And don’t get cute and do songs people don’t know are covers like I Will Always Love You or Torn
Almost every VOCALOID / vocal synth cover, as long as the tuning / overall quality is good.
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Gimme More (SID) [Machinae Supremacy covering Britney Spears]. MaSu’s vibe strips away the hyperclean polish to deliver something much closer to the raunchy, voyeuristic feel of the song’s lyrics. The fact that they’re a really good band also helps.
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F*ck Tha Police [Dope covering NWA]. I’ll admit, this one is just personal preference. Please don’t crucify me.
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Battle Hymn [Beast in Black covering Manowar].
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Down with the Sickness [Ai Mori & Violet Orlandi covering Disturbed].
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Army of the Night [Amaranthe covering Powerwolf].
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Ballroom Blitz [3TEETH covering The Sweet].
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Got The Time [Anthrax covering Joe Jackson].
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Bring The Noise [Anthrax on the track with Public Enemy]. Going back to the original is like driving a Ford Model T.
It comes close:
- Breaking the Law [Fightstar covering Judas Priest]. Halford is too iconic to beat, but Fightstar’s apocalyptic world-weariness lends itself well to their take on the song, as opposed to the original’s unserious attitude.
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Hurt by Johnny Cash - much better than the NiN version, to the point that Trent Reznor basically said “yea, it’s his song now, he nailed it”.
And then I have some more controversial takes…
-Faith by Limp Bizkit (instead of George Michael). Yes, I know, but seriously, it slaps.
-99 Red Balloons by Goldfinger.
-Gin and Juice by The Gourds.
Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal performed by Alien Ant Farm.
Word Up - Korn. Completely shits all over the original sung by Cameo.
Africa - Quietdrive. This one is quite divisive, so I’ll also link Weezer’s more faithful cover.
Midnight At The Oasis - The Brand New Heavies. Don’t get me wrong, Maria Muldaur’s original version was great, but it just works so much better as an acid jazz and funk song.
As for remixes…
One Night Stand (Sunship Remix) - Mis-Teeq. It’s so much better than the original by a mile. Alesha Dixon genuinely drops some fucking bars in the remix.
Selekta (SIDEQUEST Remix) - Kyle Gordon. I don’t understand why this isn’t the official version. The difference is that this version is 45 seconds longer and has an additional verse.
While we’re talking Kyle Gordon, Little V and OBKATIEKAT absolutely killed it with their “Planet of the Bass”
Axel F
That frog lives rent free in my head.
Take me to church metal cover
This is amazing
Faith No More’s cover of War Pigs is so much better than the original Black Sabbath version.
I’d say it’s hard to beat original War Pigs, but T-Pain’s version comes close.
Cradle Of Filth - Sleepless, cover of Anathema - Sleepless.
I am an enjoyer of Cradle Of Filth, but objectivly, their version has more color.
Black Magic Woman – Santana. Original by Fleetwood Mac.
Touch and Go – Emerson Lake and… POWELL. Cover of an old folk song called: Lovely Joan
Blinded by the LIght – Manfred Mann original by Bruce Springsteen.
Alone – Heart… Can’t remember the original artist off hand.
Kelly Clarkson covered Taylor Swift’s Better Man in her TV show a couple of years ago and it was an entirely different song. Like she felt it in her bones. She elevated it.
Postal Service turned Such Great Heights from a low-fi, indie-folk coffee shop vibe (originally done by Iron & Wine) into 100% millennial optimism pop.
Hilary & Hayley Duff covered Our Lips Are Sealed and I’m just kidding that one was actually terrible.
La mamá de la mamá (El Alfa), también Na de Na (de Angel & Khitz)
El-P’s remix of the Nine Inch Nails song Only.
