Covers better than the original?

Everyone has heard a song and thought I know that song I like that song then as you listen to it you realise,that's not the version I know and that's what is commonly known as a "cover".Many artists will "cover" a song by another artist for many different reasons some bands go by influence,band that influenced them to form a band.The perfect example of this is the American band,"the Shaw-Blades" not that well known over here sadly but they where formed by Tommy Shaw of Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger.They released two albums to date the second of which "Influence" is what we will look at here.Influence is basically a covers album,11 songs all covers from band that influenced them mostly from the seventies,an example of these songs are the classic,and I do mean CLASSIC song California dreamin by the Mama's and Papa's,everyone knows the song,don't get me wrong Shaw-Blades do a fantastic cover but no one can do a song better them the Mama's sorry boys good luck next time.

Next we will look at a personal favourite of mine,this time from a tragic artist namely Jeff Buckley.Jeff was an American artist who tragically died aged just 30 years old,while waiting for his band to show up to record an album he drowned in the Wolf River.Buckley only recorded one album "grace" before his untimely demise.Grace despite critical acclaim had relatively poor record sales,the album did eventually reach Gold status in the states but not till 2002,almost 5 years after Jeff's death.I digress the point i am trying to make here is the awesome cover of the Leonard Cohen hit "Hallelujah".You should have heard at least one version of it,be it the original, Buckley's classic version the equally awesome Rufus Wainwrights version recorded for the Shrek film or more recently,as I right this I have a lump in my throat because I am disgusted but here goes,the version recorded by Alexandra Burke the X factor winner.I personally champion my man Rufus but the most popular version would be the Buckley version which does show that sometimes a cover version is better than the original right?Saying that I did hear a version by KD Lang which I feel was actually better than all three versions.

Talking of Rufus Wainwright for those of you who don't know Rufus is a Canadian American singer-songwriter from a very musical family and a personal favourite of mine,his sister Martha is also a fantastic singer.Rufus has not only done a fantastic version of Hallelujah but he also recreated Judy Garland's entire show at Carnegie hall,the album Rufus!Rufus!Rufus! does Judy!Judy!Judy!:live from the London palladium is a fantastic album recorded live you should check it out,but as great as Rufus does he cant best Judy although he does do a better version then Cohen of hallelujah.

I could go on and on about cover versions but my eyes are hurting so I am stopping here drop me a few comments of bands who do covers that you think are better than the original and we will see what we can come up with,before I go I thought of another fantastic example,Adele.

Adele is an English singer-songwriter who as of this moment in time has released 2 albums the debut 19 and the hugely and I mean hugely popular 21.I want to look at the first album 19 which had an absolutely superb cover of the Bob Dylan song "feel my love".The song recorded for Dylan's 1997 album was massively popular for Adele,if you haven't heard it check it out again I feel it is better,much I mean lets face it lyrical genius Dylan is good singer he is not.

I have recently discovered the delights of a totally underrated stack of albums knows as punk does,which consists of seven albums that I know of,punk goes pop,punk goes pop 2,punk goes 80's,punk goes 90's,punk goes acoustic,punk goes acoustic 2,punk goes classic rock,punk goes metal and punk goes crunk.The reason I mentioned these albums is because its pretty much what it says on the tin punk goes,pretty much punk bands taking on songs from the 80's 90's etc.Now I wont sit here and lie and say every cover if better than the original because well I would be a bullshitter and that ain't how I roll and y'all knows it,so now I got a few examples of covers better than originals you ready to have your faces melted?here goes:Emery-Holding out for a hero(Bonnie Tyler Cover),Jamison Parker-Everyone wants to rule the world(Tears for fears cover),Amber Pacific-Video killed the radio star(Buggles cover- which was also covered by an amazing English indie pop band called the feeling which do a better version by far check it out) a personal favourite of mine is Pierce the veil and their seriously shit hot cover of Don't fear the reaper(Blue Oyster Cult-I must at this point interject again and say I personally love this song but I think the version by HIM is much better)All Time Low-Umbrella(Rhianna cover)Dragonlands fucking AWESOME version of the Neverending story(Limahl).This might not go down to well with fans of ABBA but I'm a throw it in there anyway Yngwie Malmsteen-Gimme Gimme Gimme(ABBA cover)they do an amazing job of it I think its better than the original I don't care fuck it my blog my choice fuckers deal with it.

YOU got any examples you want to share with the Ears team?hook us up send it it

peace
Ears