In my last post about heavy metal ballads, I mentioned the song by Disturbed was a cover. Sometimes a band does such a great job putting their own stamp on a tune that it blows away the original. Here are a few of my faves…
I Wanna Rock
Meat Loaf originally tracked this song, but I must give props to Xandria for her cover of I’ll Do Anything for Love (but I Won’t do That).
New Order had a huge hit with Blue Monday, but Orgy’s metal version gave those guys a run for their money.
Canadian rock band Helix covered (Make Me Do) Anything You Want originally recorded by A Foot in Cold Water. Being a metal lover, of course I prefer Helix’s version.
Again, I lean towards hard rock over pop, so I naturally think Downplay’s version of Bananarama’s Cruel Summer is ten times better.
Although I won’t argue Bette Midler did a phenomenal job with Wind Beneath My Wings, I love Sonata Arctica’s version.
No contest here. Michael Andrews/Gary Jules own Mad World. No disrespect to Tears for Fears.
When I heard HIM’s version of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game, I totally fell in love.
I love the Doors’ original of Roadhouse Blues, but Blue Oyster Cult did a great job with their cover.
Faster Pussycat does a hair metal version of You’re So Vain by Carly Simon.
Since I’m yapping about hair metal, the Bulletboys, in my opinion, own Tom Waits’ Hang On St. Christopher.
How about a metal band covering another metal band? Here is Sepultura paying tribute to the late great Lemmy’s Orgasmatron. Okay, Motorhead does win this one, but I gotta give props to Max and the boys because they did a great job.
I :::heart::: the late George Michael, so I am impressed by Seether’s cover of Careless Whisper.
There are two covers by Judas Priest that I think blow away the originals. The first is Diamonds and Rust (Joan Baez) and the second is The Green Manilishi (Fleetwood Mac).
When I first heard This Flight Tonight, I had no clue Nazareth was covering Joni Mitchell.
I really love the Rolling Stones’ cover of Bob and Earl’s Harlem Shuffle. By the way, upon first hearing this, I didn’t know this was a cover either.
I love A Perfect Circle’s version of Imagine, but nobody can top John Lennon.
The late Kurt Cobain does a beautiful job covering the great David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World.
Sid Vicious did a wild job covering My Way (Frank Sinatra).
Here are the Eagles covering Steve Young’s Seven Bridges Road. I read in Don Felder’s book that the band would sing this in the locker room before hitting the stage.
I’ll end this post with Johnny Cash covering NIN’s Hurt.
What about you? Care to list some of your fave covers?
Maggie Blackbird 