Covers that are arguably better than the originals:

[fred76]

The Descendents' "Wendy".. I like it better than The Beach Boys' original. I admit, there's some bias from me since I grew up with their music, even if The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson are cool..

https://youtu.be/3_cjscRpS7Q

 

[dischoe]

Whos done the most covers, that I cant answer but these guys have done many https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GU2Zy-Kjew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5YxtweUxrA

 

[AstroZon]

Tainted Love by Soft Cell is a cover that I never knew was a cover until years later. Same goes for Love Hurts by Nazareth. I'd never heard the Everly Brothers original until years later. And I thought Simon and Garfunkel wrote Scarborough Fair. It's a traditional folk song from England and about 400 years old.

But I will say that all 3 of the above are covers done the way covers should be done: when the artist makes the song their own.

 

[AstroZon]

Speaking of bands that primarily do covers, does anyone listen to the band Nouvelle Vague? They're a French band that cover New Wave /Post Punk songs in a bossa nova style. They've had a few different singers, but most of their best music is sung by breathy chanteuse Melanie Pain.

Here are a few:

Ever Fallen In Love (original by the Buzzcocks)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4op1esLn4mc

Dance With Me (original by Lords of the New Church)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLN-2hwvBg

In A Matter of Speaking (original by Tuxedo Moon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL-6DxBNpJY

 

[DaveCan]

Ruth Moody's cover of Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen is way better imo, as I never really liked his music compared to so many others that do etc..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJbRLHh3j_8

 

[chrisb]

- Space Oddity - Chris Hadfield - not too many artists get an opportunity for this venue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

- Stairway to Heaven / Orion - Rodrigo y Gabriela

- someone mentioned years ago the Holly Cole "Temptation" - songs of Tom Waits

kd lang - sings Leonard Cohen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

 

[DaveCan]

I like the Nazareth version of Joni Mitchell's song 'This Flight Tonight'. Not sure if it's better??, but it Rocks! Great cover imo 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3OysTGhu3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTfB8Q6DpZ0

 

[Tubelab_com]

Space Oddity - Chris Hadfield - not too many artists get an opportunity for this venue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

Most awesome video that I never knew existed. How can anyone top this!

 

[chrisb]

This was a very good read

haven't read the others yet

heck of an interesting guy, actually - must be a Canuck thing 😉

 

[Tubelab_com]

heck of an interesting guy, actually

I have watched a few of his Youtube videos in the past two days. This one should be mandatory for some of today's kids.....if you can pry them away from their video games long enough to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo62S0ulqhA&t=12s

 

[chrisb]

One of the chapters was something like "What's gonna kill us next?"

 

[Waboo]

Another one is Simon and Garfunkel Sound Of Silence copied by Disturbed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4 great work

I hope it's better. Any time I hear S&G I have to immediately change channels. They're so incredibly depressing. Just like I have to change the channel anytime that thilly gooth Elton comes on.

 

[scottjoplin]

You are right about Elton but wrong about S&G

 

[Object52]

Rocket Man- Iron Horse
She Bop- GWAR

Does Stars on 45 count?

 

[DaveCan]

Aretha Franklin's cover of Otis Redding's 'Respect', is probably one of the classic great covers. Most people when they hear that song think of Aretha right away, and that it's her tune. Not so, but she totally owned that song, made it her own, and took it to new heights..

Otis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGJXmpKGXY

Aretha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYbs_O_iMfU

 

[Lingwendil]

Midge Ure- The man who sold the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLoytewvn0g

 

[Mark Johnson]

Marianne Faithfull doing "Working Class Hero" on "Broken English"

Amen!

Not just goosebumps, her version will give you the shivers. Respect.

 

[chrisb]

A few years back at the Grammys (2007, actually) , Christina Aguilera did a pretty damned fine take on
"It's a Man's World"
Christina Aguilera - It's a Man's World - Bing video

The lady can sing

 

[29285]

A remarbable unknown cover band, it is a shame they quitted the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akuiv4udoqw

 

[theophile]

A remarbable unknown cover band, it is a shame they quitted the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akuiv4udoqw

They just ripped-off Jimi Hendrix's arrangement of the song.