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[Always-honest]

Johnny Cash's Hurt cover brings me to tears every time I hear it.

dear god ... yes...

 

[Always-honest]

Yo La Tengo or bust.

covering what? velvet underground?

 

[Always-honest]

THIS cover of the final countdown by MANUALIST (no, not the band that was posted earlier):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvn8wsIrHag&feature=related

 

[Proc]

Nine Inch Nails - Metal covering Gary Numan.

My vote.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Incubus cover of Massive Attacks Teardrop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDXVFnYA7OM

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

My Morning Jacket covering Elton John's 'Rocket Man':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPDhGbsVhJc

 

[SnakeXs]

Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk

 

[Stabby McSter]

Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk

i'd like to argue that whole album is the greatest

 

[weepy]

Covers that are considered to be the definitive version:

Sinead O'Conner - Nothing Compares 2 U
Nilseon - Without You
Jeff Buckley - Halluja
Ray Charlies - Georgia on my Mind
Jimi Hindrix - All along the watch tower
Quiet Riot - Come On Feel the Noise
Gary Tules - Mad World
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
The Animals - Please Don't Let me Be Misunderstood
Cream - Crossroads
Whitney Houston - I will Always Love You
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
Sid Vicious - My Way
Elvis Costello - What's SO Funny about Peace Love and Understanding
Ike and Tina - Proud Mary
Urge Overkill - Girl, you will be a woman soon
Nirvania - Man Who Sold the World / Lake of Fire
Faith No More - Easy (fun version)
The Clash - I fought the Law (Chris' opinion)
Run DMC - Walk this Way
Elvis Preisley
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
Joan Jett - I Love and Roll
Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me
10,000 Maniacs - Because the Night
David Bowie - China Girl
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Stevie Wonder - For Once in My Life
Black Crows - Hard to Handle
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
Bow wow wow - I want Candy
Nazereth - Love Hurts
UB40 - Red Red Wine
CCR - Susie Q
The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn
The Beatles - Twist and Shout
The Troggs - Wild Thing
James Taylor - You've Got A Friend

God no...

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Foo Fighters - Darling Nikki

 

[trinest]

U2's latest cover I say is epic. So is Coldplays LeftRightLeftRightLeftRightLeft cover.

 

[teruterubozu]

Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel the Noize

 

[industrian]

Laibach - Let It Be.

Not the song, the entire album.

 

[Ceres]

My Morning Jacket covering Elton John's 'Rocket Man':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPDhGbsVhJc

Fuck that.

Think it's going to be...... a long long time




I also really like Northern Kings which is a cover band comprised of members of Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Charon, and Teräsbetoni. Their cover of Ashes to Ashes is great (and I personally think better than Bowie's despite usually liking his music) and I also like their cover of Hello (Lionel Richie).

 

[Larson Conway]

Goddamn I didn't know a Britney Spears song could sound so gooooood... Travis nailed it. The lyrics actually have meaning when it's sung.

 

[big_z]

It is actually.

Also, I'd say Orgy's "Blue Monday" is a case of the cover being better than the original (whatever happened to them?) and Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal", while not better than the original, is the perfect way to do a fun/silly cover of something.

orgy is still around after the second album they had issues with warner so they had to wait out their contract. then they released a third album on their own in late 2004 but most didnt know about it because of the indie lable. currently they are on hiatus but some of the guys have been teasing fans lately about new orgy stuff soon. two of the orgy guys formed a side project called julien-k. if you like orgy check them out its different but good.

 

[crowphoenix]

I am quite fond of The Lemonhead- Mrs. Robinson.

And while I like The Rolling Stones- Like a Rolling Stone, I have been informed by a credible source that they do not, in fact, get it.

 

[Trakdown]

Guns 'N Roses- Since I Don't Have You
Type O Negative- Cinnamon Girl

 

[Cosmic Bus]

-Solitary Man: a shitty Neil Diamond song

Smashing Pumpkins' "Landslide" is better than Fleetwood mac's

Oh God, both of you, please stop.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

The Whitest Boy Alive do lots of awesome covers at their concerts:

Whitest boy alive - Music sounds better with you (Stardust cover)

The Whitest Boy Alive - Show Me Love (Robin S cover)

The Whitest Boy Alive - Pump Up The Jam (Technotronic cover)

 

[durendal]

Also, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (the one with the badass Prince solo)

I like this one (excellent ending Paul Gilbert solo).

 

[mug]

Fucking snobs making fun of a song that was bigger than any of their own. :rolleyes

:lol

 

[Neverfade]

Joan Jett - I Love and Roll

The whole roll?

 

[koam]

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends

Thank god someone posted this! Way better than the original.

Original (Beattles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ

Cocker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIKBq9TeFlw

 

[Ad Infinitum]

Foo Fighters - Darling Nikki

hells yes, probably one of my favourite covers.

 

[Roi]

Funny thing about Screamin' Jay's version of that song is that while it's basically the most widely-covered non-blues song I can think of, nobody's ever come close to the original. There's not even one version that really competes, save MAYBE Nick Cave, who turns the song into an amelodic no-wave nightmare and in turn captures the spirit of the original if nothing else.

What about Nina Simone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORSzfw8FE-o

 

[Red Blaster]

Over half of Zeppelin's entire catalog is comprised of covers.

Particularly enjoyed the two James Brown songs covered on The Who's first album.

 

[Roi]

Oh, what about Jimi Hendrix

Hey joe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLnKUiybiFo

All Along the Watchtower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qTXRkAKr8

 

[Burai]

Placebo's cover of Running Up That Hill:
Link

Placebo do great 80's covers.

Johnny & Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLOF2T20O8E

Bigmouth Strikes Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xgqj7QwXU

They've also just started performing a cover of Nik Kershaw's Wouldn't It Be Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83ZAgTy4Ors

 

[Brimstone]

Yellow Matter Custard a specially formed Beatles tribute band. Has to be one of the more talented tribute supergroups ever formed. I think they only performed twice together.

Cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"--Paul Gilbert on Guitar, Mike Portnoy on Drums (Dreamtheater), Matt Bissonette on Bass (Joe Satriani), and Neal Morse on vocals.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Xi8BHwGpg


Paul Gilberts solo brings down the house.

 

[Shrike_Priest]

Nina Simone - Ne Me Quitte Pas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI8F6DbB2cE
Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORSzfw8FE-o
Sikth - Tupelo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rUNUpvQoYw
Opeth - Remember Tomorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLUmqDa25LQ
Opeth - Soldier of Fortune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3n3xhXZ5Fc
Hellsongs - Run to the Hills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6UixOo3tUs
Hellsongs - Paranoid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonVd6zvT7o


Pretty much anything Opeth touches turns to gold. I would have posted Bridge of Sighs, but I couldn't find it.


Also, Hellsongs "Hymns in the Key of 666" is great fun. Sure it's a cover-band at this point, but it's a really nice, mellow and surprisingly varied record. Longe metal ftw.

 

[Kastro]

Spacemen 3 - Starship (MC5, Sun Ra)

All their covers are amazing but I particularly like this one.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I think a good cover song is unique to the band, but still maintains the spirit of the original song. Lately there have been some terrible, terrible covers of songs. Well, they always happen, but for some damn reason the past few years has given us some truly epic failures. But you know who does do great covers? Pearl Jam. Yes, don't deny it GAF, these guys are masters of the cover song. They are choosy with what they'll cover, but when you see them busting out The Who, Tom Petty, or Neil Young or whoever it might be...classic stuff.

Here's them covering Baba O'Riley a few years back at a show I was at in San Diego. This. Is. Perfect.

http://is.gd/Bn2l

Oh, and bonus performance of Betterman from the same show.

http://is.gd/Bn4q

It seems to me that the grunge bands were some of the best at doing covers, but really Pearl Jam was king among them.

A thousand times no. Not to mention Pearl Jam's vocalist has no right singing.

The only bands who have it right are the bands who do not do it at all.

 

[DrM]

Laibach - Let It Be.

Not the song, the entire album.

True. I would also mention cover version of Live is Life (Opus) from same band. Awesome song. Laibach - Life is Life (abit NSFW)

 

[Oreoleo]

Incubus cover of Massive Attacks Teardrop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDXVFnYA7OM

Nope.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

James Brown knocking Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" right outta the park.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Nope.

Yes

 

[Link1110]

Yuna Ito - My Heart Will Go On http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZaDXzOcK38

Covers that are considered to be the definitive version:

Missing Aretha Franklin - Respect (cover of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3a...A9551BFB&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=22)

 

[Corwood Rep]

Otis Redding's version of Respect, especially on the Live In London & Paris album that came out last year, is so much more powerful and emotive and energetic than Aretha's. I have no idea why her cover, which is nice enough, is considered better. Otis's grabs you by the balls and doesn't let you go. That shit was fucking rock and roll, man.

Actually, I think the reason it makes me mad is that it's kind of a misconception based on the fact that people haven't really heard Otis sing that song live, or at all in some instances. With the studio version, I can see the argument. But Otis really deserves more credit, because his version can shake the rafters off the ceiling.

 

[Escape Goat]

You laugh, but I genuinely enjoy that one.

Wow that was awful!

 

[Darko]

Covers that are considered to be the definitive version:

Sinead O'Conner - Nothing Compares 2 U
Nilseon - Without You
Jeff Buckley - Halluja
Ray Charlies - Georgia on my Mind
Jimi Hindrix - All along the watch tower
Quiet Riot - Come On Feel the Noise
Gary Tules - Mad World
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
The Animals - Please Don't Let me Be Misunderstood
Cream - Crossroads
Whitney Houston - I will Always Love You
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
Sid Vicious - My Way
Elvis Costello - What's SO Funny about Peace Love and Understanding
Ike and Tina - Proud Mary
Urge Overkill - Girl, you will be a woman soon
Nirvania - Man Who Sold the World / Lake of Fire
Faith No More - Easy (fun version)
The Clash - I fought the Law (Chris' opinion)
Run DMC - Walk this Way
Elvis Preisley
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
Joan Jett - I Love and Roll
Joan Jett - Do You Wanna Touch Me
10,000 Maniacs - Because the Night
David Bowie - China Girl
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Stevie Wonder - For Once in My Life
Black Crows - Hard to Handle
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
Bow wow wow - I want Candy
Nazereth - Love Hurts
UB40 - Red Red Wine
CCR - Susie Q
The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn
The Beatles - Twist and Shout
The Troggs - Wild Thing
James Taylor - You've Got A Friend

+Natelie Imbrulia -Torn

 

[Ashour]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-rX0jeOFU

Iced Earth Highway to hell cover

I think most of the covers on that album (tribute to the Gods) were excellent

 

[RiggenBlaque]

Yellow Matter Custard a specially formed Beatles tribute band. Has to be one of the more talented tribute supergroups ever formed. I think they only performed twice together.

Cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"--Paul Gilbert on Guitar, Mike Portnoy on Drums (Dreamtheater), Matt Bissonette on Bass (Joe Satriani), and Neal Morse on vocals.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Xi8BHwGpg


Paul Gilberts solo brings down the house.

That was good, don't get me wrong, but I think that guitarist is wrong for that song. It sounds like he's about to break out the scissor kicks, tight leotards, and big hair-dos. He's got this 80's shred thing going with all the squeelies and shredding, and it doesn't really fit the song. You could argue that's their take on it, though.

 

[DieNgamers]

Nearly everthing I wanted to say was already mentioned here...
Still, this Metallica cover of "Am I evil" is pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jchM6jffdr8
The original was great as well.

 

[koam]

Friend sent me this, reminded me of this thread
http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1058/top-10-best-music-covers.html

For the lazy
10) The Troggs - Wild Thing
9) Chris Cornell - Billy Jean
8) Nazareth - Love Hurts
7) Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
6) Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World
5) Soft Cell - Tainted Love
4) Gary Jules - Mad World
3) Whitney Houston - I will always love you
2) Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends
1) Johnny Cash - Hurt

 

[riskVSreward]

Stone Temple Pilots - Dancing Days

 

[Bowflex]

Paul Quinn & Edwyn Collins - Pale Blue Eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z3RgoukUEk

 

[Powerslave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA-rX0jeOFU

Iced Earth Highway to hell cover

I think most of the covers on that album (tribute to the Gods) were excellent

nice avatar

 

[Invisible_Insane]

Foo Fighters - Darling Nikki

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW NIIIIIIKKKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIII

I think John Mayer's version of Bold As Love, on Continuum, is better than Jimi Hendrix's. I'm not trying to start a flamewar, it's just an opinion.

 

[Des0lar]

Nina Simone - Ne Me Quitte Pas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI8F6DbB2cE
Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORSzfw8FE-o
Sikth - Tupelo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rUNUpvQoYw
Opeth - Remember Tomorrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLUmqDa25LQ
Opeth - Soldier of Fortune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3n3xhXZ5Fc
Hellsongs - Run to the Hills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6UixOo3tUs
Hellsongs - Paranoid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonVd6zvT7o


Pretty much anything Opeth touches turns to gold. I would have posted Bridge of Sighs, but I couldn't find it.


Also, Hellsongs "Hymns in the Key of 666" is great fun. Sure it's a cover-band at this point, but it's a really nice, mellow and surprisingly varied record. Longe metal ftw.

FUCK YES