Farin Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Here's the 50 best cover versions of all time (well, until this year) as selected by Musikexpress. I'm too lazy to copy all the descriptions/reasons for each song, if you want to know them for one, let me know 50. Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) ~ Nouvelle Vague, 2006 (orig. Buzzcocks, 1978) 49. Life on Mars? ~ Seu Jorge, 2004 (orig. David Bowie, 1971) 48. Freiburg V3.0 ~ Console vs. Tocotronic, 2000 (orig. Tocotronic as "Freiburg", 1995) 47. Comfortably Numb ~ Scissor Sisters, 2004 (orig. Pink Floyd, 1979) 46. Jump ~ Aztec Camera, 1984 (orig. Van Halen, 1984) 45. Inside and Out ~ Feist, 2004 (orig. The Bee Gees, 1979) 44. Surf's Up ~ David Thomas and Two Pale Boys, 2001 (orig. Beach Boys, 1971) 43. Heartbeats ~ Jose Gonzalez, 2006 (orig. The Knife, 2002) 42. Ring of Fire ~ Wall of Voodoo, 1980 (orig. Johnny Cash, 1963) 41. Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime ~ The Field, 2009 (orig. The Korgis, 1980) 40. Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) ~ The Postal Service, 2004 (orig. Phil Collins, 1984) 39. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood ~ Santa Esmeralda, 1977 (orig. Nina Simone, 1964) 38. Free Man in Paris ~ Surfjan Stevens, 2007 (orig. Joni Mitchell, 1974) 37. Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon ~ Urge Overkill, 1992 (orig. Neil Diamond, 1967) 36. Light My Fire ~ Shirley Bassey, 1970 (orig. The Doors, 1967) 35. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath ~ The Cardigans, 1994 (orig. Black Sabbath, 1973) 34. Step On ~ Happy Mondays, 1991 (orig. John Kongos, 1971) 33. Black Magic Woman ~ Santana, 1970 (orig. Fleetwood Mac, 1968) 32. I Will Survive ~ Cake, 1996 (orig. Gloria Gaynor, 1978) 31. Killer / Papa Was a Rollin' Stone ~ George Michael, 1993 (orig. Adamski feat. Seal, 1990 / The Temptations, 1972) 30. Lost in the Supermarket ~ The Afghan Whigs, 1999 (orig. The Clash, 1979) 29. Yesterday Man ~ Robert Wyatt, 1974 (orig. Chris Andrews, 1965) 28. Everybody's Talking ~ Harry Nilsson, 1968 (orig. Fred Neill, 1966) 27. Gloria ~ Patti Smith, 1975 (orig. Them, 1964) 26. Song to the Siren ~ This Mortal Coil, 1983 (orig. Tim Buckley, 1970) 25. Summertime Blues ~ Blue Cheer, 1968 (orig. Eddie Cochran, 1958) 24. Under Pressure ~ Xiu Xiu feat. Michael Gira, 2008 (orig. Queen & David Bowie, 1981) 23. What a Wonderful World ~ Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan, 1992 (orig. Louis Armstrong, 1968) 22. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself ~ The White Stripes, 2003 (orig. Tommy Hunt, 1962 / Dusty Springfield, 1964) 21. Let's Stick Together ~ Bryan Ferry, 1976 (orig. Wilbert Harrison as "Let's Work Together", 1962) 20. Money (That's What I Want) ~ The Flying Lizards, 1980 (orig. The Beatles, 1963 / Barrett Strong, 1959) 19. Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is a Season) ~ The Byrds, 1965 (orig. Pete Seeger, 1959) 18. With a Little Help From My Friends ~ Joe Cocker, 1968 (orig. The Beatles, 1967) 17. Just Like Heaven ~ Dinosaur Jr., 1989 (orig. The Cure, 1987) 16. Respect ~ Aretha Franklin, 1967 (orig. Otis Redding, 1965) 15. The Man Who Sold The World ~ Nirvana, 1993 (orig. David Bowie, 1970) 14. Denis ~ Blondie, 1977 (orig. Randy & The Rainbows as "Denise", 1963) 13. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction ~ Devo, 1977 (orig. The Rolling Stones, 1965) 12. Killing Me Softly (With His Song) ~ The Fugees, 1996 (orig. Roberta Flack, 1973 / Lori Lieberman, 1972) 11. I Heard It Through The Grapevine ~ The Slits, 1979 (orig. Marvin Gaye, 1968) 10. Hounds of Love ~ The Futureheads, 2004 (orig. Kate Bush, 1985) 9. All Along The Watchtower ~ Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968 (orig. Bob Dylan, 1967) 8. Superstar ~ Sonic Youth, 1994 (orig. Delaney & Bonnie as "Groupie [superstar]", 1969 / The Carpenters, 1971) 7. Black Steel ~ Tricky, 1995 (orig. Public Enemy as "Black Steel in the Hour of Darkness", 1988) 6. Hallelujah ~ Jeff Buckley, 1994 (orig. Leonard Cohen, 1984) 5. Nightclubbing ~ Grace Jones, 1981 (orig. Iggy Pop, 1977) 4. Hurt ~ Johnny Cash, 2002 (orig. Nine Inch Nails, 1994) 3. I Fought The Law ~ The Clash, 1979 (orig. The Crickets, 1959) 2. Tainted Love ~ Soft Cell, 1981 (orig. Gloria Jones, 1965) 1. Always On My Mind ~ Pet Shop Boys, 1987 (orig. Brenda Lee, 1972 / Elvis Presley, 1972) Bonus: That's All Right ~ Elvis Presley, 1954 (orig. Arthur Crudup, 1946) "Not his best work neither one of the 50 Best Covers ever - but: this new interpretation of a Delta-Blues classic officially marks the beginning of Rock'n'Roll. It starts with the cover of another song." PS I put the songs in a youtube playlist, thanks to certain record labels some are only live versions, but I tried to choose good quality ones (thanks Sony, UMG and co.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Thank you, Martin!! I think CCR did a great cover of "Grapevine" and "I Put A Spell On You" . Burdon's cover of "Spell" is also... magic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I admit I hadn't heard The Slits' version of "I Heard it though the Grapevine" before, but it's really cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluesky Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Comfortably Numb ~ Scissor Sisters This is one of the WORST covers of all time Hallelujah ~ Jeff Buckley I know this is the standard preferred cover, but I am in love with Rufus Wainwright's version. Allison Crowe's is good too. I will immediately seek out for my ongoing covers project - Inside and Out ~ Feist Ring of Fire ~ Wall of Voodoo Free Man in Paris ~ Surfjan Stevens Light My Fire ~ Shirley Bassey I Will Survive ~ Cake Money (That's What I Want) ~ The Flying Lizard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 This is one of the WORST covers of all time I too noticed that there seem to be a few disco fans working at that magazine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 @ skybluesky . . . Very thoughtful and well written post! But do you truly; heart, mind, body and soul believe that this isn't as good as what copied it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluesky Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'm surprised the list makes no mention of The Bird and The Bee and at least one of their Hall and Oates covers. They did a whole H & O cover album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Thanks for answering my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'm surprised to not see anything by Linda Ronstadt up there. Her whole early career (just about) was nothing but cover songs... and she did them to perfection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Nice example, Shawna! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 * Musikexpress Said: Hallelujah ~ Jeff Buckley I know this is the standard preferred cover, but I am in love with Rufus Wainwright's version. Allison Crowe's is good too. Nothing against Jeff Buckley, but I also like Rufus' version better. This list tends to favor the very bold covers that completely redid the song, which is good. I like that they put the Wall of Voodoo cover of "Ring of Fire" in there. In Dan's recent talk with their lead singer, he talked a lot about it: Stan Ridgway interview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 This list tends to favor the very bold covers that completely redid the song, which is good. that's what I like best about the list, tbh... I normally don't care for covers which sound almost the same as the original - what's the point of covering the song then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Covering a song is putting a cloak on it and yes, Martin . . .what's the sense? Can't a band be original and make their own song? But I have no right saying that because Aerosmith covered Yardbirds' Train Kept a Rollin' But Aerosmith has a golden plethora of classic hits; some known and unknown -that were written by them. It gets my goat when a band becomes famous solely from copying someone else's work. Money is truly the root of all evil, especially regarding original music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 just listen to the songs and tell me which of them is not original in an artistic sense Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 All Along the Watchtower and RESPECT should be higher Led Zep's You Shook Me & Babe I'm Gonna Leave You should be on there, same with Hound Dog by the King. Cake's version of I Will Survive and Cardigan's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath both belong on a worst covers list. All the guy from Cake did was talk the entire song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I thought David Cook's version of "Hello" was excellent. But he's an Idol, so he was probably written off as fluff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 But I have no right saying that because Aerosmith covered Yardbirds' Train Kept a Rollin' And The Johnny Burnette Trio covered it back in 1956. Tiny Bradshaw did the original back in 1951. The roots of rock 'n roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 I like Nazareth's version of The Everly Brother's, Love Hurts. Also, The Kingsmen version of Richard Berry's Louie Louie. The Rascal's version of The Olympic's Good Loving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted October 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 All Along the Watchtower and RESPECT should be higher Led Zep's You Shook Me & Babe I'm Gonna Leave You should be on there, same with Hound Dog by the King. Cake's version of I Will Survive and Cardigan's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath both belong on a worst covers list. All the guy from Cake did was talk the entire song. I like that it takes the focus a bit off Classic Rock also Cake's version of I Will Survive rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 I know this is the standard preferred cover, but I am in love with Rufus Wainwright's version. Allison Crowe's is good too. John Cale's is very good. (...but the original is my fave one ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder (orignally by Jean Dushon) Tell us about it, Songfacts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ombre Vivante Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 50. Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) ~ Nouvelle Vague, 2006 (orig. Buzzcocks, 1978) 47. Comfortably Numb ~ Scissor Sisters, 2004 (orig. Pink Floyd, 1979) 45. Inside and Out ~ Feist, 2004 (orig. The Bee Gees, 1979) 32. I Will Survive ~ Cake, 1996 (orig. Gloria Gaynor, 1978) 10. Hounds of Love ~ The Futureheads, 2004 (orig. Kate Bush, 1985) Here are five of the worst cover songs ever recorded They also picked one of Bryan Ferry's most mediocre covers; I think they probably just picked it out of a hat and it's doubtful they listened to more than just the one song they listed. "Like A Hurricane" (orig. by Neil Young) is a far, far, faaar better cover song from Roxy Music than "Let's Stick Together." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyRaccoon Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 John Cale's is very good. (...but the original is my fave one ) Agreed. My favorite used to be Jeff Buckley's, but when I saw Leonard Cohen live, that was the best version of it I've ever heard. When he did it live, he reclaimed it from everyone. It's incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted October 24, 2010 Report Share Posted October 24, 2010 Agreed. My favorite used to be Jeff Buckley's, but when I saw Leonard Cohen live, that was the best version of it I've ever heard. When he did it live, he reclaimed it from everyone. It's incredible. wow, you saw him recently? I saw him 20 years ago for the last time... and I saw him maybe 10 times before, so I got bored for awhile... ...but when he comes to Spain I'll see him again and ask him if he wants to marry me (I'm already married but anyways... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyRaccoon Posted October 24, 2010 Report Share Posted October 24, 2010 I did indeed. I saw him in May of 2009 at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland. And it was an amazing show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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