The best covers in the universe

[JouniL]

If there is one thing I love to see and hear then it is a band or artist that takes a song and totally remakes it into their own, bringing new light, substance and sometimes new meaning into it. Here are a couple of cool covers:

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Word Up!: Original artist Cameo, cover by Gun. The original version was (IMHO) quite lame but then comes a rock band from Glasgow (Gun) and makes a total mindbogglingly kick-ass version of it! Korn also made a version of it with a really cool video but musically quite boring.

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV4L0L4sAQo
Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xARbuaOy7c&feature=related

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Next is Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit which needs no presentation. Unfortunately too many people have butchered this song with pretentious crap versions (like Tori Amos) so it takes a lot to make it interesting again. This version is performed by Steve Earl (banjo) and Patti Smith. Their version blows me away, it's mellow but still very very intense, they totally made it their own:

Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwpLqrh19Ws&feature=related

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Finally we have Johnny Cash doing a cover of Hurt by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) from the Downward Spiral album (94). Johnny Cash made a cover of it on his "American IV: The Man Comes Around " album. Both versions are awesome and the form quite similar; naked, accoustic and with the lyrics in focus but in my opinion Cash stole it from Trent just like someone steals your girlfriend. Note that Cash changed the line "crown of bleep" to "crown of thorns"

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwgYvzQWS4
Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

[solone1]

Finally we have Johnny Cash doing a cover of Hurt by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) from the Downward Spiral album (94). Johnny Cash made a cover of it on his "American IV: The Man Comes Around " album. Both versions are awesome and the form quite similar; naked, accoustic and with the lyrics in focus but in my opinion Cash stole it from Trent just like someone steals your girlfriend. Note that Cash changed the line "crown of bleep" to "crown of thorns"

Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwgYvzQWS4
Cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

JouniL: I Agree! This is a fun song to cover too (I do this cover following the way Cash did vs. NIN).

[redbaron]

I have one where I couldn't really say which version is best.

25 years ago, Men At Work's "Business as usual" album was one of the most successful records of the 80s. Its successor, named "Cargo", wasn't such a smash hit since it lacked a break-all-records hit like "Down Under". "Cargo"'s catchies tune is called "Overkill", and I still loved that song to bits back then.

Fast forward a quarter of a century. I'm watching an episode of that really funny and sentimental TV show, "Scrubs". It's one of the rather sentimental episodes where the main character, JD, feels alienated and alienating. And suddenly, there's a guitar picking melody starting in the background and a shiver running down my spine. A man on a bench with his guitar and haggard voice starts singing: "I can't get to sleep/ I think about the implications..."

The camera sweeps through the hallways of the "Scrubs" hospital, and here, there and everywhere Colin Hay, Men At Work's singer and mastermind, appears: "...of diving in to deep/ and possibly the complications..."

So here I have THREE versions of that really great song:

The original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcu7OCIqlqE&feature=related

The "Scrubs" version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ45xrtNnzk

...and another one by Lazlo Bane, the band that plays the "Scrubs" title melody. Starring Colin Hay, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBJVbYfiIQ

The story seems to be that Zach Braff, the lead actor in "Scrubs", is not the baby-faced one-hit-comedy-show wonder he appears to be. No, that guy seems to be truly and comprehensively great. Apparently, he was personally responsible for putting togther the soundtrack for his full-lenghth movie "Garden State" - a soundtrack that acquainted me with The Shins and The Eels. The movie is a must see, too. And from what I hear, Braff personally dug out Colin Hay for "Scrubs".

I haven't ever told this to anyone before, but I wish I could be Zach Braff! I'd like to keep my own name, though.

[cwight]

All good examples guys......But....Hendrix covering Dylan of course....Dylan must have been either seriously pissed off or super happy....who knows....

first he does this....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uLInri58Vy4

Then he does this....And I love this version

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwZ8I8wOGA

Oh and Jouni....this clip helps answer your question about Fenders....

[Charvelguy]

Always dug that dude from Men At Work, exceptionally catchy tunes with a unique and quite the range voice. Interesting to see three variants.

[ShredRex]

OK I got one......2 become 1

Spice Girls version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJjZLLxN-R4

Paul Gilbert version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94JgsGk2bpg

[Charvelguy]

I would think Dylan would have been honored really...I would imagine Jimi asked to cover them before doing it.

[JouniL]

Ten Masked Men does Britney Spears - "One more time"

http://se.youtube.com/watch?v=gbr38RQSBuM

And BTW, it seems dumbass Aksimet doesn't like Youtube links anymore

[EvanBerard]

These guys are great, hilarious song! http://www.virb.com/pinkturtle/music/albums/70815
Nothing can compare to this smoke on the water cover!