History Main / CoveredUp

* Most people remember "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" as sung by Music/MarvinGaye and later covered by Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival. Fewer people remember the original hit by Music/GladysKnight & the Pips. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles recorded it first, but their version wasn't released until 1998. The Isley Brothers fit in this song's history somewhere, too, between the Miracles and Gladys Knight. Norman Whitfield, the co-songwriter along with Barret Strong, loved to pass his songs around from artist to artist on the Motown roster.

* "Mister Sandman" is usually associated with The Chordettes (who had the most popular version) or with The Four Aces (whose version [[MisterSandmanSequence features]] in ''Film/BackToTheFuture''), with the former usually thought to have recorded it first. Vaughn Monroe was actually the first to record it. To be fair, his version was stuck on a B-side and the arrangement, while quite pleasant, is rather forgettable compared to the Chordettes' creative knee-slapping arrangement.

** Due to MemeticMutation, many people know Miku's version of "Oblivion" better than the original by Music/{{Grimes}}, mostly because of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVwJqEXWSOQ that type of weird music video]] that Ctrl Ult Delete [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs usually does]].

* "Little Suzi" by Tesla was originally titled "Little Suzi's on the Up"; first written and recorded by [=PhD=] in 1982. This troper only became aware of that fact with the passing of co-writer (and singer on the [=PhD=] original) Jim Diamond.

* "The In Crowd" is by Dobie Gray (cue tropers running to the Other Wiki). But who would be more iconic and fitting to cover this title than [[Music/RoxyMusic Brian Ferry?]]

* Music/EddieCochran was one of the great pioneers of rock. During his tragically short carreer he had several hits, many of which have been Covered Up by others. Cochran even used to be erroneously described on this very page as a "one-hit wonder".

* Music/JeffBuckley's cover of "Hallelujah" (from ''Music/{{Grace}}'') is by far the one everyone knows; the original is by Music/LeonardCohen and was originally written as an obscure album track on his 1984 project ''Music/VariousPositions'' (and adapted from a poem with an eyewatering 80 verses). Other than the film version of ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', no other medium uses the original. Either the Buckley or the Music/KDLang fans can lead you in a non-Cohen direction. Even more curiously, Buckley's version is really a cover of Music/JohnCale's, which is significantly different from Cohen's original (and recorded for a Cohen tribute album, no less). Just about everyone's cover is based on the Cale version, either directly or via Buckley. With a few notable exceptions, such as the U2 version, or Bob Dylan's live cover. And it was covered up ''again'' in the UK by ''Series/TheXFactor'' 2008 winner Music/AlexandraBurke's version. More recently, k.d. lang's version (which she performed at the 2010 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames) is considered the definitive one, at least in Canada. (Although between the release of ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'' and the Olympics, the Rufus Wainwright version was considered definitive.) According to one fan site over ''two thousand'' covers are known to exist.

* A rather convoluted example: Country music fans know "Always on My Mind" as a song by Music/WillieNelson, while pop music fans know it as a song by the Music/PetShopBoys. However, both artists were covering Music/ElvisPresley's version of the song... which itself was not even the original version. The song was first performed by Brenda Lee, and obscure country singer John Wesley Ryles had a #20 hit with it before Nelson's version (under the title "You Are Always on My Mind"). And gamers know it as the song from ''VideoGame/SilentHillShatteredMemories''.

* Music/JeffBuckley's cover of "Hallelujah" (from ''Music/{{Grace}}'') is by far the one everyone knows; the original is by Music/LeonardCohen and was originally written as an obscure album track on his 1984 project ''Music/VariousPositions'' (and adapted from a poem with an eyewatering 80 verses). Other than the film version of ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', no other medium uses the original. Either the Buckley or the Music/KDLang fans can lead you in a non-Cohen direction. Even more curiously, Buckley's version is really a cover of Music/JohnCale's, which is significantly different from Cohen's original (and recorded for a Cohen tribute album, no less). Just about everyone's cover is based on the Cale version, either directly or via Buckley. With a few notable exceptions, such as the U2 version, or Bob Dylan's live cover. And it was covered up ''again'' in the UK by ''Series/TheXFactor'' 2008 winner Music/AlexandraBurke's version. More recently, k.d. lang's version (which she performed at the 2010 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames) is considered the definitive one, at least in Canada. (Although between the release of ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' and the Olympics, the Rufus Wainwright version was considered definitive.) According to one fan site over ''two thousand'' covers are known to exist.

** Also, "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees was originally written (and recorded) by Music/NeilDiamond, ''then'' it was covered by Music/SmashMouth for ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}''.

** The first and definitive version of "I'm a Believer" was released by Music/TheMonkees (Diamond actually recorded his own version first but it wasn't released until later). The same was the case for three other Monkees hits: "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)", "Love to Love" and "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You". "I'm a Believer" has since been covered by Music/SmashMouth (for the movie ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', giving the song a significant RevivalByCommercialization in the process) and Music/{{Weezer}}.

* "Cat's Eye" by Anri is the opening song from the anime series ''Manga/CatsEye'' from 1983. Younger people may be more familiar with the cover from 2000 by E-Rotic, with the lyrics rewritten in English, especially because this cover was included in several VideoGame/{{Bemani}} games (including ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution 4th Mix Plus'' and ''5th Mix'', ''Dance Maniax 2nd Mix'', and ''Dance Dance Revolution Music Fit''). Likewise, several other popular ''DDR'' songs are {{translated cover version}}s of J-Pop songs, such as Bambee's "17" and Judy Crystal's "God of Romance (Romansu no Kamisama)".

* The Russian folk song "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korobeiniki Korobeiniki]]" is now best known as the ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' theme.

* "Give a Little Bit" was not written by the Music/GooGooDolls, but by Music/{{Supertramp}}.

* "Believe" by Folder 5 (the second opening to ''Manga/OnePiece'',) is better known than the song it's a TranslatedCoverVersion of, Eurobeat artist Lolita's "Dreamin' Of You".

* Most people don't know the song "Shout 2000" by Music/{{Disturbed}} is a cover of the Music/TearsForFears song "Shout". Yes, the same people who gave us "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Mad World" made a song later covered by Disturbed. [[http://twitter.com/#!/DAVIDMDRAIMAN/status/146653968557285376 Disturbed's lead singer claims]] that Curt Smith himself heard the cover and "loved it."

* Music/{{Disturbed}}'s cover of "The Sound of Silence" by Music/SimonAndGarfunkel is the first version that comes up when you search the song on Website/YouTube. [[FirstAndForemost But the original is still the best-known]], even used in the "Hello darkness, my old friend..." meme.

* In the case of a TranslatedCoverVersion suffering this, many people who've seen ''Film/TheLifeAquaticWithSteveZissou'' and heard Seu Jorge singing a Portuguese version of Music/DavidBowie's "Starman" would not know that the musician only borrowed it from a band [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auAGPN_keDs who recorded said cover 15 years prior.]]

* "Somebody to Love" (no, not [[Music/{{Queen}} that]] one) is often claimed to be originally by Music/JeffersonAirplane. In fact, the original is by their former competitors The Great Society, originally titled "Someone to Love", and was recorded two years earlier. That said, it got to Music/JeffersonAirplane when The Great Society was dissolved and the Slick siblings joined the Airplane and took their own songs with them. Hence, Grace Slick sings both versions.

* The theme tune to ''Series/StarFleet'' (a Japanese 1980s sci-fi TV show originally called 'X-Bomber' and redubbed for UK transmission with a new theme song) was Covered Up when Brian May of Music/{{Queen}} recorded it with some friends, including Eddie Van Halen and released as a mini-album called "Star Fleet Project". Consequently it's often thought that Brian May wrote the song, despite him stating clearly on the sleevenotes to the record that it was originally by Paul Bliss.

* Music/{{Queen}} released "Stone Cold Crazy" in 1974; the song was played often live but didn't become well known. In 1990, Music/{{Metallica}} released a cover that won them a Grammy and got them an invitation to the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (where lead singer James Hetfield did the song with Queen backing him up).

** "Live and Let Die" by Music/PaulMcCartney and Music/{{Wings}}. And those who have it Covered Up will also not know it was written for a ''Film/JamesBond'' [[Film/LiveAndLetDie movie]].

** "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", originally by Music/{{Queen}}.

* Many people know "Life is a Highway" best as a song sung by ''Music/RascalFlatts'' for the 2006 Creator/{{Pixar}} movie ''WesternAnimation/{{Cars}}''. It was originally sung by Tom Cochrane in 1991.

* Music/ToriAmos' cover of "Raining Blood" was originally by Music/{{Slayer}}. While the original version of the song was already [[NightmareFuel scary]], Amos made it absolutely terrifying, to the point where the members of Slayer were even creeped out by her cover.

* "[=MacArthur=] Park" is either known as [[ParodyDisplacement the song the Jurassic Park parody was based on]] or a cheesy disco hit from Music/DonnaSummer. In fact, it was written by Jimmy Webb and first recorded by none other than Creator/RichardHarris [[Film/HarryPotter aka Dumbledore.]]
** Harris's version is still fairly well remembered, however. It's usually one of the first songs mentioned whenever the topic of musical {{narm}} is discussed. Made better by the fact that, when asked what it was about, he basically said that he had no idea and in fact didn't care, [[MoneyDearBoy since it was just a job to him]].
** Country singer Music/WaylonJennings recorded a version for his 1969 album ''Country-Folk'' along with The Kimberlys; this version won him a Grammy Award. In 1976, once the outlaw movement was in full swing, Jennings re-recorded the song for his album ''Are You Ready For the Country''.

* You'd be forgiven for thinking the song "Behind Blue Eyes" was written by Music/LimpBizkit considering how it's one of their most famous songs despite not fitting their regular genre at all. This is because the original was in fact actually written by Pete Townshend of the Music/TheWho in 1971.

* Most Americans think of "Do You Wanna Touch Me" as a Music/JoanJett song. It was a big hit for the American punk rocker in 1982, and still sees some airplay in America today. The original version was recorded and co-written by UK glam rocker Music/GaryGlitter in 1973...and thanks to his multiple convictions for child molestation and possession of hardcore child pornography, his version doesn't see airplay anywhere. This has actually caused a few problems; British ''Glee'' fans were not amused when "Do You Wanna Touch Me" was covered by the show, and an 2008 Hewlett-Packard TV commercial featuring the Joan Jett version was pulled once HP learned that a convicted child molester wrote the song...and was getting royalties from their ad!

* ''"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"'', from 1989, one of Music/MichaelBolton's most well-known songs, was a cover of the 1983 Laura Branigan song of the same name. It should be noted however that Bolton actually co-wrote the song and, in fact, had originally offered it to Music/AirSupply, only to offer it to Branigan instead when Clive Davis, president of Creator/AristaRecords, Air Supply's record label, demanded that Bolton make lyrical changes before giving it to the band.

* The Bacharach[=/=]David composition "Always Something There to Remind Me" is often associated with its well known cover by 80's new wave duo Naked Eyes, but it was recorded quite a few times, initially by Music/DionneWarwick in 1963 (that version went unreleased, and she re-recorded a slightly better known version in 1967). In 1964, a re-recording was a UK #1 hit for Sandie Shaw.

* "The Awakening" is the name of a bass break that Les Claypool of Music/{{Primus}} likes to throw into live versions of their song "Tommy The Cat." But originally it was its own song, written by the 1980's funk group, The Reddings.

** Also, Springsteen wrote "Because the Night", which singer/poet Patti Smith made into a hit after [[TheCoverChangesTheGender gender-flipping]] his lyrics. It was most famously covered in the early 90's by college-rockers Music/TenThousandManiacs on their ''MTV Unplugged'' performance.

* "Can't Get Enough Of You Baby" was not originally by Music/SmashMouth. The Toys were the first to record it way back in 1965, and the 4 Seasons and ? and the Mysterians (whose better-known hit, "96 Tears," has a similar opening stinger) soon after that. Those who came of age in the 80's will also remember the version by British new wave band The Colourfield.

* "Common People" was written and first performed by the indie band Music/{{Pulp}} but it was popularized in the USA by a cover version done by Creator/WilliamShatner. This is only in the USA however, as in the UK and Ireland the original is still one of the most beloved AlternativeRock songs of the 1990's.

* "I Go Blind" by Music/HootieAndTheBlowfish is a cover of a song by 80's Canadian alternative rock group 54-40.

* Most people are familiar with "In the Street" as the theme song for ''Series/That70sShow''. If they are aware it's a RealSongThemeTune at all, it's likely because they noticed it being credited to Music/CheapTrick in the end credits, or have their full version on a Cheap Trick greatest hits album or a ''That 70's Show'' companion album. In fact it was first performed by cult PowerPop band Music/BigStar in 1972, two years before Cheap Trick formed. Because Cheap Trick is the more well known of the two Seventies bands, people tend to assume it's an early Cheap Trick song, when in fact its cover was specifically recorded for the show.

* "Last Kiss" was first recorded in 1962 by its author, Wayne Cochran. The first hit version was released in 1964 by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. Then Music/PearlJam covered it after Eddie Vedder found a copy of the 45 single at a flea market. Although, really, is it not obvious that it's a 60's song? Particularly since it's very much in the "Dead Teenage Lover" genre that was so popular at the time.

* Music/{{Bananarama}}'s "Look on the Floor" covers the chorus of the 80's ItaloDisco song "Hypnotic Tango" by My Mine.

* Whitney Houston's "Love Is Like a Butterfly", which many Brits will know from the 1970's programme ''Butterflies'' - [[RealSongThemeTune which used as its theme tune]] the original version by Dolly Parton.

* "Move It on Over" was written and recorded by Music/HankWilliams Sr. before being covered in the 70's by George Thorogood.

* "Not In Love" was originally performed by 80's new wave band Platinum Blonde. A 2010 cover by indie electronic band Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith of Music/{{The Cure|Band}} on vocals proved to be a sizable hit on American alternative radio.

* Weird version: in Brazil, the success of ''Film/TheEliteSquad'' brought much attention to the opening theme, a 90's song called "Rap das Armas". Yet somehow people mostly played a cover ''which was not in the film'' (which even was remixed by European [=DJs=] and became a hit in the Netherlands and Scandinavia).

* "Yes my Darling Daughter" (first introduced by Dinah Shore in 1940) uses the melody of "Oj ne khody Hrytsiu", an old Ukrainian murder ballad. Granted, the latter is probably much better known in Ukraine than the (much more cheerful) 1940's song.

** Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" received a very popular cover by UB40, it was a wedding reception favorite in the early 90's.

** And "Make You Feel My Love", which has become something of a hit for Music/{{Adele}} (not to mention Music/GarthBrooks and Music/BillyJoel)--and proved that Dylan's 90's repertoire is as ripe for pilfering as his older stuff. In fact, though Bob Dylan wrote the song, the first version released commercially was actually by Music/BillyJoel (under the title "To Make You Feel My Love").

* "Come and Get Your Love" was originally recorded by Redbone in 1973. Those who grew up in the '90s more likely know Real [=McCoy=]'s 1995 Euro-reggae cover. (This may have changed since the release of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', due to its prominent use at the start.)

* Most people are more familiar with the Blue Swede version of "Hooked on a Feeling"--you know, [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy the one with the "ooga chaka"s]]--than the earlier performance by B.J. Thomas. It was made even more well-known as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_baby "Dancing Baby"]] song, featured in ''Series/AllyMcBeal''. Blue Swede itself borrowed "ooga chaka" from an earlier version by Jonathan King. Averted with Blue Swede's other hit, "Never My Love", still mostly "[[{{Pun}} associated]]" with The Association.

** The story is actually ridiculously sad. Linda and the Morning Birds, by law in South Africa at the time, couldn't receive royalties for their music, and received a "petty cash voucher" instead. When Pete Seeger brought the song to America, he didn't check to ensure that Linda received the royalties he was due, and again, Linda was left with a tiny cash sum. He eventually died impoverished and it was 15 years before a stone was placed on his grave. In 2000, it was estimated that, had he received what he was due, he and his heirs would have earned upwards of $15 million just from its use in ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing''. Eventually his heirs did reach a settlement with the record company, with the money placed in a trust.