My local watering hole blasted the objectively best cover of all time through their open windows when I walked past so naturally I had to go in. Hit me with your favorite cover songs.
Two weeks went by. Then I got a CD in the post. I listened to it and it was very strange. It was this other person inhabiting my most personal song. I'd known where I was when I wrote it. I know what I was thinking about. I know how I felt. Hearing it was like someone kissing your girlfriend. It felt invasive. It really, really made sense and I thought, "What a powerful piece of art." I never got to meet Johnny but I'm happy I contributed the way I did. It felt like a warm hug. For anyone who hasn't seen it, I highly recommend checking it out. I have goose bumps right now thinking about it. Having Johnny Cash, one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time, want to cover your song, that's something that matters to me. It's not so much what other people think but the fact that this guy felt that it was worthy of interpreting. He said afterwards it was a song that sounds like one he would have written in the '60s and that's wonderful.| -Trent Reznor (source)I'd been friends with Rick Rubin for several years. He called me to ask how I'd feel if Johnny Cash covered Hurt. I said I'd be very flattered but was given no indication it would actually be recorded.
L'été indien by Boney Nem From the french original Adapted itself from the real original albratros - Africa then Lez Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra adapted the french version to indian Summer which make me shiver Then adapted in german under "September wind" I dont even like that song Edit: My new favorite is Pirate Jenny song from the 3 penny opera by Shilpa Ray, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Cover of Nina simone Itself adapted from the original in german with Lotte Lenya Also love all Bossa Nova cover Like this one . It's a style on itself, they cover everything from Gun's n'Roses to Adele to Drake, Bob marley, etc
Sasha Velour - Pirate Jenny is another great cover How has nobody here mentioned Nina Simone covering Stars written by Janis Ian? Janis has event commented on that video! I recommend the 'What Happened, Miss Simone?' documentary.
Some recent-ish discoveries that made me happy to find: Melvins - In Every Dream Home A Heartache: Original by Roxy Music
Chris Cornell - Billy Jean: Original by Michael Jackson. Embedded youtube link doesn't work for me :(
Lankré - Lay All Your Love On Me: Original by ABBA
As a lil emo kid in Nebraska, 14 year old 'mudsy fucking loved Elliot Smith. We were born in the same hospital. He only lived here for six months, but I felt linked to him for a long time. His music always makes me feel nostalgic for the type of melancholy I used to have. It's a weird feeling, missing your own sadness... Ah, well. Thanks for sharing, the reminder was nice :)
Now, PMJ is truly a mixed bag, and I think they've trended towards a bit of bland sameness over time. That said, they have done the best cover of all time: They completely transform the attitude and vibe of the song while doing it justice musically.
Not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination, but I’d like to give a special shout-out to Sea Cruise by Yo La Tengo, for kicking out a totally jammin version of a song that makes me want to impale my head on a spike when I hear the original or any other version on the radio.