Tangent 21 - Cover Versions.

Posted by
Sydney

Posted on
15:06
Jan 30 2004

Cover Versions.

I've just been reading an interesting article about cover versions and it reminded me about something someone said recently about wanting to murder the Scissor Sisters for what they have done to Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

Obviously there are good cover versions and bad. Some covers where you adore the cover more than the original and some you would happily cut your ears off so you never have to hear them again.

I think my favourite cover version is Marilyn Manson's Sweet Dreams (original by the Eurythmics) I loved the original when I was little and I still enjoy it now, but there's something about the Manson cover I love.

My pet hated cover version is Westlife's Season's in the Sun I don't particularly like the original either, but Westlife manged to destroy the sentiment of the song completely and turn it into some kind of happy happy joy joy lovey dovey peice of tat. I do like the cover of this done by Black Box Recorder. It almost makes me cry everytme I hear it.

So... Favourite cover versions? Least favourite? Covers you love but the general population seems to hate? Little heard covers that you think the world should listen to right now? Bizarre covers that should never see the light of day?

tags corrected

(Edited by Staff 30/01/2004 15:32)

37 Replies and 17315 Views in Total. [ 1 2 ]

Teresa "So I can come inside of your kiss and just leave you on your knees"

Some of my Favourite covers:

"Mrs. Robinson" - The Lemonheads
"Luka" - The Lemonheads
"Live & Let Die" Â– Guns n' Roses
"Knockin' on heaven's door" - Guns n' Roses
"So What" - Metallica
"Psycho Therapy" - Skid Row
"Take On Me" - Reel Big Fish
"New Religion" - Jimmy Eat World

And the ones I hate:

"Mandy" - Westlife
"Take On Me" - A1(?)
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - That Pop Idol Lot
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - Celine Dion
"Imagine" - Everyone who has done a cover of it
"Rio" - Four Star Mary

I know there are more in both of those groups.....

(Edited by Teresa 30/01/2004 16:29)

Posted: 16:28 Jan 30 2004

Keenangel *Fourteen phonecalls a night??!!*

In the majority of cases, doing a cover version of an already popular song should be left alone... Alex Parks and Atomic Kitten come to mind in particular...

But my favourite cover version is Matchbox Twenty's version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time"... it sends shivers down my spine. It's not an exact version but Rob's vocals on it give it it's own thing.. and Eva Cassidy's version is also very, very good

Posted: 16:48 Jan 30 2004

Sydney You can lead the whore to culture but you can't make her think!

by Keenangel
It's not an exact version but Rob's vocals on it give it it's own thing

I tend to find exact cover versions very bland and EXTREMELY pointless.

Posted: 16:52 Jan 30 2004

Maffrew In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight...

Good

Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk (the original was by Afrika Bombaataa)

Bad

Any cover by Limp Bizkit, especially their cover of The Who's Behind Blue Eyes.

The Who = Good.
Limp Bizkit = (in the interest of being family friendly) Not

Posted: 16:54 Jan 30 2004

Milky "Busted - Now that you're gone, I'm sleeping with the light on..." Pof, 2005

Good Covers:-

Guns & Roses - Knockin On Heavens Door
The Sundays - Wild Horses

Bad Covers:-

Madonna - American Pie
A1 - Take On Me

I'm sure I'll remember more later...

Posted: 17:10 Jan 30 2004

Whistler "I wonder wonder why the wonder falls. I wonder why the wonder falls on me. I wonder wonder why the wonder falls, with everything I touch and hear and see."

Good

Basket Case - Avril Lavigne

(Actually, can I also add 'Fuel' to that as well? Wouldn't thought it would have worked but it does IMO

)

Bad

Pop Idols - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

(Edited by Whistler 31/01/2004 01:43)

Posted: 01:38 Jan 31 2004

Eve "There's no secret handshake. There's an IQ prerequisite, but there's no secret handshake"

I like lots of punk covers and stuff but i mostly hear them when I'm out and have no idea who they're by, I lovea punk version of 'Nothing compares to you' which is really good thats always played in the krazyhouse, Further seems forevers version of 'bye, bye, bye' is quality and The Ataris 'Boys of summer' makes me smile lots

I really like 'Mrs Robinson' by The lemonheads

Westlife however should be shot for murdering 'Mandy', 'seasons in the sun', 'against all odds', 'uptown girl', and god knows what else!

The No Doubt version of 'It's my life' is good although I'm not a fan of covers which are almost identical to the original!

Posted: 04:27 Jan 31 2004

Whistler "I wonder wonder why the wonder falls. I wonder why the wonder falls on me. I wonder wonder why the wonder falls, with everything I touch and hear and see."

by Eve
The No Doubt version of 'It's my life' is good although I'm not a fan of covers which are almost identical to the original!

Oooh, now that is a good cover. Reminds me of why I like No Doubt so much.

Posted: 11:41 Jan 31 2004

Sydney You can lead the whore to culture but you can't make her think!

I'm listening to Phantom of the Opera by Nightwish. It rocks

Posted: 11:51 Jan 31 2004

Taz Extra medication for all - Pilz-e

by Whistler
Good

Basket Case - Avril Lavigne

(Actually, can I also add 'Fuel' to that as well? Wouldn't thought it would have worked but it does IMO )

Are you insane??

I can honestly say that Sheryl Crow's version of 'Sweet Child of Mine' was better!

Whislt I'm on the subject, yet another cover of 'Behind Blue Eyes has popped up...by Sheryl Crow!

Not the worst version of the song I've ever heard *shrug*

What is it with that song?
No, really?
I need to know...

Posted: 13:18 Jan 31 2004

Taz Extra medication for all - Pilz-e

Good

Happy Together - Simple Plan
A Case Of You - Tori Amos

Bad

Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows

(Edited by Taz 31/01/2004 13:45)

Posted: 13:26 Jan 31 2004

Whistler "I wonder wonder why the wonder falls. I wonder why the wonder falls on me. I wonder wonder why the wonder falls, with everything I touch and hear and see."

by Taz
(quotes)

Are you insane??

No.

Are you?

Posted: 13:46 Jan 31 2004

Taz Extra medication for all - Pilz-e

by Whistler
(quotes)

No.

Are you?

Sane, insane, who's to judge?!?

Posted: 14:46 Jan 31 2004

PictureOfFlowers "When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party." - Lt. Tuck Pendleton, Innerspace

I agree with quite a few of what's already been said, and here's a few others.

Good Cover versions:

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Manic Street Preachers
Tainted Love - Marilyn Manson
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - The Darkness
Come Sail Away - Eric Cartman

Cats in the Cradle - Ugly Kid Joe
Down in the Park - Foo Fighters
99 Red Balloons/99 Luftballons - Goldfinger
Something Stupid - Robbie and Nicole
Baby One More Time - Bowling for Soup
Flash - Tenacious D
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Tragedy - Steps

I can't actually think of many bad covers off the top of my head other than several done by boy and/or girl bands, but here's a few that come to mind.

There She Goes - Sixpence None the Richer
Sweet Child o' Mine - Sheryl Crow
Chop Suey - Avril Lavigne
And also a version of Creep that I've heard, no idea who did it but it's a kind of slowed down, jazzy version. Soooo doesn't work...

Posted: 16:53 Jan 31 2004

Sydney You can lead the whore to culture but you can't make her think!

by PictureOfFlowers
Street Spirit (Fade Out) - The Darkness

What?!? That can't work!

Posted: 18:01 Jan 31 2004

Taz Extra medication for all - Pilz-e

Just thought of another good cover:
MASH (Suicide Is Painless) - Manic Street Preachers

Bloomin' excellent cover!

Posted: 19:11 Jan 31 2004

DJ Billy You can't really dust for vomit.

The bad ones are endless, so I'll just list the good..

Word Up - Gun
Shout - Disturbed
Damaged - Plummet
Presidents of the USA - Video Killed the Radio Star
Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n' Roses

As far as the Idols' are concerned, putting the timing of release, motivation and the fact that it's a John Lennon song aside, I didn't think that their version of the song itself was that bad

Posted: 21:18 Jan 31 2004

PictureOfFlowers "When things are at their darkest, it's a brave man that can kick back and party." - Lt. Tuck Pendleton, Innerspace

by Sydney
(quotes)

What?!? That can't work!

But it *so* does!

Posted: 00:40 Feb 01 2004

Havoc Taryon > I think hackjack just stays here to teach new players how to use block

Let me see, some of the good are:

Manics: Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Manics: Suicide Is Painless
Goldfinger: 99 Red Balloons
Marilyn Manson: Sweet Dreams
Ugly Kid Joe: Cats In The Cradle
Nightwish: The Phantom Of The Opera

The absoloutly *censor* amazing:

Nightwish: Walking In The Air
Nightwish: Over The Hills
Godhead: Elenor Rigby

And quite frankly I can't be bothered typing all of the bad

Posted: 14:54 Feb 02 2004

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