Original Song vs. Cover

Darth Lucifer · Post by **Darth Lucifer** » 2008-05-10 03:23pm

Da ya think I'm sexy by the Revolting Cocks is far superior to the original Rod Stewart version. But Paris Hilton's rendition of the classic song made my ears bleed.

TithonusSyndrome · Post by **TithonusSyndrome** » 2008-05-10 10:56pm

Johonebesus wrote:
TithonusSyndrome wrote: The Sound Of Silence by Nevermore - Simon & Garfunkel
That was horrible. They weren't even singing.

THAT'S hardly on-base. He was most definitely singing, in a very operatic style no less. Even as a euphemism for "his singing is dissonant/incomprehensible", the statement holds no water.

How in the world can think that was better than Simon & Garfunkel's original?

By default, because it's really impossible to do worse than that cliched twiddly little hippie tune with saccharine vocals.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-05-11 01:00am

I don't know that song is always associated with a young Dustin Hoffman going after MILFs in my mind....

Terralthra · Post by **Terralthra** » 2008-05-11 01:26am

TithonusSyndrome wrote:
Johonebesus wrote:
TithonusSyndrome wrote: The Sound Of Silence by Nevermore - Simon & Garfunkel
That was horrible. They weren't even singing.
THAT'S hardly on-base. He was most definitely singing, in a very operatic style no less. Even as a euphemism for "his singing is dissonant/incomprehensible", the statement holds no water.

Have you ever heard an opera? I'm just curious? Because the resemblance between that and opera ends at "pitched sound emitted by human vocal cords."

TithonusSyndrome · Post by **TithonusSyndrome** » 2008-05-11 02:52am

Terralthra wrote:
TithonusSyndrome wrote:
Johonebesus wrote: That was horrible. They weren't even singing.
THAT'S hardly on-base. He was most definitely singing, in a very operatic style no less. Even as a euphemism for "his singing is dissonant/incomprehensible", the statement holds no water.
Have you ever heard an opera? I'm just curious? Because the resemblance between that and opera ends at "pitched sound emitted by human vocal cords."

Several. No, it's not a traditional tone for a baritone to take, but the emphasis and force behind it is analogous to a more traditional baritone. Either way, it's daft beyond words to suggest that it "wasn't even singing".

Oni Koneko Damien · Post by **Oni Koneko Damien** » 2008-05-11 03:14am

Tom Sawyer - Rush

Tom Sawyer - Mindless Self Indulgence

Honestly, I love both, but like MSI's better, it's just far more frantic.

I Touch Myself - The Devinyls

I Touch Myself - The Genitorturers

Genitorturers flat out win this one for me. The Devinyl's version was... tolerable. But the Genitorturers, well, they're just plain audio-sex.

Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Don't Fear The Reaper - Unto Ashes

This one I'm genuinely split on. BOC has that delightful subdued rock going for the original. But Unto Ashes has turned it into a simply beautiful dirge, which fits so well with the lyrics.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2008-05-11 03:37am

Oni Koneko Damien wrote:
Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Don't Fear The Reaper - Unto Ashes

This one I'm genuinely split on. BOC has that delightful subdued rock going for the original. But Unto Ashes has turned it into a simply beautiful dirge, which fits so well with the lyrics.

I didn't exactly like the cover version but I do like the direction they were trying to go with the song. It certainly starts off well enough.

Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana Smells like teen spirit (live from The word) 1991

Tori Amos Smells Like Teen Spirit

I really like Tori Amos voice but I'm not always into her performance style.

Patti Smith Smells Like Teen Spirit

Just the song with no video: Patti Smith.

Patti Smith can be kind of an aquired taste.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-05-11 03:44am

oh and the one good version of "Knocking on Heaven's Door"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MgubwywhiU

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2008-05-11 11:42am

Twoyboy wrote:Landslide by Smashing Pumpkins

An awesome cover I find interesting because I've never heard the original. I heard the Dixie Chicks version and I think they robbed it of the personal nature Billy Corgan gave it.

You're kidding, right? The Smashing Pumpkins cover is a horrible piece of shit. Billy Corrigan's nasal whining is always bad, but on this song, it sounds like he's actually making fun of Stevie Nicks. No joke; I use the exact same voice when I'm mocking a song I hate. And as for that "personal nature": Fleetwood Mac gave the song a personal nature. The Smashing Pumpkins just made a derivative copy, like a dive bar cover band. Do yourself a favor and listen to the original. It's hardly the best song ever, but it absolutely blows away Billy Corrigan's shitty cover.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2008-05-11 01:10pm

The original version of Crossroads as performed by Robert Johnson, clean straight Delta Blues.

The Cowboy Junkies version of Crossroads, which I think is way better. To me it's a lot more intense and emotional.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2008-05-11 08:25pm

what about Ry Cooder's version of crossroads?

Qwerty 42 · Post by **Qwerty 42** » 2008-05-11 10:15pm

Or, for that matter, Cream's?

Ohma · Post by **Ohma** » 2008-05-12 12:26am

Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix

R U Experienced by Devo

I like them both, but being a giant Devo fanboy I have to say I like their version better.

TithonusSyndrome · Post by **TithonusSyndrome** » 2008-05-12 12:32am

Speaking of which, Coroner added some serious technified Swiss thrash kick to Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze.

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2008-05-13 07:26am

Sadly the versions on YouTube are all shit but The Herd's I Was Only 19 is better than the original.

On the other hand, I have yet to hear a decent version of The Clash's I Fought The Law (itself a cover, but meh).

IRG CommandoJoe · Post by **IRG CommandoJoe** » 2008-05-15 02:04am

A Nazi-fied version of an American folk song "Farewell my Blue Bell." Much more powerful, though I do like the other version as well.

The Battle of the Bulge version of the Panzer Lied. Again, this version is much more powerful.

Liszt's transcription of Bellini's opera Norma. Broken into 2 parts:

An excerpt (my favorite part)
Part 1
Part 2

Too bad though, because there was a mind-blowing performance done by Dmitris Sgouros which was pulled off of YouTube for some unknown reason. If you watch Hamelin's version (especially Part 2) you will aprreciate how much more impressive the Sgouros performance was since it ended up being 2 minutes shorter than this one.