Versions of a Song

[Lemur]

Maybe it's just my thing, but I love to hear different artists covering the same song. Even when they make a mess of it, it's enlightening and amusing. Thought we could try a thread of them, what do you say? I'll kick if off:

I first heard the song Hurt on a Johnny Cash album, thought it was amazing. Video of the Johnny Cash version. Turns out the song was written by Trent Reznor, so I had to check that out. Not as good, in my opinion. Something too self-pitying and emo about the original. On the other hand, there's a lovely duet of Reznor and David Bowie that redeems the song. Good stuff, actually. The duet rescues the song from the pit of self-pity.

Lastly, I note that Kermit the Frog has recorded a version. Most amusing.

So that's one song.

[drone]

Lastly, I note that Kermit the Frog has recorded a version. Most amusing.

I lol'ed. I'm sure Henson would have approved.

I've been a NIN fan for a long time. The Cash version is very good, mainly because it fits him well. But a cover, just for the sake of doing a cover, usually doesn't work out well. I wasn't to impressed by the Ataris' version of Boys of Summer, it seemed too much like a commercial.

I like satire versions, and some remixes work well. Dynamite Hack's version of Boyz in the Hood is good (and the video is genius, given the original subject matter). Filter did an acoustical version of Hey Man, Nice Shot that I really liked, but I can seem to find the remix name. The White Zombie remix album to AstroCreep 2000, Supersexy Swinging Sounds, is good.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I bet this is a bit too obvious but I really like Jimi Hendrix's cover of All Along the Watchtower, the original (by Bob Dylan right?) doesn't sound anywhere near as cool.

[Lemur]

For whatever reason, Bob Dylan songs always sound better as covers. Go ahead, Dylan fans, burn my house down, but you know it's true. Didja know that Dylan's version of Watchtower had only two chords? Hendrix added the third. When Dylan went to play it with bands, all they knew was the Hendrix version, which means Bob Dylan got pwnzered.

Compare the Dylan Ballad of Hollis Brown with a well-done cover. There's an even trippier version done by the Neville Brothers.

Dylan's just one of those guys who writes way, way better than he plays.

-edit-

And lest I forget, there's The Violent Femmes' tribute/parody of Hollis Brown, the Country Death Song.

[Pannonian]

I lost my previous respect for Bob Dylan's songwriting when I discovered that Subterranean Homesick Blues was actually originally performed by George Formby. Also in that second clip is a sanitary towel advert by Nirvana ("Panty Smiles") and the seminal hip hop single "Uzi Lover" by Fur Q.

[Ice]

Funny you make this thread, Lemur. Last week I had an assignment for public speaking to compare/contrast a remake with an original song. I choose Bloody Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd1mKaxN6EY u2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mp6fm-y2H0 Pillar (Don't mind the video)

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Speaking of Dylan

Of course weird al is the master. White and nerdy, amish paradise, smells like nirvana, y-o-d-a yoda, I love rocky road.

I also liked Marilyn Manson's cover of "sweet dreams" almost as much as the original.

[Martok]

While I'm generally a bigger fan of NIN than Cash, I admit that I too probably enjoy Johnny's version better than Reznor's. It's somehow less whiny and more powerful at the same time.

For whatever reason, Bob Dylan songs always sound better as covers. Go ahead, Dylan fans, burn my house down, but you know it's true. Didja know that Dylan's version of Watchtower had only two chords? Hendrix added the third. When Dylan went to play it with bands, all they knew was the Hendrix version, which means Bob Dylan got pwnzered.

I've never been a Dylan fan, at least not as a singer -- I just can't stand his voice. He may be brilliant as a songwriter (although I personally do not make that claim), but I think he performed a disservice to the music industry by singing himself.

[Craterus]

Surfin' Bird, originally by The Trashmen. But I love the Ramones version, it was the one I heard first.

It's been covered by a lot of bands though.

[Moros]

I bet this is a bit too obvious but I really like Jimi Hendrix's cover of All Along the Watchtower, the original (by Bob Dylan right?) doesn't sound anywhere near as cool.

Bob Dylan himself acknowledged that Jimi's version was better.

[macsen rufus]

I once made myself a compilation tape that consisted entirely of different versions of the Velvet Underground's "Waiting for the Man". In the end it had 19 different renditions, from the original album version, a few live Lou Reed performances (including IIRC one from the VU Paris 'reunion' which was effectively "unplugged" though the term wasn't in use back then), covers by Bowie, Bauhaus (also live) and many more I can't remember.... but so many different styles of performance it really wasn't like you'd expect for hearing the "same song over and over".

Another for Wierd Al - I'd love to hear his take on WftM