With all the positive and negative talk about them, I figured a thread about this would be appropriate to start now.
Especially appropriate to post what might be my favorite cover, ever. Better, if not equal to the original, I think it's the best Zeppelin cover I've heard. The story why it was left off the cover album Atlantic put out around this time is quite apocryphal.
Soft Cell's Tainted Love is probably one of the best cover songs, one of those rare ones that outstrip the original. I'm also a big fan of Obscenity Trial's cover of Seven Nation Army
Last edited by sheepdean; 01-06-2012 at 09:28 AM.
Reason: formatting
Maybe it's ill-advised to put a second "Dead Flowers" cover on the page, but I can't think about that song without thinking about Townes Van Zandt's version. Better, worse, I don't know, but it definitely fit Townes as well as it did the Stones.
Don't feel like looking up videos for all of them, but here are my favorite covers:
Polly-Amanda Palmer (originally by Nirvana) Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son-Arcade Fire (originally by Serge Gainsbourg) All Along The Watchtower-Jimi Hendrix/Bear McCreary (originally by Bob Dylan) Are Friends Electric?-The Dead Weather (originally by Tubeway Army) Head Like A Hole-Devo (originally by...well, you know) Across The Universe-David Bowie/Fiona Apple (originally by The Beatles) Down In The Park-Foo Fighters (originally by Tubeway Army) Mad World-Michael Andrews and Gary Jules (originally by Tears For Fears) Don't Fear The Reaper-Gus (originally by Blue Oyster Cult) Transmission-Hot Chip/Low (originally by Joy Division) Is Your Love Strong Enough?-How To Destroy Angels Hurt/Personal Jesus-Johnny Cash (originally by everyone's favorite band and Depeche Mode) Immigrant Song-Karen O with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross No Love Lost-LCD Soundsystem (originally by Joy Division) Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)-Marilyn Manson (originally by Eurythmics) Come To Daddy-Mike Patton and The Dillinger Escape Plan (originally by Aphex Twin) New Dawn Fades-Moby (originally by Joy Division) Love Hurts-Nan Vernon (originally by The Everly Brothers) Get Down Make Love/Physical/Dead Souls/Memorabilia/Metal/Zoo Station-Nine Inch Nails (originally by Queen/Adam Ant/Joy Division/Soft Cell/Gary Numan/U2) The Man Who Sold The World/Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam/Where Did You Sleep Last Night?-Nirvana (originally by David Bowie/The Vaselines/Lead Belly Imagine/Peace Love and Understanding/What's Going On-A Perfect Circle (originally by John Lennon/Nick Lowe/Marvin Gaye) Warm Leatherette/Nightclubbing/Final Solution-Peter Murphy, Nine Inch Nails and TV On The Radio (originally by The Normal/Iggy Pop/Pere Ubu) White Wedding-Queens Of The Stone Age (originally by Billy Idol) Sunday Bloody Sunday/Can't Hide Love-Saul Williams (originally by U2/Earth, Wind & Fire) Creep-Scala & Kolacny Brothers (originally by Radiohead) Superstar-Sonic Youth (originally by The Carpenters) Mama Said Knock You Out-Street Sweeper Social Club (originally by LL Cool J) Song To The Siren-This Mortal Coil (originally by Tim Buckley) Heroes-TV On The Radio (originally by David Bowie)
I've officially changed my mind about this. Wasn't crazy that I heard that they covered this for a Sandler film, but just hearing it now, they almost get it right. The original is untouchable and this doesn't change my mind about that, but they do it justice.
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman has always been one of my favorite songs growing up, about a couple years ago I really got obsessed with art rock experimentalists Xiu Xiu and I think their version of Fast Car is incredibly soul crushing.
Rented a Cohen DVD a few weeks back and along with the Anthony Cover posted above which i found to be oddly heart wrenching in the delivery, i also find this one to be an amazing cover as well.
Last edited by Pillfred; 05-25-2013 at 12:50 PM.
Reason: typos