Cover songs. Your favourite? Worst?

Sofa · 2003-05-10, 01:45 PM

I'm a fan of cover songs, if done correctly. Sometimes you wonder what they were thinking. I don't care at all about the 'why can't the write there own songs?' argument, I just like what I find to sound good

Favourite:

The Lunachicks' version of Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger'

Worst:

Dolly Parton version of Led Zepplin's 'Stairway to Heaven'

Trevor · 2003-05-10, 02:27 PM

I enjoy cover versions as long as they're a re-interpretation , not a copy,

My favorite by a long way - "I will Survive" as performed by Cake on the album Fashion Nugget .

JJuggle · 2003-05-10, 02:45 PM

Two favorites:
Hearts' cover of Led Zeppelins "Hall of the Mountain King" This is pure coincidence and is not meant to reflect Sofa and my political differences.

Earl Scruggs/Billy Bob Thornton's cover of "Ring of Fire"

Worst:
Leonard Nimoy's cover of "Proud Mary"

Raphael Lasar
Matawan, NJ

slugbath · 2003-05-10, 03:11 PM

Speaking of Spock, CBC played William Shatner's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" a few days ago in honour of it's placement as one of the worst cover songs of all time.

It is absolutely brutal (but a re-interpretation, yes). There are bad cover songs, and then there are "what the hell is that noise?" cover songs...

Clip of it here:
http://www.pathcom.com/~boby/lsd.htm

Best cover song? I have an album of remakes of old Disney songs ...sounds schlocky, but there is a crazy rendition of "Feed the Birds" on a gothic sounding accordian that I quite like. And "Hi Ho" by Tom Waits sounds infinitely more appropriate for dwarves employed in the diamond mining industry than that ludicriously ecstatic whistling featured in Snow White...

Sofa · 2003-05-10, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trevor
I enjoy cover versions as long as they're a re-interpretation , not a copy,

My favorite by a long way - "I will Survive" as performed by Cake on the album Fashion Nugget .

True...I was really excited to find out Tool did a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb' but it sounds identical, except for a few electronic noises here and there. Quite dissappointing.

I also like that Cake song

phil · 2003-05-10, 04:05 PM

Off the top of my head, the grooviest cover I can think of is Save Ferris doing Build Me Up Buttercup. That is one of not many cover songs I prefer... it seems to have more energy than the original; it sounds like they're having fun and that's great.

The worst? Aargh, but there are so many! That too-common feeling of wanting to shout at the radio... "MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THIS SONG, YOU SWINES!!!"

I think the last time I wanted to beat a band with a complement of large sticks was a fairly recent cover of Duran Duran's Ordinary World. Eurgh...

<shudder>

Phil

jagur · 2003-05-10, 05:05 PM

good cover: the Butthole surfers version of American Woman

bad cover: Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Partons "I will always love you"

andrew_carter · 2003-05-10, 09:22 PM

My favourite cover:

The Electric Light Orchestra (I think) - "A Fifth of Beethoven"

It's the song I used for my first movie. Unfortunately it lost a lot of it's charm in the compression process, but it's still great. It's a funk version of Beethoven's Fifth.

Andrew

Frank A. · 2003-05-10, 11:21 PM

Speaking of Tom Waits, back in the 70's he did a nice take on "Somewhere" from West Side Story. It's on the "Blue Valentines album.

My current favorite is, They Might Be Giants cover of "Yeh, Yeh" on their "Mink Car" CD.

William Shatner did and even more bizarre cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" It was recorded live from a Science fiction awards show he was hosting back in the seventies. It's on the web somewhere but I don't have the link right now.

Sofa · 2003-05-10, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frank A.

William Shatner did and even more bizarre cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man

Seeing as you guys are mentioning 'normal' William Shatner songs, I'm gonna assume that he didn't sing YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM on television!

harper · 2003-05-11, 12:12 AM

Gato Barbieri's version of Carlos Santana's "Europa"
The Sunday's version of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses"
Eva Cassidy's version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time"
Ida's version of Left Bank's "Walk Away, Renee"
Eva Cassidy's version of Sting's "Fields of Gold"
Linda Ronstadt's version of Elvis Costello's "Alison"
Jimi Hendrix's version of the Leaves' "Hey, Joe"
Stanley Jordan's version of Jimi Hendrx's "Angel"
Tuck and Patty's version of Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand"
David Bromberg's version of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles"
Tuck and Patty's version of Carlos Santana's "Europa"
Janis Joplin's version of "Summertime"
Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

All of the originals are great, too, except "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Eva Cassidy really lights it up for the first time. Too bad she's dead.

Frank A. · 2003-05-11, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sofa

Seeing as you guys are mentioning 'normal' William Shatner songs, I'm gonna assume that he didn't sing YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM on television!

I've got to hear that. Is it anywhere on the web? Did he speak it in that wonderfully emotive style of his? I didn't think he actually "sang" anything.

I've heard that Shatner will be making a new CD with Ben Folds. He really seems to be having fun with his persona these days.

I must admit, I can't get enough of it. He's hilarious.

jagur · 2003-05-11, 03:15 AM

lets trade Rosanne Barrs version of The Star Spangled Banner for Shatners Oh Canada...

Sofa · 2003-05-11, 03:29 AM

OK, I said sang, but if you've heard him, you know how it sounded! This was on some TV show, he came out on stage. People actually applauded (although I'm sure they were applauding Star Trek, or being poked with sticks)

I forgot about the Rosanne anthem singing. That one is worse, if I recall, she made it sound awful on purpose (the screeching part). WS actually seemed like he thought he was doing a good job

I wonder if the guy who casts the Anthem singing got fired, like c'mon, Rosanne ?!?

DasDingus · 2003-05-11, 05:42 AM

Best ---

Nirvana's cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World
Aerosmith's cover of the Beattle's Come Together

Worst ---

The Class of 2000's cover of Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2

2003-05-10, 01:45 PM	#1
Sofa you - pee - dee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: London, Ontario Age: 38 Posts: 3,202	Cover songs. Your favourite? Worst? I'm a fan of cover songs, if done correctly. Sometimes you wonder what they were thinking. I don't care at all about the 'why can't the write there own songs?' argument, I just like what I find to sound good Favourite: The Lunachicks' version of Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger' Worst: Dolly Parton version of Led Zepplin's 'Stairway to Heaven' __________________ Happy Life Day

2003-05-10, 02:27 PM	#2
Trevor dreaming of idling... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hertfordshire, England. Posts: 25	I enjoy cover versions as long as they're a re-interpretation , not a copy, My favorite by a long way - "I will Survive" as performed by Cake on the album Fashion Nugget . __________________ Trevor. Still going forwards...

2003-05-10, 02:45 PM	#3
JJuggle Last of the Dogmato-Revisionists Join Date: May 2001 Location: Matawan, NJ, USA Age: 52 Posts: 8,094	Two favorites: Hearts' cover of Led Zeppelins "Hall of the Mountain King" This is pure coincidence and is not meant to reflect Sofa and my political differences. Earl Scruggs/Billy Bob Thornton's cover of "Ring of Fire" Worst: Leonard Nimoy's cover of "Proud Mary" Raphael Lasar Matawan, NJ __________________ Raphael Lasar To plotz is human, to schvitz divine. Last edited by JJuggle; 2003-05-10 at 02:48 PM.

2003-05-10, 03:11 PM	#4
slugbath Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Age: 37 Posts: 154	Speaking of Spock, CBC played William Shatner's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" a few days ago in honour of it's placement as one of the worst cover songs of all time. It is absolutely brutal (but a re-interpretation, yes). There are bad cover songs, and then there are "what the hell is that noise?" cover songs... Clip of it here: http://www.pathcom.com/~boby/lsd.htm Best cover song? I have an album of remakes of old Disney songs ...sounds schlocky, but there is a crazy rendition of "Feed the Birds" on a gothic sounding accordian that I quite like. And "Hi Ho" by Tom Waits sounds infinitely more appropriate for dwarves employed in the diamond mining industry than that ludicriously ecstatic whistling featured in Snow White... Last edited by slugbath; 2003-05-10 at 03:12 PM.

2003-05-10, 04:05 PM	#6
phil Average wheels: 1.5 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cannock Chase, UK Age: 32 Posts: 3,382	Off the top of my head, the grooviest cover I can think of is Save Ferris doing Build Me Up Buttercup. That is one of not many cover songs I prefer... it seems to have more energy than the original; it sounds like they're having fun and that's great. The worst? Aargh, but there are so many! That too-common feeling of wanting to shout at the radio... "MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THIS SONG, YOU SWINES!!!" I think the last time I wanted to beat a band with a complement of large sticks was a fairly recent cover of Duran Duran's Ordinary World. Eurgh... <shudder> Phil __________________ "Cattle Prods solve most of life's little problems."

2003-05-10, 05:05 PM	#7
jagur My Uzi is a Tongue Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: {So-Lame,Oregon} Posts: 6,197	good cover: the Butthole surfers version of American Woman bad cover: Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Partons "I will always love you" __________________ theres enough BS in life, without mobius contributing. Forget_Your_Life -------------------------------------- -------MUNI MILITIA ------- One Wheeled Death Squad twitter> @shot of jagur

2003-05-10, 09:22 PM	#8
andrew_carter Back into muni! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 27 Posts: 5,242	My favourite cover: The Electric Light Orchestra (I think) - "A Fifth of Beethoven" It's the song I used for my first movie. Unfortunately it lost a lot of it's charm in the compression process, but it's still great. It's a funk version of Beethoven's Fifth. Andrew __________________ www.UnicycleTips.com \| My Photos and Videos \| "Dancing About Architecture"

2003-05-10, 11:21 PM	#9
Frank A. downsizing Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. Fla. Age: 55 Posts: 345	Speaking of Tom Waits, back in the 70's he did a nice take on "Somewhere" from West Side Story. It's on the "Blue Valentines album. My current favorite is, They Might Be Giants cover of "Yeh, Yeh" on their "Mink Car" CD. William Shatner did and even more bizarre cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" It was recorded live from a Science fiction awards show he was hosting back in the seventies. It's on the web somewhere but I don't have the link right now. __________________ "Man's maturity: to have regained the seriousness that he had as a child at play." - FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE, Beyond Good and Evil

2003-05-11, 12:12 AM	#11
harper 768 - It's in your DNA Join Date: Sep 2001 Age: 60 Posts: 8,556	Gato Barbieri's version of Carlos Santana's "Europa" The Sunday's version of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" Eva Cassidy's version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time" Ida's version of Left Bank's "Walk Away, Renee" Eva Cassidy's version of Sting's "Fields of Gold" Linda Ronstadt's version of Elvis Costello's "Alison" Jimi Hendrix's version of the Leaves' "Hey, Joe" Stanley Jordan's version of Jimi Hendrx's "Angel" Tuck and Patty's version of Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand" David Bromberg's version of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles" Tuck and Patty's version of Carlos Santana's "Europa" Janis Joplin's version of "Summertime" Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" All of the originals are great, too, except "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Eva Cassidy really lights it up for the first time. Too bad she's dead. __________________ -Greg Harper Destroying the climate by shutting down nuclear power plants, one by one, since 1979. JC is the only main man. There can be no other. "A fool on a unicycle is redundant" - J.D. Miller

2003-05-11, 03:15 AM	#13
jagur My Uzi is a Tongue Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: {So-Lame,Oregon} Posts: 6,197	lets trade Rosanne Barrs version of The Star Spangled Banner for Shatners Oh Canada... __________________ theres enough BS in life, without mobius contributing. Forget_Your_Life -------------------------------------- -------MUNI MILITIA ------- One Wheeled Death Squad twitter> @shot of jagur

2003-05-11, 03:29 AM	#14
Sofa you - pee - dee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: London, Ontario Age: 38 Posts: 3,202	OK, I said sang, but if you've heard him, you know how it sounded! This was on some TV show, he came out on stage. People actually applauded (although I'm sure they were applauding Star Trek, or being poked with sticks) I forgot about the Rosanne anthem singing. That one is worse, if I recall, she made it sound awful on purpose (the screeching part). WS actually seemed like he thought he was doing a good job I wonder if the guy who casts the Anthem singing got fired, like c'mon, Rosanne ?!? __________________ Happy Life Day

2003-05-11, 05:42 AM	#15
DasDingus Poor Unicyclist Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Piscataway, NJ (for college) Posts: 116	Best --- Nirvana's cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World Aerosmith's cover of the Beattle's Come Together Worst --- The Class of 2000's cover of Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 __________________ Me fail English? That's unpossible!

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