Covers that are better than the original

Not much of a stretch since C Club's version was a sort of faux-reggae arrangement.

Great to have you back!
I don't care for the chord changes but I love another Dylan song she does.

Speaking of Dylan covers. Fotheringay does justice to this early Dylan tune.

I like June Tabor's version of that in which she's backed by oysterband. Speaking of Tabor and oysterband, they have a new CD out, their second together.

I am almost certain I posted this before . . . somewhere . . . but this is from the Black Cab Sessions which are really fun:


http://www.blackcabsessions.com/index.php?id=1232713556

I guess this cover is not exactly better than the original... but it's surprisingly close, all things considered.

Are you ready for this? I recently discovered the Hamburg based Gothic rock band, Sweet Sister Pain. No, I am not kidding. They're a trio. Their front man Gunther Laudahn has an amazing voice. Really odd resume. Does film scores (Titanic), produces Sarah Brightman (hiss! boo!). Produces Gregorian which features Brightman's younger sister Amelia.

Anyway, here is one of his projects. I understand he doesn't sing on it but Gregorian does. They sing pop/rock standards in the chant style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9eD0-ASPiI&feature=related

Who knows what the original sounded like? Henry VIII was supposed to play it on his lute. But this is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nihsKqoC5yE&feature=related

How about when the covers are worse than the original? Checked out pom's Tull link and this came up as another version. I think even King Henry probably did it better than Neil, not his best moment by far.

The cello finds the range of Axl's voice. Tres amusing

Nouvelle Vague are the kings of that most difficult of feats - covers that are better than originals. Here's one of their best attempts - The Killing Moon, originally by Echo and the Bunnymen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewT3f5HmpIc&feature=related

nice!

A lovely tune by Stevie Wonder sung by Syreeta Wright
Beck covers Wonder

I wouldn't say this is better - but I like it just as much:
the stone's version of dylan's rolling stone - I love the slightly off key harmonica solo

I want to present a cover that I love. However, the band that wrote the song no longer exists and was pretty obscure to begin with. I will give you a link to the original first and then a link to the cover.

The original:

You will notice that is has been viewed more than 4M times. However, since I am not a punk rock fan or a post-punk fan. While I can see the virtues of their playing, I think the singing undermines the meaningful lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHYOXyy1ToI&ob=av2e

Here is the cover, slowed to a ballad to bring out the achingly true and beautiful lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCgWqoyG6qc

I love the use of the cello here along with the beautiful voices of June Tabor and John Jones.

I know that some of you will consider this heresy.

Let me say that two of my best musical memories involve Emmy Lou Harris, seeing her open for James Taylor before anyone knew who she was and experiencing the thrill of discovery, then 25 years later, seeing her in a more intimate setting when she toured the album Wrecking Ball.

However, I just heard Greg Trooper covering the title song from Wrecking Ball. Great voice, but, better still, a blistering guitar solo. Tasty.

Thanks for the tip.

This "cover" of one of the most widely sung songs in the world, best known as, "The Water is Wide," is from the Breton folk-rock group, Tri Yann.

The video begins with beautiful pictures of Brittany, the northwestern peninsula that borders on the Atlantic and the English Channel. It continues with a salute to the band. Unfortunately, this band was founded in 1970 and the guys look like your fathers' friends. Oh, and they wear goofy costumes.

Sung in the Breton language. Love the pipes and drums at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMzNmcFXZEs&feature=autoplay&list=PL3FF91A7E37B577D8&lf=plpp_play_all&playnext=106