Here are a few to get things started:
Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer as an 80s synth tune
Bossa nova version of Crowded House’s Don’t Dream It’s Over
Reggae-ish version of Aretha Franklin’s Respect
A capella men’s ensemble version of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance
Cake - I will survive
They have other great covers tooI came hear to say this.
The Sting is great in context of the album as well, ‘fashion nugget’ is one big fuck you too a failed relationship.
Gloria Gaynor said it was her least favorite cover, due to the use of profanity.
Dub Side of the Moon, a reggae cover of Dark Side of the Moon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dub_Side_of_the_Moon
Joke answer: Disturbed’s “The Sound of Science” cover because it’s fucking horrid and ruins the point of the original’s meaning.
I once got to see The Easy Star All Stars playing Dub Side, and it was magnificent. Such a great band.
Did anyone already mention Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt, original by Nine Inch Nails? A marvelous reimagined version, maybe, the best cover ever.
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
Durch den Monsun by Tokio Hotel
I’ve always found Faith No More do absolutely spot on cover versions.
Jazz Sabbath. I had no idea this existed. It was just suggested to me because the algorithms are good at their job. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qcr708w1HY
I’m surprised nobody’s put up The Wiggles cover of Tame Impala’s Elephant
Yes, those Wiggles. It’s good.
Bantamweight’s haunting cover of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box is sorely underrated in my opinion.
ERRA’s versions of Audioslave’s Light My Way and Muse’s Stockholm Syndrome.
Art vs Science’s psychedelic-funk cover of Enter Sandman featuring a sweet as keytar solo.
Sleep Token’s heartwrenching unplugged version of Hey Ya!.
And finally, Denzel Curry’s supercharged version of Bulls on Parade. I didn’t think the track could sound angrier but he’s gone and done it.
Bonus: Andrew Hulshult’s Hell March, featuring chainguns as percussion, Master Boot Record’s Doom E1M1 metal chiptune remix, and GeoffPlaysGuitar’s argent-metalized Halo Overture.
And finally, Denzel Curry’s supercharged version of Bulls on Parade. I didn’t think the track could sound angrier but he’s gone and done it.
Holy christ, this is magnificent.
Two very different examples:
Modest Mussorsky’s “Pictures at an exhibition” was originally written for piano (that was all the poor guy had available), and it took Maurice Ravel to turn it into an orchestral version and make it popular world wide. Both versions are great and have their own qualities, but I far prefer Ravel’s version (Although Khatia Buniatishvili’s rendition here is so really really good).
Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay”. The original is… well… it’s a Bob Dylan song. There is a really good cover version by Ministry that, althought technically is the same song, takes it to a whole other level. Love it.
My first exposure to Pictures At An Exhibition was my parents had the Emerson Lake & Palmer version. I like the classical versions you posted better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQct6D6HsM
A band on TikTok did an emo cover of Rascal Flatts’ What Hurts the Most that is pretty good.
It ended up on a compilation album Country Goes Hardcore that has some interesting ones. I like Ever Since Eve’s emo cover of Take Me Home, Country Roads.
Funnel Of Love by Wanda Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt7PPidlIvg
Cover by Boris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4T_XNdeRTs
Polysics covering My Sharona by The Knack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXHEVcYTZYQ
Goddamn it why am I just learning about Japanese DEVO today? Why has no one told me? Thanks for sharing, this cover is a banger and I must listen to Polysics’ entire discography now!
You’re welcome! And have you heard of Servotron? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gS4nzSWmCs
I hadn’t but I’m adding to my playlists! I first got really into music via prog rock so this type of high-concept silliness is well-aligned with my preferences :P
I normally go for parodies, but this would be the place to post the *Devil Went Down to Georgia (Washing Machine Cover): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1hnBv12-uk
Another youtuber, Lord, added his own violin over it. It really improves it but distracts from the skillful contribution of Attaboy’s washing machine, so I’m linking both because I can’t decide.
Also of note, 2CELLOS’ rendition of Thunderstruck is incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT3SBzmDxGk
That is my favorite version of Thunderstruck, even more than the original.
(There was a really cool article I read ages ago that discussed how similar metal and classical music structures are. Have no idea where I found it.)
Postmodern Jukebox ft. Haley Reinhart - Creep (original by Radiohead), jazz/big band style
Novena - Bury a Friend, progressive metal Billie Eilish. Starts out like the original and gets progressively heavier.
Surprised how far down I had to look for Postmodern Jukebox to show up!
Time, the Valuator covered Lovely as well. Pretty fucking amazing.
So many of the Postmodern Jukebox covers are fantastic.
