The best cover versions list.

First topic message reminder :

As much as we all like original music, there have been cover versions that are just as good or even better than the original versions. I like listening to interesting takes on orginal songs...especially if in theory it sounds like it would be ridiculous - Johnny Cash doing Nine Inch Nails for instance.

So, have you any favourite cover versions that you'd like to recommend? Here's a few of my personal faves (the original artist is in brackets)

Johnny Cash - Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)
The Deftones - The Chauffeur (Duran Duran)
U2 & Green Day - The Saints Are Coming (The Skids)
U2 - Dancing Barefoot (Patti Smith Group)
Smashing Pumpkins - Never Let Me Down (Depeche Mode)
Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)
Villagers - Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen)
Clayhill - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths)
Placebo - Daddy Cool (Boney M)
The Boy Least Likely To - Faith (George Michael)
The Script - Times Like These (Foo Fighters)

The Clash -- I fought the law

Suicide Is Painless - Manic Street Preachers

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:The Clash -- I fought the law

So who originally recorded that then?

dyrewolfe wrote:

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:The Clash -- I fought the law

So who originally recorded that then?

Bobby Fuller.

I prefer Green Day's version.

I did list that Clash song earlier in the thread

Gary Jules - Mad World (Tears For Fears)

Has anyone mentioned "Smooth Criminal" by Alien Ant Farm?

Can't believe I forgot it.

Also - "Butterfly" by Crazy Town, whilst not exactly a cover, it's usage of Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Pretty Little Ditty" guitar riff is nice.

Just heard the Manics cover The The's This Is The Day. Not really keen on it...although it had a promising start.

I quite like it. Not heard the original. It could do with a guitar solo that never comes.

The video looks ominously final

The original is almost acoustic...and quite sad. I just think the Manics have over cooked it a bit with James screaming the vocals at times rather than singing it, and the guitars are a bit loud. I sound like I'm getting old....

It's not as good as their version of Umbrella

Do you know I haven't actually heard that. Did they only do it live or is there a studio version somewhere? Having said that, it's not difficult to improve on the original of Umbrella...

There is a recorded version they gave away with NME. It's on iTunes now as well (and youtube etc.)

I saw them play it live and it got a great reaction. I think Nicky Wire made some ludicrous claim that it was the best song written in the last decade or something?? That's why they recorded it.

Thanks Demon, I'll search for the studio version on You Tube when I get home. They've done some great covers in the past, so I'm intrigued...

Cari wrote:The original is almost acoustic...and quite sad. I just think the Manics have over cooked it a bit with James screaming the vocals at times rather than singing it, and the guitars are a bit loud. I sound like I'm getting old....

Werthers Original, luv? (just kidding)

Think I agree with you actually. The original is probably better, musically, but I do like the "oomph" of the Manics' version.

Don't think we've had this one yet:

Ziggy Stardust - Bauhaus (David Bowie)

Young White Kid - Up-Beat Blues Cover (Old Black Bluesman)