Top 10 Cover Songs Better Than the Original

The Top Ten
1 Angel - Rod Stewart (Jimi Hendrix)

Look this up on YouTube and get your hair standing up like,... yeah like Rod Stewart.
Fantastic.

I've looked it up, what a powerful song!
I didn't know he had this in him; RESPECT!

2 All Along the Watchtower - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

One of the most influential solos of all time.

3 The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana

Bowie's original version was not that good. But when it was covered by Nirvana on MTV Unplugged, it received more popularity. I wonder if Bowie has heard of their cover.

R.I.P. David Bowie (1947-2016)
R.I.P. Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)

Honestly the Bowie version wasnt that good. But "The Man Who Sold The World" cover by Nirvana was AMAZING. It was only recorded live, but that is still great. If only this had been recorded in studio, then we would have an even better cover than what it already is!

4 Hurt - Johnny Cash

Its really awesome, and a very different style than NIN's version, though I like NIN too, I just think this suits Cash's style really well

Since this cover was made, the original NIN version seems unfitting. Cash's cover sounds like a tribute to life and is one of the best songs.

R.I.P. Johnny Cash (1933-2003)

Why is this not #1?

5 Angel - Jackie Evancho

Jackie crawled inside this song and delivered it impeccably! It got a huge amount of hits on You Tube. Sorry I'm not sure of the exact number and don't want to post an error.

Watch her great performance of this song 'Angel' on Youtube from 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno. Standing ovation was so loud you couldn't even hear Leno talking at the end.

Each time I hear (or watch) Jackie perform this I am more impressed by how well she delivers this song.

I'm sorry but this is terrible. She sings amazingly but the runs and inflections ruin the simple soul of this song

6 Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Over 300 different artists recorded this song, Cohens original is by far the best. After that, KD Lang's is right behind. Buckley's is maybe a little over halfway up the list- fine, but the song itself is remarkable, not Buckley.

Nothing can match Leonard Cohen's original.

Jeff Buckley made it his own

7 Twist and Shout - The Beatles

This song was written by Phil Medley en Bert Russell.
So like every selfrespecting pop group the Beatles prooved how good they are by recording cover and making it their own.
You can only Judge an artist for how good they are, proffessionaly, if they can do a good cover version of an existing song.
If artist only do their own stuff it is impossible to know if they have technique.

This song is originally by the Beatles!

They recorded it in just one take

8 Turn the Page - Metallica

Ever song Metallica covered was much better than the original, but if there's one that really stands out for me it is Sabbra Cadabra

This is definitely the best cover song in the world. Metallica simply rocks!

My favourite cover song by Metallica.

9 Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm

I respect bands that take songs completely outside of their genre and make it work. This is one of the few times that's happened, and I like it. Seriously, I had no idea I wanted a metal cover of Michael Jackson until I heard this.

Not better than Mike's. You gotta sing in a way that nobody else does.

10 Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses

Who ever added this obviously hasn't bothered to listen to the original Dylan song which is better than this.

The Contenders
11 In the Air Tonight - Nonpoint

No Phil Collins Song is Better

12 Amazed - Boyz II Men
13 Tainted Love - Soft Cell
14 Rosalie - Thin Lizzy
15 Always on My Mind - Pet Shop Boys

I like that they used synths to cover the song. I don't like the original, too much guitars and horns.

16 No More Mr. Nice Guy - Megadeth

This isn't bad, but I still think the original Alice Cooper version sounds better.

17 Hanging On the Telephone - Blondie
18 Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
19 Running Up That Hill - Placebo
20 Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson

No, Marilyn Manson does not suck! He is awesome and so is his music! And every cover he does, he does better than the original artist, as if it's his own song. People don't have to share my opinion, but I LOVE him!

Best EVER cover song, way better than the original, come on guys, lets get this to number one.

Marilyn Manson sucks!

21 Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
22 Cruel Summer - Ace of Base
23 Come On Feel the Noise - Quiet Riot

Its actually spelt come on feel the Noize

24 Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds

Should be third to hound dog and all along the watchtower

25 Dream On - Dio and Yngwie

The Aerosmith version is still good, but this version has much more energy and better guitar work.

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