Covers that are the definitive version of the song. Not just "covers that are better than the original". Free Spaces: Hurt - Cash All Along the Watchtower - Hendrix Go - ThreadSky

moxiest.art • 436 days ago

Covers that are the definitive version of the song.

Not just "covers that are better than the original".

Free Spaces:
Hurt - Cash
All Along the Watchtower - Hendrix

Go

Comments

quijohn.bsky.social•435 days ago

Am I Evil - Metallica

thegreer.bsky.social•436 days ago

Higher Ground as performed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Boys of Summer as performed by The Ataris

nixanadoo.com•436 days ago

Another cover RHCP did better: Love Rollercoaster!

godzillionaire.bsky.social•436 days ago

It’s My Life- No Doubt

groversbathtub.bsky.social•436 days ago

America the Beautiful - Ray Charles
Jersey Girl -Bruce Springsteen

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

Twist and Shout definitely has a cover as the definitive version but here's the fun part...

Which cover is the definitive version? Beatles or Isley Brothers

I personally think Beatles but I suspect that its appearance in Ferris Bueller is having a heavy influence on that decision

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

Hall and Oates - Family Man

Only have that one on deck because it inspired a "wait HE wrote that????" reaction that has yet to dissipate six weeks later

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

I'm racking my brain trying to think of an example of a song I like but so far I just have Family Man and Bowling For Soup - 1985

Come on brain try to think of a good song.

trickyc66.bsky.social•436 days ago

Disarm - Alex O. mix - Apoptygma Berserk

ericlotze.com•436 days ago

I’m gonna need to sit down, the number of formative songs from my childhood that I just learned were actually covers reading this thread is…whew

gertjanbartelds.nl•435 days ago

https://open.spotify.com/track/022YWHwbMassgXX6K9MMt5?si=ZQbepbQ7TPGDMUoQB4NY0A

ilovepets420.bsky.social•436 days ago

Take me to the river - Taking Heads

nregib.bsky.social•436 days ago

Al Green - “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”

The Isley Brothers - “Summer Breeze”

Wilson Pickett - “Hey Jude”

moxiest.art•436 days ago

Great tracks

Gotta disagree on Jude though. Solid cut but dislodging the Beatles from one of their most famous songs is rough.

It took 100+ episodes of The Wonder Years to for Help From My Friends to get wrestled away

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

Cocker turned a fun little filler song for Ringo into a stone cold anthem and even then displacing the original was a tall order. That's the pull of the Beatles for you, I guess.

oujii.bsky.social•436 days ago

still don't agree it displaces it; they both rank

jamesrotering.bsky.social•435 days ago

The only Beatles-penned song that definitively belongs on this list is Two of Us by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn from the I Am Sam soundtrack.

oujii.bsky.social•435 days ago

i could get with that argument, although now that the Beatles version has recirculated w/ the Get Back documentary the original is pretty squarely back in the public consciousness

nregib.bsky.social•436 days ago

What about Aretha’s “Eleanor Rigby”?

caulimovirus.bsky.social•436 days ago

David Bowie - It Ain’t Easy

A whole bunch of people recorded their version of the Ron Davies tune in the early 70s, from Three Dog Night to Long John Baldry to Dave Edmunds, but Bowie’s version is the only one that gets it right

eris404.rip•435 days ago

whitney houston - i will always love you

even dolly says so

brainchain.bsky.social•436 days ago

I’d argue for Isaac Hayes version of ‘Walk on By’, Michelle Shocked’s version of ‘The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’, Lorde + Haim ‘Are You Strong Enough to be My Man?’

mattfreund.bsky.social•436 days ago

Respect by Aretha

gollyzilla.bsky.social•436 days ago

How thus one wasn’t a freebie is just proof of why it should have been—most people still don’t know Aretha’s is a cover

sheshe.bsky.social•436 days ago

Bangles’ Hazy Shade of Winter

thomasamiller.bsky.social•436 days ago

The Battle of Evermore
Heart

vagrantmachine.bsky.social•436 days ago

Red Red Wine - UB40
Hey Mickey - Toni Basil
Venus - Bananarama

First ones that popped in my 80’s addled brain that I hadn’t seen mentioned.

theorae.bsky.social•436 days ago

Didn't they also cover "can't help falling in love"? I didn't learn til 2010 that it was a cover.

vagrantmachine.bsky.social•436 days ago

Yes, they absolutely did. I hadn’t even thought about that for a while until this post.

dvgeebees.bsky.social•436 days ago

Because the Night - 10,000 Maniacs

maytagsmom.bsky.social•436 days ago

Absolutely!!

rmwhittaker.bsky.social•436 days ago

Overshadowed by both Patti Smith and Springsteen's version on "Live '75-'85"

nixanadoo.com•436 days ago

Oh damn, YES.

dvgeebees.bsky.social•436 days ago

Still goes hard

nixanadoo.com•436 days ago

It's so good.

benbusb.us•436 days ago

99 red balloons - goldfinger

tim.ink•436 days ago

Natalie imbruglia - torn

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

I was shocked that this was a cover but now that I'm reading up on its history I can see why I wouldn't have known that.

tim.ink•436 days ago

It was such a big debut song but yes it was a cover!

shuadc.bsky.social•436 days ago

A New England — Kirsty McColl (Billy Bragg agrees, can’t get more definitive than that) https://youtu.be/Vy3Z5jKx3Q0?si=IFV_zkopFykMvGhy

shuadc.bsky.social•436 days ago

*MacColl, damnit

heyalicia.bsky.social•436 days ago

Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinéad O'Connor

edgwareviabank.bsky.social•435 days ago

I found out this was a cover through Heardle today, and my mind was blown.

danisaacs.bsky.social•436 days ago

This is a correct answer. Too many ppl didn't understand the assignment. :)

scroller.bsky.social•435 days ago

Live and Let Die - GnR

bocadelperro.bsky.social•436 days ago

Jeff Buckley "Hallelujah"

charbds.bsky.social•436 days ago

I mean the most obvious answer for me is Aretha, Respect

johnrossmd.bsky.social•436 days ago

Clash version of I Fought the Law

tdmollusk.bsky.social•436 days ago

“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” - Marvin Gaye

brainchain.bsky.social•436 days ago

This is a very strong YES

baj.bsky.social•436 days ago

Manfred Mann-- The Mighty Quinn

jtgrimes.bsky.social•436 days ago

Tori Amos's I Don't Like Mondays.

Also Pansy Division's Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.

simonrjohnson.bsky.social•436 days ago

Nothing Compares 2U - Sinead o'Connor

scottdagostino.ca•436 days ago

All the love to Elvis and Willie, and this may be controversial, but Pet Shop Boys now own “Always on My Mind”

brainchain.bsky.social•436 days ago

The first sixteen bars are so fabulous

maytagsmom.bsky.social•436 days ago

Oh that song gets me every time. 💗

filth-waste.bsky.social•436 days ago

sea of love - robert plant

mikeymcfilms.bsky.social•436 days ago

Roses are Free
Originally by Ween, covered by Phish

I Know You Rider - Grateful Dead

zxsq.bsky.social•436 days ago

War pigs - cake

josh412.com•436 days ago

War Pigs - Faith No More

danisaacs.bsky.social•436 days ago

Gtfoh. Nothing is better than this.

josh412.com•436 days ago

Gtfoh. Nothing is better than this.

https://youtu.be/i4nMjyT4epA?si=ZP8OYXP3wqP437TN

danisaacs.bsky.social•435 days ago

What in the auto-tuned hell was that? Hahahaha

pppatticake.bsky.social•434 days ago

This is pretty xlnt he’s got some pipes

josh412.com•434 days ago

Yep

maqusan.bsky.social•435 days ago

Even if there was another version you liked better there is no cover of War Pigs that is more War Pigs than Black Sabbath's version.

josh412.com•435 days ago

Faith No More's War Pigs is more War Pigs than Black Sabbath's version.

danisaacs.bsky.social•435 days ago

The fact you cite FNM's cover invalidates the idea that Cake's cover was so good it erased all other versions.

josh412.com•435 days ago

They're all good covers Brent.

maqusan.bsky.social•435 days ago

Mike Patton wishes he could be Ozzy.

No, literally. He spent his entire career trying to be Ozzy.

josh412.com•435 days ago

Mike Patton was a better singer than Ozzy by the time he joined Faith No More and then he kept getting better. I like Ozzy and the first few Black Sabbath records are classics but let's not pretend they were special musicians.

wyvern.bsky.social•436 days ago

With a Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

Oh good choice. Only cover of a Beatles song I can think of that has become the absolute definitive version

jamesrotering.bsky.social•435 days ago

Two of Us by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn is superior to the original.

(The fact that it wasn’t one of the Beatles’ huge hits means there’s less at stake, but still, this cover is infinitely enjoyable)

kerenlavelle.bsky.social•436 days ago

Australian artist called Doug Parkinson did a great almost contemporaneous version of Dear Prudence which was better than the original by far IMHO

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

But has that cover replaced the original in the public consciousness?

kerenlavelle.bsky.social•436 days ago

In Australia, among a certain (ageing) demographic, I’d say so, definitely. Younger generations would not have even heard the Beatles version I think.

kerenlavelle.bsky.social•435 days ago

Here’s one version, on YouTube – I think there are others. See/listen for yourself https://youtu.be/nU2DSrY9A6s

theorae.bsky.social•436 days ago

For me, Aerosmith's Come Together cover. I knew that one front and back before I ever heard the original.

danisaacs.bsky.social•436 days ago

Led Zeppelin has a few

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" , a Joan Baez song

"Whole Lotta Love", Muddy Waters

"Dazed and Confused", "When the Levee Breaks", and "In my Time of Dieing" by ppl I forget and don't wanna look up rn.

moxiest.art•436 days ago

Led Zeppelin is a gold mine of (some very unethically) borrowed cuts

danisaacs.bsky.social•436 days ago

Oh yeah, lawsuits lost abound! 🤣

robstarobin.bsky.social•435 days ago

Self Control - Laura Brannigan

salaciousgeek.bsky.social•435 days ago

If a list doesn’t include Watchtower by Hendrix then it’s not a real list.

Beggin’ - Maneskin
You Really Got Me - Van Halen

wymer.bsky.social•436 days ago

Ray of Light by Madonna

alygory.bsky.social•436 days ago

Secret Agent Man - Devo

nikosleverenz.bsky.social•436 days ago

(Ike &) Tina Turner, "Proud Mary"

planetofthemoon.bsky.social•436 days ago

SAVE FERRIS, “COME ON EILEEN”

kerendith.bsky.social•436 days ago

Melanie's "Ruby Tuesday"

billstewart.bsky.social•436 days ago

Leavin' On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul, and Mary cover of John Denver tune.

bobtoldmetodoit.bsky.social•435 days ago

Kiss - God gave Rock And Roll To You

umlautschwa.bsky.social•436 days ago

Hurt, Johnny Cash.

salviati.bsky.social•436 days ago

Also: The Mercy Seat - introduced at a Nick Cave concert my friends were at as "A Jonny Cash song"

umlautschwa.bsky.social•436 days ago

Also: What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding, Elvis Costello, originally Nick Cave's.

gollyzilla.bsky.social•436 days ago

Correction: Nick Lowe, originally recorded with his pre-fame band, Brinsley Schwartz

umlautschwa.bsky.social•435 days ago

Ah dammit. I get the Nicks mixed up. Thanks.

bibulb.com•432 days ago

THAAAAAAAT'S the one I was looking to see if someone posted - like, I find the Costello, Schwarz, and Lowe's 1994 version all neck and neck in quality, but the Costello version is THE version that has primacy in people's minds.

robofthesky.bsky.social•436 days ago

Garth Brooks - Shameless

theorae.bsky.social•436 days ago

I also prefer his version of Aerosmith's Fever

Also thank you for reminding me of that song

cmgarton.bsky.social•436 days ago

Me and Bobby McGee as done by Janis Joplin

mjmtools.com•436 days ago

Dead Flowers - Townes Van Zandt

kellybdevoe.bsky.social•436 days ago

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Amy Winehouse - Valerie
Elton John - Pinball Wizard
Jackson 5 - Who’s Lovin’ You

proptermalone.bsky.social•436 days ago

Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston (hurts but it’s true)
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

jmroth.bsky.social•436 days ago

3/3

rossfloate.bsky.social•436 days ago

I'm a believer — Monkees

oujii.bsky.social•436 days ago

not a cover

rossfloate.bsky.social•436 days ago

Right you are. I had in my head that Neil Diamond recorded it first, but that was wrong.

rossfloate.bsky.social•436 days ago

Jealous Guy — Bryan Ferry

rossfloate.bsky.social•436 days ago

Maybe I'm Amazed — Faces

gollyzilla.bsky.social•436 days ago

McCartney’s is still the most popular but the Faces’ version just takes it to new heights.

Plus giving Lennon the same treatment with their version of “Jealous Guy”? Just astounding.

vandalia.bsky.social•436 days ago

Lingua Ignota - Jolene

dagmarian.bsky.social•435 days ago

Nobody is taking Jolene from Dolly. You might like another version better, but there's no question whose song it is.

fabjx.bsky.social•435 days ago

Rowland S. Howard's Nothin

gateskp.bsky.social•436 days ago

Nirvana- The Man Who Sold The World

(Sorry Bowie fans?)

moxiest.art•436 days ago

Absolutely on the list. If "wait, that's a cover?" is a question for most people, you've got a winner. Even with Cobain saying "that was a David Bowie song" on the track, it's*still* easy to forget

danisaacs.bsky.social•436 days ago

No apology needed, once they played it, I didn't even think about the original. Perfection.

zapistan.net•435 days ago

This is the point in which I bring up the AV Undercover series and just get sad that many great covers were lost but most were saved.

guiltypanacea.bsky.social•436 days ago

REM - Superman

waywardwillow.bsky.social•436 days ago

Mad World - Gary Jules

foghorn453.bsky.social•436 days ago

When the Levee Breaks

maqusan.bsky.social•435 days ago

Step On -- Happy Mondays
Black Magic Woman -- Santana
Downtown Train -- Rod Stewart

oujii.bsky.social•436 days ago

very obviously Nothing Compares 2 You

dianetucker.bsky.social•436 days ago

"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

(written by and first recorded by Dolly Parton)

dallas-taylor.bsky.social•435 days ago

Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Downtown Train

bengreen.bsky.social•435 days ago

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

jamesrotering.bsky.social•435 days ago

Seasons in the Sun - Too Much Joy

Pictures of Matchstick Men - Camper van Beethoven

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - They Might Be Giants

pattycakes.bsky.social•436 days ago

Aretha Franklin doing Love The One You’re With

rantipole.bsky.social•436 days ago

"Black Magic Woman" by Santana.
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" by Nirvana
"Rattlesnakes" by Tori Amos

And I do not get the love for The Ataris version of "Boys of Summer." The original is perfection!

pppatticake.bsky.social•434 days ago

I think slobberbone’s version of To Love Somebody is the definitive version

https://open.spotify.com/track/4GaSFyzremaD7v1fQIFK4G?si=m9t-ZR9LT8G42-gQPqh5xQ

dranderson15.bsky.social•436 days ago

Elvis Costello "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"

dranderson15.bsky.social•436 days ago

The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

jaytingle.bsky.social•436 days ago

Otis Redding, when he saw the massive success of Aretha Franklin’s version of “Repect”: “That girl stole my song.” He wasn’t complaining, he was in awe.

theap.bsky.social•435 days ago

“if I were a boy”, Beyonce

joga51.bsky.social•436 days ago

Cindy Lauper - Girls just wanna have fun.
It's so definitive that everyone thinks the original is Cyndi Lauper's version.

michaeliantorno.com•436 days ago

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - They Might Be Giants

theorae.bsky.social•436 days ago

The Tiny Toon Adventures "video" is a Core Childhood Memory

free-or-best-offer.bsky.social•436 days ago

Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

1967ers.bsky.social•436 days ago

Key takeaway from this thread is that the “definitive version” of a song is 90% driven by the age of the listener and the version they became most personally familiar with in their youth.

maddyncholy.xyz•436 days ago

Hence the votes for ska covers of 80s songs. (sorry people, but no)

1967ers.bsky.social•436 days ago

Tainted Love - Soft Cell

majorclanger.bsky.social•436 days ago

Came here to say that but you beat me to it.

andraste.fuckbgp.com•436 days ago

Ataris - Boys of Summer
The Muffs - Kids in America
MxPx feat. Agent M - Heaven is a Place on Earth
Pearl Jam - Last Kiss
RATM - Pistol Grip Pump
Save Ferris - Come On Eileen
Sarah McLachlan- Blackbird
the whole Me First and the Gimme Gimmes discography

dagmarian.bsky.social•435 days ago

While I love Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and agree that their version of Nothing Compares 2U is the most listenable, they don't have the recognition to overtake the other versions. This misses the mark on the original question. I totally appreciate the Me First love, though.

theorae.bsky.social•436 days ago

First time I heard Last Kiss, I had just finished 4th grade, and distinctly remember it tearing me up. Ugly cried the last two blocks to our house.