The 23 Songs That Should Never Be Covered Again

[Freitag]

From the AV Club, the 23 Songs that should never be covered again (http://www.avclub.com/content/node/70981/print/)

I haven't heard a lot of these covers, but I do agree on "How Soon Is Now".

The problem with covers is that you should absolutely not attempt it unless you can own it. Devo's version of "Satisfaction" works, because it's so different but so catchy.

Cowboy Mouth also did a punk version of "Born To Run" that's amazing.

I disagree on their choice of Watchtower for one reason and one reason only. BTW, if you're married to me, please don't read the following spoiler text: Bear McCreary's version from Galactica OWNS.

What say you?

[Furtherman]

Some good picks there on the list. One that comes to mind is Don Henley's "Boys Of Summer", which was covered by... some band a few years ago... which was awful.

And I totally agree about Watchtower.

[A.J.]

11. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"

"Grapevine" presents the strongest argument for covers, as Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong shopped it to several artists before anyone bit, and three different versions became hits (Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967, Marvin Gaye in 1968, and, uh, The California Raisins in 1987). Regardless, it basically remains Gaye's, and renditions by groups like The Average White Band, Kaiser Chiefs, Michael McDonald, Psychic TV, and, uh, Señor Soul are patently inessential.

What about the 10 minute version by CCR?

I hope I never hear another version of the god-awful "Knocking On Heaven's Door".

[topless_mike]

i can think of a lot worse covers than what is on the list....

comfortably numb- scissor sisters
another brick/wall- korn

there are others out there, these 2 stick out in my mind.

[topless_mike]

I hope I never hear another version of the god-awful "Knocking On Heaven's Door".

what about that abortion of a version by GNR ?

[drjoek]

some one beat me to it

[topless_mike]

Some good picks there on the list. One that comes to mind is Don Henley's "Boys Of Summer", which was covered by... some band a few years ago... which was awful.



the ataris

[realmenhatelife]

Thats a pretty solid list. I'd throw 'Rise Above' on there, which has a handful of covers floating around fungus 53 and none of them do anything new with the song.

[epo]

Maybe the question should be "Artists who have lost their right to do covers".

To that point, please put the shameful son of Robert Zimmerman at the front of the list. Just stop it Jakob...you are ruining America. Your assault on Bowie's "Heroes" & Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" are criminal!

[TheMojoPin]

I'm realy surprised at all the comments with that article where people are tearing apart Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." I can understand them taking issue with the idea that the article and probably most people think Buckley's is better than the original, but it's not like they're syaing that Cohen's original isn't still a great song. Trashing Buckley's as a crappy track best served in "trying to bang college girls" seems just a bit off the mark. Cohen's version definitely has more of a sardonic bite to it, and that's really what's make his original great, but Buckley's gave it a new spin of genuine regretful melancholy that I think also works very well.

[DarkHippie]

Madonna should have her throat torn out for covering American Pie

[IMSlacker]

"Rawhide"

[Caseyelan]

Madonna should have her throat torn out for covering American Pie

x2

[donnie_darko]

i find it difficult to mention "Hallellujah" without bringing up Rufus Wainwrights version....


anyway, tori amos' "smells like teen spirit" is great.

and newer i like iron and wine's various covers (waiting for superman, such great heights)

[TheMojoPin]

i find it difficult to mention "Hallellujah" without bringing up Rufus Wainwrights version....

As much as I really love a lot of his work, I find it very easy not to mention that one. Or his cover of "Across the Universe."

[CassiusClay]

Behind Blue Eyes by Fred Durst...the balls on that douche...

[Freitag]

Maybe the question should be "Artists who have lost their right to do covers".

To that point, please put the shameful son of Robert Zimmerman at the front of the list. Just stop it Jakob...you are ruining America. Your assault on Bowie's "Heroes" & Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" are criminal!

I haven't heard his version of Into the Mystic, and I'm not sure I want to hear it, but there's nothing wrong with the Wallflowers' cover of Heroes.

Look, if you want to see Jakob get owned and outclassed, look no further than his "duet" with Bruce for "One Headlight" where Springsteen just overtakes him. 100 percent awesome.

[Freitag]

Behind Blue Eyes by Fred Durst...the balls on that douche...

I'll raise that with Durst's "Wish You Were Here" from the 9/11 telethon.

I like Limp Bizkit for what they are, but it's not music with soul or meaning.

[TheMojoPin]

but there's nothing wrong with the Wallflowers' cover of Heroes.

Lies. They strip all of the passion out of the original and make it as boring, bland an unemotional as possible, especially over the chorus. They even make the music itself sound as tame as possible. This is a song that's supposed to just keep building and building, but they keep it as flat as possible the whole time. And they did it for the fucking Godzilla debacle.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kLY48-MENiI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kLY48-MENiI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

WINNAR:

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NEVNoYFpLps&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NEVNoYFpLps&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[furie]

"Only the Lonely" by Roy Orbeson

[Freitag]

Lies. They strip all of the passion out of the original and make it as boring, bland an unemotional as possible, especially over the chorus. They even make the music itself sound as tame as possible. This is a song that's supposed to just keep building and building, but they keep it as flat as possible the whole time. And they did it for the fucking Godzilla debacle.



I can't see YouTube videos at work, so I'm not sure what you linked, but be verrrrrry careful mentioning cover songs related to the Godzilla debacle, Mojo.

[TheMojoPin]

Why, are you Superfan #1 of Puff Daddy's "Come With Me?"

[EliSnow]

I'm realy surprised at all the comments with that article where people are tearing apart Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." I can understand them taking issue with the idea that the article and probably most people think Buckley's is better than the original, but it's not like they're syaing that Cohen's original isn't still a great song. Trashing Buckley's as a crappy track best served in "trying to bang college girls" seems just a bit off the mark. Cohen's version definitely has more of a sardonic bite to it, and that's really what's make his original great, but Buckley's gave it a new spin of genuine regretful melancholy that I think also works very well.

Agreed. But then I also like Rufus Wainwright's cover of Buckely's cover, so that probably says something.

[TheMojoPin]

Agreed. But then I also like Rufus Wainwright's cover of Buckely's cover, so that probably says something.

I don't mind Rufus', but I don't think it's in the same league as Buckley's or Cohen's.

[Thebazile78]

I read the spoiler anyway, Matty.

And you had already played that for me a while ago.

Watchtower is one of those songs that lends itself to covering. . .comparing Bob Dylan's version with Jimi Hendrix's version is only a jumping-off point, since they tap into different aspects of the story.

Usually, I'm fascinated by covers of songs, especially if I'm not familiar with the original and hear it later. (For example, UB-40's version of Red, Red Wine and then hearing Neil Diamond sing it was one of those "whoa! weird!" moments for me.)

I agree with folks saying that covering Knockin' on Heaven's Door is atrocious (ugh; I can't stand the G'n'R version and find the Zevon version even more tedious...OK, we get it, ENOUGH!)

Half the songs on that list I didn't recognize, mostly because I am a living pop-culture vacuum.

[EliSnow]

I don't mind Rufus', but I don't think it's in the same league as Buckley's or Cohen's.

I wouldn't say that either, but Rufus's version was the first version of the song I heard, off of the Shrek soundtrack (yea, I know). So I think that's why I enjoy his version a good deal.

[CassiusClay]

Papa Don't Preach - Kelly Osbourne...dear lord.

[Freitag]

I agree with folks saying that covering Knockin' on Heaven's Door is atrocious (ugh; I can't stand the G'n'R version and find the Zevon version even more tedious...OK, we get it, ENOUGH!)



Wow, just knock down a guy who records a song as he's actually dying and making a statement with it, you heartless hussy. Why don't you just push over Christopher Reeve's wheelchair while you're at it.

[Marc with a c]

my humps

[Freitag]

Why, are you Superfan #1 of Puff Daddy's "Come With Me?"

"uh huh, yeah... uh huh, yeah"



Actually, just pointing out that there's a lot worse covers out there than Heroes.

[Thebazile78]

Wow, just knock down a guy who records a song as he's actually dying and making a statement with it, you heartless hussy. Why don't you just push over Christopher Reeve's wheelchair while you're at it.

I learned it by watching YOU.

(For the record, I've never liked Warren's cover of Heaven's Door. The rest of the album is great, but that one cover just felt too heavy-handed to be any good.)

[TheMojoPin]

"uh huh, yeah... uh huh, yeah"



Actually, just pointing out that there's a lot worse covers out there than Heroes.

Well, yeah, but we were taking about "Heroes."

[ralphbxny]

Super freak by rick james should be added to that list. I cant see anyone but him singing it!

RIP RICK JAMES

[TheMojoPin]

Super freak by rick james should be added to that list. I cant see anyone but him singing it!

RIP RICK JAMES

The list was talking about songs that have been famously covered many times over. I can't think of a single cover of "Super Freak." The closest is MC Hammer sampling it.

[Bulldogcakes]

There's no such thing as "you should never cover a song again" IMO. It implies that a song has been done so perfectly that nobody else should bother to try. And music changes so much that a song that sounds perfect today sounds dated in 10 years. And each artisit can bring their own unique take on a song IF its done well. You could change the tempo, change the phasing of the lyrics and BAM you have a totally new song with a completely different feel to it. What many artists often try to do is the same song, the same way, just louder and with more attitude, and thats a rookie mistake. You should take a song (unlikely ones work best) and reinvent it to suit your musical style. Johnny Cash's "Hurt" is a great example of this.

If anything, I'd love to see what are considered to be "standards" be updated to include songs from the 70's and 80's and 90's and be redone more often, not less.

[TheMojoPin]

I think there's plenty of songs that have just been done too many times...hence this list.

Like the Beatles' "Yesterday." Enough.

[Bulldogcakes]

I think there's plenty of songs that have just been done too many times...hence this list.

Like the Beatles' "Yesterday." Enough.

Its not the amount. They've been done badly, or unimaginatively. Or both, over and over again. If you have ever listened to music from the 40's, you'll hear the same Cole Porter/Gershwin tunes done 50 times by 50 different artists, each of them unique and each of them special in their own way.

I just don't think there should be any limits on music, or any other art form.

[NickyL0885]

what about that abortion of a version by GNR ?

http://web2.modmyprofile.com/mmc/celeb-quotes/mr-garrison-you-goto-hell-and-you-die.jpg

[Jughead]

The Bodacious band Hot days Cool Nights...Never...

[TheMojoPin]

Its not the amount. They've been done badly, or unimaginatively. Or both, over and over again. If you have ever listened to music from the 40's, you'll hear the same Cole Porter/Gershwin tunes done 50 times by 50 different artists, each of them unique and each of them special in their own way.

I just don't think there should be any limits on music, or any other art form.

There's a huge difference between people covering songs that were written by someone for themselves and very specific reasons and then others offering their own ideally personal spin and music that was typically written with the idea that it was going to be sung by a wide variety of people.

[Turtle]

Social Distortion: Ring of Fire. Better than the Johnny Cash version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=PlayList&p=E8A0431D6E0999A1&index=6)

[MadMatt]

Social Distortion: Ring of Fire. Better than the Johnny Cash version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=PlayList&p=E8A0431D6E0999A1&index=6)

Whoa - I agree that Social D did a great job, but you can't knock Cash. However, I will also admit that Johnny Cash isn't everybody's cup of tea.

[mikeyboy]

I learned it by watching YOU.

(For the record, I've never liked Warren's cover of Heaven's Door. The rest of the album is great, but that one cover just felt too heavy-handed to be any good.)

You know, she's right. :tongue:

[mikeyboy]

Social Distortion: Ring of Fire. Better than the Johnny Cash version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=PlayList&p=E8A0431D6E0999A1&index=6)

You're high

[TheMojoPin]

Social Distortion: Ring of Fire. Better than the Johnny Cash version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=PlayList&p=E8A0431D6E0999A1&index=6)

Uh, no.

I love Social D, but most of their stuff sounds exactly the same, and here they've taken a classic and just made it sound like every other one of their songs.

[realmenhatelife]

Social Distortion: Ring of Fire. Better than the Johnny Cash version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=PlayList&p=E8A0431D6E0999A1&index=6)

Yeah, no.

I hate Social D so bad. Seriously dude, not alot of downtrodden greasemonkeys wear eyeliner.

[Freitag]

You know, she's right. :tongue:

She is. I still can't understand why he decided to release that as the first single instead of Disorder in the House.

Now, let me ask you this:

People upthread were mocking GNR's version of "Knocking". However, I generally like GNR's cover of "Live and Let Die". I think Axl's scream during the crescendo is incredible. "Since I Don't Have You" is another interesting - not great - GNR cover.

Nickleback covered "Saturday's All Right for Fighting". I may be ill.

[A.J.]

People upthread were mocking GNR's version of "Knocking".

I hate the song period. From Dylan's original through every version.

[Thebazile78]

People upthread were mocking GNR's version of "Knocking". However, I generally like GNR's cover of "Live and Let Die". I think Axl's scream during the crescendo is incredible.

I associate that cover with the first time I remember watching either MTV or the Grammys because G'n'R performed it onstage.

Axl was wearing a pair of red briefs and whirling like a dervish during the instrumental breaks...every time I hear that version, that's what I see in my mind's eye.