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Epic cover songs

12639 Views 211 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  Stagger Lee
This thread is a place to post epic cover songs. This means that the cover exceeds the original in some manner, or just brings a unique, appealing twist to the original. Below is a pretty well known example to get the thread started. While Bob Dylan originally wrote and performed "All Along the Watchtower", many people (myself included) prefer Jimi Hendrix's version.

When posting, please also try to post the original artist's performance so others have something to compare your chosen cover to.


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I dont think it could ever be possible to exceed the original, but these two beaut's come close.

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I like all three of these... Although, no slight on Chris Issak. They just turned it up imo




Emika is still my personal fav...
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I'm biased because Ghost is one of my favorite bands, but I love their version of it.
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SomaFM: Covers /// Great station on TuneIn radio.


Bonnie Tyler did the original and I'm NOT a fan of her version.

Nice one @Hexigoon probably wouldnt have remembered this untill i saw you posted Rocky Erickson
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More a mashup than cover, but it works for me
Sound of Silence.

Original by Simon & Garfunkel.

But my favorite is by Disturbed.


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Hallelujah

Original by Leonard Cohen and it sounds like shit.


The best cover is this one:

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Original by Ellie Goulding, which is s a pop song!

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@ENIGMA2019 Canons is one of my favorite new discoveries. Their original material is great, but they have a few great covers too...

@Sily There are a few awesome songwriters (like Leonard Cohen and John Prine) that had abysmal singing voices, but insisted on performing anyway. My favorite Cohen cover...

@Stagger Lee Um, who the hell is Primal Scream? They sound great.

@taixfai I'm actually a fan of the original Ellie Goulding song, though the quality of her work has declined in the past few years. I Am King did a great job with it...

I'll leave y'all with a metal Cream cover, with cellos...
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I love it too! Used to listen to it constantly. I was surprised how good the cover was.

edit. Technically I think the vers. I liked was a remix.
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This is going to be the story of "Pancho & Lefty".

There was this fantastic songwriter. His name was Townes Van Zandt.

He wrote one of my favorite songs ever "Pancho & Lefty". He lived till 1997. He died from health problems stemming from substance abuse (heroin/alcohol).

In the 70s, Emmylou Harris covered his song "Pancho & Lefty" on her album Luxury Liner. I played it non-stop on my 8-track player in my car. This was around '76, '77, '78.

Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard recorded the song "Pancho & Lefty" and had a hit in '83. Towns Van Zandt can be seen in this video twice. Playing cards and playing his guitar.

This song is one of my husband's favorite karaoke songs and he also plays it on his guitar.

I'll post Emmylou's version because it is my fav, then I'll post Townes' version.


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There are a few covers of the original but - this is my fav cover on it. I am not sure if the video plays a part in it.


Still love
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This might be hard to believe but I love Miley Cyrus' version of These Days by Jackson Browne better than Jackson's.

Jackson Browne wrote These Days when he was just a kid in high school, in the 60s. Then he went to NYC, played back-up guitar for Nico (of The Velvet Underground) and SHE recorded it. It's been in a load of movies.


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Any cover by him/them is pretty fabulous. Some U2, David Bowie and Joy Division as well. I could not find any that are really epic covers/sound quality.


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@Sily My first exposure to Townes was, of course, a cover.

@ENIGMA2019 Been following Meg Myers for years now...great talent, and a great cover. That said, I love the original by Kate Bush as well. I haven't followed Dave Gahan's solo career at all, though I've been listening to Depeche Mode for years.

Here's another cover, followed by the original...


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@Sily My first exposure to Townes was, of course, a cover.

@ENIGMA2019 Been following Meg Myers for years now...great talent, and a great cover. That said, I love the original by Kate Bush as well. I haven't followed Dave Gahan's solo career at all, though I've been listening to Depeche Mode for years.

Here's another cover, followed by the original...


Most are not aware of that. Heard this one?

Have you ever watched Walk the Line?

Walk the Line (2005) - IMDb

Only other one that had me like - wow- I completely got wrapped up in them being that person was
Ray

Ray (2004) - IMDb

Jamie Foxx blew it out of the water imo
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