Covers that are really different from the original!!

JCDUB · 11-11-2009 5:03pm #1

Hi dudes(ses)!!!

I'm looking for a song (any song) that is covered by another group/artist/musician/orchestra in a pretty different way than it was originally recorded by the initial artist.

It's for a project in college, in which I need to differentiate between the two on a musical level, e.g. tempo, rhythm, instruments or lack thereof, singing style etc.

I have a few in mind, and was thinking about stuff that orchestras and gospel choirs seem to be doing at the moment, as in taking contemporary stuff and doing a really funky and different cover!

Was just wondering if you had any suggestions that might be worthwhile looking into?!

Thanks:)

Rigsby · 11-11-2009 5:15pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_n-gRS_wdI

Kold · 11-11-2009 6:46pm

The Knife - Heartbeats (orig)
Jose Gonzales - Heartbeats (cover)

rednik · 11-11-2009 7:04pm

Rolf Harris covering (murdering) Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin must have allowed this and as to why I'd love to know.

chalad07 · 11-11-2009 7:07pm

All along the watchtower - The Bob Dylan version sounds very different than the Jimi Hendrix version. Both great in their own ways.

JCDUB · 11-11-2009 7:21pm

Thanks for your replys:D

I was looking at the ukelele orchestra of great britain, they do some interesting covers (including Wuthering Heights, Teenage Kicks) but I don't think there's enough depth in the music, just 8 or 10 ukeleles and a guitar.

Keep em coming.

Notorious · 11-11-2009 7:28pm

America I Love You - Originally a Morrissey song and covered by Christy Moore. Moore throws a lot more passion into the lyrics, and completely changes the music that goes with the lyrics.

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails and covered by Johnny Cash. I think I prefer the Cash version. Both are excellent though.

The soundtrack for the film I'm Not There is full of covers of Bob Dylan songs. Sufjan Stevens covers Ring Them Bells; 'tis my favourite on the album. The range of instruments Sufjan introduces into the song is awesome.

K-Ren · 11-11-2009 7:34pm

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ep6fe99Mps

You said different, not good, right?:)

The Pontiac · 11-11-2009 7:37pm

Bob Dylan doing his own songs - almost unrecognisable from the original at times.

Notorious · 11-11-2009 8:47pm

Another one I thought of; Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen and covered by Jeff Buckley. I've heard more people praise the Jeff Buckley version, and even had an argument with someone who insisted it was the original. Cohen > Buckley

anti-venom · 11-11-2009 8:48pm

Check out Opium Jukebox's, 'Music to Download Pornography By' album with covers of Nirvana, Soft Cell etc etc. Also their Sex Pistols tribute album is about as different from the original as you will find.

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Download-Pornography-Opium-Jukebox/dp/B00005086D

Or how about 'A Houseguest's Wish: Translations of Wire's Outdoor Miner'. An entire album dedicated to covers of this one song. A great song but this is overkill.

You could try the 'String Quartet tribute' series; for example, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7CrCz0Oo8k. There is shedloads more of these.

Rigsby · 11-11-2009 8:52pm

Joe Cocker's version of the Beatle's "I get by with a little help from my friends".

Eric Clapton's unplugged version of his own "Layla".

Borneo Fnctn · 11-11-2009 11:23pm

Lloyd Cole's cover of Chelsea Hotel. Originally a Leonard Cohen song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkqPRy1-t8

Kold · 11-11-2009 11:27pm

jackpalance wrote: »

Lloyd Cole's cover of Chelsea Hotel. Originally a Leonard Cohen song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkqPRy1-t8

0_0 That's just horrific.

delbertgrady · 12-11-2009 8:51am

Camera Obscura doing their melancholy take on Abba's Super Trouper is a good place to start.

Mark Kozelek's album What's Next to the Mooon, comprises Bon Scott-era AC/DC songs performed acoustically, all practically unrecognisable.
Similarly, his old band, Red House Painters, covered Shock Me by Kiss, which bore very little resemblance to Ace Frehley's original.

slipss · 12-11-2009 2:23pm

Would Definately have to go with Down with the Sickness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzdeH6MaNVI

Original (Disturbed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U1C8T0ScBU

Cover (Richard Cheese)

smog · 12-11-2009 2:48pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txVSX_DOrpI

alb · 12-11-2009 3:25pm

Didn't even have to think about this - Mr Grieves. It's not often there's two completely different versions of a song and I like each so
much:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGOxi7U-sNw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1k6dD3WAP0

These versions should have all the differences you're looking for.

telecaster · 12-11-2009 4:17pm

She's a model and she's skanking it up good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U42qkYZ4vrM

iamhunted · 12-11-2009 4:41pm

devo's version of the stones' satisfaction

JerryHandbag · 12-11-2009 5:23pm

Red Hot Chilli Peppers did a barely recogniseable version of The Ramones "Havana Affair" at Slane a few years back. Methinks its on one of their live albums.

anti-venom · 12-11-2009 5:29pm

telecaster wrote: »

She's a model and she's skanking it up good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U42qkYZ4vrM

I like it! Here's another incredible cover of it........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_tK1xw8AzA

JCDUB · 12-11-2009 6:20pm

Thanks for your replies, some very interesting food for thought there!

I have some work to do but I'll be back on later to have a proper listen to all your suggestions and maybe discuss your tunes a bit more.

Nice one.

DrumSteve · 12-11-2009 6:38pm

Check out roots manuva covering the beatles "yellow submarine". excellent cover.

chiefwiggum · 12-11-2009 6:42pm

the who.behind blue eyes
limp bizcuit.. behind blue eyes

chiefwiggum · 12-11-2009 6:43pm

oasis wonderwall
and yerman mile flowers was it? wonderwall

Professey Chin · 12-11-2009 6:46pm

chiefwiggum wrote: »

oasis wonderwall
and yerman mile flowers was it? wonderwall

Think Ryan Adams done a version of that too (or we could be thinkin of the same thing)

chiefwiggum · 12-11-2009 7:06pm

youre right....the 3 of them did a version

HalloweenJack · 13-11-2009 6:40pm

Ol' Dirty Bastard's cover of Rick James' "Cold Blooded"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnjbMtHH1H8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alE6HeSJWM4

Sepultura's cover of Os Mutantes' "A Hora E A Vez Do Cabelo Nascer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87vwhDPA8Z4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGwbz4bZQj4

Richard Roma · 13-11-2009 8:16pm

Sonic Youth: Superstar (Carpenters)
The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez: Cello Song (Nick Drake)

Busi_Girl08 · 13-11-2009 8:47pm

From Bette Midler to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5pY-_e8znE

Mammanabammana · 13-11-2009 10:24pm

Madness' version of Labi Siffre's "It must be love"...so iconic at this stage that most people don't even know it's a cover...

JP Liz · 13-11-2009 10:48pm

Florence and The Machine recently covered You've Got The Love by Candi Staton

PFJSplitter · 13-11-2009 11:56pm

Take Five:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN-6qygjsGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJE92phKzI

Princess Zelda · 14-11-2009 12:12am

Stina Nordestam's cover of People are Strange (original the Doors)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy5gbdzFhT0

Sinéad O'Connor's cover of All Apologies (original Nirvana)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuHxqzgFLvQ

That's all the ones I can think of atm that haven't been mentioned.

PFJSplitter · 14-11-2009 12:59am

That Lucky Old Sun:
The Velvets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CUjFJVTbx0
Aretha Franklin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTgkAzbXQqU

The Locomotion:
Little Eva or Grand Funk Railroad versus Kylie Minogue (all are on YT)

Can you compare 'answer songs'?
Neil Sedaka - "Oh! Carol": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux49UBie-w8
Carole King - "Oh! Neil": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-VeZR-7ab0

liah · 14-11-2009 1:08am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSJxvi767kQ

vs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq7fftrwU8A

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejeEBlDESc

vs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvIw5ZqC1ms

First two off the top of my head, anyway.

HalloweenJack · 14-11-2009 1:35am

anti-venom wrote: »

I like it! Here's another incredible cover of it........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_tK1xw8AzA

My personal favourite cover of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMGsW9LhhWk

Kersmash · 14-11-2009 1:43am

search for radio one live lounge on youtube. fantastic covers. two that stick out for me are pendulums cover of violet hill by coldplay and the gaslight anthems cover of i do not hook up by kelly clarkson.

Moonmad · 14-11-2009 2:03am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKPC-T3jjRg

im_invisible · 14-11-2009 3:52am

Rodriga y Gabriele's song 'one' was based on Metalica's master of puppets,
Cake's version of 'I will survive' is pretty cool
Loads of dance tunes based on 80's music,
'adagio for strings' (hate the tiesto version, not sure who remixed william orbits release, Ferry corsten?)
Havent heard the original of tori amos 'professional widow', remix is cool.

The Pontiac · 14-11-2009 4:35pm

Each season of the TV show The Wire used a different recording of the song "Way Down in the Hole" as its opening theme song. The original version is by Tom Waits, which is used in Season 2.

Season 1 - The Blind Boys of Alabama
Season 2 - Tom Waits
Season 3 - The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe and Steve Earle

Season 4 - Five Baltimore teenagers: Ivan Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Avery Bargasse.
Season 5 - Steve Earle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1ABR4UpDSU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipaV4k2n__I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4u6XdlM6pE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbhH0JmMFzo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZefpVE2U350

JohnButler · 14-11-2009 5:17pm

Quality

JohnButler · 14-11-2009 5:22pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHxv75z53ek

Ash Grunwald covering Robert Johnsons classic 'crossroads'.

not mindblowingly different but different nonetheless!

VegetativeState · 16-11-2009 12:33pm

Biffy Clyro did a remarkably strange version of Buddy Holly by Weezer. I'm sure some people will hate this but I love it. I reckon it's perfect if you want to compare songs in terms of their musical structure.

Sepultura also did an awesome cover of Bullet the Blue Sky but it's fairly similar to the original. Wondefully hefty though.

delbertgrady · 16-11-2009 12:40pm

Hindu Love Gods (Warren Zevon, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry) did a rockin' version of Prince's Raspberry Beret, which is a million miles away from the original and a real contender for best cover version ever.