Covers that really, REALLY suck

[Mark Reccord]

Well, I tried. Even I think Duff's is worse...and that's saying something.

This thread is a preview of the infinite loop soundtrack in my personal hell.

 

[CrewsControl]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band covers Shirley Bassey:

 

[bassbully]

I dare you to make it through this whole song. Dogs within 100 miles cover their ears when they hear this.

ODB & Macy Gray - Don't Go Breaking My Heart

OH DEAR GOD!!!! WHY???

 

[4001]

Way too many to list. I dislike soooo much mainstream music. Most is just pure crap.

 

[TinIndian]

"Knocking on Heaven's Door" and "Live and Let Die" by GnR are probably 2 of the worst covers of all time. I can't think of a band that has done so many covers so badly.

BIG +1. Those 2 are on top of my list. I couldn't understand why they were so popular other than the fact that GnR was the artist.

 

[TinIndian]

"2. "Mrs. Robinson", covered by The Lemonheads"

Ive always enjoyed that one.

I agree, it's actually one of my favorite covers.

 

[TinIndian]

I didn't want to have to do this to you all, but THIS is the worst cover song ever made.

It's one thing to simply make a terrible version of an absolute classic. It's a whole different level of awfulness to (1) change the lyrics in a way that completely guts the message of the song and (2) replace a classic solo by a legendary musician with garbage.

I give you, Hillary Duff covering "My Generation"



What do I win?

OMG. I don't know what the prize is but you definately win it.

That is horrible.

 

[LexD]

I didn't see these mentioned yet --but surely, it doesn't get much worse

Miley Cyrus - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Limp Bizkit - "Behind Blue Eyes"
Madonna - "American Pie"

 

[Deathblade Eric]

From the '60s, and either the worst or the best cover of Purple Haze---you decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCi3t7Ufa2s

That's borderline excellent IMO. At least he's taken a different slant on it.

Obscure cover of obscure original. Want to stop listening to this, but I can't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycRw51z1n9A

Not that obscure in the UK, but that is truly dreadful. That said the original by Ashton Gardner & Dyke wasn't up to much either.

I'll break the rules of this thread & post this version of Resurrection Shuffle by Clarence Clemons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qegKq3XKWRk

Now that's how it should sound.

 

[Hues]

A performance of Celine Dion doing AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULmC8JTTVy0

 

[atheos]

Lacuna Coil - Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode):

So boring and lifeless "metal" rendition of a great synthpop classic.

 

[electracoyote]

A performance of Celine Dion doing AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULmC8JTTVy0

Um, sorry, here's a vote for "not bad."

The band bangs it out well, and the girls sing it like, well, girls. Girls with good voices no less.

 

[grinx]

Lisa Marie Presley - Burning For You (Blue Oyster Cult)

 

[Hues]

Um, sorry, here's a vote for "not bad."

The band bangs it out well, and the girls sing it like, well, girls. Girls with good voices no less.

Absolutely the band rocks it....But Celine doesn't belong anywhere near this song.

Just her gyrations are enough to make my stomach....excuse me... I..have to...

 

[MarkMgibson]

A quick google search of 'worst cover songs' reveals some true horrors.

However, the first one that popped into my head was Megadeth's butchering of an already terrible song, 'Anarchy In The UK'. His idiocy sank to new lows when he played it in Belfast, and wondered why the crowd booed, bottled and spat at his band.

Other than that, I can't think of a Beatles cover that I prefer to the original.

Or Dylan for that matter, with the possible exception of Hendrix's 'All Along The Watchtower'....

Ray Charles did a couple of great Beatles covers. "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby" were both very cool indeed.

 

[carlthegroover]

Epic thread! I'll say it again. Freaking awesome by the pure awfulness of the examples given. Keep 'em coming... I still need to do some research to contribute.

I can't believe this one hasn't come up yet. It's a case of the cover (despite its horridness) being a MUCH bigger hit than the original.

I speak of Natalie Imbruglia's emotionless, Disney-pop reading of Ednaswap's "Torn", a devastating tune.

Original:

Yeah... I admit I did like the Imbruglia's cover, but I REALLY dig the grunge sound of the original. And Natalie Imbruglia is hot... but in all honesty the original Torn sounds hotter.

 

[carlthegroover]

Way too many to list. I dislike soooo much mainstream music. Most is just pure crap.

Maybe that's the beauty of it all: when you find new gems (or classic gems), they shine brighter... so to speak.

 

[electracoyote]

Just her gyrations are enough to make my stomach....excuse me... I..have to...

Yeah, that was hard to watch.

I was referring to the quality of her voice, not her aesthetics. Although Anastacia's got it going on.

Our female lead sings this song, and she could take a tip from Celine Dion. We've encouraged her to just sing it like a girl, because when she tries to sing it gritty and scream-o like the original she actually loses her voice!

 

[Hues]

Our female lead sings this song, and she could take a tip from Celine Dion. We've encouraged her to just sing it like a girl, because when she tries to sing it gritty and scream-o like the original she actually loses her voice!

Yep...Women like Joan Jett, with a true wrasp in her voice are a rare bird.

 

[alexkk]

I don't know what you guys would think but I'm in two minds about R.H.C.Ps cover of the Beach Boys: 'I Get Around'