Here are a few to get things started:
Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer as an 80s synth tune
Bossa nova version of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over
Reggae-ish version of Aretha Franklin’s Respect
A capella men’s ensemble version of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance
EDIT: This has been great, everyone. Thank you all for the terrific links and for introducing me to a number of artists I wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. Seriously, the online rabbit-holes have been thoroughly enjoyable–even if I stayed up a bit too late a number of times.
Worth it.
Cake - I will survive
They have other great covers tooI came hear to say this.
The song is great in context of the album as well, ‘fashion nugget’ is one big fuck you too a failed relationship.
Gloria Gaynor said it was her least favorite cover, due to the use of profanity.
Did anyone already mention Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt, original by Nine Inch Nails? A marvelous reimagined version, maybe, the best cover ever.
Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae cover of Dark Side of the Moon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dub_Side_of_the_Moon
Joke answer: Disturbed’s “The Sound of Science” cover because it’s fucking horrid and ruins the point of the original’s meaning.
I once got to see The Easy Star All Stars playing Dub Side, and it was magnificent. Such a great band.
They also did OK Computer (Radiodread); their cover of Let Down is one of my favorite covers all-time.
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
I’m surprised nobody’s put up The Wiggles cover of Tame Impala’s Elephant
Yes, those Wiggles. It’s good.
I normally go for parodies, but this would be the place to post the Devil Went Down to Georgia (Washing Machine Cover)
More seriously, 2CELLOS’ rendition of Thunderstruck is incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT3SBzmDxGk
They have a ton of really good ones on their channel, but that one will always be my favorite for how into it they get
That is my favorite version of Thunderstruck, even more than the original.
(There was a really cool article I read ages ago that discussed how similar metal and classical music structures are. Have no idea where I found it.)
I’ve always found Faith No More do absolutely spot on cover versions.
Two very different examples:
Modest Mussorsky’s “Pictures at an exhibition” was originally written for piano (that was all the poor guy had available), and it took Maurice Ravel to turn it into an orchestral version and make it popular world wide. Both versions are great and have their own qualities, but I far prefer Ravel’s version (Although Khatia Buniatishvili’s rendition here is so really really good).
Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay”. The original is… well… it’s a Bob Dylan song. There is a really good cover version by Ministry that, althought technically is the same song, takes it to a whole other level. Love it.
Postmodern Jukebox ft. Haley Reinhart - Creep (original by Radiohead), jazz/big band style
Novena - Bury a Friend, progressive metal Billie Eilish. Starts out like the original and gets progressively heavier.
Surprised how far down I had to look for Postmodern Jukebox to show up!
Time, the Valuator covered Lovely as well. Pretty fucking amazing.
So many of the Postmodern Jukebox covers are fantastic.
Jazz Sabbath. I had no idea this existed. It was just suggested to me because the algorithms are good at their job. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qcr708w1HY
I don’t really know Black Sabbath music but this is great.
Funnel Of Love by Wanda Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt7PPidlIvg
Cover by Boris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4T_XNdeRTs
Polysics covering My Sharona by The Knack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXHEVcYTZYQ
Goddamn it why am I just learning about Japanese DEVO today? Why has no one told me? Thanks for sharing, this cover is a banger and I must listen to Polysics’ entire discography now!
You’re welcome! And have you heard of Servotron? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gS4nzSWmCs
I hadn’t but I’m adding to my playlists! I first got really into music via prog rock so this type of high-concept silliness is well-aligned with my preferences :P
A band on TikTok did an emo cover of Rascal Flatts’ What Hurts the Most that is pretty good.
It ended up on a compilation album Country Goes Hardcore that has some interesting ones. I like Ever Since Eve’s emo cover of Take Me Home, Country Roads.
Had a huge Northern Kings phase a couple years ago. Damn good stuff.
Yeah, amazing talent. A shame they haven’t done any more albums.
Thanks. I never heard of this band before. Their cover of Ashes To Ashes sent me down a rabbit hole.
Always happy to spread some Northern Kings!
Yes – America (original by Simon and Garfunkel)
Anthony Vincent – Chop Suey in the style of Ghost (original by System of a Down)
Dr Pez & Marc Papeghin – The soundtrack of Ocarina of Time, but its a prog rock concept album (not sure it technically counts as a cover)
Brass Against – The Pot (Original by Tool)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower (Original by Bob Dylan)
Also, not sure how widely known this is, but Arethra Franklin’s Respect is itself a cover (and certainly one of the best covers of all time, up there with All Along the Watchtower and Johnny Cash’s rendition of Hurt)
Aretha Franklin’s cover of the Stones’ Satisfaction is also fantastic.
Aretha’s version of Respect is so good that it’s essentially the de facto original, to the point that Otis commented “that a girl took away from me, a friend of mine, this girl she just took this song”.
To be fair, it makes so much more sense from a woman’s perspective.
