Covers that are better than the original

I don't know how many of you are familiar with British singer June Tabor, but, she has to be one of the great voices of the 20th C.

Here, she beats nearly everyone with an elegant and understated cover of Don't Think Twice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvIdPe34JTI

1 Reply

@plainoldme,

Here, she sounds like Nico of the Velvet Underground:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2kPjvtFnZE

The Oyster Band backs her up. They're so hot.

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This is a traditional song, so, of course it is not a cover but this one of the great pieces of music . . . ever.

From the immortal Planxty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_caqXhbXU&feature=related

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"Last Christmas" was a popular Wham song in 1984. My eleven year old daughter showed me a brand new cover on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXJ5a56dP98

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OK, I am not going to say that this guy is better than Ralph Stanley, however, I will say he is worthy to walk in Dr. Ralph's shoes.

I have no idea who he is but he has posted videos of himself, singing and playing both 12string guitar and fiddle out-of-doors all over New England. I have this wonderful feeling that, in the spring, I will climb the mountain I can see from my deck, and he will be up there, playing something very traditional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pje4Bqvwqw

1 Reply

@plainoldme,

Just to play and sing that tune at the same time is amazing

1 Reply

@panzade,

I have always felt that way. Do you remember the line about typing in the Biblical style? Seek and you shall find it with it being the key to strike with your one finger. Well, that's how I play music.

I won't even comment on my voice.

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This is not a cover per se although U-2s In The Name of Love is incorporated as a bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaxAXCch4WA

The studio version does not suffer from the recording flaws of the live version . . . but, then, they almost never do.

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scarborough Fair as done by Sergio Mendes gives a nightclub style to a Simon & Garfunkel folksong.

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@33export,

I'll bet P Simon hurled when he heard that....maybe not!

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A popular female vocalist in Poland does a "bluesy" version of George Michael's Father Figure.

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I just heard a great medley of two songs that were both better than the original. The irony is that I generally disliked the singer, Laura Love, and I hate one of the song writers, Steve Miller.

I wish the medley were on youtube, but, it isn't. Laura sings Miller's song about going back to the future along with a John Lennon song which I forgot in the time it took me to answer something dumb on another thread.

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Jacques Brel's song, known by both its French and English titles, has been recorded by many artists. It is a great piece of writing in the French chanson tradition.

I love Dame Shirley's version, done totally in English:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpgnFFf7PME

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Hey Joe, Willy De Ville.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYzVkV94IfA

1 Reply

@Old Goat,

That's some good ****!

1 Reply

@panzade,

Poor old Willy, kicked the bucket a few summers ago. I saw him once, when he was a support act to Lou Reed.

Lou was exceptionally up his own arse that night and got booed off stage, but Willy and his band nearly took the roof off.

Covers that are better than the original

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