The theme this week is original versus covers. Hours could be spent looking through cover songs. I usually prefer originals, but there are the obvious cover winners, like Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”, where Dolly has the heart, but Whitney has the pipes, and Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Dylans’ “All Along the Watchtower”, for starters. There are unbeatable originals, like “I Shot the Sheriff”. Some songs will forever belong to their original performer. The sheer number of covers songs makes it difficult to choose, and because of that I decided to go with a couple of songs I either didn’t know were cover songs or didn’t know had been covered.
Love Hurts, absolutely, but did you know it was was originally an Everly Brothers song? I didn’t.
This clip is a compilation of the songs covers – the first part is the Everly Brothers version. It’s the only one I could find with an Everly Brothers rendition.
Nazereth’s version has become the standard bearer.
Did you know Paul Anka covered Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”? Nor did I, thank goodness. I still don’t know whether to applaud, laugh, cry or vomit.
The original video/recording is here.
This is Paul Anka’s version, and frankly it kind of creeps me out, but I wanted to share it. What the hell is Paul Anka doing smelling teen spirit anyway?
This is to make up for the nightmare swing version of Smells Like Teen Spirit.
In conclusion, and after much concentrated listening I’ve also come to agree with those who designate Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah the best version.
Quite HOT, enjoy.
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Paul Anka and Nirvana are two things that should NEVER go together!
Speaking of Nirvana, I prefer their version of “The Man who Sold the World” to the original David Bowie (although I still love Bowie).
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They certainly should not go together.
I’m a bit of a Bowie freak so I’d go the other way.
Paul Anka’s first hit was this
I’m so young and you’re so old
This, my darling, I’ve been told
I don’t care just what they say
‘Cause forever I will pray
You and I will be as free
As the birds up in the trees
Oh, please stay by me, Diana
Vomit or maybe laugh
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He sounds alright in that one but this one is a travesty. I’m kind of glad I missed that era though.
Nazareth had surprising, and good, taste in covers. “This Flight Tonight” was a hit for the band. Other than fans of Joni Mitchell, few probably know its her song.
When it comes to musical taste there’s not really a “best” version. It’s very individual.
“Hallelujah” shows that perhaps better than any other song. It’s been covered in such different ways that there’s no real comparison to be made between some versions. Jeff Buckley’s was the only cover prominent for a long time. Now, there’s just as passionate devotees of kd lang, Allison Crowe, the rediscovered John Cale and so on. Leonard Cohen’s new version is so different to his original takes he’s almost covering himself with a vital newness.
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A worthy song under any circumstance.
I am rather stuck on the Joni version myself.
That cover by Paul Anka is so wrong it’s not funny.
Johnny Cash did Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” proud.
I’ll do it, place me in the pile.
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Hurt is great by both, but you are right Cash did it proud.
I haven’t heard Nazareth in years. That did bring back some memories. Casey: Johnny Cash is as good as they come.
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Memories are good, and nothing triggers them like music.
That was painful. “Why oh Why” ? Tony Bennett and Tom Jones are the only ones who can get away with this kind of thing, and they at least have the sense to stay away from that song.
I didn’t know “Love Hurts” was a cover either.
The Bangles did a really good version of Paul Simon’s “Hazy Shade of Winter”.
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Thanks, I’ve never heard the Bangles do that.
I think I’m laughing…or are these tears of pain at Paul Anka?
I think my ears are bleeding, Coop…
I really hated to do it to you, but I was compelled to get it out there.
I enjoyed Nazareth, but Paul Anka was… uh… interesting. ;-)
Happy OSF
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A little dose of that nasty cough syrup for the weekend. Makes you enjoy the better tasting stuff.
I like Joan Jett’s version too. I had never heard the Everly Brothers version, or so I thought, until I clicked on it and listened -I think I have heard it before, somewhere.
I see the merits of both versions of Watchtower. They are different songs when song by the writer and the rock star/guitarist.
I can’t describe the feeling on the Anka version of Smells Like Teen Spirit or singing but he shouldn’t be smellin it fo sho.
I’d do it but I’m at work, on break. We got wireless now, ya know we need a bunch of upper middle class yuppies at the bar with their laptops like we need arsenic but what the hell.
I like any version of Hallelujah.
I once broke up with a girl because she didn’t know of the song.
Kidding.
Hallaeheah? You are not supposed to be drinking. I’m fixing that spelling.
I can just imagine all those drunk D.C. politicians, and minions to those who would be politicians, up their, drunk, with their laptops in tow.
I did one, go check it out. I won’t elaborate.
Quite a gagger that, are those comments at you tube for real?
I could have lived my whole life without having seen that if not for you.
Forever etched will be his singing “oh no I know a dirty word hello hello hello …”
damn you cooper
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I will and I’ll do the link soon. It was a gagger. Ew, I just looked yours are pretty much gaggers as well.
Buckley makes me sigh, in a good way, Paul Anka not so much.
Not at all.
Thank you for sharing, perhaps you’d like some of my hemlock?
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wowowowow!!!! interesting to say the least. I think paul should stick to his own genre! lol
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I learned a lot here today, as I always do, although I’m less better off than usual. Here’s another great version of Hallelujah by a Norwegian group: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM. I kind of like the original, but I’m old, old-fashioned and surly so I would.
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Oh My.
That’s it.
Don’t do that again. ;)
WOW! Very interesting! I really don’t know what to say about Paul Anka, that is creepy! What in the world was he thinking (probably not thinking at all)!