Covers that are arguably better than the originals:

[Pano]

Dylan can tactfully sing rather well, he just chooses not to.

 

[GeoffMillar]

In no particular order, here are a few of mine:

All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix

Like a Hurricane, Bryan Ferry (live 2014 version)

Money, The Beatles

Summertime Blues, the Who

Maybe I'm Amazed, The Faces

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Sam Brown

Stairway to Heaven, Heart (live in front of President Obama and Zeo members version)

Whats So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding, Elvis Costello

Everybody Knows, Concrete Blonde

Crossroads, Cream

Twist and Shout, The Beatles

Shout, Lulu

Hallelujah, Renee Fleming (!)

First We Take Manhattan, Jennifer Warnes

I Shall Be Released, The Band

Fortunate Son, Pearl Jam

Talkin Loud and Sayin Nothing, Living Colour

Heroes, King Crimson

I Know I'm Losing You, The Faces

Black Magic Woman, Santana

Daydream, Chantel McGregor

Changing of the Guard, Patti Smith

And many more but I'll stop there

Geoff

 

[head_unit]

Hallelujah, Renee Fleming (!)

Hallelujah, k d lang...and now I have to hunt down Renee's version, I think she is super talented. She was great in The Light In The Piazza. And now in case nobody has mentioned* I'll nominate Bananarama's version of "Venus" especially the live one. Eh, I don't know if totally "better" but a bit more fun or something. And just so people can crucify me, I prefer Grand Funk Railroad's "Gimme Shelter" from Caught In The Act over The Rolling Stones (though I've come to appreciate their slower version more over time).

*isn't there a way to search this thread only?

 

[dreamth]

Guess the original

 

[catd]

Angelina Jordan
"Born To Die" , "Young and Beautiful" , originals by Lana del Rey
"A Million Years Ago" , "Easy On Me" , originals by Adele

IMO actually most of her covers are better than the originals.

 

[02GF74]

Walk on by - the Stranglers (Dionne Warwick)
Take the skinheads bowling - Manic Street Preachers (Camper van Beethoven)
Repetiion - Au Pairs (David Bowie)

 

[jackinnj]

I think that we need more images of album covers, originals vs re-issues.

Columbia re-issued all of the Szell era Cleveland Orchestra LP's on CD. The quality was inferior to the LP and the album artwork pitiful.

 

[ranshdow]

Toots and the Maytals do a cover of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Road and it absolutely swings. Also Idk if anyone has mentioned it yet but Sublime's cover of Scarlet Begonias by the Dead absolutely slaps too.

 

[Richard Ellis]

"Golden" by Cannons...the original by Harry Styles is rather poor by comparison.



-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...

 

[Charles Darwin]

John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Road and it absolutely swings.

Here is a version rather than a cover. Definitely NSFW and you probably should not click on the link!
***** on Roads - Howling Willie **** - YouTube

 

[kazap]

 

[prairieboy]

A live version of Sounds of Silence by Disturbed. Takes the original version to a dark place. Awesome.

 

[myglaren]

Different, but such a tragic interpretation.

 

[theophile]

No sense of timing.

 

[patrickblue]

Different, but such a tragic interpretation.

I really don't like the original, but this is nice.

Here's my favourite interpretation of the song by Andrea Motis.

And this one in Catalan, which I think is even better

 

[kazap]

 

[myglaren]

 

[GeoffMillar]

Nice cover by Dea Matrona,, well worth checking out their concerts and busking in Belfast. Unusually for these times, they can actually sing and play!
They also do excellent covers of Fleetwood Mac, Cream and SRV, plus their own material.

Geoff

 

[Greg Erskine]

I have been watching the band imy2 on youtube. During COVID, they have been doing quite a few covers for our entertainment. Young adults doing some old stuff very well IMHO.

 

[tommus]