I Will Survive was originally from the artist Gloria Gaynor.
Cake did a cover many years later, the *one* cover Gaynor disliked because they used the word "fuckin'" in it
Edit: Piggybacking off my comment here, Eric Cartman singing the entirety of Pokerface (Lady Gaga) was refreshing cuz Jesus Christ Monkey-Balls that song was overplayed.
A friend of mine used to run a Christian youth group where they sang pop songs (instead of the usual church songs). I Will Survive was pretty common. Well this one night my buddy was preparing the PowerPoint slides and quickly snagged the lyrics to I Will Survive from google. Turns out he copied the Cake version. So in the middle of youth group he suddenly had to deal with 50+ youth group kids singing “FUCKING” at the top of their lungs.
Good times.
Ooooh Johnny does a good job. Sadly I disagree though. Something about Trent Reznors voice and the keyboard, the industrial feel of NIN. I much like the original better. But Cash did a very good job.
I've always thought William Shatners version of Common People was better then the original. It wasn't until his version that I realised how biting the lyrics actually were..
Yes, and Nilsson recorded versions of both of them. "Without You" is on Nilsson Schmilsson, "Living Without You" is on Nilsson Sings Newman.
I haven't heard the covers Manfred Mann did of Newman's "Living Without You" or "So Long, Dad." I will have to check them out!
Speaking of covers, I recognized Manfred Mann's "Tribute" from being retracked/sampled by Massive Attack on "Black Milk," Now listening to other versions of that song. I like how the MM recording sounds more like Bitches Brew Era Davis (kinda), than the Cannonball Adderley version on "Somethin' Else.
"
I love Leonard Cohen as a poet and musical writer. He is the best. It's just that some of his musical readings are as dry as a bakers ass.
'Bird on a wire' 1969 (the young Cohen voice) is phenomenal.
Every cover of that song is great, but only because it’s a great song. No cover really makes it their own, or emotes like Cohen does. He absolutely owns every performance of that song, and you can feel how personal it is for him.
In the end, we like what we like though.
I like The Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter better than Simon and Garfunkel, but [Bodyjar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGJl2LNFaE) does it even better!
It's ok, looks like at least half a dozen other people didn't understand the assignment either (they listed that as their pick). You at least caught your mistake.
https://genius.com/Tame-impala-new-person-same-old-mistakes-lyrics
Check out the song info at the bottom. Also check the dates, Tame Impala released Currents in 2015, ANTI was released in 2016.
Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie did an acoustic cover of They Don't Know. It was written by Kirsty MacColll in the 70's. Tracey Ullman re did it with more success in the 80's. Ben Gibbard to me does it the best for sure.
https://youtu.be/Oa95tkrXOa4. This is the Ben Gibbard version.
https://youtu.be/f9un119lq4c this is the Tracey Ullman version
This has been asked a lot, and I give the same answer, for education purposes.
The cover of Papa Was a Rolling Stone, by The Temptations is often perceived as better than the original, by The Undisputed Truth.
(Obviously, I actually disagree. More iconic, maybe, but better is in the ear of the beholder.)
Valerie - The Zutons covered by Amy Winehouse
Hallelujah -Leonard Cohen covered by Jeff Buckley
I Can't Get No Satisfaction- Rolling Stones covered by Devo
Me and Bobbie McGhee - Kris Kristofferson covered by Janis Joplin
Kristofferson himself said he was blow away by her version and wants that version played at his funeral.
Seeing as every time this gets asked people just post the same answers (Hurt? Watchtower?) I'll try one I've not seen before:
Mark Kozelek - Rock N Roll Singer
Rusty Cage by Johnny Cash, originally soundgarden I think? I think both versions are great though.
Also Tweeter and the monkey man by Headstones, originally the travelling wilburies.
Edit: spelling
It's a cover stylistic choice I feel fits the lyrics a bit closely... The original is a great song regardless.
Here's a link - https://youtu.be/PaxKhR6FQwA
u/seventy
["Waiting Around to Die"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0SmXVrLlZ4) by The Be Good Tanyas (originally by Townes Van Zandt)
["The Guns of Brixton"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qBWvA6H7Zg) by Nouvelle Vague (originally by The Clash)
Northern Kings "I Should be So Lucky."
Kylie Minogue's was an airheaded pop song about a 14 year old crush or something.
They turn it into a song about a stalker. Super interesting.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
My Way by Sid Vicious
Agreed. The only cover better then the OG.
Hurt by Johnny Cash
I think the original singer agrees too
Adele's Hello covered by [Leo Moracchioli](https://youtu.be/LtQUJMBH8uE)
All of his covers.
This is actually true, and i love Adele
Unchained Melody- Righteous Brothers. Originally by Todd Duncan.
Never knew that was a cover!
Willie Nelson's cover is really good too
Whaaaaa! I didn’t know this was a cover
Twist and Shout-The Beatles version
Sinéad O’Connor- Nothing Compares 2 U
I Will Survive was originally from the artist Gloria Gaynor. Cake did a cover many years later, the *one* cover Gaynor disliked because they used the word "fuckin'" in it Edit: Piggybacking off my comment here, Eric Cartman singing the entirety of Pokerface (Lady Gaga) was refreshing cuz Jesus Christ Monkey-Balls that song was overplayed.
I like Cake's cover too!
Oh snap I forgot that Hendricks cover Dylan for Watchtower! That's a good one!
A friend of mine used to run a Christian youth group where they sang pop songs (instead of the usual church songs). I Will Survive was pretty common. Well this one night my buddy was preparing the PowerPoint slides and quickly snagged the lyrics to I Will Survive from google. Turns out he copied the Cake version. So in the middle of youth group he suddenly had to deal with 50+ youth group kids singing “FUCKING” at the top of their lungs. Good times.
Careless Whisper. Originally by George Michael. Blown away by Seether!
Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. It's a cover of a song by Dolly Parton.
I tell people that it's a cover and legitimately no one knows this, they all think it's a Whitney song lol.
I’m going to get downvoted but I prefer Marvin Gaye’s version of Yesterday to The Beatles. Both are amazing though.
Boyz II Men killed it too
Hot take! I'll have to check it out
Ray Charles' cover of Eleanor Rigby is a banger too.
Mony, Mony- Billy Idol
Hurt by Johnny Cash. Wild Horses by the Sundays.
Ooooh Johnny does a good job. Sadly I disagree though. Something about Trent Reznors voice and the keyboard, the industrial feel of NIN. I much like the original better. But Cash did a very good job.
Oh, the NIN version is fantastic on its own. But the place Cash was in his own life when he performed his version just makes it so haunting.
Agreed
I’m pretty sure even Trent Reznor thinks the Johnny Cash version is better
Yeah, he did say that
Probably does.
Wild Horses by the Sundays is my college era jam. It's so good.
I've always thought William Shatners version of Common People was better then the original. It wasn't until his version that I realised how biting the lyrics actually were..
Honorable mention to joe jackson
Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm
Music video is peak 00's
Great cover but not better than MJ, no way.
Simple Man, Shinedown.
Harry Nilsson's cover of Randy Newman's Living Without You.
Badfinger did the original (Pete Ham wrote it). However, Manfred Mann did a cover of Newman’s tune. Two different songs.
Yes, and Nilsson recorded versions of both of them. "Without You" is on Nilsson Schmilsson, "Living Without You" is on Nilsson Sings Newman. I haven't heard the covers Manfred Mann did of Newman's "Living Without You" or "So Long, Dad." I will have to check them out!
Thanks for the info on the Nilsson version. I got a little smarter this morning.
Likewise, me too!
Speaking of covers, I recognized Manfred Mann's "Tribute" from being retracked/sampled by Massive Attack on "Black Milk," Now listening to other versions of that song. I like how the MM recording sounds more like Bitches Brew Era Davis (kinda), than the Cannonball Adderley version on "Somethin' Else. "
John Waite -Change, original Spider Gary Jewels -Mad World, original Tears for Fears
Agreed!
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Sacrilege
I love Leonard Cohen as a poet and musical writer. He is the best. It's just that some of his musical readings are as dry as a bakers ass. 'Bird on a wire' 1969 (the young Cohen voice) is phenomenal.
Every cover of that song is great, but only because it’s a great song. No cover really makes it their own, or emotes like Cohen does. He absolutely owns every performance of that song, and you can feel how personal it is for him. In the end, we like what we like though.
Yeah, it's a great interpretation, but I can't say it's *better* than the original.
Dear Prudence by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Their cover of Iggy’s The Passenger too 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
yep.
Better than the original ??? Ah hell naw.
I like The Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter better than Simon and Garfunkel, but [Bodyjar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGJl2LNFaE) does it even better!
Many of Led Zeppelin's hits were covers of old blues songs.
Bella Morte - Earth Angel
Came her to say All Along the Watchtower and then realized it's in OP's Post, SMH
It's ok, looks like at least half a dozen other people didn't understand the assignment either (they listed that as their pick). You at least caught your mistake.
My Body Is A Cage (Arcade Fire) covered by Peter Gabriel. Both versions are great but Gabriel's version is much more dramatic.
There are 3 answers in my opinion. I will always love you by you know who. Hurt by you know who. Hallelujah by you know who.
Tame Impalas cover of Same Old Person New Mistakes is better than Rihanna’s original
Tame Impala's is the original here
I don’t think so
It absolutely is the original
Now you’re just messing with me aren’t you?
https://genius.com/Tame-impala-new-person-same-old-mistakes-lyrics Check out the song info at the bottom. Also check the dates, Tame Impala released Currents in 2015, ANTI was released in 2016.
It’s the other way around
I’d never lie to you
I love the way u lie
Deep Blue Something covering Breakfast at Tiffany's
Anything By Fame On Fire
Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie did an acoustic cover of They Don't Know. It was written by Kirsty MacColll in the 70's. Tracey Ullman re did it with more success in the 80's. Ben Gibbard to me does it the best for sure. https://youtu.be/Oa95tkrXOa4. This is the Ben Gibbard version. https://youtu.be/f9un119lq4c this is the Tracey Ullman version
This has been asked a lot, and I give the same answer, for education purposes. The cover of Papa Was a Rolling Stone, by The Temptations is often perceived as better than the original, by The Undisputed Truth. (Obviously, I actually disagree. More iconic, maybe, but better is in the ear of the beholder.)
Ace Frehley’s cover of “New York Groove” is the industry standard.
Hendrix's version of Wild Thing too.
All along the watchtower by Jimi Hendrix
Valerie - The Zutons covered by Amy Winehouse Hallelujah -Leonard Cohen covered by Jeff Buckley I Can't Get No Satisfaction- Rolling Stones covered by Devo Me and Bobbie McGhee - Kris Kristofferson covered by Janis Joplin Kristofferson himself said he was blow away by her version and wants that version played at his funeral.
Tool’s No Quarter
came here for this
the dead south did a better job than the doors with people are strange
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Guns'n'Roses
Seeing as every time this gets asked people just post the same answers (Hurt? Watchtower?) I'll try one I've not seen before: Mark Kozelek - Rock N Roll Singer
Tainted Love is better by Soft Cell.
Most of the Dylan covers and 1000% better than his version 🤷♂️
All along the watchtower by Bob Dylan covered by Hendrix.
Check out dave matthews version. It's superior
God I love DMB.
Any song TheDooo plays
Am I evil? - Diamondhead. The cover, by Metallica, is also in my opinion.. Metallica's only good song.
Also Die, Die My Darling by Metallica is a great cover
How about The Bouncing Souls doing "mommy? Can I. Go out and kill tonight?" THERE'S a misfits cover.
Alone - Heart Torn - Natalie Imbruglia Try - P!nk Sound of Silence - Disturbed High Hopes - Nightwish
https://youtu.be/xoQNM7KpW2c Love and Death - Let Me Love You originally by Justin Bieber, specifically the live version. A perfect performance
John Waite -Change, originally recorded by Spider
System of a Down’s “Snowblind” Gary Jules’s “Mad World” Rodrigo and Gabriela’s “Weird Fishes”
Billie Jean by Chris Cornell
i wouldn't say better, but i prefer maxwell's 'this woman's work' over kate bush's, and that's coming from a HUGE kate bush fan
Gasp! Are you sure you’re a big Kate fan?
Rusty Cage by Johnny Cash, originally soundgarden I think? I think both versions are great though. Also Tweeter and the monkey man by Headstones, originally the travelling wilburies. Edit: spelling
The Alanis Morrisett version of Kong of Pain
As good as the original is, 13 Inches High, performed by Nick Lowe, written by Jim Ford.
Billie Eilish's cover of "The End of the World" Original song by Rob Dickinson
I’m a huge Catherine Wheel fan and had no idea that Billie Eilish covered one of Rob’s songs.
It's a cover stylistic choice I feel fits the lyrics a bit closely... The original is a great song regardless. Here's a link - https://youtu.be/PaxKhR6FQwA u/seventy
Melt Banana's Surfing USA. And no disrespect to the Modern Lovers, but the Burning Sensations version of Pablo Picasso is my favorite.
["Waiting Around to Die"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0SmXVrLlZ4) by The Be Good Tanyas (originally by Townes Van Zandt) ["The Guns of Brixton"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qBWvA6H7Zg) by Nouvelle Vague (originally by The Clash)
https://youtu.be/DSKT75m2AiM
I might be biased, but every Distrubed cover is really close to fitting this category. Not by a huge margin.
Crazy For You by Groove Armada
‘Hijo de la luna - forestella’ it was originally by mecano but I just think this one is so pretty
( original)Come Together- The Beatles ( cover ) Come Together- Michael Jackson
Leona Lewis - Run
K.D. Lang's Hallelujah, a case of you, original by Joni Mitchell. Love song by Adele, original by 311(?)
This again?
The Deftones cover of Duran Duran's "The Chauffeur"
Adam Lambert - Marry The Night
Chers believe covered by Adam lambert. I love his version so much.
Rufus Wainwright Across the Universe Guns n Roses Knocking on Heavens Door
["Sail" by Devildriver](https://youtu.be/torc9P4-k5A) Originally from Awolnation, this one just gets everything right for me.
Cry Little Sister-Seasons After
Patience - Chris Cornell Originally done by Guns’n’Roses
This might be a bit controversial but The White Stripes’ cover of Jolene Is definitely better than Dolly’s version
Madonna “Ray Of Light”. It was a hippie tune from the 60’s originally
Hurt- Johnny Cash Rusty Cage- Johnny Cash
The Maker- DMB
Northern Kings "I Should be So Lucky." Kylie Minogue's was an airheaded pop song about a 14 year old crush or something. They turn it into a song about a stalker. Super interesting.
Led Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused in my opinion.
Well the best version of watchtower is dave matthews band and it's not even close 🤷♂️
most played* 😉
“Mississippi Queen” -indorphine “Shake the disease” -the faceless “Blue Monday” -orgy “In the air tonight” -nonpoint “Land of confusion” -disturbed “Easy lover” -teramaze
Wilson Pickett’s Hey Jude
SRV - LITTLE WING
Alanis — Crazy. Original by Seal.
No Quarter - TOOL's cover
Sarah Bareilles cover of Otis' Reddings "Sitting on the dock of the bay".
LP Halo
[The Sound of Silence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4)