Remake better than original?

[MacDawg]

GetGo's thread on Unchained Melody got me to thinking (and there may be a thread like this out there... but I couldn't find one).

What songs do you consider the remake to be better than the original recording??

Off the top of my head... I'll name 2

1. Whitney Houston's "I'll Always Love You", even though I like Dolly Parton's original.

2. Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind", not sure of the original, although I know Elvis did it

[edesignuk]

Stereophonics & Tom Jones - Momma Told me not to Come, original by ______ (I have no idea), but this version is great!

Sterophonics cover of Handbags & Gladrags was fantastic too actually.

[MacDawg]

Stereophonics & Tom Jones - Momma Told me not to Come, original by ______ (I have no idea), but this version is great!

Sterophonics cover of Handbags & Gladrags was fantastic too actually.

Funny... I just posted in another thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=90879) that I went to a Rod Stewart and Three Dog Night concert in '73, only concert I've been to...

Three Dog Night - Mamma Told Me Not To Come
Rod Stewart - Handbags and Gladrags

[jsw]

Kylie Minogue, "Locomotion". Oh, wait, you said better than the original. And now that silly song is stuck in your head. Sorry!

Found a decent list here (http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/ReMAKES.html)....

[edesignuk]

Three Dog Night - Mamma Told Me Not To Come
Rod Stewart - Handbags and GladragsThanks :)

[LeeTom]

It's hard to top, but
Devo - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Cat Power - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

are both really good and very different versions of the Rolling Stones' original.
Cat Power's Covers album is excellent as well, and on Moon Pix she covers Dylan's Moonshiner excellently as well.

Also, The Sonics' covers of everything are top notch. For anyone that likes 60s rock and roll and hasn't heard The Sonics.... you're missing out!
Lee Tom

[cluthz]

Jeff Beck, Cause we ended as lovers, orig Stevie Wonder
Jimi Hendrix, Hey Joe, originally Billy Roberts
Allman Brothers, Stormy Monday, orig. T-Bone Walker
David Bowie, Across The Universe, orig. The Beatles
(many would probably disagree..)
Eric Clapton, Cocaine, orig J.J Cale
Guns 'n' roses, Knocking on Heavens door, orig Bob Dylan
(i'm a huge Dylan fan, but i never did like his version of this..)

Probably many more...

[MacDawg]

Jimi Hendrix, Hey Joe, originally Billy Roberts
Allman Brothers, Stormy Monday, orig. T-Bone Walker


Definitely Hendrix

Like the Allman Brothers too

[iGav]

even though I love NIN, I think Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' is better... ;)

even though I love Dusty Springfield, I think Susanna Hoffs version of 'The Look of Love' is better ;) although it's also incredibly faithful to the original. :)

even though I love Leonard Cohen, I think R.E.M.'s version of 'First We Take Manhattan' is better ;)

even though 'The Shirelles' version of 'Dedicated to The One I Love' is a beautiful song, 'the Mamas and the Papas' sophisticated harmony version is better. ;)

even though I love Peter Green, I still think Midge Ure's cover of 'Supernatural' is better. ;)

[cluthz]

ok here's two tough ones.

Little Wing: Is Stevie Ray Vaughan og Jimi Hendrix(orig.) best?
Black Magic Woman: Santana or Fleetwood Mac(orig.) ?

[ScottDodson]

Sundays remake of Wild horses...opposed to the Rolling Stones.

For some reason, i just like theirs better :(

[yuc7zhd2]

I'm positively sure that there are so many more in my collection that would qualify, but I think I prefer
Aimee Mann - One
Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
to the originals. Actually, I'm not sure about the preference thing, but both of them come from places that are very different than the originals, which were great to begin with.

[the_mole1314]

I Feel Love is better done by Blue Man Group than Donna Summers. :)

[jdechko]

In my opinion, the best cover ever to be better than the original was Hendrix covering Dylan with "All Along the Watchtower"

Smashing Pumkins did a good cover of "Landslide" though, I think.

cluthz -
For Black Magic Woman, I'd have to say Santana, just because of the guitar.

Someone should start a "Cover's that aren't so good" thread.

[iGav]

For some reason, i just like theirs better :(

That'll be Harriet then ;)

[cluthz]

In my opinion, the best cover ever to be better than the original was Hendrix covering Dylan with "All Along the Watchtower"
I'd agree that one is better.


cluthz -
For Black Magic Woman, I'd have to say Santana, just because of the guitar.


I'm not sure, i like some things about the Santanas better, but i also like the simplicity about the Fleetwood Macs version.
The Fleetwoods vocal is much better.

Santans guitar solo is better, but Peter Green (in Fleetwood Mac) is better guitarist than Carlos Santana (oh yeah!). To bad Peter Green was a heroine addict for over 30 years..

[jdechko]

To bad Peter Green was a heroine addict for over 30 years..

Yeah, but we probably should avoid the discussion of drugs in a music thread. It's a shame that so many great artists (esp. Hendrix) become addicted to drugs and we never get to see the rest of their music genius. I think Ozzy did some great stuff for rock, but after all the drugs and stuff, he can barely speak a complete sentence without stuttering.

Im glad I didnt open my mouth in ignorance. I had always thought that Lindsey Buckingham was always the guiartist for Fleetwood Mac, but after some research, I now feel more educated. Guess thats what I get for liking music thats from before I was born!

[mike3k]

Bruce Springsteen's & Youssou N'dour's versions of "Chimes of Freedom" are much better than Bob Dylan's original.

Jeff Beck's "People Get Ready", original by Curtis Mayfield.

"I fought the law" by The Clash beats the original '60s version.

Dave Matthews' "All along the watchtower" beats the originals by Hendrix & Dylan and his "Cortez the Killer" beats the original by Neil Young.

[Foxer]

OK. I've got a lot of these. Some obvious, some controversial... :D


1. "One" by Johnny Cash (original by U2)
2. "Always on My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys (Elvis)
3. "Go West" by Pet Shop Boys (Village People)
4. "Where the Streets Have No Name" by Pet Shop Boys (U2)
5. "Born to Run" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Springsteen)
6. "Suspicious Minds" by Fine Young Cannibals (Elvis)
7. "Wonderwall" by Mike Flowers Pops (Oasis)
8. "1999" by Mike Flowers Pops (Prince)
9. "Viva Las Vegas" by The Dead Kennedys (Elvis)
10. "Girlfriend" by The Beautiful South (Pebbles)

Honorable Mention:
"Common People" by Pulp is nearly my favorite song of all time, and certainly of the 90's. William Shatner's cover is damn good, but probably not as good.

I look forward to the WORST covers list.

[wowser]

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)
The Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man (Dylan)
John Cale - Hallelujah (prior to its inclusion in the Shrek soundtrack) (Leonard Cohen)
Richard Thompson - Oops I Did It Agin (Britney)

There is an article on this topic here > http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1134051,00.html

[iMeowbot]

even though I love Dusty Springfield, I think Susanna Hoffs version of 'The Look of Love' is better ;) although it's also incredibly faithful to the original. :)
Likewise, I like the Bangles' take on "Hazy Shade of Winter" better than the Simon & Garfunkel original.

Speaking of S&G, Frank Sinatra's cover of Mrs. Robinson is hilarious.

And the detached, bored delivery in the Polyphonic Size cover of Mother's Little Helper always makes me smile.

[iGav]

Likewise, I like the Bangles' take on "Hazy Shade of Winder" better than the Simon & Garfunkel original.

Oooh, I forgot about that... I agree with you too! ;)

[brap]

Hmm... not really a guy for cover versions myself, although some stand out from the Crowd of Crapness (TM)

Ministry - Lay Lady Lay (Originally Dylan),
PWEI - Love missile F-111 (Originally Sigue-sigue Sputnik),
Atari Teenage Riot - Into the death (Originally Slayer, though their version features Kerry King so I'm not sure if it counts)
Dead Kennedys - I fought the law (Originally so many other people I forget!)
Devo - Head like a hole (Originally Nine Inch Nails) ;) :eek:
John Linnell - California Uber-alles (Originally Dead Kennedys, though I think this was only ever performed live. Kicked the ****** out of Jello and his crew, though)
Katscan - Connection (Originally Elastica)

[Lord Blackadder]

This one just popped into my head suddenly:

Apoptygma Berzerk - Fade To Black (Metallica, Duh!)

I wouldn't neccesarily call it better than the original, but AB do a great job of translating a metal ballad into an electronic format.

I like Dave Matthews' version of All Along the Watchtower best.

Somebody start a "Crap Covers" thread now, for some reason I can think up more of those!

[wowser]

[QUOTE=brap]

Ministry - Lay Lady Lay (Originally Dylan),

NO NO NO! How could that song be bettered???

[hesitaliandad]

anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmies (http://gimmegimmes.com/launch.html)

[GetGo]

Last Kiss by Pearl Jam

[Fiveos22]

I like Dave Matthews' version of All Along the Watchtower best.


I've heard so many versions, I can't really differentiate them in my mind anymore, but I remember that we used to do a more DMB version of All Along the Watchtower for to end our sets in high school.

Covers:

I found a version of Chris Isaack's "Wicked Game" that was cited to "A-HA" but came off a Rolling Stones Sampler album...suffice it to say that it is probably not by A-Ha. It does, however, feature the a fascinating overlay of meekly sung lyric over a woman shrieking the same lyrics.

A classic: "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals is in-fact a cover...an excellent one.

Also of note, Erlend Oye's remix of "Venus" originally by Banarama on his DJ Kicks album.



Honorable Mention:
"Common People" by Pulp is nearly my favorite song of all time, and certainly of the 90's. William Shatner's cover is damn good, but probably not as good.


What about Shatner's Rocketman (http://youtube.com/watch?v=DvQwXOCKNLY)?

P.S. I was just going to change by avatar to Kornfield...totally ninja'd.

[John.B]

ok here's two tough ones.

Little Wing: Is Stevie Ray Vaughan og Jimi Hendrix(orig.) best?
Black Magic Woman: Santana or Fleetwood Mac(orig.) ?
SRV and Santana. Definitely.

I also like Santana's version of "She's Not There" far better than the Zombie's version.

Great thread! :D

[iJohnHenry]

Little Wing is a tough call, for a Jimi fan like myself, but I must agree.

I look at SRV's version as a tribute, but enhanced.

[MacDawg]

Ha! Ha!
Wow, I was shocked to see a thread of mine from 2004 pop up as active!

Somebody did some digging!

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[Krafty]

Genie In A Bottle (The Eddie Arroyo Rhythm Mix) - Christina Aguleria

Its more chill, and im a fan of chill music.

[Mistershark]

Many would agree that Jeff Buckley's rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is as good if not better than Cohen's. Also, the Kook's cover of "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley is in my opinion better than the original. Finally, I think it is certain that Jeff Buckley's version of "Dink's Song" by Bob Dylan (though Dylan said he had heard it from someone) is a better rendition of it, though that's hard to say about any Dylan masterpiece.

[FullCollapse]

Streetlight Manifesto covered the entire "Keasbey Nights" album by Catch 22 and i think it's tons better than the original recording. of course, about half the guys that were in Catch 22 are in Streetlight now.

also, New Found Glory has some kick ass covers.

[apsterling]

Kiss Me (Originally by Sixpence None The Richer) New Found Glory
Great cover, more energy than the original.

As for bad covers...
All Oingo Boingo covers fail. You just can't be Danny Elfman. (I must say, Aquabats came close to nailing Controller, though)

[kidkaprie]

even though I love NIN, I think Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' is better... ;)


1. "One" by Johnny Cash (original by U2)


I agree 100% with both of these. Johnny Cash adds a certain something to both of these songs that the original artist couldn't add. U2 and NIN both did amazing jobs on the songs, but I think that the Cash versions, more so on "Hurt" than "One", are simply amazing.

[cheeseadiddle]

I concur with many of the mentions so far. But here's an obscure one...

Yes - America [the album version] Simon & Garfunkel

[Z.Beeblebrox]

Respect as covered by Aretha Franklin (originally by Otis Redding)

Tainted Love as covered by Soft Cell (originally by Gloria Jones)

Twist and Shout as covered by The Beatles (originally by the Isley Brothers)

Personal Jesus as covered by Johnny Cash (originally by Depeche Mode)

Nothing Compares 2 U as covered by Sinead O'Connor (originally by Prince)

All Along the Watchtower as covered by Jimi Hendrix (originally by Bob Dylan)

Proud Mary as covered by Ike and Tina Turner (originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Love Hurts as covered by Nazareth (originally by the Everly Brothers)

[119576]

Tainted Love as covered by Soft Cell (originally by Gloria Jones)

I disagree with this one. I love the original so much :)

[asrmatt]

White Stripes - Jolene

...what a remake!!!!!

[bartelby]

White Stripes - Jolene

...what a remake!!!!!

Sisters of Mercy - Jolene. Better than the rest!

[Raid]

Since retro 80's nights were popular when I was in Uni, I have a soft spot for some of those songs. The soundtrack from "Not Another Teen Movie" had some really decent covers"
Blue Monday - Orgy (originally by New Order)
Bizarre Love Triangle - Stabbing Westward (originally by New Order)
99 Red Balloons - Goldfinger (originally by Nena)
Somebody's Baby - Phantom Planet (originally by Jackson Browne)

Another good remake (and better than the original) IMO would be Little Respect by Wheatus (originally by Erasure)

[pdxflint]

SRV's cover of Voodoo Chile (live version on Farewell) over Hendrix's.
Here's an interesting one: American Idol contestant David Cook's cover of Chris Cornell's version of Billy Jean (studio full-length version) beats Michael Jackson's and Cornell's.

[rockosmodurnlif]

Jeff Beck, Cause we ended as lovers, orig Stevie Wonder
Jimi Hendrix, Hey Joe, originally Billy Roberts
Allman Brothers, Stormy Monday, orig. T-Bone Walker
David Bowie, Across The Universe, orig. The Beatles
(many would probably disagree..)
Eric Clapton, Cocaine, orig J.J Cale
Guns 'n' roses, Knocking on Heavens door, orig Bob Dylan
(i'm a huge Dylan fan, but i never did like his version of this..)

Probably many more...
I'm not sure what Eric Clapton actually did that makes his version of "Cocaine" better so I always give the edge to J.J. Cale. His version sounds like he's just speaking the truth not singing a song.

I've heard so many versions, I can't really differentiate them in my mind anymore, but I remember that we used to do a more DMB version of All Along the Watchtower for to end our sets in high school.

Covers:

I found a version of Chris Isaack's "Wicked Game" that was cited to "A-HA" but came off a Rolling Stones Sampler album...suffice it to say that it is probably not by A-Ha. It does, however, feature the a fascinating overlay of meekly sung lyric over a woman shrieking the same lyrics.

A classic: "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals is in-fact a cover...an excellent one.

Also of note, Erlend Oye's remix of "Venus" originally by Banarama on his DJ Kicks album.




What about Shatner's Rocketman (http://youtube.com/watch?v=DvQwXOCKNLY)?

P.S. I was just going to change by avatar to Kornfield...totally ninja'd.
"Venus" was originally done by Shocking Blue. And their version is better. I don't like the beat or the vocals in Bananarama's version.
And do remixes count as covers? To me a remix is a separate entity from a cover.

SRV's cover of Voodoo Chile (live version on Farewell) over Hendrix's.
Here's an interesting one: American Idol contestant David Cook's cover of Chris Cornell's version of Billy Jean (studio full-length version) beats Michael Jackson's and Cornell's.
I never heard what made SRV's cover better. It always sounded like a faithful reproduction to me but maybe I heard a different version.

[Mr Skills]

Nothing Compares 2 U as covered by Sinead O'Connor (originally by Prince)


It was written by Prince, but the original was actually performed by The Family.


I vote for (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Carole King (originally performed by Aretha Franklin, although it was co-written by King). King performs it with a more sombre, loning, not-quite-believing feel.

[stargurl84]

Lips of an Angel by Jack Ingram is way better than the popular than the Hinder version

[Oirectine]

George Russell's version of "Nardis"

Vince Guaraldi's version of "Greensleeves" (This is really just a guess, but I can't see how I would like the original more)

Odd Nosdam's version of "Dayvan Cowboy"

Autechre's version of "Refractions in the Plastic Pulse"

This one medley of a lot of J-pop songs on Youtube that did them all better than the originals, but which seems to have been deleted :'(

[c-Row]

Word Up, as performed by Gun (instead of Cameo)

[D3LM3L]

"Muse Breaks Remix" by Infected Mushroom. The Infected Mushroom version is one of my favorite songs of all time.

[bowens]

Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground - Chris Thile (Originally White Stripes)
Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker (Awesome acoustic version)
Toxic - Nickel Creek (watch it on Youtube)
Another Day in Paradise - Copeland
Take My Breath Away - Copeland

[leekohler]

"What's Goin On?" by Marvin Gaye, sang by Paul Weller live. He equalled Marvin's version if anything. I wish there were a way to get a recording of Weller's live version.

[Dobiewonkanobie]

even though I love NIN, I think Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' is better... ;)
Kudos to that
I also like:
Led Zeppelin, No Quarter; redone by Tool
Black Sabbath, Planet Caravan; redone by Pantera
Bob Dylan, Knockin' on Heaven's Door; redone by GNR

[joekix]

a song for you - donny hathaway (original by leon russel)

[bsheridan]

even though I love NIN, I think Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' is better... ;)



Johnny Cash's version is way better. Hands Down.

[sass13]

Stephen Dale Petit - Aint No Sunshine (original by Bill Withers)

actually its entirely different and made up of really smart blues riffs so cant rely say its better!!

can hear it here (http://www.guitarama.co.uk) i think

[rhett7660]

For me:

Manson,Marilyn Sweet dreams orig Eurythmics
Manson,Marilyn Tainted Love orig Soft Cell
Fear Factory Cars orig Gary Oldmun (sp?)
Coal Chamger Shock the monkey orig Peter Gabrial

But then again I am partial to the harder edged music.

Black Sabbath, Planet Caravan; redone by Pantera

Love this version...... One of my favorite Pantera songs.

[barr08]

New Found Glory - Tennessee (Originally by Arrested Development)

Off of Punk goes Crunk. Its a beautiful cover

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says....I've got a few that I like better too....oh yeah!


Steven Wilson: Thank You (Alanis More-upset) - He also does it on the Blackfield live DVD and that version is even better.
This Mortal Coil: Song to the Siren (Tim Buckley) - Liz Frazer sings this one beautifully and the stark production fits perfectly
Calexico: Alone Again Or (Love) - great use of the trumpets on this one
Elane: Moonlight Shadow (Mike Oldfield) - One of Mike's "pop" songs done by German "goth" band. Stripped down a bit, almost like a This Mortal version might be.
Magazine: Goldfinger (can't recall off hand who did that soundtrack?) - prog-punked-up sinister version...
The Stranglers: Walk On By

[barr08]

Oh, and Yellowcard - Everywhere (Originally by Michelle Branch)

Thats off the Punk goes Pop album. If you like pop/punk music, then pick up any of the "Punk goes..." albums. Theyre great.

[Klaxons2012]

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - "God Give Me Strength (Live)"

Jesus Christ, Costello has the purest sound of desperation and pain at its most emotive. It's above and beyond one of the best covers I've ever heard.

[ZiggyPastorius]

I've had many arguments with people about this. I think any answer to this question would be completely subjective, unless we're talking about audio quality and things to that nature...I think the question would be better stated "What songs do you prefer the remake of to the original?" I guess I just don't like the prospect that a song that someone had the spark to create can be objectively worse than a cover someone does.

That said...The only one I can think of off the top of my head is "Across the Universe" by David Bowie. As much as I love the original, I enjoy listening to Bowie's so much more.

Some people think the cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" by Johnny Cash is better than the original...While I think it's definitely a very powerful cover that Cash made very personal and important to him, it doesn't even hold a candle to the original. The main essence of the original: The tritone, was removed from Cash's version to provide more consonance. The first time I heard it, that was the first thing I noticed...I didn't like how the mood and essence of the original was completely taken away, but it is still a very powerful cover.

Edit: Oh, and, I'm gonna add Jonathan Coulton's cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back," to my list :D

Johnny Cash's version is way better. Hands Down.

No. :)

[BJWanlund]

Heart - Love Reign O'er Me (originally by The Who) - This one is on the Dreamboat Annie Live album on iTunes, and it's in the set currently if you see them live
Heart - Black Dog (originally by Led Zep) - This one has been in the live set for a while, and it's found its way onto 2 live albums and 3 live DVDs (Alive In Seattle, which had a release on both CD and DVD, and it has HD-DVD and Blu-Ray versions as well; along with Soundstage Live, which just recently got rereleased on DVD; and Dreamboat Annie Live, on both DVD and CD).
Heart - Going To California (originally by Led Zeppelin) - This has only recently crept into Heart's live set, and it's AMAZING live, just trust me on this. Here's hoping we'll get this on a live album or DVD soon.

BJ