Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

  1. You have chosen to ignore posts from jkjband. Show jkjband's posts

    Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/23/2011 6:57 AM EST

    I'm looking for songs that were not that good to start with (in your opinion) and turned aroun by the cover version.  For example:

    CAKE - I Will Survive

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o
     

  2. You have chosen to ignore posts from jesseyeric. Show jesseyeric's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/23/2011 1:36 PM EST

    Joy Divisions Dead Souls, while good didn't have any real bite. The vocals do not appear until after the 2 miniute mark. The urgency just isn't there.

    Nine Inch Nails took that song to a completely new and higher level.
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/23/2011 1:38 PM EST

    Alien Ant Farm took Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal to a completely new level.


    This one really doesn't count, but I love ELP's take on Fanfare for the Common Man.
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/23/2011 9:06 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    Joy Divisions Dead Souls , while good didn't have any real bite. The vocals do not appear until after the 2 miniute mark. The urgency just isn't there. Nine Inch Nails took that song to a completely new and higher level.
    Posted by jesseyeric


    Yes NIN did take dead souls to a much better level, but joy division's version is pretty good IMO.  Its on the Crow Soundtrack right?
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/23/2011 10:14 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing : Yes NIN did take dead souls to a much better level, but joy division's version is pretty good IMO.  Its on the Crow Soundtrack right?
    Posted by jkjband


    NIN's version is on the soundtrack.
     

  6. You have chosen to ignore posts from phsmith8. Show phsmith8's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 10:53 AM EST

    i realize i am partial to radiohead, but i think they do an awesomely rockin cover of "nobody does it better" by carly simon (for some james bond movie).  thom yorke said it's the "sexiest song ever written."  certainly one of them.

    also, there is an amazing cover of the rap song "Gin and Juice" by (i believe) the string cheese incident...it's credited to a lot of different bands, but i think that's the real one.
     

  7. You have chosen to ignore posts from jesseyeric. Show jesseyeric's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 10:56 AM EST

    Faster Pussycat took Carly Simons Your So Vain to a completely different stratosphere.
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 11:22 AM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    Faster Pussycat took Carly Simons Your So Vain to a completely different stratosphere.
    Posted by jesseyeric


    so far 2 artists improving on carly simon...i like the way this is going
     

  9. You have chosen to ignore posts from LloydDobler. Show LloydDobler's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 12:06 PM EST

    Great topic!
    I'll think of more later, I'm sure, but the first thing that comes to my mind is Eva Cassidy's version of "Time After Time."
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 12:22 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    Great topic! I'll think of more later, I'm sure, but the first thing that comes to my mind is Eva Cassidy's version of "Time After Time."
    Posted by LloydDobler

    Lloyd: you think the original "Time After Time" was a bad song?   Just curious, as I think the original is gorgeous. 

    A Cassidy upgrade of a song I never particularly liked:
    Fields of Gold - Eva's version surpasses Sting, IMHO 
                      (I know you and I share admiration for Cassidy)    Smile
    and

    When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss (totally crazy sweet)
     

  11. You have chosen to ignore posts from MattyScornD. Show MattyScornD's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 12:46 PM EST

    Dynamite Hack - Boyz In The Hood  (though the original wasn't terrible)

    Gypsy Kings - Hotel California (don't much like the Eagles...sue me...)

    Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (again, the original is good [as was Nina Simone's], but this ten-minute latin-disco version takes it to a whole new level.)

    Tough topic, as if I don't like the song originally, I'm even less likely to dig a cover of it.

    Conversely, I think No Doubt absolutely murdered Talk Talk's "It's My Life".  I can't break out the original now (or the sublime 12" extended mix - find this if you can...well worth it) without its mention .  [Ditto 311's Love Song...please just stop it....]
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 12:55 PM EST

    I'll second Cake's awesome version of  "I Will Survive"

     'Me and Bobby McGee' by Janis Joplin has always been a favorite cover of mine too (Kris Kristofferson)
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 1:24 PM EST

    What about "Twist and Shout" The Beatles. I know the Isley Brothers did a good version, but The Beatles took it to another level!  
     

  14. You have chosen to ignore posts from ZILLAGOD. Show ZILLAGOD's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/24/2011 1:25 PM EST

    This is a tough one for me. All of the covers I can think of were not "bad songs" as originals.

    I feel that the song "Still I'm Sad" by the Yardbirds was good but nothing special. Blackmore's Rainbow turned it into an electric guitar tour de force by covering it as an instrumental on the first Rainbow LP.

    Rory Gallagher covered the old Blues song "Messin' with the Kid" and it is great, but the original, by Junior Wells is not a bad song, either.

    Clapton brought fame to "Cocaine", a song by J.J. Cale. None of us probably would have ever heard of Cale if not for Clapton.

     

  15. You have chosen to ignore posts from jkjband. Show jkjband's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 11:21 AM EST

    I liked how  Michael Andrews and Gary Jules covered "Mad World" (originally done by Tears For Fears) in the Donnie Darko soundtrack.
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 11:25 AM EST

    "Superstar" -  Sonic Youth

    SY's version is absolutely brilliant and sick. *

    *all possible meanings of the word "sick" apply.      Cool
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 11:41 AM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    "Superstar" -  Sonic Youth SY's version is absolutely brilliant and sick. * *all possible meanings of the word "sick" apply. 
    Posted by yogafriend


     I forgot that one.... Excellent choice
     

  18. You have chosen to ignore posts from leafswin27. Show leafswin27's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 1:37 PM EST

    Jay Reatard covers Nirvanas "Frances Farmer Has her Revenge on Seattle". Jay does it up real good. Liek it better than Nirvanas original.. The Clash did a good job on I Fought the Law
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 2:06 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    "Superstar" -  Sonic Youth SY's version is absolutely brilliant and sick. * *all possible meanings of the word "sick" apply. 
    Posted by yogafriend


    Brilliant.
     

  20. You have chosen to ignore posts from jkjband. Show jkjband's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 2:11 PM EST

    Sex Pistols - Steeping Stone (original by The Monkees)

    And Sid's Version of My Way awful singing by Sid yet brilliant in its Punk context
     

  21. You have chosen to ignore posts from LloydDobler. Show LloydDobler's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 10:53 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing : Lloyd: you think the original "Time After Time" was a bad song?   Just curious, as I think the original is gorgeous.  A Cassidy upgrade of a song I never particularly liked: Fields of Gold - Eva's version surpasses Sting, IMHO                    (I know you and I share admiration for Cassidy) and When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss (totally crazy sweet)
    Posted by yogafriend


    Yeah, I was never a fan of Cyndi. Agreed on "Fields of Gold" ... Sting's wasn't awful, but Eva's is beautiful.

     

  22. You have chosen to ignore posts from cavaliersfan. Show cavaliersfan's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/25/2011 11:06 PM EST

    Elvis with his great voice and fabulous band could take mediocre melodies and make them sound very good.  Two examples: "That's All Right Mama" and "I'm A Steam Roller Baby".

     

  23. You have chosen to ignore posts from leafswin27. Show leafswin27's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/26/2011 9:19 AM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    Sex Pistols - Steeping Stone (original by The Monkees) And Sid's Version of My Way awful singing by Sid yet brilliant in its Punk context
    Posted by jkjband


    yes to both
     

  24. You have chosen to ignore posts from ZILLAGOD. Show ZILLAGOD's posts

    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 1/27/2011 1:24 PM EST

    In Response to Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing:
    "Superstar" -  Sonic Youth SY's version is absolutely brilliant and sick. * *all possible meanings of the word "sick" apply. 
    Posted by yogafriend


    I think the Sonic Youth version of 'Superstar' is really eerie and haunting. When I heard it, I bought the CD of covers of Carpenters tunes , even though I am not a big fan of the Carpenters. The orignal is not a bad song ( it was a big hit in it's time) but, Sonic Youth take it to another level and give it their own treatment.

    There is a song by Kraftwerk covered by Souixsie and the Banshees called 'Hall of Mirrors' that also is quite different from the original , although both are very good.
     

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    Re: Cover Songs : Taking a bad song and turning it into something amazing

    posted at 2/7/2011 1:08 PM EST

    Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders

    Originally a Kinks song, which I wasn't aware of until recently; the Pretenders made a hit out of it (was it ever a hit for the Kinks?)