My question in this thread applies to the other, as well: are covers ever really necessary?
"I Put a Spell on You" is actually a good song to consider in this way. It's been covered a bajillion times by a huge variety of artists, and I'm happy it has because I love many of the interpretations -- Nina Simone's is of course almost as iconic as the original, and I've always really liked the Manson version you posted (in fact, in general I think Manson excels as a cover artist) -- but when the Screamin' Jay Hawkins original is so unbelievably awesome it seems odd to suggest that anyone else needed to take a crack at it.
Yawn. No sense trying to beat Queen at their own game.
This one works, though. Really, really works.
Hendrix's Watchtower was absolutely necessary.
Dynamite Hack covering boyz n the hood. I like sublime's cover of the dead's scarlet begonias, too...even tho i dont really like sublime.
True, i think John Fogerty did just because he loved the song and because he could pull it off. CCR did a bunch of good covers. I think their version of "Heard it Through the Grapevine" was probably the most distinctive.
Speaking of distinctive, I like covers that put a real spin on the original and make it work, like:
With Fogerty it's I Hoid it Through the Grapevine
Lulz. It's no Hendrix's "Watchtower," but...
I don't know if it was necessary, but Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah is better than the original.
Not necessary but...
Better than Cohen? Pretty sure you lose some hipster points for that one.
Hipster points are kryptonite for winning at life so..... he made a great choice.
Speaking of "Hallelujah," though:
And speaking of k.d. lang:
Still question the use of "necessary" to describe covers of already great songs, but it's gotta mean something when two of the singers you're covering (Cohen and Chris Isaak) flat out call your version better, and the third (Roy Orbison) picks you to re-record the song with him.
tbh
There are degrees of hipster. The non- y ones get a bum rap.
Nobody has had more of their tunes covered than Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters. They were Chicago bluesmen back in the 50s/60's.
All these groups/artists covered their tunes.
Elvis
Aretha Franklin
Eric Clapton
Link Wray
Youngbloods
Everly Brothers
Rod Stewart
Little Richard
Jerry Butler
Jerry Lee Lewis
Lou Rawls
Grateful Dead
Wishbone Ash
Animals
Grassroots
Steve Miller
Beau Brummels
Yardbirds
Chambers Brothers
Neil Young
Rolling Stones
Carla Thomas
Wet Willey
Johnny Rivers
Jimi Hendrix
Doors
Steppenwolf
Zombies
Manfred Mann
Led Zeppelin
Jeff Beck
Beatles
Foghat
Otis Redding
Allman Brothers
Then all those I'm forgetting.
Clarence Ashley's 1933...House of the Rising Sun...tons of covers. Most famous...The Animals.
Ma Raineys 1923?...Stagolee...tons of covers. Most famous...Lloyd Price as...Stack O' Lee.
One of the most famous of all covers from an historically perspective was when Elvis recorded...That's Alright Mama"...the first tune he recorded for Sun Studios. The original belonged to bluesman Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup from the mid 40's. Elvis also covered..."Hound Dog"...a tune belonging to blueslady Big Mama Thornton. Neither Big Boy or Big Mama saw a dime from Elvis. "Mystery Train" was another tune Elvis cover, that belonged to Junior Parker.
Everyone has heard the cover so....
That is not Big Mama.
Last edited by RaZon; 03-27-2012 at 02:44 AM.
Yeah, that 60 seconds.....
Bend overYeah, that 60 seconds.....
Even Creep'n is hangin' his nigruh head in embarrassment after this display of ignorance.
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