Sometimes, a song whispers its way into your ear, and BAM! You realize there's something different about it. A cover song has just snuck up on you, wearing the familiar notes of an original track but with a touch that is unique to that cover artist. Or maybe you already knew that hit but never realized it was one of those songs you didn't know were covers. Here they are saying, "Hey, this song was cool, but watch how I make it cooler!"
But hang on, because we're not just about to list a bunch of tracks that had their five minutes of fame on a talent show. No siree, today we're on a quest to reveal the best covers of all time. Remember when you first heard Jimi Hendrix's reimagining of Dylan's All Along The Watchtower? Or when Whitney Houston added a new depth to Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You? These irresistible music covers dared to step into the shadow of an original and came out shining bright. From vintage classics to modern-day hits, we're pulling back the curtains on the iconic cover versions that marked the music scene without asking anyone's permission.
The exciting part? Many of these covers are even better than the original. We'll see artists who have taken an established piece and somehow twisted it into something even more catchy, entering the Olympus of the most successful cover songs, wooing fans, winning awards, and creating a league of their own.
We're aware music is incredibly subjective. These brilliant artists, though, have reimagined some already great songs and turned them into the most well-known tunes in the world. We've got you covered (pun intended) with what people have assured are the best cover songs. Who knows, you might discover your next playlist favorite!
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Johnny Cash – Hurt
"Johnny Cash singing "'Hurt' by NIN."
iamzeecapt replied:
"Yes. It's unreal how different the same lyrics feel by 2 different artists."
Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
"Jimi Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" is much better than Dylan's."
419_glaze_it replied:
"Even Bob Dylan himself admitted that Jimi's version was better."
Check out the version by Bear McCreary for Battlestar Galactica. It rocks!
Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal
"I like Alien Ant Farm's Smooth Criminal better than Michael Jackson's."
Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
_Wendigun_ replied:
"Didn't he also record it in one take at like 1 am after the studio was supposed to be closed but he called and was very nice, so they let him in."
SenoraNegra said:
"It’s beautiful, but it also drives me up the wall because he mixes up the lines from different verses, so the lyrics make no sense."
I believe he knew he was going to die soon and had this urge to go to the studio asap to record this song. He died the next day.
Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World
"The Man Who Sold the World from Nirvana on MTV Unplugged."
Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends
Davidred323 replied:
"Everything Joe Cocker did is a cover and they are all great. The Letter is my favorite."
Tina Turner – Proud Mary
"Tina Turner's cover of 'Proud Mary'."
Janis Joplin – Me And Bobby McGee
"Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee, by Kris Kristofferson in the beginning. Although Kristofferson's version is excellent, Janis' vocal performance elevated it."
Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
"Nirvana's cover of Where did you sleep last night."
AlexJamesCook replied:
"Basically every cover they performed during the MTV Unplugged session was pure gold. We met Kurt at his primordial best; where his disdain for everything met his talent, met his desire to perform. That performance sums up Kurt tragically and beautifully."
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
"Tainted Love by Soft Cell."
7sodab0sc0 replied:
"I feel like I’m receiving the good karma from my life when I chance to hear this version. Makes my day every time."
This is one that most people won't realize is actually a cover. The original version was recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964 and it's actually quite different sounding from the Soft Cell version. The Soft Cell version is in the key of G instead of C and has a slower tempo while synthesizers and rhythm machines replace the guitars, bass, drums and horns of the original. Soft Cell's version also eventually goes off into another cover, this one being "Where Did Our Love Go" by the Supremes.
Patsy Cline – Crazy
"Better performed and most people just assume she was the original. It was actually Willie Nelson’s song he wrote and performed first, but just didn’t have the same impact as her singing it."
I could (and have) listen to Patsy Cline all day. She had the most incredible voice.
Cindy Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
The Clash's – I Fought The Law
"The Clash's version of I Fought The Law."
_ferrofluid_ replied:
"For real, this was the first version of the song I heard. It’s the best."
Gary Jules – Mad World
"Mad World by Gary Jules, originally by Tears for Fears, are both great though."
I've heard a remix at a place that I workout at. And to me, that song just isn't the same.
Patti Smith – Because The Night
"It was originally a Bruce Springsteen song that he wrote and performed, but for whatever reason, gave it to her. I heard the Springsteen/E-Street Band's original spin on it, and although it's amazing, Smith's rendition is otherworldly."
The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter
"The Bangles version of Hazy Shade of Winter."
Guns N' Roses – Live And Let Die
"Probably not a popular opinion but I like the GnRs version of Live and Let Die. Yes, I am a Beatles and Paul McCartney fan."
AndImSuperKing replied:
"Also, Guns N' Roses Knocking' on Heaven’s Door."
I really DON'T like the "Live and Let Die" cover. It ruins my favorite part when it suddenly goes into a manic instrumental after the slow, somber part of the song. As for the Dylan cover, I forgot how short the original version actually was after having frequently heard the Guns N' Rose's version which lengthens it out with extra guitar work and repetitive use of the chorus, complete with multiple "HEY HEY HEY's"
Mark Ronson Ft. Amy Winehouse – Valerie
"Valerie sang by Amy Winehouse. So much so that everyone forgets The Zutons ever even tried."
Fresnel_Zone replied:
"This cover is so good that you can slow it down to half speed to get a second really good cover."
Joan Jett – I Love Rock 'N Roll
Cake – I Will Survive
FunnyYellowBird replied:
"Their cover of Doris Day’s “Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps” is one of my all-time fave songs."
Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
"Natalie Imbruglia's version of Torn."
YupIzzMee replied:
"I listened to this song by Talk Talk so many years, and then it faded away. When I heard it from No Doubt I didn't even realize it was the same song!"
I frickin' love Imbruglia's version of "Torn" but it has this really complex backstory to the original song which blows my mind. Torn was originally written in 1991 by Scott Cutler and Anne Preven with producer Phil Thornalley as a solo song for Preven. Cutler and Preven's band Ednaswap would perform it live but did not initially release a recording for it. The song was a lot rougher sounding with a slightly different melody--more rock than pop. They would not release a recorded version until 1995. In the meantime, in 1993, the first release recording of this song was done by the Danish singer, Lis Sorensen as "Burnt" (the English translation) with completely different lyrics in Danish but the melody was the one that would eventually become associated with it. In 1996, the American-Norweigian singer, Trine Rein released her version, which featured Ednaswap's lyrics with the melody from the Danish version. FINALLY, the Australian singer, Natalie Imbruglia released her version in 1997.
They Might Be Giants – Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
"The original is just very cheesy, and the singing sounds very flat and stilted compared to TMBG, almost like what a little kid sounds like when singing."
Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
"I Will Always Love You — Whitney Houston. Written and originally performed by Dolly Parton. This is the best cover ever."
The Beatles – Twist And Shout
The Fairy Godmother – I Need A Hero
"'I need a hero', the Shrek version is better."
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Metallica – Turn The Page
"I am not a Metallica fan but as a bartender that had to listen to the jukebox for hours at a time, I will take their version of Turn the Page over Bob Seger's."
eddmario replied:
"Even Seger loves their cover."
Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind
"I think 'Always on my mind' by Pet Shop Boys is amazing."
Rage Against The Machine – Renegades Of Funk
"Rage Against the Machine's — Renegades of Funk is far better than the original."
Consistent-Film-6926 replied:
"Everything on the album is great honestly, imagine being told in the 70s-80s that a rap rock group in the year 2000 would create a cover album of many songs released around that era in the style of their own third album and it'd actually be a great album."
Nirvana – Lake Of Fire
"Kurt Cobain’s cover of the Meat Puppets' songs on Unplugged."
fd1Jeff replied:
"Also, Nirvana‘s version of the Man Who Sold the World. I am a colossal Bowie fan, but somehow their version is just a little better."
Deep Purple – Hush
like_bookends repleid:
"I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A COVER."
Talking Heads – Take Me To The River
"'Take Me to the River' by Talking Heads."
Great version, but the Billy Bass version is best (unless you are Tony Soprano)
Eddie Vedder – Hard Sun
"Eddie Vedder's cover of Hard Sun."
Mendoza8914 replied:
"The original song used to play on my local alternative hard rock station all the time, and after Eddie Vedder covered it I never heard the original again."
Charles Bradley – Changes
"Changes by Black Sabbath, covered by Charles Bradley."
Oh hell yes...You can hear the pain in his voice. Brought tears to my eyes watching this. https://youtu.be/zfaOf70M4xs
The Interrupters – Bad Guy
CrispyChickenArms replied: "I'd say the same if the interrupters weren't so obscure. It's a shame ska isn't cool anymore."
Iron And Wine – Such Great Heights
"I love the original but this version was what I listened to in my friend's car during a stormy summer night. That slow calm drive with the rain hitting the roof and the soft blue light of the dashboard against the dark black night has to be one of my fondest memories."
Van Halen – You Really Got Me
linesinaconversation replied: "It's not really fair to say, for example, Alien Ant Farm's "Smooth Criminal" is better than MJ's if you grew up at the height of nu-metal. Based on those parameters, this is the one my mind immediately goes to. I'd heard The Kinks' version of "You Really Got Me" plenty. Always liked it. When I heard the Van Halen version? Game. Over. I'm not even huge into them, but they rocked it."
George Costanza's Answering Machine – Believe It Or Not
"Believe it or Not by George Costanza's answering machine."
Moonlitekilla replied:
"The 10,000 Maniacs version also is incredible."
Fiona Apple – Across The Universe
"Fiona Apple’s version of 'Across The Universe' is so very sumptuous and so much warmer and fuller than the original."
What?! This was bloody horrible. Her voice sounded like she was drunk and half asleep.
Reba McEntire – Fancy
samanthaspice replied: "The Night that the Lights Went Out in Georgia” was also originally recorded by Vicki Lawrence from “Mamas Family” and “The Carol Burnett Show”… she wasn’t really a signer but her husband had written the song and was convinced it would be a hit he just couldn’t sell it to any artists. When he felt he exhausted his options he said fine, this song is so good even my wife could sing it and make it a hit… and she did. Then Reba picked it up and now it’s one of her more well-known songs."
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World
The Band – Atlantic City
riverbanks1986 replied:
"Happy to see this here, it’s one of my favorite songs of all time. Springsteen’s is haunting, but Levon’s is… recklessly hopeful. Also worth a listen is John Anderson’s cover, which is clearly a cover of The Band version and not of the original. A cover of a cover."
Levon Helm's raggedy voice is perfect for this song. It's also a great album.
The Wiggles – Elephant
"The Wiggles - Elephant (originally by Tame Impala). It does not have the right to be as funky and awesome as it is!"
MastarQueef replied:
"When I first found this I just laughed and then I pressed play and I was like 'Okay The Wiggles need to collab with tame Impala."
Leo Moracchioli – Feel Good Inc
Actuallawyerguy2 said:
"Almost everything from Leo Moracchioli. I'm not even a metal fan."
gr0nr replied:
"His Feel Good Inc. video got me HOOKED."
Cat Power – Sea Of Love
"Sea of Love Cat Power version."
Peter Gabriel – Book Of Love
calmhades replied:
"I didn’t know he covered this song. But I have to completely disagree with you. Magnetic Fields nailed it the first time."
Ace Freehley – New York Groove
Reddit's User replied:
"I grew up listening to the Ace version. In my ears, it is THE version of this song."
The Ataris – Boys Of Summer
CharlieFiner replied:
"Fun fact: the cover is now as old as the original was when the cover was released. It's due for another."
The "Summer of 69" cover by MxPx is amazing as well, much better than the original!
This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
"'Song To The Siren' as performed by This Mortal Coil. Originally by Tim Buckley.
Marilyn Manson Sweet Dreams, really boosted his career and is a great cover because the song is already subversive. Liked his cover of Tainted Love too.
Sweet dreams is in my top 5 cover songs. It's just so good! He also does a sick version of David Bowie's "Golden years"
Load More Replies...
Jeff Healey, 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'; Disturbed, 'Sound of Silence'; both Sinead O'Connor and Chris Cornell 'Nothing Compares 2U', and those are off the top of my head
Disturbed's "Sound of Silence" is excellent. I was not expecting it to be covered so beautifully by a heavy metal band.
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Why does no one know that Steve Miller’s Jet Airliner is a cover?????? Paul Peña wrote it and recorded it first.
Marilyn Manson Sweet Dreams, really boosted his career and is a great cover because the song is already subversive. Liked his cover of Tainted Love too.
Sweet dreams is in my top 5 cover songs. It's just so good! He also does a sick version of David Bowie's "Golden years"
Load More Replies... Jeff Healey, 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'; Disturbed, 'Sound of Silence'; both Sinead O'Connor and Chris Cornell 'Nothing Compares 2U', and those are off the top of my head
Disturbed's "Sound of Silence" is excellent. I was not expecting it to be covered so beautifully by a heavy metal band.
Load More Replies... Why does no one know that Steve Miller’s Jet Airliner is a cover?????? Paul Peña wrote it and recorded it first.
