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I like me a good remake from time to time. Both Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin successfully covered Muddy Waters’ “You Shook Me,” for example. And then there’s that great Aretha Franklin remake of Otis Redding’s “Respect.” And who can argue with Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s “Hurt”? But generally, I tend to prefer the original recording artists. Here are seven that I’ll take any day over their more famous covers.
1. “Hound Dog”
Forget Elvis. This Big Mama Thorton classic from 1952 really says it all, if you ask me.
2. “Oye Como Va”
Tito Puente’s original1963 recording of “Oye Como Va” mambos the 1970 Santana version right off the dance floor, no?
3. “Torn”
I’ll take Ednaswap’s original 1995 recording over Natalie Imbruglia’s any day. (Tho I do dig those L’Oréal ads.)
I just saw Neil Diamond in concert last week and man-o-man can that guy still croon. He played his original “I’m a Believer” and I forgot the Monkees ever existed (to say nothing of Smash Mouth, sigh).
5. “All Along the Watchtower”
I happen to be a huge Hendrix fan (we share a birthday). But when it comes to this classic, Dylan sort of summed it all up if you ask me.
6. “My Life”
Does anyone really prefer the more famous No Doubt version to Talk Talk’s?
Really?
7. “Smooth Criminal”
The Alien Ant Farm cover is okay at the gym, maybe… maybe. Well, it’s not criminal, by any means, let’s just say that. But drop the needle on the old Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson original off Bad and you’ll hear how the remake pales by comparison.
What are some of your favorite original recordings that have been messed with?
Check out past On Music posts here >>
The Roberta Flack version of “The first time ever I saw your face” is head and shoulders above the Celine Dion version.
posted by Tom on 8-20-2008 at 7:33 am
I now have a strange urge to watch Battlestar Galactica . . . good ol’ Dylan.
Speaking of covers, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Beatles’ songs turned out for the movie musical All Across the Universe.
I know there are songs that I believe should have never been remade, but none come to mind at this moment. Good list, David.
posted by nutmeag on 8-20-2008 at 7:36 am
While I agree with Tom about Roberta’s version being better than Celine’s the example given doesn’t meet the criteria of this post.
Roberta’s version isn’t the original. The song was written by Ewan MacColl in 1957 for Peggy Seeger.
posted by Chris on 8-20-2008 at 8:03 am
I completely agree on #1 and #7 especially; if Ednaswap made “Torn” without sounding whiny and irritating, I like it better even though I haven’t heard it.
posted by adrienne on 8-20-2008 at 8:18 am
David! You rule! I loooooove the Ednaswap version of “Torn” so much more than what’s-her-name. I thought I was the only person on Earth who had ever heard it!
posted by Rachel on 8-20-2008 at 8:23 am
I find that I usually prefer the first version of a song that I hear - whether it’s the original or a cover.
posted by Karen on 8-20-2008 at 8:30 am
Madonna’s version of “Santa Baby” sucks on it’s own. But it REALLY sounds like crap when compared to Earha Kitt’s original.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 8-20-2008 at 9:34 am
Let’s just not even talk about the Bee Gees’ remake of the Sgt. Pepper album in the 70’s.
Didn’t Neil Diamond write several songs specifically for the Monkees as a Tin Pan Alley songwriter before he started a solo career? I’m not sure you would really call the Monkees version a remake.
I agree, though, that N.D. continues to bring it. For a guy that’s pushing 70, you’ve got to give him credit for staying power and sheer stamina.
posted by Scott on 8-20-2008 at 9:35 am
How about a list of remakes that are better than the originals?
posted by Daryl Campbell on 8-20-2008 at 9:40 am
I really like the song “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac, but the cover by the Dixie Chicks about ruined it for me. However, I thought the Smashing Pumpkins cover brought a lot to the song.
Enjoyed the list, BTW. I actually had a conversation with a friend about whether the original “All Along the Watchtower” was Hendrix or Dylan (my vote was Dylan). Definitely one of my faves! Thanks for solving that debate!
posted by Orange on 8-20-2008 at 9:49 am
“I’m A Believer” was written specifically for the Monkees, so Neil Diamond is technically covering the song that he wrote for them.
And since we’re on the Monkees, I MUCH prefer the original “Mary, Mary” as opposed to the crap…oops, I mean Rap remake in the 1980s
(and who is Eddie Whitestone? ReCAPTCH)
posted by Beth on 8-20-2008 at 9:52 am
How about the other way around? What remakes blow the original recordings away?
I know it’s a sappy and overdone song now, but Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” comes to mind.
posted by kel on 8-20-2008 at 9:52 am
Oops. Should have said more examples of remakes. I find this exercise harder to do.
posted by kel on 8-20-2008 at 9:57 am
I liked Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” much, much, much better than the remake. Can’t even remember who it was that did the remake.
posted by Carol on 8-20-2008 at 10:23 am
I’m with you on everything but “All along the watchtower”. Hendrix lends a force to it that worked well. Strangely Dylan preferred it too and said as much. Can’t think of another situation where the original artist has admitted to liking a cover version of their own song.
posted by Roger on 8-20-2008 at 10:36 am
I absolutely swoon over Gloria Taylor’s original “Tainted Love” versus Soft Cell’s tepid journey.
posted by Josch on 8-20-2008 at 10:41 am
THANK YOU for including Torn! And yes, Adrienne, the Ednaswap version is sung without being whiny and irritating. It’s powerfully sung and you can hear the angst in her voice. Natalie Imbruglia’s version disgusts me–it sounds like she has no idea WHATSOEVER what she is supposed to be singing about. If you didn’t speak English and you listened to Natalie Imbruglia’s cover, you’d think she’s singing a sweet little ode about puppies or rainbows or something, with a huge, gleerful grin on her face. Every time I hear that god-awful cover I throw up a little bit in my mouth.
Natalie Imbruglia, the soulless wench, heartlessly ripped every shred of decency out of that song.
posted by Michigan Mom on 8-20-2008 at 10:49 am
Actually, I think that Dolly’s version of “I will always love you” knocks Whitney’s out of the water. Dolly may not make such an overblown effort to hit so many notes, but there is overwhelming vulnerability and tenderness in her version.
And the list of better remakes - I think that would be a short list :)
posted by Debi on 8-20-2008 at 11:17 am
I always preferred Neil Diamond’s original Red Red Wine to the one by UB40. Almost any Beatles remake makes me gag (although I do agree that the movie Across the Universe did a good job… but that doesn’t quite count as a remake in my mind).
Madonna’s version of American Pie still haunts my dreams.
To me, though, Pink Floyd is the most untouchable of all. As much as I like Robert Rodriguez, I will never forgive him for putting a remake of Another Brick in the Wall into his movie The Faculty (performed by Class of ‘99). No movie can score more than a 3 out of 10 in my system when using a Pink Floyd remake…
posted by kp on 8-20-2008 at 11:25 am
I would have to agree with Debi… there is no question that Whitney is a better singer in pure vocal chops but I never really believed her version. Fair singing with heart can be better than incredible singing without a soul.
posted by Tom on 8-20-2008 at 11:28 am
Finally! Amen to #1. Elvis’s version of
“Hound Dog” makes no sense. When you hear the original, you get it!
posted by loripop on 8-20-2008 at 11:47 am
I disagree with “Watchtower” and “Smooth Criminal”. “Landslide” would have been a better choice along with “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (Loggins & Messina over Poison, “California Girls” (Beach Boys over David Lee Roth, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction (Rolling Stones over Devo), “Behind Blue Eyes” (The Who over Limp Bizkit), and “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison over Van Halen).
posted by Ian on 8-20-2008 at 12:03 pm
311’s version of “Love Song” by The Cure makes me shudder every time. The continue that chain, I hated the Jimi Hendrix tribute album that came out in the 90’s where The Cure covered “Purple Haze.” I thought the whole album was a wreck.
posted by nikki on 8-20-2008 at 12:15 pm
How about Lenny Kravitz’s cover of American Woman? It doesn’t even make sense - the Guess Who were a Canadian band, and intended the song as a protest against the negative influence of their neighbor to the south. An American singer covering that completely changes the intent of the song. Not to mention, his cover sucks.
posted by allison on 8-20-2008 at 12:48 pm
I always thought that Robert Johnson’s original Crossroads Blues is much better than Clapton’s remake
posted by Tom on 8-20-2008 at 12:49 pm
“American Pie” by Don McLean is a classic that should never be redone.
Unfortunately, Madonna did her own versoin a few years ago. I found it ironic that he was singing about how music was dying, and then she goes and sort of proves his point with his own song.
posted by Morris on 8-20-2008 at 12:54 pm
Lenny Kravitz’s version of the The Guess Who’s “American Woman” was gross, Sheryl Crow covering “Sweet Child O Mine” was uncool, and Pearl Jam covering “Last Kiss” was unfriendly to the ears. Also, do you guys/gals remember Puff Daddy transforming Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” into the hideous “I’ll Be Missing You” tribute to Biggy Smalls? Oh yea he butchered Zep’s “Kashmir” also. This list could go on and on really. How about posting an article tomorrow listing better covers than the originals?
posted by Paul S. on 8-20-2008 at 12:57 pm
I have to say that Hendrix’s Watchtower blows Dylan’s out of the water. Bobby thought so too and gave Jimi the rights to the song because he did it so well.
posted by adrian on 8-20-2008 at 1:31 pm
For a different take on “All along the Watchtower” check ot XTC’s version.
Completly different with a Punk feel.
My favorite version over both Dylan & Hendrix
posted by Jim on 8-20-2008 at 1:40 pm
I love bluesman Paul Pena’s original version of “Jet Airliner”. It blows Steve Miller out of the water. But since Paul’s album (”New Train”) was shelved for nearly 30 years not many have heard the original. (It was finally released after he was featured in the Oscar-nominated Tuvan throat-singing documentary “Ghengis Blues”, just a few years before he died.)
posted by steph on 8-20-2008 at 1:59 pm
ok, so i’m going a little disco here but the original version of “turn the beat around” by vicki sue robinson totally knocks out gloria estefan’s tepid remake. vicki’s version had so much more soul and sheer energy to it. also, to carol, the remake of “total eclipse of the heart” was done by a singer named nicki french as a dance tune. long live the originals!
posted by Nathan on 8-20-2008 at 2:26 pm
Having just been to a George Michael concert this summer, I can say that he does a cover of “The first time ever I saw your face” and its wonderful (not as good as Roberta’s, but still wonderful)…he also does a MUCH more sexy, serene version of the Police’s Roxanne…I can hardly stand to listen to Sting wail that song..
still my fave is the ORIGINAL version of “First cut is the deepest” by Cat Stevens…I dislike Sheryl Crow, so her version of it just grates me sideways…
posted by donner on 8-20-2008 at 3:04 pm
I believe you’re forgetting “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Stevie Wonder version is good, but not as good as the RHCPs.
posted by tyler on 8-20-2008 at 3:23 pm
This one could go either way–original that blows away the remake, or remake that blows away the cover. Personally, I think both versions are outstanding in their own right.
The song? Black Magic Woman
The cover band? Santana
Bonus points to anyone who knows the original artist without having to Wiki it…
OK–it was Fleetwood Mac, who once upon a time were a truly bodacious blues band.
posted by Chan on 8-20-2008 at 3:26 pm
@Tom:
Although I hate to ever bad-mouth The Allman Brothers Band, they also recorded crossroads, and IMO, it’s pretty awful. Haven’t heard the original though. I thought Cream’s recording WAS the original. Now I’ll have to go track it down!
posted by Beth on 8-20-2008 at 6:46 pm
Also destroying Whitney’s “I will always love you” cover is a clearly intoxicated Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) goofing off in karaoke (can’t post links here; it’s on youtube).
posted by Brandon Abell on 8-20-2008 at 7:04 pm
Contrary to most peoples opinions, I actually prefer Scissor sisters version of Comfortably Numb to the Floyd original…
posted by Sean A. Rhodes on 8-20-2008 at 7:09 pm
Marc Cohn’s version of walking in Memphis is one of my favourite songs. But he doesn’t have boobs unlike Cher.
posted by Des on 8-20-2008 at 7:12 pm
On the opposite side, Duran Duran’s Fame, believe it or not (listen if you get a chance), is a actually a better version than David Bowie’s.
posted by Richard on 8-20-2008 at 7:18 pm
I enjoy many remakes of songs i listened to growing up and some i never hear of (smooth criminal) until the remake. I enjoyed the original in its day, i may still listen to these tracks, however I frequently enjoy the remakes and there is room for both in my collection, my life and room to create new memories for the remakes.
I could mention a few remakes that were better or worse than the originals, but whats the point, not like your classic coke has been replaced with new coke - if you dont like the remake dont buy it, not like the original was removed from amazon or itunes because Britney remade a song.
posted by Kirk on 8-20-2008 at 7:19 pm
Ednaswap has TWO versions of “Torn,” and both are better than Natalie I’m-boil-ya.
Have to disagree about “Smooth Criminal, though…the beginning of MJ’s major suckage…
posted by psyberian on 8-20-2008 at 7:21 pm
You, me, Hendrix, and Bruce Lee.
Now that’s a cool birthday…
posted by mikmik on 8-20-2008 at 7:26 pm
“There She Goes” by The La’s is far superior to “There She Goes” by Sixpence None the Richer, IMO.
posted by Kyle on 8-20-2008 at 7:27 pm
Metallica’s cover of I AM EVIL rocks but the Diamondheads original has an evil tone to it that crushes the cover.
Also Metallic’s cover of Turn the Page pales in comparision to the original BIG TIME!!! However I prefer their cover of the Astonomy by BlueOyster Cult over the original.
posted by James on 8-20-2008 at 7:29 pm
I dunno dude, Hendrix ROCKS. Anything Hendrix takes the cake!
RD
www.decrypt.net.tc
posted by Russ Dixon on 8-20-2008 at 7:42 pm
Tainted Love, Gloria Jones - 1964
It’s on youtube.
posted by Slimbelly Momo on 8-20-2008 at 7:55 pm
Song: Cherish
Original Artist: The Association
Crappy Remake “Artist”: David Cassidy
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 8-20-2008 at 7:55 pm
wow, big mama thornton–i never heard her sing hound dog. i love junior wells and buddy guy’s version. but big mama’s phrasing–totally unexpected, and now it sounds really fresh!
posted by sammy on 8-20-2008 at 8:08 pm
All but the last two: WRONG.
posted by Victor on 8-20-2008 at 8:27 pm
Though I liked Grateful Dead at one time, I was totally put off by their version of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”
posted by Dopplerduck on 8-20-2008 at 8:46 pm
Everything that Rod Stewart covered sucks.
Especially Robbie Robertson’s “Broken Arrow,” Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” and Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train,” all of which I had the misfortune of hearing in succession one time while trying to food-shop.
posted by drunko on 8-20-2008 at 8:52 pm
How could you forget about Joan Jett’s horrid remake of AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds or Jewel’s remake of Sweet Home Alabama? Those two are so bad I almost feel bad even mentioning the songs.
posted by Jon on 8-20-2008 at 9:08 pm
yeah i was pretty pissed off when i heard imbruglia’s cover of torn on the radio…. it’s NOT a happy, poppy song at all…and then to top it all off i was listening to ednaswap at work and someone commented on how bad their “cover” of the song was…if i could’ve gotten away with throwing a sub at the guy i would have….
posted by stef on 8-20-2008 at 9:35 pm
If this were a list about covers that blew the original’s doors off, then the Hendrix version of Watchtower should be on this list–Bob Dylan’s harmonica never gave anyone chills like the second solo in the Hendrix version. That even gives Eddie Van Halen chills.
I now understand Elvis’ Hound Dog - much thanks.
reCAPTCH - selective unmarried
posted by Jeff on 8-20-2008 at 10:05 pm
I love finding awesome originals of songs i like. Going the other way, without trying to say whether they’re better than the originals, some of my favorite covers: God Only Knows by Jonatha Brooke (amazing close), Imagine / Walk on the Wild Side by rx (with some help from Geroge Bush :-), Mad World by Gary Jules. Also, Kevin Gilbert did an interesting Kashmir, and the buegrass covers of Phish songs are pretty cool.
The most complete catalog of cover song info i’ve been able to find is coverinfo.de (German, but you can switch to English or French).
posted by John Abbe on 8-20-2008 at 10:40 pm
The original version of “Cocaine” by JJ Cale is much better than Eric Claptons version
posted by stage_v on 8-20-2008 at 11:20 pm
mama thorton’s hound dog is gruff std blues belch-good but typical for the genre. elvis’ hound dog changed the world. hard to call it a cover-completely different song. i have a vague recollection elvis covered someone who covered mama.
posted by bill on 8-20-2008 at 11:27 pm
I’m a fan of both Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix, but I really almost feel like all along the watchtower might as well have been written for Jimi Hendrix to perform, he does that song far better.
posted by James on 8-20-2008 at 11:42 pm
I agree - Dylan’s original version is much better than Jimi Hendrix’s, although Hendrix did it well too. It’s just that the harmonica gets me everytime. It’s such a lonely sound. And to go back to somebody else who posted - Dylan never gave Hendrix the rights to the song. Just said he liked his version better.
posted by Louis on 8-21-2008 at 12:28 am
I agree with most - Hendrix is better - and didn’t Clapton write “Cocaine” also.
posted by s l on 8-21-2008 at 2:26 am
What about “something stupid” (Sinatra), “Behind Blue Eyes” (The Who), “If I were a rich man” (Topol/”Fiddler on the roof”), …
posted by Wolf on 8-21-2008 at 2:29 am
7 Original Recordings that Blow the Remakes Away | Emusiclist.com…
\r\nHere are seven that Ill take any day over their more famous covers.\r\nTHANK YOU…
posted by Emusiclist.com | The web's music news on 8-21-2008 at 3:48 am
Clapton is God.
Sorry friend.
posted by Chris on 8-21-2008 at 4:01 am
got to agree with bill…
Elvis’ Hound Dog was the beginning of
Rock ‘n’ Roll…don’t mess with the
King…also, anyone else remember the
Ozzie & H show with Ricky spinning
Big Mama’s record ?
posted by rich on 8-21-2008 at 4:34 am
Argh! How could you even mention Alien Ant Farm’s Smooth Criminal? The memory of that had been succesfully erased from my mind for years! I may be nitpicking here, but palm-muting a classic to a pop-punk beat shouldn’t even be considered a remake - more an amusing interlude between other songs you actually give a shit about. And if you’re into that look no further than Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees!
posted by Crunkfish on 8-21-2008 at 6:24 am
My vote is for Clapton’s ‘I shot the sheriff’. Love Clapton but he killed a perfectly good Marley song.
posted by peleken on 8-21-2008 at 8:16 am
I cannot believe that Bruce Springsteens song “blinded by the light” that was just ruined by Mannford Mann (and of course hit number one) didn’t make the list. it is like a whole different song. On Bruce’s version you can even tell he is saying “deuce” not “douche” (that confused the hell out of me when I was a little kid) BTW, I’m not really much of a Bruce fan, but that song is good.
posted by Matt the Geek on 8-21-2008 at 8:24 am
Yep, I’m confused by the Hendrix inclusion too - I thought most people thought his version was the definitive one? I mean it’s not that Dylan’s version was bad, but Jimi’s was awesome!
posted by Joe | A New Band A Day.com on 8-21-2008 at 9:14 am
Hello? This is reality calling!
These remakes are often for the generation they’re written in.
I prefer No Doubt’s version of My Life. The 80s sounding version doesn’t click with me and it definitely wouldn’t click with anyone younger.
A lot of the acoustic originals I like better though. I really love the original of Torn. I only knew of the Natalie Imbruglia version.
One remake which I _hated_ at first but learned to love was Hurt by NIN remade by Johnny Cash. I think it was when I learnt what kind of person Mr. Cash was that I appreciated his rendition more.
Crap - now I have to listen to it. X3
posted by Reality on 8-21-2008 at 9:18 am
Erma Franklin’s version of Piece of my Heart. It BLOWS away the Janis Joplin version
posted by Hassanchop on 8-21-2008 at 10:14 am
A ton of Dylan covers are horrible. I know The Byrds practically had a career with Dylan songs, but I cannot stand their upbeat renditions, especially their “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The way they did the songs, it completely undermines the wonderful lyrics, and they only used the second verse!
However, I there are some great Dylan covers on the “I’m Not There” soundtrack, like Sufjan Steven’s version of “Ring Them Bells.”
posted by Jenny on 8-21-2008 at 10:37 am
Just for kicks & giggles, give Michael Hedges version of All Along The Watchtower from Live On The Double Planet a listen.
posted by Dave on 8-21-2008 at 11:25 am
I don’t know who covered it (and I don’t want to know!!), but there was recently a cover of Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight.” It was HORRENDOUS and made no sense with its alt rock guitar beats. But nothing’s pissed me off more than Ataris covering Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer.”
Also, Smashing Pumpkins (and whoever likes their cover) should be shot for what they did to Landslide. I don’t even like that song in the first place, but Jesus Christ that was like listening to a dying cat! That man’s voice does NOT work on its own with instrumental accompaniment. This isn’t even music. I think this cover sums up everything that is wrong with what kids in America are listening to these days. Now get off my lawn!
A cover better than the original though is Cash’s “Hung My Head.” I think it’s a Sting song? But Cash’s is so much better.
I’m ashamed…I didn’t know Torn was a cover!! I apologize and will listen to the original when I get home (can’t load videos/music at work). And I’ve never heard the original of “My Life” but I always screamed in horror whenever I heard the No Doubt song in passing.
posted by Sawicki on 8-21-2008 at 11:33 am
Oh with all my ranting I forgot to mention that as a Pink Floyd fan, I think Rasputina did a respectable cover of “Wish You Were Here.”
posted by Sawicki on 8-21-2008 at 11:41 am
But that’s how it is with original recordings of songs. Most remakes suck major ass compared to the people that originally did them. I’ve heard very few remade songs that I actually like more than the original versions.
posted by GraphicArtist2k5 on 8-21-2008 at 11:46 am
“Can’t think of another situation where the original artist has admitted to liking a cover version of their own song.”
Lou Reed heard Mitch Ryder’s cover of “Rock and Roll” with Steve Hunter on Guitar and said “That is how it is supposed to sound.” Then he hired Steve Hunter away from Mitch.
Hendrix does the ultimate version of “All Along the Watchtower.”
Another original version better than the cover: Aerosmith’s original “Walk This Way” is much better than Aerosmith’s cover “Walk This Way.”
posted by gttim on 8-21-2008 at 11:47 am
Claptan’s original Layla is waaaay better than his own unplugged remake. Doesn’t even sound like the same song.
posted by Shannon on 8-21-2008 at 3:34 pm
I prefer Iggy Pop’s “China Girl” to David Bowie’s version any day. And if any of you have any sense, then you will, too.
posted by Kevin Fackerty on 8-21-2008 at 4:10 pm
I’ll put in my two votes. I was glad to see someone mention “Last Kiss”. Interesting history on that. I always thought it was originally performed by J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers. It was actually originally written (and performed) by Wayne Cochran, and then redone the next year by J. Frank Wilson. I think the Wilson version is by far the best, but that’s possibly personal bias because I loved that song so much for so long before I heard the (much different) Pearl Jam version.
Oh, and 2nd but more importantly–I felt like I wanted to punch a hole through my radio when I first heard Sheryl Crow squawking “Sweet Child of Mine”. How dare you!
posted by Rocky on 8-21-2008 at 5:29 pm
Paul McCartney’s latter day cover of Yesterday was certainly not necessary, imho.
Also, I prefer Jimi’s version of AATWT over Bob’s.
posted by Jon on 8-21-2008 at 9:12 pm
anything by The Carpenters, there is a longing in her voice that can’t be replicated.
posted by Justin on 8-21-2008 at 11:20 pm
I much preferred Robbie Williams’ version of “Angels” over Jessica Simpson’s. I have no problem with remakes, but she embarrassed herself (even further) by remaking a song that was only a few years old. At least wait until the original has “aged” a little bit before attempting to remake it.
posted by Kryptos on 8-22-2008 at 11:07 am
I don’t know who re-did it, but they turned a song about ecology and protest by Joni Mitchell into soda pop. Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi should have been left alone.
posted by karen on 8-23-2008 at 6:06 pm
worst offender for me is the “smells like teen spirit” cover of wich we do not speak.
posted by imblackyall on 8-23-2008 at 8:29 pm
A really amazing cover-adaptation has to be Mary Ann Redmond’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I am Looking For”, cover of the already awesome U2 song, she treats it more like a ballad making it a completely different tune than U2’s pop-ish original.
Listen to it here - 3rd MP3 audio track listed on the right sidebar:
www.visualcv.com/maryannredmond
Thanks for your list!
posted by tim on 8-25-2008 at 8:32 pm
echoing those who brought up that neil diamond wrote “i’m a believer” for the monkees. his version is technically the remake and shouldn’t be on the list.
especially because if you allow that, then it’s ridiculous not to have “nothing compares 2 u” on the list/ prince’s version is miles beyond sinead o’conner’s.
posted by giles on 8-29-2008 at 12:03 am
Like Dylans,and Hendrix and Dave Masons version of watchtower
posted by wolfie on 9-23-2008 at 11:53 pm
After hearing Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower”, Bob Dylan actually liked it so much that he resolved to play it more like Hendrix did. Just a little something to add on top.
posted by toastmaster on 9-29-2008 at 10:00 pm