Suzanne's Soundtrack Sunday

Have you ever heard a cover of a song and thought it was better than the original? Me, too. Quite a few of them. Today, I list some of the songs I think were better the second time around.

The first one I remember is the best example of this. I'm not a fan of the Boss and I think Bruce's lyrics need some serious work. However, he writes a catchy melody. Thankfully, Manfred Mann saw some potential in "Blinded by the Light" and covered it. It still makes NO sense, but at least it's a song you sing along with after his band got through with it.

In looking for confirmation that Rod Stewart did first perform a song, I found out that his version is a cover, too. "A Reason to Believe" was first performed by Tim Hardin in 1965, Rod's version was released as a single in 1971. However, DJ's liked the B side "Maggie May" better and that was the hit. (I have to agree with the experts.)

However, I thought that Rod had done it first and Wilson Phillips was the first artist covering it. I love their rendition of the song-its simple and conveys the sadness of the song better than Rod does with his awkward phrasing. Thanks to You Tube, I found the Tim Hardin version and again, it's simple and sad-with a country flair.

More recently, I loved a cover performed in a movie. Honestly, I am NOT a fan of Britney Spears and "Baby, One More Time" was overplayed when it came out. However, Bowling for Soup did a Ramones inspired cover of it that you can't help but bop along with. I'm glad for that movie, because it made me take a listen to more of their stuff. I've yet to hear anything from them that I didn't like.

I'm sure you all have your favorites, too. Care to share them?

Comments

ligirl said…
As much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Violent Femmes, I gotta say that Gnarls Barkley gives them a run for their money on "Gone Daddy Gone"!
Anonymous said…
I just have to agree,sometines around are better that the first one. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Anonymous said…
What about Lady Marmalade? I do believe that it was a disco song and it got totally revamped for "Moulin Rouge" Correct me if I'm wrong.

A lot of people tell me that it was a good thing that I was "deaf" during the 70's and didn't have to listen to disco music. Was it that bad?! I heard some of it and it wasn't too bad like Saturday Night Fever and Staying Alive.

Janie
Ryan The Intern said…
I never knew what "Blinded by the Light" was about until I wanted to know the definitive answer to the "deuce/douche" debate (Turns out there isn't one. I'm sticking with "douche" on Mann's version.).

Anyway, it's supposed to be about a young man breaking into the music biz, which makes sense because it's off of Springsteen's first album. Lines like "Silicone sister with a manager mister told me I got what it takes" and a description of playing for a dance sort of hints at it, but yeah, you'd never know it from the rest of the gibberish.

My vote for best cover...the Guns N' Roses take on Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."

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