Cover is as good as/better than Original

[Lazylion]

Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

+1 he's a big dude around this town. My understanding is he wrote new words to an old English drinking song.

And I agree that Jimi's rendition of the US national anthem is one of the best.

+1

 

[DaftCat]

Dissident Aggressor - Judas Priest/Slayer
Video Killed the Radio Star - Buggles/Presidents of USA
I Thank You - ZZ Top/Sam & Dave
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Doris Day/Cake
Where Have All the Good Times Gone? - Bowie/Van Halen
Get it On(Bang a Gong) - T. Rex/Power Station

 

[Dincrest]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but Lacuna Coil's cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" is awesome. The band does an amazing job with that song. They really make it their own and if you didn't know better, you'd swear it was a Lacuna Coil song rather than a cover.

 

[Matt Till]

I'm not a huge fan, but Type O Negative's version of "Summer Breeze" is pretty awesome. I'd rate them as equal (I love the original for some reason) They make it there own.

I hate Losing my Religion by REM (well, I just hate REM), but Graveworm (Black Metal) covers it and makes it amazing.

 

[SansFret]

Tori Amos' version on Nirvana's Smell Like Teen Spirit was one of the weirdest thing I ever heard... but in a good way...

 

[derrenleepoole]

Don't know if these were mentioned earlier in the thread, but:

Frank Zappa - Ravel's Bolero
Frank Zappa - Led Zepplin's Stairway To Heaven (guitar solo arranged on horns! Truly amazing!)

 

[Aussiephoenix]

Pantera - Planet Caravan (Sabbath's)
Godsmack - Sweet Leaf

 

[Petary791]

I always thought Dream Theater's cover of "Perfect Strangers" was better than Deep Purple's. Also, King Crimson's "Get Thy Bearings" is a bit more exciting than Donovan's.

 

[jkritchey]

Roxy Music's version of Neil Youngs' "Like a Hurricane" pwns...

 

[Altitude]

Two seasons ago on American Idol, Carrie Underwood covered Heart's "Alone". It was, without a doubt, better than the original - a real surprise considering it was out of her preferred vernacualr.

 

[The BurgerMeister]

Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower covered by Jimi Hendrix... and perhaps U2's version also.

EDIT:Oops sorry this was said already

sorry.

the thread is 'covers that are AS GOOD AS OR BETTER than the original.'

U2's version of "All Along The Watchtower" is NOWHERE NEAR as good as either dylan or hendrix's versions. it's actually a little insulting.

:scowl:

while i'm here.... (this may have been said before):

jeff buckley's version of leonard cohen's "Hallelujah."
fantomas's version of the "Twin Peaks" theme, as well as the theme to "The Omen," and "Rosemary's Baby."

 

[fraublugher]

"fly like an eagle" steve miller
wicked funk version done by garaj mahal
http://www.archive.org/details/gtv111_garajmahal

 

[Altitude]

"fly like an eagle" steve miller
wicked funk version done by garaj mahal
http://www.archive.org/details/gtv111_garajmahal

I found this myself a while back, and I kind of think Kai Eckhardt's vocals are lame. It's a nice reggae-ish lick they use in the chorus though.

 

[nubs]

how about
higher ground covered by the chili peppers
baker street and have a cigar covered by the foo fighters
summer breeze covered by type O negitive
all the young dudes ian hunter
or most anything by me first and the gimme gimmes??

 

[Vic Winters]

Better:

Atreyu - You Give Love a Bad Name
A Perfect Circle - Diary of a Love Song
G&R - Knockin On Heaven's Door
Korn - Word Up
Limp Bizkit - Faith (not a fan of the George Michael version)
Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams and Tainted Love
New Found Glory - My Heart Will Go On
Nirvana - Lake of Fire and The Man Who Sold the World
Offspring - Feelings and I Wanna Be Sedated
Orgy - Blue Monday
Stone Temple Pilots - Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Sublime - Smoke Two Joints
Van Halen - You Really Got Me

Just as good:

Lenny Kravitz - American Woman
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Stone Temple Pilots - Dancing Days

 

[Mudfuzz]

Damage INC. Metallica / Napalm Death

 

[Matt Till]

Dillinger Escape Plan - Rebel Yell

 

[yakkitori]

The Man who Sold the World - Bowie/Nirvana

although saying that, Rolf Harris' version of Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven was rather special dont worry, im kidding

 

[reptilia]

I Fought the Law - Sunny Curtis - Bobby Fuller Four - The Clash
Because - The Beatles - Elliott Smith
Stars - HUM - Bleeding Through
Just Like Heaven - The Cure - Dinosaur Jr
Crossroad(s Blues) - Robert Johnson - Cream
I Feel The Earth Move - Carol King - Mandy Moore

 

[Clay_Bass]

The Bad Plus - Iron Man(Sabbath)
The Bad Plus - Smells Like Teen Spirit(Nirvana)
Brad Mehldau - Still Crazy After All These Years(?)
Brad Mehldau - Exit Music(Radiohead)
Brian Bromberg - Shining Star (Earth Wind & Fire?)
Brian Bromberg - Carry On My Wayward Son
Christian McBride Band- Boogie Woogie Waltz(Weather Report)
Josh Redman and Pat Metheny - Tears In Heaven (clapton)
Jeff Schmidt - Little Sunflower(Freddie Hubbard)
Victor Wooten - Norwegian Wood(Beatles)