What are your favourite cover songs

Miguel_Sanchez · 18-06-2010 04:58PM

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Surprised no one has yet mentioned Hurt

Surprised you didn't read the thread before posting.

Waterloo Sunset wrote: »

Johnny Cash's version of Hurt has to be up there as one of the best (along with every other cover on that album IMO)

lordgoat · 18-06-2010 05:25PM

I'm going come out and say it. I can't stand Cash's version of Hurt. I'm just sick to the teeth of it. Of everything about it. I think the original is so much better, the cover version for me turns it into a radio trendy kind of preachy OMG you have to hear this tune. Not for me. I didn't like cash's cover of I see a Darkness too much either. Don't get me wrong i love Mr Cash but i don't need to hear him sing other peoples songs for 3 (4?) albums.

Miguel_Sanchez · 18-06-2010 05:31PM

lordgoat wrote: »

I'm going come out and say it. I can't stand Cash's version of Hurt. I'm just sick to the teeth of it. Of everything about it. I think the original is so much better, the cover version for me turns it into a radio trendy kind of preachy OMG you have to hear this tune. Not for me. I didn't like cash's cover of I see a Darkness too much either. Don't get me wrong i love Mr Cash but i don't need to hear him sing other peoples songs for 3 (4?) albums.

Ooooh controversial!

I really like his version of I See A Darkness - I don't think it's better than the original but I do really like it.

As for Hurt - well, I was never a NIN fan so I don't really care too much.

Woden · 18-06-2010 07:26PM

Didn't even know this was U2 when I found it originally on Spotify..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CROUAE9bhp8

SilverScreen · 18-06-2010 10:20PM

Placebo did this fantastic cover of Robert Palmer's song. I think it's better than the original, the original is a nice little tune but it just lacks something. Placebo nailed it and made it their own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQkolY7BPxQ

I couldn't find the studio version on youtube but this live version will have to do. Galaxie 500's version of The Velvet Underground's 'Here She Comes' betters the original. It has more passion and emotion and just sounds more beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8hixY2vHpU

Waterloo Sunset · 19-06-2010 02:38AM

lordgoat wrote: »

I'm going come out and say it. I can't stand Cash's version of Hurt. I'm just sick to the teeth of it. Of everything about it. I think the original is so much better, the cover version for me turns it into a radio trendy kind of preachy OMG you have to hear this tune. Not for me. I didn't like cash's cover of I see a Darkness too much either. Don't get me wrong i love Mr Cash but i don't need to hear him sing other peoples songs for 3 (4?) albums.

Harsh!

The thing that makes the Cash albums special, despite being chock full of covers is how he managed to take all these songs from so many genres and artists and essentially reinvent them. The stripped down musical style combined with songs chosen carefully to fit lyrically, paints a picture of exactly what Cash was - a legend fading before our eyes, accepting that he was no longer for this world and the fate that was to befall him (death). It just plain old works for me anyway

Dirty Frank · 19-06-2010 11:33AM

Devotchka - Venus in furs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4CQEruH1JQ

Miguel_Sanchez · 19-06-2010 11:52AM

Woden wrote: »

Didn't even know this was U2 when I found it originally on Spotify..

Ah back when U2 were good. I remember that.... vaguely.

lordgoat · 19-06-2010 12:25PM

Waterloo Sunset wrote: »

Harsh!

The thing that makes the Cash albums special, despite being chock full of covers is how he managed to take all these songs from so many genres and artists and essentially reinvent them. The stripped down musical style combined with songs chosen carefully to fit lyrically, paints a picture of exactly what Cash was - a legend fading before our eyes, accepting that he was no longer for this world and the fate that was to befall him (death). It just plain old works for me anyway

Cash has plenty of albums with no covers that are much better than the american series. I disagree that he re-invented them he just sang them the only way that Johnny Cash can, stripped down and honest. And it was very intersting at first and the song choice was generally very strong. I just think it went on a bit long. I loved hearing his new songs more than the covers. And would love it if The Man Comes Around was as well known as Hurt.

Not at you:

I find the over romanticised back story trite too, people looking for poignant meanings and deeper levels i find at times miss the point.

Anyways i'll leave it here and shall go back to covers in general from now on!

Waterloo Sunset · 19-06-2010 04:01PM

There's no over-romantiscised back story to it though. Covers were randomly thrown at him and he made them. Between clever selection and the way Cash sang them, I see it as highlighting his fading star.

There were new songs scattered in the album too, but he probably just wasn't up to a new album any more (and also wanted to experiment with new styles)

Annnyway I agree that's enough on this! More covers I say!

KT Tunstall did a pretty good version of Tangled up in Blue.

pappyodaniel · 19-06-2010 05:51PM

Avalanches - Why So Sad (Manics)

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

Calexico - Alone again Or (Love)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o14hqYc96gE

Beck - Some things last a long time (Daniel Johnston)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnhE1i1eSg0

Buena Vista Social Club - The dark of the matinée (Franz Ferdinand)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8cRHfsE1lE

Willy Mason - The Message (GrandMaster Flash Cover)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX6lDU-kJU0

.....on a side note, whatever happened to Willy Mason? I loved his album where the humans eat. Such wisdom in his voice which defied his age.

Howard the Duck · 20-06-2010 12:58PM

Alot of my favourite covers have already been posted here but here are a few that haven't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M31fwVkSYI

Check out the funky dancing on this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWr6Ep8N3OU

Love this but the video is pretty rubbish

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmpo8THQJk

Amazing Guitar player who sadly died.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41l3UzA64sE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTGV-GVSwO0

Eels - Living Life (Daniel johnston cover)Probably my favourite cover ever. Check out the Daniel Johnston Tribute album "Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered" The front cover is a picture of him standing at his own grave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBu9P8XlGM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1LWOuFhal0

totallytrees · 20-06-2010 01:57PM

pappyodaniel wrote: »

.....on a side note, whatever happened to Willy Mason? I loved his album where the humans eat. Such wisdom in his voice which defied his age.

Good question...loved where the humans eat, every track on it was class. Saw him in the Sugar Club yeeeeeears ago when Fionn Regan was supporting him!

A contribution to the favourite cover song would be Klaxons - Its Not Over Yet, loved that!

Also enjoyed The Coral - Bye Bye Love, nice tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTc-JFhO_nA

irish_stevo815 · 20-06-2010 10:16PM

One of the greatest covers of recent times, in my opinion, has to be Chris Cornell's version of Michael Jackson "Billie Jean". Great voice and great guitar.

It's been done many times, but I think Muse do it perfectly - "Feeling good"
Absolutely amazing live.

Just recently found this one, but it's pretty damn good and gives Kurt Cobain and Nirvana the respect they deserve - "Heart Shaped Box" by Evanesence.

rcaz · 20-06-2010 11:50PM

I also hate Cash's version of Hurt. One of the thing that annoys me most is "I wear this crown of thorns" instead of "I wear this crown of ****". Trying to make the song eloquent and referential, completely missing the point.

And any 'artist' releasing an album of mostly covers... Cop out, I think.

AnonoBoy · 21-06-2010 01:11AM

El Pr0n wrote: »

I also hate Cash's version of Hurt. One of the thing that annoys me most is "I wear this crown of thorns" instead of "I wear this crown of ****". Trying to make the song eloquent and referential, completely missing the point.

I always thought that "crown of sh*t" line was very cringeworthy - sounded to me like a teenager wrote it. I was glad Cash (or Rick Rubin or whoever) changed it.

And any 'artist' releasing an album of mostly covers... Cop out, I think.

How is a covers album a cop out?

rcaz · 21-06-2010 01:41AM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I always thought that "crown of sh*t" line was very cringeworthy - sounded to me like a teenager wrote it. I was glad Cash (or Rick Rubin or whoever) changed it.

That's the point. It's a song about being reduced to that kind of thinking. It's not supposed to be eloquent or classy or whatever. And then 'crown of thorns' gives the song a religious allusion, which nobody needs in there.

AnonoBoy wrote: »

How is a covers album a cop out?

A covers album is an 'artist' not challenging him/herself. I'd hesitate to use the word artist. To use an example, I would say Tom Jones is a singer, and not an artist.

jill_valentine · 21-06-2010 03:14AM

Peter Gabriel's recent Scratch My Back project is an extreme example of the worst elements of that. He covers a load of his favourite songs, and the artists in question are supposed to cover his songs in return.

The thing is, his covers are really bland, lounge singer versions - he doesn't bring anything to them, and only the fact that he picked some really brilliant songs makes it in any way tolerable. Still, he managed to make David Bowie's Heroes boring, which is just obscene. And then he turned around and asked those artists to cover him, which is just the indulgence on the cake, IMHO. "I think you're great, what's your favourite thing about me?"

Anyway. Sometimes covers can be great - greater than the original even - but if they aren't done for the right reasons, it tends to show through.

homerun_homer · 21-06-2010 09:47AM

Another Franz cover version for the sake of it. David Bowie cover with Girls Aloud on backing Vox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS939rR6lBw

S.M.B. · 21-06-2010 10:05AM

I wouldn't listen to Johnny Cashs Hurt too often but I'd find it hard to knock it like others have. I think it's popularity has had quite a negative effect on how some people perceive it.

Anyway, talking of NIN, thank **** I got to see this performed live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ulfmCfT94

cinnamon girl · 21-06-2010 04:18PM

Low are the only band I've ever heard cover Joy Division and actually sound like they get it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KEIqsJDQCg

NTMK · 21-06-2010 10:44PM

S.M.B. wrote: »

I wouldn't listen to Johnny Cashs Hurt too often but I'd find it hard to knock it like others have. I think it's popularity has had quite a negative effect on how some people perceive it.

Thats a good point i had to show that cash's version is a cover.I even has to show 2 of them The Downward Spiral Album so they could check the copyright date:rolleyes:.

I love the original and the cover but i hate people who claim its their favorite song and then challenge me when i say its a cover

jackinyogrill · 22-06-2010 02:08PM

One of my favourite cover versions is Laibach's cover of The Beatles' "One After 909": it's just so fabulously f*cking stupid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=010ygaBr9sE

jackinyogrill · 22-06-2010 02:56PM

Thanks Jeff!

lordgoat · 22-06-2010 07:08PM

Looks like there are more ways to dislike the beatles.

tman · 22-06-2010 07:22PM

cinnamon girl wrote: »

Low are the only band I've ever heard cover Joy Division and actually sound like they get it.

That's pretty good alright... As much as I like Hot Chip, their cover of Transmission is absolutely dire!

jill_valentine · 23-06-2010 04:19AM

I really don't think I've ever heard a half-decent cover of Joy Division. I think it's about the vocals - if you don't sound like Curtis, it doesn't sound right, but if you sound exactly like him it's just weird karaoke.