Top 10 - Cover Songs

By Jim Feighan
Senior Staff Writer
February 28, 2007

What’s better than hearing another musician’s take on one of your favorite songs? Well, I suppose the original version may be better. Bands argue to this day whether covering an artist’s song is a form of paying homage, or just a slap to the face, saying “we can play your song better than you can.” Nevertheless, here are 10 cases in which the covered version may actually trump the original.

10) Jon Brion’s “Waterloo Sunset” — Known for his wildly improvisational live shows, Brion doesn’t change much in his version of this classic Kinks song. Staying close to the electric guitar, Brion plucks strings as he tries his best to swoon like Ray Davies.

9) Sufjan Stevens’s “What Goes On” — Although technically a cover, Sufjan’s folk-epic rendition of the “What Goes On” couldn’t be further from the originally dull Beatles song.

8) Beck’s “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” — Appearing during the credits of the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Beck and soundtrack composer Jon Brion collaborate to reinvent the lackluster 1980 single by the new wave band Korgis.

7) Pearl Jam’s “Sleepless Nights” — Eddie Vedder pays homage to the Everly Brothers by not only choosing to cover this song during a live show in 2002, but also by putting the rare cover on their annual fan club Christmas gift.

6) Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” — A beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 song, the late Jeff Buckley sings of the composition of the infamous church hymn, and dazzles listeners by displaying how many phrases he can rhyme with hallelujah.

5) Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends” — Joe Cocker can out-sing Ringo any day of the week. He does so while covering this 1969 Beatles cover that we’ve all heard as the intro to the ’90s hit TV show The Wonder Years.

4) Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” — As one of the most important rock bands ever, Led Zeppelin understood the importance of experimenting with their music. Originally a quiet folk ballad by Joan Baez, Led Zeppelin reinvents the song in 1969 to a six-minute monster with guitar-picking that puts Baez to shame.

3) The Clash’s “I Fought The Law” — Covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Green Day and Tom Petty, “I Fought The Law” will be remembered not for its originator, ’60s band The Crickets, but everyone’s favorite punk idols, The Clash.

2) Nirvana’s “The Man Who Sold The World” — During their “Unplugged in New York” stint for MTV in 1993, Kurt Cobain surprised fans and critics with a somber version of David Bowie’s 1971 psychedelic title track.

1) Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along The Watchtower” — One of Hendrix’s most recognized songs was actually borrowed from Bob Dylan; after Hendrix heard the song, he recorded his own version during the same night. The rest is history.

feighanj1@lasalle.edu