When did the cover sound better to you than the original?

[peejay]

Whew, this is going to be a contentious thread, because whoever would think of such a thing, but I have a starter...
When Annie Lennox covered 'Whiter Shade of Pale' (the song needs no introduction I hope) and it came at me through my B&W 601s, make no mistake, I thought my ears had heard nothing better, ever.....Not casting aspersions on Procol Harum, but let's give credit where credit is due.

[tomsi42]

I expect that you assume that one hears the cover after the original? And that the cover is better ?

Never happened to me! Or has it? Of course it has happened. Kari Bremnes, a norwegian singer/songwriter, has a beautiful version of Leonard Cohen's "What everybody knows". It is in norwegian though.

[peejay]

I expect that you assume that one hears the cover after the original? And that the cover is better ?

Never happened to me! Or has it? Of course it has happened. Kari Bremnes, a norwegian singer/songwriter, has a beautiful version of Leonard Cohen's "What everybody knows". It is in norwegian though.

I'll clarify by assuming the cover is heard after the original, but I have made that assumption without consideration for our younger forum members, or people who just hear music after the fact from someone else......I'll look up Kari Bremnes, 'cause I do have a bit of Lenny Boy, as we call him down under...

[tomsi42]

I'll clarify by assuming the cover is heard after the original, but I have made that assumption without consideration for our younger forum members, or people who just hear music after the fact from someone else......I'll look up Kari Bremnes, 'cause I do have a bit of Lenny Boy, as we call him down under...

You'll be lucky if you find anything from Kari Bremnes down under as most of what she does is in norwegian. Outside of Scandinavia, I have only found her albums in Germany...

The song is actually from a tribute album where norwegian artists sings Leonard's songs (translated to norwegian).

[jonheal]

I like Nena's "cover" of her own tune from the 80's, "99 Luftbollons" on "20 Jahre: Nena Feat. Nena." Does that count?

[Khuli]

Whew, this is going to be a contentious thread, because whoever would think of such a thing, but I have a starter...

Generally speaking, if I've heard the original first, then covers just sound like an immitation.. which of course they are, and rarely sound anything special to me.

However, covers which are done in a different style can be much better than the original (Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower), or just wonderfully different (The Futureheads - Hounds of Love).

[Siduhe]

Not sure I would go far as to say "better", but I love Flat Pack's version of Sweet Child Of Mine. I certainly play it a lot more than I do the original (usually the Mylo radio edit)...

[Kyle]

Joe Cocker's She Came In Through The Bathroom Window took a snippet from a medley and made a great full-fledged rock song out of it. Cry Me A River is a cover of a jazz standard that is hardly recognizable compared to the original.

[slimpy]

However, covers which are done in a different style can be much better than the original (Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower), or just wonderfully different (The Futureheads - Hounds of Love).

I agree, check out Nouvelle Vague. They cover rock and punk songs bossa-nova-style.

Another very good cover: Nostalgia 77 & Alice Russell - Seven Nation Army

-s.

[tomsi42]

I like Nena's "cover" of her own tune from the 80's, "99 Luftbollons" on "20 Jahre: Nena Feat. Nena." Does that count?

Not sure; probably it better fit for a new thread: Artists recording their songs for a second time - is it better ?"

Tom