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Best cover song

Byrds - Mr Tambourine Man
Mott The Hoople - All the Young Dudes

are famously better than the Dylan and Bowie originals. Harry Nilsson's Without You compared to the Bandfinger original too.

Personally I really like Ian Brown's version of Billie Jean

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Pretty similar to the original, and unknown outside of Norway I suppose, but late Norwegian guitarist Marius Müller once recorded a beautiful live version of Little Wing, IMO. Especially the solo part.

Spotify link:
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Robbo said:
Always really liked the Mad World cover from Donnie Darko, by Gary Jules.
Click to expand...

See I don't like that one. I think the Tears for Fears one is much superior.

I think in general I don't like electronic-y songs that are stripped down and used on Late Capitalism adverts. Iron and Wine's version of Postal Service's Such Great Heights is another example there.

Continuing on a theme of better versions of Bob Dylan songs - I really like Magnet's Lay Lady Lay

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If it's a cover that was better than the original, then the only answer is All Along The Watchtower.

A few I like that aren't mentioned so far from memory:

Corey Taylor - Wicked Game
Foo Fighters - Down in the Park
Guns n Roses - Live and Let Die
Guns n' Roses n- Buick Mackane/Big Dumb Sex
Talking Heads - Take Me To The River
Feeder - Can't Stand Losing You
Dead Sara - Heart Shaped Box
Tina and Ike Turner - Proud Mary
Elastic Heart - Wolves
Youth in Revolt - Royals

This isn't exactly a cover but worthy of a mention. Got to see them both perform it live recently!

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This one as well.

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You twunts need to tell us who sang the original. It's no good just blurting out a song and artist from any genre across 100 years of music.

I've no idea about half of these.



I often prefer the first version I hear... so I'll hear a song and think it's a great song, truly original... then 20 years later realise it is a cover!

What springs to mind are the covers on the live Nirvana album:
Where did you sleep last night (Leadbelly)
The man who stole the world (Bowie)
Jesus don't want me for a sunbeam (Vaselines)
Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets)
Also Son of a gun (Vaselines) but actually the original was pretty epic back in the day

Also Just like Heaven by the Cure, covered by Dinosaur Jr. That is an absolute scorcher.
 
I like these as cross genre pieces:

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one more by richard cheese:

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