what's your view on MUSIC COVER VERSIONS

[soul_warrior]

well, having seen rambuchan's last post in the Classic 'Cover Art' thread we started a small PM discussion about COVER VERSIONS and thought it might make a nice thread.

this is NOT meant as a "what are you listening to right now" thread.
we have that already - HERE

what is meant to go here a thread discussing what YOU think of people performing other people's music, your likes-dislikes and if you feel like it an explanation of the reasons why you love-hate a certain cover.

we CAN include REMAKES, MASH-UPs and VERY DIFFERING REMIXES.
please not every "house" remake of an 80's disco tune. just the ones that feel or sound different.

some examples that pop into my weary, boozed up ears are

Britney Spears' - satisfaction (original by the Rolling Stones)
not my cup o' tea really. its very catchy in a britney way and has some nice hooks to it. recommended for the pop-head, not the rock-head.

Dread Zepplin - any of thier tracks (they do only zep songs)
think about an Elvis impersonator (sequeens coat, side burns and vocals) doing Led Zepplin tunes, in a country and blues way.
You got to like it.
recommended to EVERYBODY

Smooth - the revolution shall be televised (Jill Scott Heron original)
remeber Jill Scott Heron's "The Revolution shll not be televised" a deep funk type, spoken word type hymn? well, this is not that!
they took the original lyrics, turning them around into a Nu Northern Soul dancefloor killer.
it never fails on the dance floor, and has a message to deliver aswell.

Nostalgia 77 - seven nation army (original by the White Stripes)
another cover, only in reverse. they took a perfectly nice rock hit, got a female singer and went and done it hiphop style.
and belive me. they ROCK!

Madeleine Peyroux - Dance Me to the End of Love (Leonard Cohen)
a very conservative cover, just a female singer.
i dont really know why i added it, but it make me warm inside, maybe im old enough to remember L C, when that came out and it nostalgia?
still a nice cover though.

well, these are my current favorite cover versions.
which are yours? and why?

 

[nonconformist]

Queen-Tutti Frutti (Wembley, '86)-Queen took the Little Richard original, and covered it quite adequately, starting in rock and roll mode, and eventually going heavy rock mode.

Joey Ramone-Wonerful World-took Louis Armstrong's classic song, added thundering powerchords, and a punk voice.

 

[IglooDame]

I can't think of any covers I like, possibly excepting Run-DMC's version of Aerosmith's Walk This Way, but as I think they collaborated on it anyway, it isn't really a cover is it?

And Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You makes me

 

[nonconformist]

I can't think of any covers I like, possibly excepting Run-DMC's version of Aerosmith's Walk This Way, but as I think they collaborated on it anyway, it isn't really a cover is it?

Yeah, I believe they did.

 

[De Lorimier]

Anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes!

They do punk-rock cover of hits from the 50's to the 80's.

I would suggest Ain't no sunshine, Rocketman, Leaving on a jet plane or I believe I can fly.

Classics!

 

[thetrooper]

Manic Street Preachers - Been A Son (original by Nirvana).
Much better than the original. I'm stepping on many toes now - I suppose

 

[soul_warrior]

The Connels - Insane in the brain (original by Cypress Hill)
this sounds like the Fun Lovin Criminal's Scooby Snacks classic. where the Cypress gang went hiphop these guy go at it an a mellow funk mood. exquisite.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Love Rollercoaster (original by Ohio Players) thanks rambuchan for reminding me
i thought the original funk bomb couldnt be improved. i was wrong. the chilli peppers do it thier style delivering loads of new day kick to this classic.

Nouvelle Vouge - Just cant get enough (original be Depeche mode). these frenchies decided to do an entire 80's covers album, focousing on the grittier stuff (PIL, Dead Kennedies, Depeche Mode, etc) and do it BOSSA NOVA style.

Vyvienne Long - Seven nation army. yes, i know its another identical covered song. but its not. she is a cellist, doing a cover ALL on her own. very minimalistic - its just her vocals, clapping, and cello strumming.

Ian Brown - Thriller (Michael Jackson) after his Stone Roses fame he did this beuty of a cover version, that sounds exactly like the mellow roses stuff. where the original takes you to Disco heaven this will drag you into a beer haze...

and last but by no means least-

Rashid Taha's Rock El Casbah (the clash), similar vibe to the original mega hit, just done by a singer from Algiers, with arbian style theme through it. and dont worry, he keeps all the punch of the original.

ill post some more tomorow for you the enjoy.

@ De Lorimier, had them coming in a few post, but you beat me to it.
@Igloodude - i agree on Houston's cover puke.
and we can include the Aerosmith-RunDMC as they did collaborate, but it sound SO not like the original, it qualiies here.

@ ALL, hey, dont be afraid to expose you sweetest, sickly looking cover vesions here.
we need to know what to avoid as well as what to look out for.
but we prefer the positive vibe here....

 

[Rambuchan]

Woman of the Ghetto - every single one of the many versions I have absolutely scorches the ears with delight. Reggae, soul , jungle, house, ahem country n western, the song just keeps expanding in every genre.

Many more of course but it would be a shame to waste them straight off.

 

[Stefan Haertel]

Iron Maiden- Women In Uniform.
Never actually heard the original version, by an Autralian band called Skyhooks, but I don't think I would care for it, considering the cover is a poor song by Maiden standards.

Queen- Too Much Love Will Kill You.
Originally a song on Brian Mays solo album "Back To The Light", the Queen version, sung by Freddie Mercury, is on par with Mays version.

 

[Bigfoot]

Lots of covers that I like. The first that comes to mind is 'Little Wing' by Stevie Ray Vaughn (original was by Hendrix). Just an awesome song. Not many people could do justice to Jimi, but SRV pulls it off nicely. He does a nice rendition of 'Voodoo Child' too (although I prefer the original by Hendrix).

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I have to say I love Metallica's cover of Whiskey in the Jar.

 

[thetrooper]

I have to say I love Metallica's cover of Whiskey in the Jar.

The Thin Lizzy version is good too.

 

[ravensfire]

"Turn the Page" by Metallica (original by Bob Seeger).

The original came across as a lament, as sorrow. Metallica's version came across as rage, as anger. Several others have done Turn the Page, but none as well as Metallica.

-- Ravensfire

 

[sourboy]

Nirvana did a lot of covers, and I particularly liked their version of David Bowie's "Man who sold the world." Counting Crows did a good cover of the massively-covered "Big yellow taxi," too. Green Day also did that one well.

Most covers I don't like. The only real good ones seem to be the one's that are drastically different in musical style from the first. For example, "Mrs Robinson" was a slow acoustic song by Simon & Garfunkle (IIRC), but the Lemonheads did a great fast, distortion-elec, hard rock cover of it.

 

[Whomp]

Good stuff SW.
Ram--good to have you back kid.

Some of my favorites....

"Cocaine" and "After Midnight" by J. J. Cale remade by Eric Clapton

Here's a shocker I don't think many could've imagined...
"Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails remade by Johnny Cash

"You Really Got Me" by The Kinks remade by Van Halen
"The First Cut Is The Deepest" by Cat Stevens remade by Sheryl Crow
"Red Red Wine" by Neil Diamond remade by UB40
"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond remade by anyone in a bar with a few in them.
"You Shook Me" by Muddy "Mississippi" Waters remade by Led Zeppelin
"Backdoor Man" by Howlin' Wolf remade by the Doors

And not that any of you care but I was in a bar in Chicago two years ago when Kid Rock walked in and blew my brains out with a 40 minute jam to "Sweet Home Alabama"!

 

[Wolfe Tone]

The Thin Lizzy version is good too.

Indeed it is. But the Metallica version has more of a crunch to it.

 

[nonconformist]

Here's a shocker I don't think many could've imagined...
"Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails remade by Johnny Cash

I forgot that one!

I didn't fine Clapton's verison of Cocaine particularly good...too similar.

On another note, the original Whiskey in the Jar (Traditional) was great.

 

[farting bob]

I like Marilyn Manson's 'personal jesus' (depache mode) and 'sweet dreams' (eurythmics).
Both are very different to the orignals, and yet very good.
Nirvana's 'man who sold the world' is a great song (seen it performed live as well).
Oh, and ive also seen a local band called everafta do a punk rock version of britney spears 'Hit me baby 1 more time' which was....interesting.

 

[soul_warrior]

Here's a shocker I don't think many could've imagined...
"Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails remade by Johnny Cash

And not that any of you care but I was in a bar in Chicago two years ago when Kid Rock walked in and blew my brains out with a 40 minute jam to "Sweet Home Alabama"!

JC's (RIP ) American recording series 1-4 is all covers. ALL GREAT.
my favorite is his version of DMode's Personal Jesus, and Nick Cave's The Mercy Seat.

and boy do we care. beware the !!! they are aproaching!!!!

Oh, and ive also seen a local band called everafta do a punk rock version of britney spears 'Hit me baby 1 more time' which was....interesting.

you should try and get Type O Negative's version to this song.
but only if youre into Goth Snailpaced Core sort of stuff.
now THATS a different version.

good stufff, to quote a superiour officer, ALL.
keep em coming.

 

[rbis4rbb]

Can we include samples we like? I.E. "Through The Wire" by Kanye West samples Chaka Kahn "Through the Fire"

I like it