cover songs better than the original

[hedgehug]

W.O.R.D. UP - Gun

[TheWorstPlayer]

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

(There was just a story about this on the radio this morning, I'm sure people in NYC heard it.)

[man]

[ QUOTE ]
Knockin' on Heaven's Door

(There was just a story about this on the radio this morning, I'm sure people in NYC heard it.)

[/ QUOTE ]
I disagree entirely. I dont' think guns 'n' roses really "got" dylan's version, and anyone who says their version is better probably doesn't either. it's supposed to be about an exhausted, probably failed, cop, not another sway-to-the-beat-with-our-lighters ballad.

[TheWorstPlayer]

Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the Dylan version. But I think the GNR version is a better song. I guess it depends on how you weigh things like kickass guitar. I think a similar story can be told about All Along the Watchtower, FWIW.

[PokerFink]

I might get lynched for this, but I like DMB's version of Watchtower better than Hendrix. Although Hendrix is obviously awesome.

I also like GNR's Live Or Let Die a lot.

Also, the classic youtube clip of The Boss taking over One Headlight. Not really a cover, but whatever.

[ceczar]

i like RATM's "Ghost of Tom Joad" better than the original, but it's close, and i can see why people wouldn't feel that way.

Tool's "No Quarter" is better than zep's i think.

and i might get flamed for it, but i think Fiona Apple's "Across the Universe" is much better than the orig.

[TheDudeAbides]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the Dylan version. But I think the GNR version is a better song. I guess it depends on how you weigh things like kickass guitar. I think a similar story can be told about All Along the Watchtower, FWIW.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's all a matter of taste I suppose. Personally, I think GNR butchered the song. For me, Knockin' is a deeply emotional and almost soul-baring song. I don't think it was meant to be a rock ballad, and Dylan's pacing and tone really nail it for me. To be honest, I appreciate Wyclef's version more than GNR's.

[CCass]

Crimson and Clover by Joan Jett???

[man]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the Dylan version. But I think the GNR version is a better song. I guess it depends on how you weigh things like kickass guitar. I think a similar story can be told about All Along the Watchtower, FWIW.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think gnr transformed the mood of the song into anything like hendrix did. there are tons of rock ballads in the same fashion of gnr's cover, but have you heard anything like at all like all along the watchtower? I usually appreciate kickass guitar, but I don't think its place is in knockin' on heaven's door.

[Pete H]

Most cover songs are pointless as they are just a replay of the original song.

For example Slayer, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath have been covered a lot, but 99.9% of these covers are totally worthless.

Good cover song is different than the original and performed (and arranged) in a style that fits the band (or artist) covering the song.

At least these are better than the original:

Brutal Truth - Lord Of This World (Black Sabbath)
Diablo - Dancing Queen (Abba)
HIM - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak)
Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics)
Moonspell - Sacred (Depeche Mode)
OLD - Cocaine (JJ Cale)
Sodom - The Kids Wanna Rock (Bryan Adams)
Twisted Sister - Leader Of The Pack (Shangri-La's)
Xentrix - Ghostbusters (Ray Parker Jr)

There are also tons of good covers that most likely are better than the original, but I haven't heard the original or it's been too long that I don't remember enough. Two examples:

Entombed - Kick Out The Jams (MC5)
Slayer - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly)

Most of my list seems to be a metal band covering a non-metal song, but I also want to add few non-metal versions of metal songs. I don't think these are better than the original but I like these and have lots of respect for creators of these versions.

Johnny Cash - Hurt (NIN)
Tori Amos - Raining Blood (Slayer)
Zwan - The Number Of The Beast (Iron Maiden)

NP: Shotgun Messiah - Bop City