UNDERCOVER: Classic Cover Songs!

১৭ ই জুলাই, ২০১৫ সন্ধ্যা ৬:০৩

Typically when an artist/band perform a song which was written and perform before by another artist/band, then we call it a "Cover." Usually cover songs are popular, mostly early days of Rock n' Roll music scene. Cover songs are often carried a negative connotation, it's like stealing a beautiful song and get an instant popularity. In reality, they are typically recognized as one artist paying homage to another out of admiration. Many cover versions turn out to be more popular than the originals. It's not uncommon that despite a great original version, the cover version works better.

Actually there's nothing better than the originals. These songs get to cover by different artists/bands because these songs (originals) are unique in the first place, so the others get tempted to cover these...


All Along The Watchtower
Original: Bob Dylan
Cover: Jimi Hendrix
Most people forgot or don’t even know it’s a Dylan song. Even Dylan thinks it’s a Hendrix song!

Hallelujah
Original: Leonard Cohen
Cover: Jeff Buckley
This song had been covered more than 200 artists but Jeff's soaring and angelic rendition stands out.

Proud Mary
Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Cover: Ike & Tina Turner
Even though the CCR original was a powerful song, yet the more popular version is Ike & Tina’s version. This song has real staying power.

Respect
Original: Otis Redding
Cover: Aretha Franklin
Aretha's cover version is consider as one of the best known R&B songs ever, she owns this song.

House Of The Rising Sun
Original: Unknown
Cover: The Animals
The Animals cover is a number one hit song. It's originally a traditional folk song.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Original: Judy Garland
Cover: Israel K
Judy's 1939 version from the musical movie "Wizard of Oz" was an all-time classic until an unknown Hawaiian covered it via the Internet, the world falls in love with this song all over again.

You Really Got Me
Original: The Kinks
Cover: Van Halen
Van Halen's version is a perfect example for genre-changing cover song.

I Heard It Thru The Grapevine
Original: Gladys Knight & The Pips
Covers: Marvin Gaye / CCR
Marvin’s cover came out only a year after Gladys' original, and it went straight to #1. CCR's long Blues Rock version is quite captivated as well.

I Shot The Sheriff
Original: Bob Marley
Cover: Eric Clapton
Eric called up Bob right after he heard the song and asked if he could cover the song. Both versions are equally loved by the audience.

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Original: The Bee Gees
Cover: Al Green
Al turned an English Pop song to a silky Soul song!


The Man Who Sold The World
Original: David Bowie
Cover: Nirvana
The haunting Nirvana cover from their MTV Unplugged won everybody's heart!

Hurt
Original: Nine Inch Nails
Cover: Johnny Cash
A very unlikely cover from the Country legend. The original NIN song's dark and angry. But when you listen to Johnny’s version, he world seems to stop! It's honest and painful, almost hard to listen to...

With A Little Help From My Friends
Original: The Beatles
Cover: Joe Cocker
Joe turned a typical famous Beatle song into a blissful gospel soul.


Red Red Wine
Original: Neil Diamond
Cover: UB40
Even Neil couldn't recognized his song when he first heard UB40’s hit song.

I Will Always Love You
Original: Dolly Parton
Cover: Whitney Houston
Dolly's version was a minor Country hit. Whitney sang it in her movie The Bodyguard and it went straight to #1.


Light My Fire
Original: The Doors
Cover: Jose Feliciano
The Doors original song is just too perfect, Jim Morrison's voice is irreplaceable. Still, Jose's cover is captivating as well.

She’s Not There
Original: The Zombies
Cover: Santana
Carlos Santana adds up a set of fantastic guitar fills and made it just right!


Sweet Jane
Original: Lou Reed
Cover: Cowboy Junkies
Junkies' cover is melancholy and spooky even though the song originally was a Punk Rock hit before.

You’ve Got A Friend
Original: Carole King
Cover: James Taylor
JT sung a song his best friend wrote, he didn't changed much on his cover version but everyone thinks it's his song.

Hazy Shade Of Winter
Original: Simon & Garfunkel
Cover: The Bangles
A Simon & Garfunkel classic song. The standout harmonies and the added urgency to the Bangles version made the song an 80s classic again.

Knocking On Heaven’s Door
Original: Bob Dylan
Covers: Eric Clapton / Guns N Roses
Probably the most debatable cover songs. Truth is, this song's meant to sing over and over. Dylan wrote this song for "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" a hollywood 'western' movie, he also acted in the film and did the whole soundtrack!

Last Kiss
Original: Wayne Cochran
Covers: J. Frank Wilson / Pearl Jam
The song was recorded first by Wayne Cochran, but wasn't a hit until J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers recorded their version. Pearl Jam cut the cover for fan club members, only few local radios played that song, it got huge attention and later they released it officially in a benefit album; "No Boundaries", a Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees. Eddie is fantastic on this song, it became PJ's biggest hit single.

Working Class Hero
Original: John Lennon
Cover: Green Day
Green Day did that on a compilation album to save Darfur.

Come Together
Original: The Beatles
Cover: Aerosmith
The Beatles original was fabulous as usual, and Aerosmith's one is electrifying.

I Can’t Make You Love Me
Original: Bonnie Raitt
Cover: George Michael
Good songs get great covers, this can be an example.

Take It Easy
Original: Jackson Browne
Cover: The Eagles
It was Jackson's song that really brought these Country Rockers on to the scene.

Nothing Compares 2 U
Original: Prince
Cover: Sinead O’ Connor
Who knew it's a Prince song until Sinead made her hit single!

La Bamba
Original: Ritchie Valens
Covers: Los Lobos
Even though none of us know what the song's saying, we all love to sing the song whenever we get to listen to it.

After The Gold Rush
Original: Neil Young
Covers: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt
This trio cover is absolute magic. The trio's blend of voice, is effortless and makes you realize what a treasure Neil is as a songwriter.

Stone Cold Crazy
Original: Queen
Covers: Metallica
Covering a Freddie Mercury song is probably the hardest thing for a singer. Metallica picked the right song did a splendid job.

If You Don’t Know Me By Now
Original: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Cover: Teddy Pendergrass / Simply Red
Great song, also covered by some great voices.

Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
Original: Neil Diamond
Cover: Urge Overkill
"Pulp Fiction" had the cover and it's a treat to listen to this song.

Jolene
Original: Dolly Parton
Cover: The White Stripes
Dolly's original was lovely version, but with a slightly harder and punkier approach the White Stripes' cover is a pretty straight-up version.



(as published in SONIC Music Magazine)


Other songs with their notable Cover versions...
(Song names, Originals and Covers respectively)

Black Magic Woman
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
Santana

I Love Rock n' Roll
the Arrows
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Reason to Believe
Tim Hardin
Rod Stewart

Cocaine
J. J. Cale
Eric Clapton

Downtown Train
Tom Waits
Rod Stewart

Twist And Shout
The Isley Brothers
The Beatles

Georgia On My Mind
Hoagy Carmichael
Ray Charles

Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Hound Dog
Big Mama Thornton
Elvis Presley

You Shook Me
Muddy Waters (with Earl Hooker)
Led Zeppelin

I Put a Spell On You
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Nina Simone / CCR

As Tears Go By
The Rolling Stones
Marianne Faithfull

Kentucky Woman
Neil Diamond
Deep Purple

Turn! Turn! Turn!
Pete Seeger
The Byrds

Wild Thing
The Troggs
Jimi Hendrix / Jeff Beck

Live and Let Die
Paul McCartney & the Wings
Guns N' Roses

Crossroads
Robert Johnson
Cream

Me and Bobby McGee
Roger Miller (singer) / Kris Kristofferson (writer/singer)
Janis Joplin

Mr. Tambourine Man
Bob Dylan
The Byrds

The First Cut Is the Deepest
P. P. Arnold (singer) / Cat Stevens (writer/singer)
Rod Stewart / Sheryl Crow

Still I'm Sad
The Yardbirds
Rainbow / Boney M

Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Frankie Valli
Andy Williams / Lauryn Hill

People Get Ready
Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions
Bob Marley / Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck

Tuesday's Gone
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Metallica

Turn The Page
Bob Seger
Metallica

Whiskey in the Jar
Irish traditional song
The Dubliners / Thin Lizzy / Metallica

Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughan

Little Wing
Jimi Hendrix
Derek & the Dominos / Sting / SRV

Mustang Sally
Sir Mack Rice
Wilson Pickett

Love Hurts
Everly Brothers
Nazareth

Johnny B. Goode
Chuck Berry
Judas Priest

Diamond and Rust
Joan Baez
Judas Priest

Ticket to Ride
The Beatles
The Carpenters

Stand By Me
Ben E. King
John Lennon

Wild Night
Van Morrison
John Mellencamp

Always on My Mind
Brenda Lee
Elvis / Willie Nelson / Pet Shop Boys

Statesboro Blues
Blind Willie McTell
Allman Brothers Band

Killing Me Softly with His Song
Roberta Flack
The Fugees

I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
Cake

Burning Down the House
Talking Heads
Tom Jones with the Cardigans

Sweet Dreams
Eurythmics
Marilyn Manson

99 Red Ballons
Nena
Goldfinger

Smell Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
Tori Amos

Careless Whisper
WHAM!
Sheether

Don't Dream It's Over
Crowded House
Sixpence None the Richer

School Day
Chuck Berry
AC/DC

With Arms Wide Open
Creed
Dave Grohl

Run
Snow Patrol
Leona Lewis

the Power of Love
Jennifer Rush
Celine Dion / Air Supply

Oh Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison
Van Halen

(...to be continuted!)

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