Versions of a Song

**Lemur** · 04-23-2008, 22:11

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** · 04-23-2008, 22:30

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** · 04-24-2008, 00:01

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** · 04-24-2008, 00:12

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.

**spmetla** · 04-24-2008, 01:39

I think that Goldfinger did a good cover of Nena's 99 Red Balloons. I did not know that Cash had covered Hurt, I am torn between deciding whether I like his or NIN's version better.

EDIT:
I also believe that Manson's Sweet Dreams is better than the original by Eurythmics.

**Drisos** · 04-24-2008, 02:55

I must say I love the original version of 'Sweet Dreams' by eurythmics, and didn't even like the Manson version of it enough to listen it to the end.

Btw, another Weird Al lover here.

Oh and quite a few tracks of Scooter were nice, while the originals were pretty boring. But that may just be me and my love for 'dance'.

**Lord Winter** · 04-24-2008, 04:20

Dave Matheews Band has a good cover of dylan's watchtower:
All live so each version is fairly different. The two best are probably Live at Folsom Feild
and https://youtube.com/watch?v=L1uxU9kFVvU&feature=related

**Martok** · 04-24-2008, 20:08

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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.