Here are a few to get things started:
Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer as an 80s synth tune
Bossa nova version of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over
Reggae-ish version of Aretha Franklin’s Respect
A capella men’s ensemble version of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance
EDIT: This has been great, everyone. Thanks to everyone for all the terrific links and for introducing me to a number of artists I wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. Seriously, the online rabbit-holes have been thoroughly enjoyable–even it I stayed up a bit too late a number of times.
Worth it.
Did anyone already mention Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt, original by Nine Inch Nails? A marvelous reimagined version, maybe, the best cover ever.
Cake - I will survive
They have other great covers tooI came hear to say this.
The Sting is great in context of the album as well, ‘fashion nugget’ is one big fuck you too a failed relationship.
Gloria Gaynor said it was her least favorite cover, due to the use of profanity.
Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae cover of Dark Side of the Moon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dub_Side_of_the_Moon
Joke answer: Disturbed’s “The Sound of Science” cover because it’s fucking horrid and ruins the point of the original’s meaning.
I once got to see The Easy Star All Stars playing Dub Side, and it was magnificent. Such a great band.
They also did OK Computer (Radiodread); their cover of Let Down is one of my favorite covers all-time.
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
That first one alone, sensational. Also, Hildegard von Blingin’? Love that stuff!
Bantamweight’s haunting cover of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box is sorely underrated in my opinion.
ERRA’s versions of Audioslave’s Light My Way and Muse’s Stockholm Syndrome.
Art vs Science’s psychedelic-funk cover of Enter Sandman featuring a sweet as keytar solo.
Sleep Token’s heartwrenching unplugged version of Hey Ya!.
And finally, Denzel Curry’s supercharged version of Bulls on Parade. I didn’t think the track could sound angrier but he’s gone and done it.
Bonus: Andrew Hulshult’s Hell March, featuring chainguns as percussion, Master Boot Record’s Doom E1M1 metal chiptune remix, and GeoffPlaysGuitar’s argent-metalized Halo Overture.
And finally, Denzel Curry’s supercharged version of Bulls on Parade. I didn’t think the track could sound angrier but he’s gone and done it.
Holy christ, this is magnificent.
Two very different examples:
Modest Mussorsky’s “Pictures at an exhibition” was originally written for piano (that was all the poor guy had available), and it took Maurice Ravel to turn it into an orchestral version and make it popular world wide. Both versions are great and have their own qualities, but I far prefer Ravel’s version (Although Khatia Buniatishvili’s rendition here is so really really good).
Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay”. The original is… well… it’s a Bob Dylan song. There is a really good cover version by Ministry that, althought technically is the same song, takes it to a whole other level. Love it.
My first exposure to Pictures At An Exhibition was my parents had the Emerson Lake & Palmer version. I like the classical versions you posted better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQct6D6HsM
Yes – America (original by Simon and Garfunkel)
Anthony Vincent – Chop Suey in the style of Ghost (original by System of a Down)
Dr Pez & Marc Papeghin – The soundtrack of Ocarina of Time, but its a prog rock concept album (not sure it technically counts as a cover)
Brass Against – The Pot (Original by Tool)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower (Original by Bob Dylan)
Also, not sure how widely known this is, but Arethra Franklin’s Respect is itself a cover (and certainly one of the best covers of all time, up there with All Along the Watchtower and Johnny Cash’s rendition of Hurt)
Aretha Franklin’s cover of the Stones’ Satisfaction is also fantastic.
Aretha’s version of Respect is so good that it’s essentially the de facto original, to the point that Otis commented “that a girl took away from me, a friend of mine, this girl she just took this song”.
To be fair, it makes so much more sense from a woman’s perspective.
Holding Out for a Hero - Frou Frou.
Those first couple of Shrek soundtracks were full on bangers. Pete Yorn’s cover of Every Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t Have) is a masterpiece.
I normally go for parodies, but this would be the place to post the Devil Went Down to Georgia (Washing Machine Cover)
More seriously, 2CELLOS’ rendition of Thunderstruck is incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT3SBzmDxGk
They have a ton of really good ones on their channel, but that one will always be my favorite for how into it they get
That is my favorite version of Thunderstruck, even more than the original.
(There was a really cool article I read ages ago that discussed how similar metal and classical music structures are. Have no idea where I found it.)
Disturbed’s cover of The Sound Of Silence is so much better than the original.
and the Conan performance is the best performance of it (that can be easily found), the studio version doesn’t have quite the same vibe.
Thank you for mentioning this! I just listened to it and it gave me goosebumps. It’s a brilliant cover.
Polysics covering My Sharona by The Knack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXHEVcYTZYQ
Goddamn it why am I just learning about Japanese DEVO today? Why has no one told me? Thanks for sharing, this cover is a banger and I must listen to Polysics’ entire discography now!
You’re welcome! And have you heard of Servotron? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gS4nzSWmCs
I hadn’t but I’m adding to my playlists! I first got really into music via prog rock so this type of high-concept silliness is well-aligned with my preferences :P
I’ve always found Faith No More do absolutely spot on cover versions.
I do adore a cover version that brings something new to the song;
Orkestra Obsolete play Blue Monday
Gotye - Somebody that I used to know - Dutch choir
Not quite a cover, but more of inspiration taken from Paper Planes - ‘Paper Plates’ by Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
Umbrella - Manic Street Preachers
Toy Dolls - Nellie The Elephant
Siouxsie And The Banshees - The Passenger and Dear Prudence
Cornershop perform Norwegian Wood
I could go on for ages. Might add some more later. Hope somebody enjoys at least some of these?
FNM’s cover of Easy is fantastic. It’s a pretty straight cover, but Patton sells it.
shameless self-promotion : my band The Three Leonards also do covers that re-imagine the song. Our first album starts with a cover of One Headlight and we got some great response to it.
`````Perpetuum Jazzile’s Acapella cover of Toto’s` is pretty neat. It’s with it for the simulated rain sound at the start alone (and the beatboxing):
The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Pure Imagination - Fiona Apple
Hotel California - The Cat Empire
Dolph Lundgren – A Little Less Conversation
Snuff - I think we’re alone now
China Drum - Wuthering Heights
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Smells Like Teen Spirit
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Sweet Dreams
Hayseed Dixie - Bohemian Rhapsody
Richard Cheese - Gin And Juice
The Rock Orchestra - Chop Suey
Prime Orchestra - The Prodigy Medley
I was waiting for someone to mention Richard Cheese in this thread!
His version of Rape Me hasn’t aged terribly well, but my word is it great.
I used to regularly play Cheese stuff when driving my elderly mother places
Yeah! Siouxsie’s Dear Prudence!
Jazz Sabbath. I had no idea this existed. It was just suggested to me because the algorithms are good at their job. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qcr708w1HY
