Comments on: 33 Cover Songs that are Better than the Originals

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:07:28 +0000

I think Antony’s cover of “If It Be Your Will” from the “I’m Your Man” soundtrack deserves a spot on here.

By: psykhe

psykhe — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:33:18 +0000

what about Guns’n'Roses, Knocking on heavens door?

By: Cedar

Cedar — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:31:09 +0000

The Three O’ Clock’s version of The Easybeats’ “Sorry,” off the ‘Baroque Hoedown’ EP, for those so inclined. It’s always singled out as among this underrated band’s finest moments…

By: Drinking Buddy

Drinking Buddy — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:28:31 +0000

Megg – I saw the same Colbert Report. Kristofferson has had quite a life, hasn’t he? Including seeing Barbara Streisand naked.

The Beatles are tough to argue with. Hope you found some gems in the rest of the list.

By: oz

oz — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:01:52 +0000

Hey Meg, we actually saved the Gourds track for our list of top covers of rap songs:http://www.hearya.com/2007/05/25/top-10-indie-covers-of-rap-songs/.

Thanks for commenting

By: Megg

Megg — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:09:37 +0000

I was watching The Colbert Report and Kris Kristofferson was on. I was curious to see what he looked like when he was younger, so I googled him and stumbled across this page. The title intrigued me, so i read on. And when I saw you put U2’s Helter Skelter was better than the Beatles, I was absolutely shocked. I had never heard U2’s version, so before I commented, I downloaded the song just to se what this was all about. I couldn’t even make it through the song. Not only is it not better, I don’t even think it is good. But, I am a huge Beatles fan and I don’t like U2, so that probably has a lot to do with it. Like Greg said before, that took a lot of guts to say, considering the Beatles are one of the biggest (if not the biggest) musical icons of all time. I’m not a huge music buff where I would know all of the songs that you talked about, but I’m definitely going to be looking up the songs I don’t know. And I agree with Doc that the Gourds’ Gin and Juice should be on there.

By: Drinking Buddy

Drinking Buddy — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:34:04 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Philip. I appreciate the thought behind your comment – most people usually just say things like, “This list sucks!” The list definitely has a bent toward music that suits my personal taste. Your opinions are well-founded – thanks for reading and caring enough to post a thoughtful comment.

By: Philip

Philip — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:05:07 +0000

I agree with about 50% of your choices.
I do see a bias based on certain styles of music over other styles. This causes you to assess that a cover is ‘better’ based upon the style in which it’s played.
Example: Soft Cell’s ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’. One of their own many, many covers (of that song) is the version which contains Dave Tofani’s marvelous three minute clarinet intro. The song is one of pop’s greatest moments! It is one of the highlights of the entire rock era.
More recently David Gray did a great cover version. Some might argue the song is so good, it’s simply impossible to do a bad cover of it. His version is slower and performed in his classic acoustic folk-rock style. It’s simply superb! For those who enjoy his style of music, it’s a treat to the ears.
But, David breaks no new ground with his version. It’s what we’ve heard for decades with good folk gutsy-acoustic guitar anguish. Soft Cell’s original treated the audience to something new in our listening experience. They broadened our horizons. And when the producer included Tofani’s hauntingly beautiful clarinet, rock’s boundaries once again expanded.

You’re right…. Gray’s cover is superb. But it is in no way ‘better than the original’. It’s just for a different audience.

By: geminii

geminii — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:17:51 +0000

Joe Cocker…With a little help from my friends ..awesome
Manferd Mann…..Blinded By The Light
Nazerath ….Love Hurts
Stevie Ray Vaughan …Voodoo Child ….awesome
Aerosmith…Train Kept A Rollin’
Jackson Browne…..Stay
Big Brother & Holding Company (Janis)…Piece Of My Heart
Jimi Hendrix….Hey Joe
Santana…..Black Magic Woman
Led Zeppelin…..Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

By: Under the Covers: Jason Isbell - The Assassin at HearYa - Indie Music Blog

Under the Covers: Jason Isbell - The Assassin at HearYa - Indie Music Blog — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:03:53 +0000

[...] This is the first of a new series on HearYa called “Under the Covers.” I’ve been listening to great cover songs that I feel are better than the originals, and it’s high time to unearth them. The first installment is Patterson Hood’s “The Assassin,” performed by Jason Isbell. [...]