Best Cover Songs of All Time

[Smackpixi]

Inspired by Payn’s threads, asking this question. I feel the obvious answer is Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah. So looking for ideas not that. I nominate Man Who Sold The World. Nirvana cover of Bowie on MTV Unpluged.

Bonus, worst covers, I nominate D’yer Maker by Sheryl Crow.

 

[Morrus]

I love Lulu's cover of The Man Who Sold The World.

 

[Davies]

Pet Shop Boys' cover of "You Were Always On My Mind". As one reviewer noted, where the original is a heartfelt plea, this becomes an audacious declaration of, "Cad though I am, you would be a fool to let me slip away."

Phil Collins' cover of "Groovy Kind of Love". Gentle and melancholy where the original is shallow.

Santana's cover of "Little Bit of Love"; as if the man's talent isn't enough, Michelle Branch's vocals further elevate this above Gregg Alexander's original.

Worst cover: Jessica Simpson's "These Boots Are Made For Walking". Runner up: Jessica Simpson's "Take My Breath Away".

 

[Dioltach]

Best: I Love Rock & Roll by Joan Jett

Worst: perhaps the Jonas Blue version of Fast Car?

 

[LongTimeLurker]

Best: Monstrosity doing Angel of Death by Slayer. Worst: Tori Amos covering Raining Blood, also by Slayer.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Pet Shop Boys' cover of "You Were Always On My Mind". As one reviewer noted, where the original is a heartfelt plea, this becomes an audacious declaration of, "Cad though I am, you would be a fool to let me slip away."

This is my go-to answer for this question.

Underated alternatives:

The Sound of Silence by Disturbed.
Jump by Aztec Camera.

 

[Ulfgeir]

Best (have plenty of examples):

Rammstein's cover of Kraftwerk's song Das Model
Johny Cash cover of Nine Inch Nails' song Hurt
Quite a few of the songs by Postmodern Jukebox would also fall here.

Worst: Undressd's cover of Alphaville's song Forever Young. It sounds way too happy.

 

[Ulfgeir]

Best: I Love Rock & Roll by Joan Jett

Worst: perhaps the Jonas Blue version of Fast Car?

Most people don't even know that Joan Jett's version IS a cover.

 

[Smackpixi]

I love Lulu's cover of The Man Who Sold The World.

Are you sure? Seems really passionless, afraid, looking over her shoulder. does she care?

 

[Smackpixi]

Pet Shop Boys' cover of "You Were Always On My Mind".

It’s pretty good, and very pet shop boys, my dad’s second favorite band after Fleetwood Mac, I’ve never understood him