10 Cover Songs That May be Better Than the Original

10. I Will Survive
covered by Cake
originally by Gloria Gaynor
Somehow, California alternative rock band, Cake does an interesting cover of the popular disco song. I guess they're both just trying to be optimisitic


9. The Man Who Sold The World
covered by Nirvana
originally by David Bowie
This cover is wonderful, I'm assuming Kurt was such a Bowie fan that he had to cover it during Nirvana's famous Unplugged session. I'm not certain exactly what version of Bowie's is the original since at one point in the 90's he redid it again and made it sound really creepy. I like the folksy undertone of the lyrics and obviously the guitar solo. This may have been biased but I really believe this is one of the best covers out there.


8.Flagpole Sitta
covered by Chiodos
originally by Harvey Danger
I like when the artist doing the cover brings in their own style into the song but still give it a feel of the original. Chiodos covered the song on "Punk Goes Pop", which is full of other interesting covers if you're into punk rock. Originally, Flagpole Sitta was popular somewhere in the late 90's and Weird Al Yankovic actually incorporated the chorus into one of this Polkas.


7. Such Great Heights
covered by Ben Folds
also covered by Streetlight Manifesto
originally by The Postal Service
With the original version being really blippy and electronic based, these two covers of it are equally as interesting. Ben Folds brings in all sorts of acoustic sounds into it, and Streetlight Manifesto manages to make it skank-able and incorporates their horns perfectly.

6. Take On Me
covered by Reel Big Fish
originally by A-Ha
Ok, I am a little biased towards ska. But, if a band manages to take all sorts of synth-pop sounds from the 80's and turn them into a really upbeat song, I'm for it.

5. Renegades of Funk
covered by Rage Against the Machine
originally by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
I'm pretty sure that everyone in my generation, with a childhood in the 90's, recognizes Rage Against the Machine as the same with this song. But really, it's from electronic and hip-hop pioneers from mid 80's. It's neat to hear the difference between these songs, and for some reason I'm more partial towards the more modern version sadly.

4.You Really Got Me
covered by Van Halen
originally by The Kinks
I really like both versions of this song. What makes Van Halen's cover special is all of the sweet guitar twinkery that goes on throughout the song. It's a great hard rock tribute to their forerunners of rock and roll, The Kinks.

3. Mad World
by Gary Jules
originally by Tears for Fears
After Donnie Darko's popularity everyone liked this song, then it was used in several commercials furthering it's appeal. Everyone seems to be attracted to the modern version, and I sway that way too, since the original seems creepier and less sincere with all of it's weird soundscapes.

2. Hey Ya!
covered by Obadiah Parker
originally by OutKast
The best part about this cover, is that when you search for it on youtube, it shows up before the actual song. Either way, the acoustic cover of this song makes it sound so much different and gives an entirely new emotion to it. Don't forget the original, it's great in it's own light, wasn't it #1 a few years ago?

1. Hallelujah
covered by Jeff Buckley
originally by Leonard Cohen
This song is amazingly soulful, both versions with a unique tenderness and spin. If you want a quality youtube binge, start with either of these guys and listen to live stuff. I guarantee you'll be pleased with the decision.

1 comments:

Qaro said...

Good post!

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