worked out yet and they don't have the leads down yet but it's freakin cool awesome musicians"
  • "IF I recall an early interview, they had JUST written this song and it wasn't down pat yet. Just written it as in that week. Supposedly a writer had asked the band how they wrote songs and they wrote this on the bus on the way to the gig in about an hour. This was never the finished version obviously."
]



see also #51 Highway Star (Strange Kind of Women), #1544 Highway Star (Erik Gronwall), #1545 Highway Star (Nene Royal)



(2022) School of Rock AllStars perform "Highway Star" by Deep Purple (Connecticut)

(although not the same kids, see also #1702 Final Countdown , #1398 Victim of Changes, #1618 Cult of Personality , #1515 Symphony of Destruction , other School of Rock from this thread )

(2021) HIGHWAY STAR (Deep Purple) - Cover by OZONE Kids Band [ the lead is #1545 Highway Star (Nene Royal) ] (Thailand)

(see also #1702 Final Countdown , #1410 Master of Puppets )

(2024) Highway Star #pettyrock PETCH & BAND Samut Sakhon Walking Street - (Thailand)

- Highway star cover by petty 6 year old 20-4-2016
- Highway Star - (singing and soloing, probably 7 years old) Petty Rock 2017
(see also #1341 Ace of Spades)

(2024) Deep Purple - Highway Star / Drum Covered by YOYOKA (California)

( see also #592 Yoyoka, and other Yoyoka from this thread )

(2025) HIGHWAY STAR by Deep Purple | Missioned Souls - family band studio cover (Philippines)

- LIVE PERFORMANCE Highway Star - Deep Purple | Missioned Souls - family band cover
(see also #1539 Missioned Souls , #1604 Don't Stop Believing , #1674 Whole Lotta Love )

Honorable mention:
(2014) Highway Star (Piano Cover) - LYLYA (Italy)
 
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  • #1,816
Orig by Chubby Checker



Romania roolz 21st century rock & roll.



Her name Beatrice means "bringer of happiness."
 
  • #1,817
Orig I Wanna Be Your Man by The Rolling Stones



Cover released today

 
  • #1,818


 
  • #1,819
Hornbein said:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99_Luftballons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nena_(band)
The lyrics of the original German version tell a story:
99 balloons are mistaken for UFOs, causing a military general to send pilots to investigate.
Finding nothing but balloons, the pilots put on a large show of firepower.
The display of force worries the nations along the borders and the defense ministers on each side encourage conflict to grab power for themselves.
In the end, a cataclysmic war results from the otherwise harmless flight of balloons and causes devastation on all sides without a victor, as indicated in the denouement of the song: "99 Jahre Krieg ließen keinen Platz für Sieger," which means "99 years of war left no room for victors."
The anti-war song finishes with the singer walking through the devastated ruins of the world and finding a single balloon.
The description of what happens in the final line of the piece is the same in German and English: "'Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen," or "Think of you and let it go."

...
The English version retains the spirit of the original narrative, but many of the lyrics are translated poetically rather than being directly translated: red helium balloons are casually released by the civilian singer (narrator) with her unnamed friend into the sky and are mistakenly registered by a faulty early warning system as enemy contacts, resulting in panic and eventually nuclear war, with the end of the song near-identical to the end of the original German version.

From the outset, Nena (the lead singer) and other members of the band expressed disapproval of the English version of the song, "99 Red Balloons". In March 1984, the band's keyboardist and song co-writer Uwe Fahrenkrog Petersen said, "We made a mistake there. I think the song loses something in translation and even sounds silly."


99 Red Balloons Band Cover by The Dollheads - Austin Avery


99 Luftballons (Jazz Vibes Nena Cover) ft. Aly Ryan - Postmodern Jukebox


Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons
 
  • #1,820
jack action said:
I didn't know who Shocking Blue were and, after a search, I learned that they made the original version of Venus
Listening to the two versions confirms that Bananarama were one of the worst groups ever.
 
  • #1,821
 
  • #1,822
Orig Walk Like An Egyptian



Cover by The Cleverlys

 
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  • #1,823
Benjo Sandal Dance (Toilet Sandal Dance)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_the_Hormone
https://www.youtube.com/@MTHOFFICIAL

マキシマム ザ ホルモン( maximum the hormone ) - Benjo Sandal Dance en vivo #mth #maximumthehormone #live #zick #LiveNuMetal

- studio version Benjo Sandal Dance [Toilet Sandal Dance]

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/benjo-sandal-dance-toilet-sandal-dance.html
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/maximum-the-hormone-benjo-sandal-dance-bass-tab-s448065


Benjo Sandal Dance (Maximum the Hormone Bass cover) - criticullchannel


Maximum the Hormone - Benjo Sandal Dance - slashkatsu


Benjo Sandal Dance (MtH) Drum cover by Akane Hirose [reupload] ( BAND-MAID )

(comments from another thread)
 
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  • #1,824
robphy said:
Benjo Sandal Dance (MtH) Drum cover by Akane Hirose [reupload] ( BAND-MAID )

(comments from another thread)

That's not Akane. I know her face and drumming style. There's a reason it had to be reuploaded.
 
  • #1,825
 
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  • #1,826
Hornbein said:
That's not Akane. I know her face and drumming style. There's a reason it had to be reuploaded.
From following the links I posted starting with https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...s-impact-on-modern-music.1055930/post-6964135 in response to your similar comment then...

  • Reference to this video from
    https://www.tokyohive.com/article/2...-mount-drumstick-campaign-for-injured-drummer

  • From a translation of

    Which drummers influenced you?

    That would be Nao of Maximum the Hormone. When I learned that a woman was playing drums so violently, I received a great shock. I absolutely thought it was a man (laughs). I also wanted to be a drummer who can shock like Nao, and it also gave me the opportunity to resolve that "I'll seriously persevere at the drums". She’s my favourite drummer.

    ...

    What do you think is the most important in playing drums with BAND-MAID?

    In BAND - MAID all members think that that have a leading role. So, we’re all good rivals, it is important to be conscious of "I’ll absolutely not be defeated!".

    Drumming Roots
    D: Nao
    "Bu-ikikaesu"
    maximum the Hormone
    Baapu
    VPCC-81558
    It’s not an exaggeration to say that there is my current play style is thanks to Nao. She’s a drummer that I was influenced by strongly. It was her existence that has destroyed the "female drummer image" that existed inside of me in a good way.

    D: Ian Paice
    "Very Best of Deep Purple”
    ...
    D: Shogo Yoshida
    ...

  • Two videos below are linked from
    ( )

    (2018) LJPN BAND MAID Akane Hirose Cover [LyricsJPN]


    (2018)) LJPN BAND-MAID® 茜が PASSPO☆の 夏空HANABI を叩いてみた [LyricsJPN]

and, of course, here is #1005 Thrill
BAND-MAID / Thrill (スリル) (Official Music Video)



As I wrote in the earlier thread
robphy said:
I watched copies of the video about 5 years ago, when I first learned of BAND-MAID, before they made their 2019 tour in the U.S.If it's not Akane, then all of these reactions are mistaken
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=akane+"benjo"+reaction
and it's strange that no one has disputed the attribution.
 
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  • #1,827
This piece was originally sung by Norah Jones, who is Ravi Shankar's illegitimate daughter with a Texan.



This was a departure for trad jazz label Blue Note. Previously Blue Note had turned down the great Eva Cassidy. When she was dying young of cancer the CEO of Blue Note personally apologized to Eva for having had such a silly policy. "It's all right" said she.

Cover by Gabriella Quevedo

 
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  • #1,828
Orig



UB40 was the name of the unemployment form in Britain.

Cover, guest starring Leonard Nimoy



That was so good I suspected the employment of session men. Can they do it live? Just listen.

 
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  • #1,829
Apparently you turn the knob on the radio in Leonard Nimoy's car clockwise for both on and off.
 
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  • #1,830
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Don't_Believe_in_Love (1989)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche - I Don't Believe In Love (Official Music Video)

- Queensrÿche - I Don't Believe in Love (Live '91)
- Queensrÿche - I Don't Believe in Love (Alternate 1988 Music Video)
- (2025) GEOFF TATE! "I Don't Believe in Love" LIVE in Boise idaho! 4/22/2025 by ManicBeastBoise



(2021) THE MAVENS - I Don't Believe In Love (Paradise City Music Video) feat. Lilith Czar & Starbenders


(2021) I Don't Believe In Love - Queensrÿche (Alyona cover)


(2021) Mission2Midnight playing Queensryche’s “I Don’t Believe in Love”


(2022) QUEENSRYCHE- I DON'T BELIEVE IN LOVE (Vocal & Guitar Cover) One Shot! - CarstenStepanowicz


Honorable mention:
(2016) Queensrÿche | I Don't Believe In Love | FULL COVER w/vocals - Rocco Pezzin



There are very few covers of Queensryche's songs. Geoff Tate has great vocals.
(#774 Take Hold of the Flame , also #1694 )
- (2025) Geoff Tate! Band intros and "Take Hold of the Flame" LIVE Boise, Idaho! 4/22/25
 
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  • #1,831
Ibix said:
Apparently you turn the knob on the radio in Leonard Nimoy's car clockwise for both on and off.
Vulcan design. It's only logical that the user needn't remember such detail.
 
  • #1,832
 
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  • #1,834
robphy said:
#489

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Pigs

BLACK SABBATH - "War Pigs" (1970)

(2025) uKanDanZ - WAR PIGS (Official Music Video)

  • https://laughingsquid.com/amharic-war-pigs-sax-guitar/
    A Brash Badass Cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ Sung in Amharic With the Sax Subbing for Guitar
    Lori Dorn

    Ethiopian Crunch band uKanDanZ performed a badass cover of the classic Black Sabbath song “War Pigs” entirely in Amharic, the lingua franca of Ethiopia. The band, which features Asnake Gebreyes on vocals, who sounded a lot like an early Ozzy Osbourne, while saxophonist Lionel Martin did an amazing job subbing his horn for Tommy Iommi‘s guitar parts from the original song.


 
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  • #1,835
Orig by the MC5.



The singer's melody has a tonal center that is a major third above the band, who are playing in a minor key. I bet they got that from Indian ragas. They were fans of Sun Ra and John Coltrane. Singer Rob Tyner got his stage name from pianist McCoy Tyner, who arguably invented the power chord.

I once defeated ebassist Mike Davis in arm wrestling. His arms are long, a big disadvantage to him.

Cover



I'm amazed that anyone ever covered this very obscure tune, much less did such a good job. She's Iranian-American.
 
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  • #1,836
Rob Tyner's afro and gap between his front teeth reminds of Angela Davis. Angela's gap was routinely airbrushed out by newpapers, even when she was on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

While we're at it...

Orig Ramblin' Rose



Cover by MC5



A very fun band.

Today I say the MC5 torch has been been picked up by Bandmaid. In both cases the lead guitarist taught the rhythm person how to play.
 
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  • #1,837
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  • #1,838
 
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  • #1,839
I usually don't go for highly accurate covers, but this guy sure can sing it.

 
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  • #1,840
rcgldr said:
Nick Drake - Road (1972)

Josh Turner Guitar cover of Road (2025 - mostly better audio quality)


Josh Turner is great.
Only discovered Nick Drake fairly recently. Some really nice stuff.
 
  • #1,841
Hornbein said:
This piece was originally sung by Norah Jones, who is Ravi Shankar's illegitimate daughter with a Texan.



This was a departure for trad jazz label Blue Note. Previously Blue Note had turned down the great Eva Cassidy. When she was dying young of cancer the CEO of Blue Note personally apologized to Eva for having had such a silly policy. "It's all right" said she.

Cover by Gabriella Quevedo


Beautiful, beautiful song and Gabriella has been putting out quality guitar pieces for years, a class song covered by a class act.
 
  • #1,842
Hornbein said:
This piece was originally sung by Norah Jones, who is Ravi Shankar's illegitimate daughter with a Texan.



This was a departure for trad jazz label Blue Note. Previously Blue Note had turned down the great Eva Cassidy. When she was dying young of cancer the CEO of Blue Note personally apologized to Eva for having had such a silly policy. "It's all right" said she.

Cover by Gabriella Quevedo


This live version is perfection.

 
  • #1,843
It's pretty common for performances to improve over the years. I wish more bands would make live albums in their later years.

It's an advantage in life that musicians have over athletes.

The piano intro on this one is really nice. In the right hands the piano makes the most beautiful music of all.

 
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  • #1,844
She's at her best with these country songs.

 
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  • #1,845
Orig Basket Case by Green Day



Cover -- Avril Lavigne

She sings it like she really means it. Chronic fatigue syndrome, a possibly psychosomatic disorder, later took a big chunk out of her life..



I saw Avril in Taiwan at this time. She was the main guitar player. At the end of the show they left the stage and applause immediately stopped. The audience didn't know they were supposed to demand an encore. Avril sent the hiphop dancers back out to incite applause so the band could return.
 
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  • #1,846
Taiwan ! I stayed in Kaohsiung for a few months. Very underrated country. . I can dance that bad
 
  • #1,847
morrobay said:
Taiwan ! I stayed in Kaohsiung for a few months. Very underrated country. . I can dance that bad

Dance is dead in the USA. East Asia its a big deal.
 
  • #1,848
Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!! [referred to as a "Japanese tongue twister song"]
https://jpop.fandom.com/wiki/MONO_NO_AWARE

(2019) MONO NO AWARE - Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!! [Official Music Video]







  • (2025) "かむかもしかもにどもかも" cover #かむかもしかもにどもかも #mononoaware #cover #歌ってみた #カバー #早口言葉 @mirimm5612


  • (2025) Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!!" by MONO NO AWARE (Cover by Katerina - @framesoflife9925 )


  • (2025) MONO NO AWARE - Kamukamo-Shikamo-Nidomokamo!! "かむかもしかもにどもかも!" COVER ESPAÑOL LATINO TikTok Viral Song - Dionylis


  • (2024) 【ハク。 Cover企画】MONO NO AWARE "かむかもしかもにどもかも!" - haku.


  • (2025) When MONO NO AWARE called on stage the girl from the cover song#haku #mononoaware #jpop #viralson
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/moBH4Vqf-b0
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvO2sgfgEhk [haku's video]



I think I saw a post of the haku cover... but I couldn't find the post.
 
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  • #1,849
Meatloaf covering Gimme Shelter

Meatloaf is OK but those two women are dynamite.

 
  • #1,850
 
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