KSUFans Archives
Fan Life => The Endzone Dive => Topic started by: chum1 on January 15, 2007, 11:27:46 AM
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On the car radio last night, I heard “American Woman” by The Guess Who. I was suprised to realize that it was the first time I received any enjoyment from hearing that song since the lame-ass version by Lenny Kravitz was so overplayed on the radio.1
I’m not sure why one cover song is good and another is bad. It seems to me, though, that part of it has something to do with whether or not the artist covering the song is able to somehow do anything new or interesting with it. Taking one song and playing it with a different style or sound is not sufficient for making a good cover song.2 We can all imagine these types of results without any help. I would much rather see an artist some up with something that I am not able to imagine on my own.
I think an example of a great cover song, one that adds an original and interesting perspective to an existing song is “All Along the Watchtower” by Hendrix. I also think that the Foo Fighters’ version of “Baker Street” is pretty interesting.3
1. I hated that song so much that I couldn’t watch the video despite the fact that it featured Heather Graham who, at the time, made me very weak in the knees.
2. I think Metallica* is an exception here. They pretty much invented their sound. That itself entails an original and interesting spin.
3. Yeah, the second example isn’t nearly as good as the first, but it’s the only other one I can come up with at the moment.
*Renowned for their cover songs.
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I don't think playing an existing new song with a new style or spin is required. Lots of soul singers covered other soul singers without changing much back in the day. A lot of them sound about the same, but are better than the originals.
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A lot of them sound about the same, but are better than the originals.
How can they be much better if they sound essentially the same?
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friggin LOL.
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Better singers. Slightly different vocal style. Slightly different beats. Changes are subtle, not complete overhauls like AATWT.
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Nonpoint's version of 'In the Air Tonight'.
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friggin LOL.
These were my exact thoughts as I was driving home. Thank God I didn't get into an accident! IT WAS RAINING AND DARK!
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Better singers. Slightly different vocal style. Slightly different beats. Changes are subtle, not complete overhauls like AATWT.
Okay, so a new sound and style is not only insufficient for a good cover song, but it is also not necessary for one.
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Yeah.
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I thought Van Halen did a good job putting their own mark on Happy Trails in their 1982 album Diver Down.
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Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Christy, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Sabrina, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to Land of Confusion. In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. In Too Deep is the most moving pop song of the 1980s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I've heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole. Phil Collins' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Air Tonight and Against All Odds. Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Sussudio, a great, great song, a personal favorite.
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Pearl Jam's 'crazy mary' is tons better than victoria williams version.
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The best cover songs are when the new artist completely steals the original song and is more readily identified with it than the original artist.
examples off the top of my head:
"Respect" Aretha Franklin from Otis Redding
"Proud Mary" Ike and Tina Turner from CCR
"Heard it through the grapevine" Marvin Gaye from Gladys Knight and the Pips
"Texas Flood" Stevie Ray Vaughn
"You really got me" Van Halen from the Kinks the kinks version is better
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"I Will Always Love You" - Whitney Houston from Dolly Parton
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Is there really such a thing as a "good" cover song? I mean isn't it basically stealing? Kinda like banging your neighbor's wife.
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Is there really such a thing as a "good" cover song? I mean isn't it basically stealing? Kinda like banging your neighbor's wife.
KK mentioned some great cover songs. I can't think of anything bad about Ike and Tina's version, especially.
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CCR>>>>>>>>>>Ike and Tina. But I'm a big CCR fan so I'm sure there's bias.
I'm torn though. Sometimes I think a cover song sounds good, other times it just makes me angry.
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Is there really such a thing as a "good" cover song?
I guess you've never heard "Cat's in the Cradle" by Ugly Kid Joe.
I prefer CCR, too.
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CCR>>>>>>>>>>Ike and Tina.
Wrong.
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Donna Summer's cover of MacArthur Park pales in comparison with Richard Harris's original.
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000ILLA.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg)
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Is there really such a thing as a "good" cover song? I mean isn't it basically stealing? Kinda like banging your neighbor's wife.
yes, but it's like banging your neighbor's wife in a new and interesting way. Suppose your neighbor only bangs his wife in the missionary position, but you bang his wife with all sorts of new positions and methods, like anal.
Leela James cover of Don't Speak blows No Doubt's version away.
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Has no one mentioned the all time greatest cover song in musical history?
"All along the watch tower".
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yes, but it's like banging your neighbor's wife in a new and interesting way. Suppose your neighbor only bangs his wife in the missionary position, but you bang his wife with all sorts of new positions and methods, like anal.
Leela James cover of Don't Speak blows No Doubt's version away.
Interesting assessment.
I tend to look at it this way...
Your neighbor meets his future wife(idea for a song), takes her out on dates, pays for dinner and movies and cards and flowers and all that $hit(writing multiple drafts of song). His hard work pays off with an exclusive pass into her panties(song becomes a hit).
Neighbor gets married, a few years pass and things start to get stale. Wifey puts up a road block on the highway to Poonville so neighbor guy rubs 'em out in the shower every morning(song falls off the charts).
So here you come along(new artist) with a bottle of cheap wine, a dash of Cool Water, and some tulips you pulled from neighbor guy's flowerbed and proceed to put the moves on wifey(remix song).
Now maybe you take her down the hershey highway for hours on end, giving her 8 consecutive orgasms(better than original version). But more then likely you're going rail her for two minutes, wipe off on her new 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, and end up with a mulatto bastard child(crappy version).
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Has no one mentioned the all time greatest cover song in musical history?
"All along the watch tower".
C1 did in his original post.
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my bad, I skimmed the thread.
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yes, but it's like banging your neighbor's wife in a new and interesting way. Suppose your neighbor only bangs his wife in the missionary position, but you bang his wife with all sorts of new positions and methods, like anal.
Leela James cover of Don't Speak blows No Doubt's version away.
Interesting assessment.
I tend to look at it this way...
Your neighbor meets his future wife(idea for a song), takes her out on dates, pays for dinner and movies and cards and flowers and all that $hit(writing multiple drafts of song). His hard work pays off with an exclusive pass into her panties(song becomes a hit).
Neighbor gets married, a few years pass and things start to get stale. Wifey puts up a road block on the highway to Poonville so neighbor guy rubs 'em out in the shower every morning(song falls off the charts).
So here you come along(new artist) with a bottle of cheap wine, a dash of Cool Water, and some tulips you pulled from neighbor guy's flowerbed and proceed to put the moves on wifey(remix song).
Now maybe you take her down the hershey highway for hours on end, giving her 8 consecutive orgasms(better than original version). But more then likely you're going rail her for two minutes, wipe off on her new 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, and end up with a mulatto bastard child(crappy version).
So where does someone like Puff Daddy/P Didddy/ Diddy/ ???? fit in to this idea with his samples. Is he railing a new girl, while diddling the neighbors wife every few minutes on the side?
And I'll toss out Ben Fold's cover of Bitches Ain't crap.
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It appears that we are confusing cover versions with remakes in much of this thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version
Has anyone here heard Nickel Creek's cover of "Toxic"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lk45-E-BSk
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It appears that we are confusing cover versions with remakes in much of this thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version
Has anyone here heard Nickel Creek's cover of "Toxic"?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lk45-E-BSk
My wife's a big fan and I took her to see them the last time they were in KC. They're pretty good.
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It appears that we are confusing cover versions with remakes in much of this thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version
I actually read that before I posted. While the history is interesting, I decided that I am fine with today's common usage despite what some guy with a stick up his ass says.
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When DMC redid Walk this Way.. I thought it was pretty good.
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Oasis does a good cover of I am the Walrus.
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Travis whips out a good rendition of Hit me Baby One More Time
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I enjoyed Nirvana's version of "The Man Who Sold the World" by Bowie.
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I found this and thought it was a timely list-
http://www.rivalfish.com/rivalroom/2007/01/rivalfishs-top-50-cover-songs-of-all.html
With every year we grow closer to Denny's-every-Sunday-age, we become increasingly partial to things that are familiar. We get back into diapers, gumming things we care about, and not minding if our family sees us naked. That's why we dig cover songs so much. After compiling over 250 second-hand hits, we've whittled it down to this. So let the Buddha-fueled debates begin, as here's Rivalfish's Top 50 Cover Songs of All-Time!
Selection Criteria Disclaimer: All cover versions are inherently covers of the originally recorded and released version of the song, regardless of who wrote or popularized the song.
50. "Black Magic Woman"(1970) by Santana (Fleetwood Mac original, 1968)
49. "Hallelujah"(1994) by Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen original, 1985)
48. "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You"(1969) by Led Zeppelin (Joan Baez original, 1962)
47. "Voodoo Chile(Slight Return)"(1984) by Stevie Ray Vaughn (Jimi Hendrix original, 1968)
46. "Take Me to the River"(1978) by Talking Heads (Al Green original, 1974)
45. "Mustang Sally"(1966) by Wilson Pickett (Sir Mack Rice original, 1965)
44. "Roses are Free"(Live) by Phish (Ween original, 1994) - Check out Phish's version on Hampton Comes Alive(1999)
43. "I Shot the Sheriff"(1974) by Eric Clapton (Bob Marley original, 1973)
42. "Hey Joe"(1966) by Jimi Hendrix (Billy Roberts original, 1962)
41. "Hard to Handle"(1989) by The Black Crowes (Otis Redding original, 1968)
40. "Twist and Shout"(1964) by The Beatles (Isley Brothers original, 1962)
39. "Sweet Jane"(1988) by Cowboy Junkies (Velvet Underground original, 1970)
38. "My Favorite Things"(1960) by John Coltrane (Rodgers & Hammerstein original, 1959)
37. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"(1970) by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Gladys Knight and the Pips original, 1967)
36. "Summer Breeze"(2004) by Jason Mraz (Seals & Crofts original, 1972)
35. "Always on My Mind"(1987) by Pet Shop Boys (Brenda Lee original, 1972)
34. "Killing Me Softly with His Song"(1996) by The Fugees (Lori Lieberman original, 1971)
33. "Victoria"(1988) by The Fall (The Kinks original, 1969)
32. "Live and Let Die"(1991) by Guns n' Roses (Paul McCartney original, 1973)
31. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"(1991) by Guns N' Roses (Bob Dylan original, 1973)
30. "Lodi Dodi"(1994) by Snoop Doggy Dog ("La Di Da Di" Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh original, 1985)
29. "Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon"(1994) by Urge Overkill (Neil Diamond original, 1972)
28. "Higher Ground"(1989) by Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stevie Wonder original, 1973)
27. "With a Little Help (From My Friends)"(1968) by Joe Cocker (The Beatles original, 1967)
26. "Rivers of Babylon"(1996) by Sublime (The Melodians original, 1973)
25. "Mad World"(2001) by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules (Tears for Fears original, 1982)
24. "Wild is the Wind"(1981) by David Bowie (Johnny Mathis original, 1956)
23. "Up on the Roof"(1979) by James Taylor (The Drifters original, 1962)
22. "Lake of Fire"(1993) by Nirvana (Meat Puppets original, 1983)
21. "Southern Cross"(Live) by Jimmy Buffett (Crosby, Still & Nash original, 1982) - Check out Jimmy's version on Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays(1999)
20. "Time is on my Side"(1964) by The Rolling Stones (Kai Winding original, 1963)
19. "Sexual Healing"(Live) by Ben Harper (Marvin Gaye original, 1982) - Check out Ben's version on Live From Mars(2001)
18. "Baba O'Riley"(Live) by Pearl Jam (The Who original, 1971) - Check out Eddie V's version on Live: 11-6-00 - Seattle, Washington
17. "Cat's in the Cradle"(1992) by Ugly Kid Joe (Harry Chapin original, 1974)
16. "Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World"(1993) by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Judy Garland/Louis Armstrong original, 1939/1967)
15. "Superstar"(1994) by Sonic Youth ("Groupie [Superstar]" Delaney & Bonnie original, 1969)
14. "God Gave Rock and 'N Roll To You"(1991) by The Wyld Stallyns (Argent original, 1972) -Rumor has it that The Wyld Stallyns are merely lip-syncing a cover version by Kiss. But how could two kids from San Dimas ever pull that off? Hogwash.
13. "Gin & Juice"(2000) by The Gourds, NOT PHISH or O.A.R (Snoop Doggy Dogg original, 1993)
12. "Hurt"(2002) by Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails original, 1994)
11. "If I Were a Carpenter"(1976) by Johnny Cash with June Carter (Tim Hardin original, 1966)
10. "Rainbow Connection"(2001) by Willie Nelson (Kermit the Frog/Jim Henson original, 1979) - Jim Henson is such an effective hippie that he wrote a song uplifting and heartwarming enough to make a felt hand-puppet seem like a wiser choice for president than any candidate in the coming election. Willie Nelson is such a hippie that it wouldn't be the first time he voted "Green."
9. "Midnight Train to Georgia"(1973) by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Cissy Houston original, 1972) -Gladys and the gang stole Whitney's mom's thunder like Bobby Brown robbed her daughter of her legitimacy. I wonder if Cissy Huston's breasts are also seemingly nice but oddly far apart? But on a cold and weary evening, I want to be held close by the soothing pipes of big, cushy Gladys, not some skinny drug addict or her mom!
8. "Me and Bobby McGee"(1971) by Janis Joplin (Kris Kristofferson original, 1970) - Janis changed the character of "Bobby Mcgee" from a girl to a guy, and the song "Bobby McGee" from a decent song by a bearded man with a creepy voice to the most covered song of all-time.
7. "Woodstock"(1970) by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (Joni Mitchell original, 1970) - Like a total poser, Joni turned her boyfriend, Graham Nash's, stories about the festival into a pretty sweet tune that he later stole and turned into a hit after a spiteful domestic quarrel. Instead of performing at the 'Stock, she had insisted on spending that weekend taping The Tonight Show. She later chose to see Battlefield Earth on its opening weekend back in 2001 instead of Gladiator.
6."Hotel California"(1998) by The Gypsy Kings (The Eagles original, 1976) - This is why this song is #6, bottom line.
5. "My Way"(1979) by Sid Vicious (Paul Anka original, 1969) - 9 times out of 10, cross-genre covers are terrible. But this one was good enough to land the closing credits duties for Goodfellas, with lyrics as relevant to Sid as they had been to Old Blue Eyes when he made Anka's English original a hit. But in the end, it's not heroin that kills you. It's mocking Sinatra, you rat-bastard mutt-f*ckin' Pom, that does.
4. "Without You"(1971) by Harry Nilsson (Badfinger original, 1970) - Sometimes you need to pussify a song a tad bit more to make it good. I wonder if when Harry sang the chorus of the song he was thinking about the super-eerie fact that both Cass Elliot and Keith Moon expired while hanging at his London flat? I wonder if people ever ask him to babysit their kids?
3. "Take Me Home, Country Roads"(1972) by Toots & the Maytals (John Denver original, 1971) - Virginia, Jamaica, who gives a sh*t? However, when this song was a hit, the last place Toots and his Rastas would be welcome is on a country road. Silly potheads.
2. "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?"(1981) by Soft Cell (Gloria Jones/The Supremes original, 1964/1964) - Two covers in one? Why don't we just give 'em the trophy right now? I thought only college bands on 10 Cent Draft Night could pull that off. And every time a DJ doesn't play the full version of this song, he should be fired, skinned, and thrown down a sand dune. Unfortunately for Soft Cell, this song was also #2 on VH1's "Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All-Time" list.
1. "All Along the Watchtower"(1968) by Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan original, 1967 ) SORRY DAVE! XOXOX! - Gypsies, thieves, getting laid... sounds like a 7th Grade dance at my old junior high. Jimi Hendrix never met a song he couldn't make better, or a dose of LSD he couldn't make immediately part of his blood stream. Cause and effect, or Coincidence? Don't be stupid or Republican, and go put on your new Rob Thomas CD, cause that one's obvious. And Zimmerman, stick to the song-writing.
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Babe I'm gonna leave you is bad ass, suprised that isn't higher.
Same goes for rivers of Babylon.
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39. "Sweet Jane"(1988) by Cowboy Junkies (Velvet Underground original, 1970)
That song not being in the top 10 is a travesty.
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Limp Bizkit's cover of Behind Blue Eye's was incredible :love: :love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU)
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Limp Bizkit's cover of Behind Blue Eye's was incredible :love: :love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU)
You just made my craplist.
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Limp Bizkit's cover of Behind Blue Eye's was incredible :love: :love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU)
You just made my @#%$list.
:lol: :lol:
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Limp Bizkit's cover of Behind Blue Eye's was incredible :love: :love:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU)
You just made my @#%$list.
:lol: :lol:
Thank god this was bait
Kilgore Trout= (http://media.urbandictionary.com/image/large/pwn3d-44295.jpg)
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Three good covers of "Like a Rollin' Stone":
http://www.moistworks.com/2007/02/fire-she-need-water-wayne-mcghie-wayne.html
Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and a surprising funk version.
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I take that back, the Jimi Hendrix version blows.
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Jimi covered just about everything popular in the late 60's in concert. Watchtower was the only good one.
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Strawberry Fields Forever
- covered by Ben Harper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9fTA9LJSWw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9fTA9LJSWw)
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The Gin & Juice cover by the gourds is good, if its the one I remember.
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Jimi covered just about everything popular in the late 60's in concert. Watchtower was the only good one.
you're an idiot.
Hendrix is God.
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Jimi covered just about everything popular in the late 60's in concert. Watchtower was the only good one.
you're an idiot.
Hendrix is God.
The day after Sgt. Pepper was released he found out that the Beatles were going to be at his concert so he covered the entire album in concert.
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Awesomeness.
have you ever heard the sessions with him and a roaring drunk Jim Morrison and Johnny Winters on guitar?
pure bliss. Jim rails on and on at 245 db about f-ing some girl in the a. Its pretty sweet.
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Awesomeness.
have you ever heard the sessions with him and a roaring drunk Jim Morrison and Johnny Winters on guitar?
pure bliss. Jim rails on and on at 245 db about f-ing some girl in the a. Its pretty sweet.
Yeah, I have heard that. I'm not sure but I might have it on CD. I got his box set two years ago when it first came out..
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I bought it but someone stole it from me. If I remember correctly it was an import CD and wasn't released in the US.
I got it as an individual CD not on a compilation.
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Good cover of John Lennon's "Imagine".
http://www.zshare.net/audio/imagine-mp3-ryb.html
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One of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNKzXOZEOnc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNKzXOZEOnc)
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Limp Bizkit remaiking and destroying faith was one of the worst ever
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Tears of a Clown - The English Beat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0zBXpWMJOY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0zBXpWMJOY)