Covers (Cover Versions)

Someone on my facebook posted this retro-soul style Wilco cover. I think it's pretty cool:

(the original, in case you're not familiar with it)

edited 3rd Mar '11 8:25:51 AM by MikeK

That right there is what cover songs should be. Completely reinterprets the song and is still awesome. Plus I love that they included the bridge from "Theologians" too.

Words cast into the uncaring void of the internet.

You know, something I find intetesting, covers used to become big hits all the time in decades past. These days, if that ever happens, they're usually few and far between or are covers that weren't well-known songs to begin with (e.g. Anna Kendrick covering "Cups" a couple years ago, originally a song by Lulu & the Lampshades, which itself is a reworking of an old mountain song).

The artists that we've had as of late that can compare to great interpreters of preexisting songs like Joe Cocker or Linda Ronstadt (e.g. Amy Winehouse when she was alive, arguably Mark Ronson) also seem to get hits not from their covers, but from their original works.

What do you think this says about how this facet of the music hit machine compares between decades back and today? Hell, there was once a time when cover songs made up the majority of radio playlists, whereas now it's more or less all original material.

edited 22nd Mar '15 3:21:47 PM by Odd1

Insert witty 'n clever quip here.

Maybe the big guys feel people wanna hear more original music from artists?

Anyway, both the Isaac Hayes and the D-Train covers of "Walk On By" trump the original. The former for bumping up the somber mood, and the latter for turning it into a bouncy Disco/Funk tune, Lyrical Dissonance or not.

Some examples I can think of: - I prefer Pat Benatar's version of "Shadows of the Night" over the original by Helen Schneider - I like "Cleveland Rocks" done by Presidents of the United States, over the original by Ian Hunter. - One Disney cover that I think is better than the original is I think Elisabeth South's version of "Let it Go" is better than Idina Mendzel's. I still think Idina's voice was too high-pitched for that song and kinda nasal in a couple places.

I rather like this version of Royals

Sing the song of sixpence that goes burn the witch, we know where you live

I'm usually not the one for metal covers, but this is hilarious and technical at the same time.

Nonsense is better than no sense at all.

Counting Crows released an album of covers in 2012, most of them really folky or country. My favorites are Four White Stallions (a live staple), Meet On The Ledge and All My Failures.

I have a soft spot for the Streetlight Manifesto cover of Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. Here's a link. I like Paul Simon, but that seems to be one of the songs that was written in the wrong style to begin with. It works better as a punk rock song.

Bigotry will NEVER be welcome on TV Tropes.

That cover has always been a personal favorite of mine.

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Their cover of Punk Rock Girl, is also good imho.

I've yet to find a poorly done cover by Straight No Chaser

Say to the others who did not follow through You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you

Anaria's "I See Fire". A lot of people made the mistake of playing the song fast from the very beginning.

"what the complete, unabridged, 4k ultra HD fuck with bonus features" - Mark Von Lewis

I know some might wanna burn me at the stake for saying there's a Beatles cover I prefer to the original, but I really like The Feelies' version of "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey."

I dunno whether it's just that jangly guitar tone a lot of early 80s alternative rock and post-punk bands used that I really like, the more energetic atmosphere, or the fact that there's a guy playing a coat rack the entire time (not to mention the wild percussion in general), but there's just something I like about it.

I'm also fond of their version of The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black." I think I still prefer the Stones' version, but it's probably the best Rolling Stones cover I've heard and that says something.

Edit: While thinking of Stones covers, I just remembered Devo's version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Just the delivery in the vocals alone turns an anthemic rock song you wanna sing along to into something that sounds like the introspective observations of some nerdy guy.

edited 19th Oct '15 11:50:37 PM by FingerPuppet

And then you have The Residents' ^note who were one of Devo's influences version, which is... well, it's The Residents:

edited 20th Oct '15 1:31:12 PM by Quag15

How did I forget that? I probably didn't listen to it as often as the other covers I posted, but I certainly remember showing it to a few friends in hopes to confuse them or freak them out or something, but they just laughed.

I found this. It's a cover/remix/hellknowswhat of the Super Mario Bros. theme.

"what the complete, unabridged, 4k ultra HD fuck with bonus features" - Mark Von Lewis

Hey, you know what kinds of covers are severely underrated? Jazz covers.

There are many others I could post, plenty of legit classics of the genre (like those from Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane), but this is one I just discovered and fell instantly in love with. Takes one of my favorite pieces of video game music and one of my favorite musical genres and combines them beautifully, like a Reese's peanut butter cup in musical form.

edited 1st Nov '15 5:03:54 AM by Odd1

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Just because Ninja Sex Party is a comedy band, doesn't mean they can't be awesome when they try their hand at covering songs!

edited 25th Feb '16 12:36:01 AM by TechPowah

The New Age of Awesome is here! Not even the sky is the limit!

This cover of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' seems to be everywhere at the moment. Perhaps it'll bring about a more mainstream use of covers.

However my favourite cover of anything ever is the cover of 'Feeling Good' by My Brightest Diamond. Please listen here:

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