Cover versions that are better than the original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XC_Rj51DLI

30 Seconds to Mars version of Kanye West's Stronger.

Lemar doing Darkness and I believe in a thing called love.

Live Lounge coverss can be great.

Nina Gordons version of NWA straight out of Compton

The Clash – Police And Thieves
The Black – Crowes Hard To Handle
The Stranglers – Walk On By +1

Don't rate that nightwish cover of Over the hills and far away tbh.

Lots of votes for Hurt by Johnny Cash, which is great, as is his versino of Personal Jesus, but his cover of One really is far superior to the original, managing to inject some feeling into a song that is trite when Bono et al do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQBrn6trEwI

Also Rachid Taha's cover of Rock the Kasbah

kd lang's cover of Hallelujah is nearly as good as Jeff Buckley's. I really like LC's version as well 😉

Will Young's version of light my fire.

Nah, sorry, I'm yanking your chain, it was so bad, Satan allowed Jim to come back from the dead and ruin Will's career on purpose.

I'd say, Jamelia's 'Stop', which gives me the willies every time I hear it.

Jamelia makes me want to give her the willies too, mainly mine.

ohh, yes, hurt by johnny cash, awesome!!!

much better than the original

Every version of Hallelujah is better than the original.

Therapy?'s cover of Isolation by Joy Division is pretty magnificent…

Heh. Limp Bizkit's version of Faith by George Michael.

Did someone mention any cover of a U2 song? Well how about The Chimes- Still haven't found what I'm looking for. Even Bono thought it was better than U2's

+whatever we are up to for Johnny Cash, Hurt

Iron Maidens version of Phantom of the Opera was way better than the Andrew Lloyd Webber version.

Opeth – Soldier of Fortune I just love the smooth vocals and warm, creamy guitar compared to the Deep Purple original.

Richard Cheese, Me so Horny. Or anything else by same and his band lounge against the machine 😀

Rage did a class cover of NWA's fudge the police…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdfo9tOn9cU

Teenage Fanclub – Like a Virgin
China Drum – Wuthering heights

Also:

Snuff – I Think We're Alone Now
Nirvana – Man Who Sold The World (Unplugged)
Stone Roses – Drivin' South (If Hendrix' version was the original)

The Slits – Heard it Through the Grapevine

+2 for Walk On By by the Stranglers – awesome!

I'm going to have to stick up for NIN here, I really like the Johnny Cash version of Hurt, but I find the NIN version far superior.

One of my favourite covers is Rage's version of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm"

Faith No More's version of War Pigs is awesome. Much better that Sabbath's.

Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower

+1 for the Slits – Heard it through the Grapevine

Dead Kennedys – Viva Las Vegas…. scraping the barrel there I think

muse – feeling good

Obadiah Parker – Hey Ya (Outkast)

Common people by Bill shatner

There is a light that never goes out – David Ford (Smiths)

Will Young's version of light my fire.

I'm not sure this counts. He carbon-copied a cover version of Light My Fire sung by Jose Feliciano. I've got no bone to pick with Mr Young, but if you're going to do a cover at least make it an original spin.

I quite like Anthrax's version of Friggin in the Riggin 😀

Another Smiths cover

Roland Kirk demolishing I Say A Little Prayer

The Sonics' evil version of Louie Louie

+1 for the sonic's louie louie! (although black flags version is also good)

but whats wrong with you all, clearly the best cover is "happiness is a warm gun" as played by the breeders (on pod), yep, its better than the Beatles original!

some of my favourites.

Sweet Child of Mine – Luna
I will survive – Cake
Superstar – Sonic Youth.

Oh come on, nothing is better than the original of Louie Louie.

I vote for Joy Division's Ceremony, as covered by Galaxie 500.

It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

And Daniel Johnston's Speeding Motorcycle, as covered by the Pastels. Amazingly beautiful.

Whole Lotta Love by Dread Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipIPvU44FQ4

It's hard to beat Led Zeppelin fronted by an Elvis impersonator and backed by a Reggae band.

Pure Genius.

chakaping – Member
Oh come on, nothing is better than the original of Louie Louie.

You know that The Kingsmen's version is a cover too? 😉

Can't forget Rotary Connection's awesome version of Respect.

Lemonheads – Mrs Robinson
Gary Moore – Friday on my mind
Marianne Faithfull -Working Class Hero

chakaping – Member
Oh come on, nothing is better than the original of Louie Louie.

You know that The Kingsmen's version is a cover too?

Rhino records released two albums of Louie Louie covers- got to be something on there for everybody.

Jonny cash here as well.Tears well up in my eyes every time i hear it.He was my parents fav singer.

You know that The Kingsmen's version is a cover too?

No I didn't.

Well there's our winner then!

Streching the definition a bit, but 'Someone To Love' with Georgey Michael at the Freddy Mercury tribute is a guilty pleasure of mine

Racing in the Street – good by Springsteen, but better by Townes van Zandt

Spoiler – Electrifying.
The Vid is a bit creepy though.