What are some popular covers that you think are very lacking compared to the original song?

The Rod Stewart cover of Cat Stevens' The First Cut Is The Deepest is a thing I will never tolerate. It's made worse by Sheryl Crow's cover of Stewart's cover. They both lop a couple bars off the end of the chorus, and it just ruins the song for me.

Also, it really kind of offends me that Uncle Kracker's version of Drift Away has almost completely consumed the original. At least the same fate didn't befall Behind Blue Eyes.

SupremeWu said:

The problem is the predictability; any time there is a thread in this (or the prior) community about song covers, it's invariably about how much Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' sucks. It's boring and repetitive and honestly, reeks of thirst to be edgy.

(by the way if you actually prefer the NiN version then no offense, it's just such a cliche around here by now)

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I think that's the go to because it's arguably the most popular case of "the cover is better than the original".

I enjoy both versions, but I think they are both fantastic in different ways and have completely different interpretations of the lyrics.

NIN's version is more of someone in their 20s/30s destroying their life with drugs and alcohol, while Cash's is someone at the end of their life reflecting on the mistakes they've made.

On topic, Madonnas cover of American pie. I doubt anyone would argue it's much much worse than the original, but it was very popular at the time and hit #1 in several countries.

SupremeWu said:

The problem is the predictability; any time there is a thread in this (or the prior) community about song covers, it's invariably about how much Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' sucks. It's boring and repetitive and honestly, reeks of thirst to be edgy.

(by the way if you actually prefer the NiN version then no offense, it's just such a cliche around here by now)

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There is a difference between lacking and being different from what you expected.

Tori Amos cover of Raining Blood lacks the guitar riffs, but is not lacking ANYTHING compared to the original song because it is something ELSE.

And in both cases, the original artist is VERY fan of the cover. Reznor even said like "it is his song now"

It was already mentioned but Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez.

The Knife version is just a better song imo, and they sound amazing live:

Anything by Michael Jackson simply doesn't need a remake. The guy had more talent than was reasonable for one human being to contain, and it's just not possible to do justice to the material. Ditto legends like Freddie Mercury, Hendrix, or Bowie.

I've heard some great remakes when they're really taking a different attack on the material. I love original and cover versions of Hurt, Everybody Knows, Hallelujah, etc. A straight copy of the original wouldn't be wise, but the best covers of these inhabit their own stylistic space and come honestly and sincerely.

A group ripe for good remakes is the Beatles. A lot of iconic material, but the OG musicians aren't all that musically talented, so some new takes can really hit hard.

The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Head On" is better than The Pixies cover.

For some reason Americans really like the William Shatner cover of Pulp's Common People. I have never understood this. It conpletely lacks all the emotion, power and the sarcastic delivery of the original, instead just changing it into a standard angry man song.

Arkaign said:

A group ripe for good remakes is the Beatles. A lot of iconic material, but the OG musicians aren't all that musically talented, so some new takes can really hit hard.

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Yo! Did you just really call The Beatles not that musically talented? What? I'll give you Ringo Starr, but McCartney, Lennon and Harrison are musical legends.

All cover versions from Earth, Wind and Fire songs

Everytime I hear a cover version. I have the urge ro stab my ears.

CloudWolf said:

For some reason Americans really like the William Shatner cover of Pulp's Common People. I have never understood this. It conpletely lacks all the emotion, power and the sarcastic delivery of the original, instead just changing it into a standard angry man song.


Yo! Did you just really call The Beatles not that musically talented? What? I'll give you Ringo Starr, but McCartney, Lennon and Harrison are musical legends.

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How dare you slander Ringo Starr's ability

It was popular when it first released.

Gundam said:

How dare you slander Ringo Starr's ability

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Hey, I like Ringo a lot, but he's easily the most basic of all Beatles members.

CloudWolf said:

For some reason Americans really like the William Shatner cover of Pulp's Common People. I have never understood this. It conpletely lacks all the emotion, power and the sarcastic delivery of the original, instead just changing it into a standard angry man song.


Yo! Did you just really call The Beatles not that musically talented? What? I'll give you Ringo Starr, but McCartney, Lennon and Harrison are musical legends.

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The Beatles are definitely musically talented but their voices aren't the greatest or unique, so it's easier for better vocalists/singers to make really great covers of their songs and/or make it their own.

Just...no.

Birdy's cover of Bon Iver's Skinny Love, which is also what you mostly get when you search for Skinny Love. Sad stuff. It's not a bad song but the original is just way better


Original:

Heard this pop up on my fiancee's playlist and immediately replaced it with the original.

Cash version and NIN version are almost completely different songs. Cash evokes a nostalgic sorrow over mistakes that have left a man broken and regretful without time to fix anything. NIN version is a man sobbing with self hate in his locked room at what his life has become.
Both are fantastic and I agree with the sentiment that the cash version has become a victem of the internet's need to burn it's idols and the things they once loved to ashes.

Fall out boys cover of the ghostbusters theme makes me want to cry.

I forgot how awful the Corrs' version of Everybody Hurts was until I heard it again this weekend

Also the Sixpence None the Richer cover of There She Goes by The La's

I like Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah, though its nowhere near as good as John Cale's (one thing to ponder: without Cale's version, would any of the other cover versions exist? they tend to take his version as a template over Cohen's)

Ooh also... The Boyzone version of Father And Son by Cat Stevens (and I know Boyzone aren't known for their artistic merit to begin with, but this one sticks out as a bad cover rather than just a bland one)

It's written (and sung by Stevens) as a dialog between the titular father and son, and you can tell who is talking by the tone of voice...

Boyzone's version flattens the tone of the entire song, completely taking the emotion out of the words.

Stiler said:

It was already mentioned but Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez.

The Knife version is just a better song imo, and they sound amazing live:

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This is what I came here to post.
The live version is perfection.

Stiler said:

It was already mentioned but Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez.

The Knife version is just a better song imo, and they sound amazing live:

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When I worked at the stripclub one of the dancer's go to songs for her set was knife's heartbeats. I can't lie it was a great song to strip to and it was stuck in my head for months afterwards.

I'm sure this version is not the most "popularly received" but I found it really amusing.


Original from R. Kelly.

Sound of Silence by Disturbed is a disgrace.

Contrary to popular belief - Vanessa Williams' song "Dreamin" is actually a cover of a significantly more brilliant version by Guinn.

Seriously, give this a listen and try and tell me Williams' version even comes close:

Do you have any fucking idea how many official covers of "Paint it Black" there are. Hundreds upon hundreds.
I went through almost each and every single fucking one to find the version I wanted (Glenn Tipton).
The only other song I can think of are "Shout!" by Disturbed.

I'm actually big into covers, so I don't have much room to complain.

Over the Hills and Far Away by Nightwish.

Tyrfing did a better job with Gary Moore's song

Mad World

I just heard a terrible Crossroads (Bone Thugs) cover last week as a car blaring it pulled up to a neighboring gas pump. It lacked any kind of soul and harmony. I felt insulted lol despite only knowing that song by them but knew of its meaning to the original group.

Yerba_Sutra said:

Came in here to say "every cover of Hallelujah".


I can't compare the two because I see Cash's version more as a man looking back on a long tumultuous life as opposed to Trent's depressive ruminating, and each version nails those respective tones for me.

As someone who grew up knowing and following Cash's story and legacy, his cover gave me all the feels when I first heard it.

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I quite like John Cale's original cover of Hallelujah, which is essentially what Buckley covered. The worst ever is Bono's trip hop version. Man that's legitimately terrible as he's subsequently admitted although it was in his voice completely shot stage. although arguably (very arguably) while it's shit it's actually far closer to Cohen's original than any other cover.

The Beatles and the Rolling Stones early career

Omnipotent said:

Johnny Cash's Hurt lacks the depressive atmosphere, weakness and just utter despair that makes the original so powerful.

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i agree with this. Not a fan of the Cash version.

the trend of taking an up beat pop-song and playing it as a slow, melancholy sing by a husky-voiced female singer. Usually in trailers or commercials. They're meant to be soulful and emotional but are mostly 'blurgh.'

Do a couple million youtube watches count as popular? 'cause there is a cover of Who Wants To Live Forever by some quartet called The Tenors and it totally misses the point, yes.

Omnipotent said:

Johnny Cash's Hurt lacks the depressive atmosphere, weakness and just utter despair that makes the original so powerful.

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But instead of that, it has its own brand of world-weariness, heartbreak and torment. I personally prefer the cover, but they both have their own qualities and their own power.

Taylor Swift's cover of September is an affront to music, and I don't even like Earth Wind and Fire.

Omnipotent said:

Johnny Cash's Hurt lacks the depressive atmosphere, weakness and just utter despair that makes the original so powerful.

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Oh my god, and I thought I was a weirdo because everyone seems to love the Cash version so much.

CloudWolf said:

Yo! Did you just really call The Beatles not that musically talented? What? I'll give you Ringo Starr, but McCartney, Lennon and Harrison are musical legends.

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They may be legends. But they aren't virtuosos.

Kafkaswaffle said:

Sound of Silence by Disturbed is a disgrace.

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Point me at a nu-metal cover that isn't.

Jay-Z's terrible rendition of Forever Young has 16 million views on Youtube.
How is something like that even possible?

Bonus:
Buh-weet's rendition of Bette Davis' Eyes was lacking the oomph of the original. Don't like it.

Disturbed's The Sound if Silence is utter trash.

Lovebuzz by Nirvana doesn't even come close to the original.

ghostemoji said:

The stupidest thread ever posted on GAF was someone arguing that the Alien Ant Farm version was iconic and nobody thinks of it as a Michael Jackson song anymore or something like that.

I have nothing to offer to this thread other than if the OP of that old thread sees this-- I still think your opinion is the dumbest opinion.

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I remember that fucking thread. I remember simply thinking: What.The.Fuck.

I also really hate that edge lord version of Sound of silence that was somehow really popular a while a go.

ClivePwned said:

the trend of taking an up beat pop-song and playing it as a slow, melancholy sing by a husky-voiced female singer. Usually in trailers or commercials. They're meant to be soulful and emotional but are mostly 'blurgh.'

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On that note, taking a popular song from basically any genre (Heard everything from pop to grunge to The Prodigy) and turning it into some kind of pseudo early 20th century barebones blues. Happens all the time in trailers now. I think Battlefield 1 did it with some 90s alt rock hit.