Is there a recent cover that's driving you nuts? Or is there a cover that has made you like the song more than you used to?

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Answers

YEAH! I'm so glad you brought this up. Go Pamie! It's that cover by Phil Collins of, uh, the song he covers. What was it called again? By Cyndi Lauper... Oh yeah, True Colors. Come ON! Cyndia WASTES on Phil. Why are they all playing that crap Phil version when they could be playing good ol' Cyndi. I just don't understand it.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

OH GOD!! I just want to open a window and jump whenever I hear that asshole in Limp Bizkit singing George Michaels "Faith". Not that I loved the original either, but the stupid screaming the lead singer does just drives me insane. Come to think of it, that Pearl Jam song is not exactly my favorite either. Oh, the good old days when a Pearl Jam concert meant overpaying for your tickets at your local Ticketmaster and coming home a sweaty, sore, elated mess.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

We were in Fry's the other week and there was some kind of horrible David Sanborn/girl choir remake of "Careless Whisper," which was a pretty dreadful song to begun with. Fortunately the yapping of the devil-worshipping Fry's mind control sales agents drowned it out before my eardrums started bleeding.

But what I really wanted to say was that we had a neighbor who shot our dogs all the time. In California they have to be "worrying" livestock before it's legal to shoot them (look it up -- that's what the statute says), but I guess his livestock got worried whenever there was a dog within a five mile radius.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

That damn Nirvana cover of the Meat Puppet's song. Uh.. Black Water, I think? damn.. forget the name. Nirvana just butchered it.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Doh!

I just read over my entry (12:50 Central Time on April 30) and noticed that somehow a paragraph was missing. So, it's there now, if you want to see it. (It's when I'm talking about Pearl Jam's fans)

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Could they have found a whinier heroine addict to sing the Superman song for the Lotus commercial? That commercial throws me into seizures everytime it airs.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

They've started getting little teenybopper divas to recreate 80s songs like an uptempo "Time After Time" and "All Cried Out." I'm personally waiting for the Brittney Spears remake of "You Might Think" by the cars. By the way, Pamie, loved today's entry -- and the whole time I was reading the poodle dialogue, I kept thinking it in the voice of Madeleine Kahn. (without the flames)

o.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Omar, that's the perfect voice for it. When I was re-reading it I thought to myself, "Oh, I forgot to mention the poodle talked in a fake British accent," but luckily everyone just expects poodles to talk like that.

Rock on.

And speaking of Superman for Lotus/IBM... remember how REM wouldn't sell "It's the End of the World as We Know It" to Microsoft a couple of years ago but now they'll sell "Superman" and do a "Party of Five" guest spot?

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

REM doesn't own Superman. They did a cover of the song, from a 1960's band, I think, called the Clique.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Really? I had no idea.

Wow.

It still doesn't explain "Party of Five," though.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Do they share the same audience? If the Party of Five viewers are buying REM albums ... well, you always want to protect the cart you rode in on, because, as they say, it's the same cart you ride out on.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

The funny thing about that Part of Five appearance (not that I watch PO5 or anything... oh shit, I just gave myself away by calling it PO5 didn't I?) was the faces of the band members. I could read Michael Stipe's mind: 'What the fuck am I doing? Is it worth it? Is it worth it to have my music playing while Claudia gets friendly with a teen rocker? What's it all for anymore?!'

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Well, Michael Stipe's been a weird combination of not very media shy and not a very good actor, as opposed to stage performer. I remember when he was Mr. Scrummy in one episode of The Adventures of Pete and Pete. He sounded like a nervous third grader reading jackrabbity out of a book.

Kate Pierson was also in that episode. I think she's now a little too old to be running around in those skimpy outfits anymore.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

I think Kate was a little too old for those outfits like eight years ago when they made their comeback.
But then, that's her appeal -- she's like your crazy aunt that always dresses like she's on vacation and embarasses you at the mall by pointing out all the cute girls to you that you should be hooking up with.
Now what were we talking about? Oh yes, Michael Stipe. Ya know, I am so freakin' disappointed. What happened to them? They used to be the greatest and now -- their last album was worse than bad -- it was BORING. That's the worst thing.
And believe me, I'm still a huge U2 fan, but if they make one more big artistic mistake... sigh... this has been a bad few years for older acts -- P.J. Harvey, U2, Liz Phair, REM, Bruce Springsteen, Cowboy Junkies, Sting. None of their last albums have been as good as their previous efforts. Sad, sad, sad.. And don't even get me started on Pearl Jam. (although Yield wasn't too bad, comparatively).
disillusioned man.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Liz Phair? I thought her last album was her best! The second half is my faovorite album-side of any album I can think of! 9-16, except maybe for 14.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Sorry to hog so much of the discussion today. I'm not always so chatty.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Okay -- Liz Phair was still pretty good. I actually thought the opposite -- I liked the first half better. Uncle Alvarez, Polyester Bride, etc... But it's still not as good as "Exile in Guyville." The bitterest disappointment was PJ Harvey. I adore her. And I read all these great reviews of "Is This Desire?" I rush out and buy it and... it's good, don't get me wrong, but it's just not as great as the stuff on "To Bring You My Love" and "Rid of Me."

o.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

It is KILLING me that so many people that I go to school with have never heard "Last Kiss" before. They actually think that Vedder wrote it! Agh! The original was so much more ... innocent. Vedder doesn't capture the innocence and longing that went with that song. Of course, at the time, we also had people talking about marrying 16-yr olds. Gotta love those oldies.
But, anyway... I want to kill any stupid artist who crappily covers a song. Examples: Romeo and Juliet. The Dire Straights version kicks ass... the Indigo Girls practically ruin the song for me. And if I hear one more R&B version of a Police song I am going to get uh... cranky. Why can't people actually write their own songs? What happened to creativity!? Argh!!
Alison, who is really glad that Del Amitri still exisits

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

The Pearl Jam cover that is making its round as a single was recorded during the soundcheck at a concert in Maryland last summer. I don't know if they always warm up with that one or what the thinking (it's the music industry, an industry that tries to pass off Third Eye Creed as "alternative" so I'm probably expecting too much to assume anyone in that industry thinks) was in releasing it as a single.

As for covers I hate, anything by the Chipmunks pretty much sucks. Not that I am against rodent rock per se, but couldn't they come up with some originals?

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Ummm..hi, me again. Just a correction, the Pearl Jam cover has not yet been released as a single, but it will be shortly, proceeds will benefit an organization helping the refugees in Kosovo.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 1999

Aieeee! I can see all of you people's point, but..sacrelige, blatant sacrelige! Bono and Michael Stipe are just...you just don't mess with 'em. Sure, they do really dumb things lately, but so, apparently, does God. (Uh...such as allowing the backing to 'Every Breath You Take' to be stolen by Puff Daddy w/o so much as a lightning bolt in protest?) And how can you not love Amy Ray howling out Romeo and Juliet? 'I keep BAD, BAD, company!'

-- Anonymous, May 01, 1999

I'd much prefer to hear Mark Knopfler crooning my name in a lovely song ("Romeo and Juliet") than have Amy Ray yelling it out like she's hailing a taxi in the Bronx. I can't abide the Indigo Girls' cover, although I usually like their music.

Oh, and REM was on "Sesame Street" this week, singing "Furry, Happy Monsters" with a lot of Muppets. You gotta love it. Muppets are allowed to cover anything.

-- Anonymous, May 01, 1999

oh my god! i so saw that sesame street!! god, that kicked ass! okay, so now i feel like a dork for admitting that, but i was home from work sick, and when im sick i feel like a little kid.. and.. okay, stop laughing, it still rocked, i would also agree with the fact that the limp bizkit re-make of "faith" sucks, i mean, its cool until the guy starts screeching, i mean, hello? guys shouldnt screech, and i cant stand that stupid pearl jam song, duh! didnt everyone know that someone else sang that song first? okay, im being totally chattty, im going...

-- Anonymous, May 02, 1999

Oh, okay! I _thought_ I heard Phil Collins singing "True Colors" in the mall the other day! Thank you. I just couldn't believe my ears. I was like, "Oh, yuck, this sounds like Phil Collins." Then, "Hey, wait, this is a Cyndi Lauper song!" I can't even begin to fathom why Phil Collins would want to remake such a relatively recent song.

Then again, I tend to think the '80s were pretty much yesterday, so maybe that line of reasoning is off.

In general, though, I don't think there should be remakes at all unless they're a completely different style of music. I'm talking metal versions of '60s songs or slow songs turned into fast songs or ska versions of country songs. Otherwise, if you liked the original song, aren't you pretty much always going to prefer it to the remake?

-- Anonymous, May 03, 1999

Perhaps the greatest cover of all time: Ray Charles singing Eleanor Rigby. Of all the GAZILLION Beatles covers, this one rises above them all! Even Paul (we are on a first name basis) said he gets chocked up having one of his idols cover one of his tunes!

Along those lines, I kinda like Siouxsie and the Banshee's "Dear Prudence", but I have funked-up tastes sometimes

-- Anonymous, May 03, 1999

I agree with Dave, Although I personally prefer Siouxisie's cover of Iggy Pop's "The Passenger". U2's cover of "Helter Skelter" was not quite as good, but they get extra props because they "stole it back" from charles manson.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 1999

Well...there's this commercial lately (and i can't for the life of me remember what it's for...must be really effective, eh?), with some cheesy singer doing a cover of The Waitress' song "I Know What Boys Like". ick. On the other side of the fence, in GoodCoverLand, I keep listening to the 10,000 Maniacs version of Roxy Music's "More Than This". So good. So so good.

-- Anonymous, May 03, 1999

Covers I hate with a passion. Orgy's cover to "Blue Monday", as originally done by New Order. It makes me ill. No one should cover New Order... remember when Frente! covered "Bizarre Love Triangle"? I also hate Offspring's version of "Smash It Up", mainly because they did better with it than the Damned did.

I ususally don't like covers at all, except when Metallica does it.

-- Anonymous, May 04, 1999

U2 typically does pretty good covers -- I like their covers of "Fortunate Son," "Everlasting Love," "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "All Along the Watchtower" and "Satellite of Love."
Not quite as good are "Paint it Black," "Unchained Melody (the hell?!?!)" and "Night and Day."
Damn, just occurred to me -- Bono and the boys do an awful lot of covers. I thought the Fugees were bad...
By the way, what did you guys think of Lauryn's cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You?" I liked it the first three dozens times I heard it...< P>

-- Anonymous, May 04, 1999

I really like Lauryn's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." It's different, but keeps the integrity of the song.

(Don't forget U2's cover of "Helter Skelter", as E mentioned earlier...)

The Breeders do a great cover of "Happiness is a Warm Gun."

R.E.M. did a great cover of "Dream (All I Have To Do)" several years ago. Only Michael Stipe could pull off "Gee Whiz" without me laughing.

I know everyone hated it, but I did like the Pumpkins' "Landslide."

If anyone touches "Leader of the Pack," though, I'm going to get upset. (Besides the chipettes, i'm aware of their work)

-- Anonymous, May 04, 1999

Maybe it wasn't too recent but that 1+1=2 formula country chickie baby band (and I can't even remember her name if I ever did) who covered Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart", has to be perhaps the most horrible cover ever. Plus, the many millions of young country fans who bought and requested it weren't even born when Janis did her poignant, sad soul wrenching song. The covered version was a fruity-tooty, silly , stupid boring version that should have been used as the theme song for an antacid tablet commercial.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

I don't know how many people on this thread actually listen to gaelic music or classic rock, but Metallica's covers of Whiskey in the Jar and Tuesday's Gone aren't my favorites at all.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

Amy Ray could sob my name heartwrenchingly any day of the week. *swoon**swoon*swoon*--though, I gotta say, Mark Knofler certainly does have himself one sexy baritone. A girl just can't choose. Anyone heard U2's cover of 'I Can't Help Falling In Love With You'? They take Elvis and raise him one. (And in the background, there are these recordings of The King talking to reporters as a flustered soldier...real cute.) Also, Tori Amos' covers, while sometimes monotonous, can be knockouts--like when she covers 'Losing My Religion' for the Higher Learning soundtrack. Apparently, Stipey blessed that one. :) Ooo, ooo--the Counting Crows covering the Psychadelic Furs--the Ghost in You--they elevate the 80's synth-pop, lovely as it may be, into this piano-wonder. And does anyone have _Stormy Weather_? It's this benefit concert recording sponsored by AT+T with all the cool girls covering jazz--Bjork sings 'Gloomy Sunday' and Sheryl Crow does 'Good Morning Heartache'--WELL. Ecstatically. So thank God for covers after all...

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

OK, I just have to say that Puffy using parts of "Kashmir" by Zep drives me BANANAS. Absolutely crazy. I would hear the opening strains and think, "Oh, YAY!!! Led Zepplin!!!" And then all of a sudden these horrid hip hop beats would come in and oh, boy, watch out. That's when I would start screaming. If anyone was in the car with me at that time, they would have to chill me out before road rage took over. Not really, but I am from Boston, so you never know what could happen.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

I have to disagree about the Natalie Merchant-less 10,000 Maniacs covering Roxy Music's "More Than This." They should be spanked. On the other hand, Seal covering Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" is entrancing. Also I finally heard Prince doing his own "Nothing Compares 2 U" and Sinead O'Connor has it all over him.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

OK guys, I posted this yesterday but I don't think it went through.

I was at my desk at work minding my own business when all of the sudden I hear a COVER VERSION of that STUPID BRITNEY SPEARS SONG!!! This is on 92.3 WXRK (KROCK) in New York. It was a guy singing so I can only assume it was some type of Korn/Orgy/Limp Bizkit wannabe band or whatever but it totally had "Give me a sign, Hit me baby one more time" and the whole thing. I thought about scratching my eyes out right then and there but I did not want to scare my boss.

Has anyone else heard this? What is the world coming to?

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

The worst I ever heard was Smashing Pumpkins feeble attempt at singing "Landslide". Not the biggest fan of Fleetwood Max or Stevie Nicks, but Billy Corgan can't sing worth a damn and murdered the song.

Just my two cents.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

Tori Amos also covered Landslide, and rather well. Actaully she's done quite a few covers....Case of You, Smells like Teen Spirit, American Pie, London Girls, Ring my bell, Do It Again....And I like most of them ok. But I am partial. I Wouldhave to say my favorite of those is Co It Again, becuase it is vastly differnt than the original and I like that.

Someone did a remake of Tainted Love...I can't recall who, but it was scary.

Personally, the remake highest up on my shit list if Metallica's Whisket in a Jar....or should I say Wiiiissssssskaaaaaay ina Jarrroooooooooo.... ugh

-- Anonymous, May 07, 1999

Guys, this is all well and good and all, but I mean PEARL JAM did a cover of LAST KISS! what the hell?

I know I've mentioned it before, but I can't stand that "Hard Knock Life" rap. It sounds creepier than Ed McMahon singing "Thank Heaven for Little Girls."

-- Anonymous, May 07, 1999

Oh god, pamie. I finally heard the Pearl Jam song today. It was HORRIBLE! It was like hearing Eddie Vedder try to do what Nirvana did in the "In Bloom" video (50s getup, etc...) but without the irony and the humor.
man, that song SUCKS. Somebody please tell me they didn't make a video for it.
I heard on the radio today that they're sending all the proceeds to help Kosovo. I think it would be fantastic if the Kosovans just said, "You know what, Eddie? We don't need the money that bad. Just please, please, just SHUT THE HELL up and we'll get along just fine. Cut a check it you like, but just stop that freakin' singing/moaning, already, okay? Jesus."

I find that idea hilarious -- has anybody ever turned down a charity thing like that because they thought the donation came from a stupid source? Like, "Geez, Eddie, it's great that you're into philanthrophy and politics and all, but could you have at least donated an ORIGINAL song or at least a cover of something from the last three decades? I mean, shit, we'll settle for the last three months' royalties from 'Eveflow.' Again: Jesus..."

Just a thought... omar

-- Anonymous, May 18, 1999

I don't really like Fiona Apple, but I did like her cover of "Across the Universe" that was on the Pleasantville soundtrack.

The Mr. T Experience does a lot of good covers-- they covered a Sesame Street song! How cool is that?

-- Anonymous, June 04, 1999

Um, that was me. I'm such a fathead.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 1999

I actually really love cover songs, to the point where I sort of collect them, but there are rules.

You cannot re-make a song in exactly the same way it was originally done but with you singing. (You know, the ones where you think it's the original for a minute, but it sounds slightly wrong somehow, and besides, it's an awfully old song to be playing right now on Top 40 radio. Then the lightbulb flips on - usually as a result of a distinctly different vocal turn or a lame-ass guitar solo that wasn't there before - and you go, "Ohhhh, this must be a cover.) That is not a "cover", that is just you performing a song that someone else wrote. Don't waste my time.

You cannot save a lame album of your own by including a cover song as the hit single from said album. It will only make people hate you forever when they buy the album and find out how much your original material sucks.

You cannot replace the fond memories I have of the original. You can show me a new take on a song by interpreting it in a different way. In fact, that is what good covers are all about.

-- Anonymous, June 09, 1999

Has anyone heard Sheryl Crow's cover of the Guns and Roses song Sweet Child of Mine? Oh man, it is bad. I can't get away from the song either, on my way home from work last night I heard it twice! I'm a Sheryl Crow fan but come on! That song buy G'n R is a classic and should not be messed with. I'm sure not looking forward to hearing this song every five minutes on the radio....

-- Anonymous, June 10, 1999

Actually I hate Guns&Roses so I kinda like Sheryl Crow singing that song. sorry. It gets that horrific picture of Axl(?) out of my brain.

How about Lenny Kravitz new version of 'American Girl'? I really liked that until the end where they chose to distort the audio quality in the name of art. Ruined a perfectly good cover.

-- Anonymous, June 11, 1999

See, I just say 'guns&roses' and my brain goes to feces. It is 'American Woman' not girl. I'm not actually sure if they are playing it on the radio. It is in new Austin Powers 'The Spy Who Shagged Me'. Which I almost wet myself from laughing so hard at. Go see it, and prepare to be grossed out. Look for all the pop culture references. Very clever.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 1999

I've been enjoying Fountain of Wayne's cover of Britney Spears Baby one more time... Much better

-- Anonymous, June 13, 1999

I was really very fed up with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" a few years back until Tori Amos covered it. It sounds so refined coming from her and lyrically it means so much more. It just sounds 100% better and I think that's one of my favorite cover songs. Actually, I'm such a "Toriphile" I love all her cover songs! I dont' care what it is or who sang it first *giggles* if Tori sings it, it kicks ass.

Hmmmm I also think that Limp Bizkit singing HOuse of Pain's "Jump Around" is really an improvement to the song too!

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Item One - Limp Bizkit sucks ass, no matter what song they're wrecking. Just wanted to let you all know where I stand on that.

Item Two - what's the deal with Phil Collins covering CHICK tunes? "True Colors" by Miss Cyndi, and a few years ago it was "You Can't Hurry Love" by Diana Ross (excuuuuse me, The Supremes). Bleck. Do you think he knows that he's got um...cojones and should NOT go there? It gives me the creeps.

Item Three - none of y'all touched on people who cover their own songs. Or remake them. Or mix them. Whatever you want to call it, I call it crap. For instance, Elton John remaking "Candle in the Wind" for Princess Di. Ok, for one thing, if she was so damn special, why doesn't she get an ORIGINAL song? For another, it just sounded stupid. Whatever Elton. For another example, all those country-pop dance remixes of Shania Twain's - horrible. I used to like her, but after the 15th song that sounded like the first, I'm kinda losing interest. And then to add some of that "flava" to it...bye bye honey, that don't impress ME much! hahahaha, I worked that into a conversation...wow!

Item Four - I have to say I really like the Metallica covers of "Tuesday's Gone" and "Here I Am (On The Road Again)". They kept true to the original feel and tone of the song while at the same time they modified it and made it instantly recognizably "Metallica". You go boys.

Item Five - NO ONE should remake soulfull, bluesy, sad songs (ie "True Colors") into teeny-bopper hippity-hop music. EVER. That should be like a code of the Musicians Union or something, "Thou Shalt Not Pop-Up a Decent Introspective Song". It's just not a good thing. Dick Clark should beat their asses.

Ok, I know I sound like an old fart, I can't help it, I just don't like hip hop/rap. YICK. I think the music from the 80's is so much better than most of the 90's drivel that somehow got onto the radio.

Oh, one more thing, please, someone, continue the East Coast/West Coast violence at least once more and SHOOT PUFFY (MR. Unoriginal) COMBES.

Ok, I'm not serious. I just wish he'd follow Mase and find religon and retire his lame-ass self. Or learn how to write. MellieBee the Easily Annoyed

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

if you want bad covers, listen to some that random shmucks make and post on the internet. some of them are downright painful and will have you writhing in agony. try rockcovers.com.

and as for my own non-favorites - natalie imbruglia's torn. ick. ednaswap's original was much better.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 1999

"Torn" was a song before Natalie Imbruglia sang it? Wow. I didn't know that.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 1999

>>Also I finally heard Prince doing his own "Nothing Compares 2 U" and Sinead O'Connor has it all over him. <<

Just have to say that Prince didn't originally record that song. A group he spawned called "The Family" recorded it. (Yes I am afraid to admit that I both know that AND own the damn cassette it's on) Sinead still sounds better, but The Family's version is better than Prince singing it himself

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

not "new," really, but elton john's re-doing (re-marketing for more cash for a new pair of shoes) for princess di's death? what was up with that? i was half expecting the "columbine" or "jon benet" version to spring up somewhere... ugh.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

i'm an idiot- it's "candle in the wind" that i was talking about.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

I loved any and all covers I have heard Jimi Hendrix do of Bob Dylan's work. Can't stand the wheezy originals too well, sorry.
And if I ever see Puff Daddy, I WILL FARKIN' KILL HIM!!!! Swiping a Zep track, rapping all over it, and then saying that he 'featured' Jimmy Page, who wrote the damn thing? Blasphemy!!
(Although we could expect that Zep rant from my e-mail address, I suppose...)

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

I liked Duran Duran's cover of "Thank You", especially. Guns N' Roses did a nice cover of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" as well.

I don't think I cared much for Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss", either. Sorry, Eddie, I tried.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

Has anyone heard that Will Smith song that rips off The Clash's "Rock the Casbah"? Ugh...he sings "rock the dance floor" to the same exact tune. Grrrrr.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

not terribly recent, but sheryl crow doing "sweet child o' mine." i don't like guns 'n' roses, but i prefer them to her.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Oh, I just have to say something about this. Today, I heard Madonna singing "American Pie" on the radio. It was exactly the same, but with Madonna's voice and a dance beat in the background. Heaven help us all.

-- Anonymous, February 06, 2000

Was that Madonna doing American Pie? I have to admit it was the strangest thing I've heard in a long time...

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2000