There are certain tracks which I consider almost holy, and anyone that dare cover them had better do it with the utmost respect or I'll want to kill them.

Which tracks are sacrosanct to you? Any cover artists you want to gouge the eyes from? Need to unsee such travesty? Any surprising exceptions?

I'll doubtless add to this list, but to start with: Most Floyd, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Metallica and Nirvana.

Exceptions to that rule: Rolf Harris.

Please feel free to comment on any cover versions or music in general.

A request to moderators: it's just a stupid thread, so please don't arbitrarily delete posts about X-factor or whatever just because they're not quite on topic!

OK, here's a couple of examples to get you started.

Everyone love NiN. "Hurt" was a truly classic track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc1mP4ae2Io

Cash's cover version was arguably more iconic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

The viewing figures say it all. 24 million hits. RIP Man in Black; probably the most emotional song I've ever heard.

"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end."

Not sure what to think of this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZT7eNhsmos

Part of me really likes it but the other part thinks it's a song that should never be covered by anyone.

I'm not sure any song is 'uncoverable'. Look at Tori Amos's version of "Smells like Teen Spirit" for example. I used to think 'You got the Love' was pretty much perfect, then I heard the Florence & The Machine version which seems to add something to it I didn't even know was missing.

Anything can be covered/interpreted, provided the artist doing so does so with integrity, honestly and with respect for the original spirit of the song.

Jon

Comfortably Numb by PInk Floyd is “untouchable” and I have heard some good versions of it (Kate Bush’s rendition was excellent - but she disagrees so you’ll only find bootlegs of it on YouTube but not ). The Scissor Sisters should be suffer some form of slow mediaeval execution.

I am generally open to hearing variations of songs though. If I like it, then good. I’ll probably buy a copy.

I have no holy cows as far as cover versions go. I often enjoy hearing what others do with a tune and lyrics.

This is brilliant, for instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1upZz3a-7iM

+1

Lulu singing Bowie's The man Who Sold The World is a good case of a song done well IMHO.


yours wecrookie

All Saints' "cover" of Under The Bridge is the best argument I've heard for the reintroduction of the death penalty for years.

Oooh actually, I'd burnt that from my memory. Still, the song is arguably ripe for a pop at it due to extreme over playing.

Tori Amos is quite willing to cover songs which you wouldn't think she would attempt. For example:

Slayer - Raining Blood: Clicky

Tori's version: Clicky

A totally different take on a Slayer classic.

Wow. I didn't expect that.

I have a "South of Heaven" poster on my wall beside me, which I've had since I was a teenager. Mostly because I love the imagery.

I have one Tori Amos album, Beekeeper, which was actually quite disappointing. However, she's one of those people who are just so incredibly talented that it would be an honour for them to pay tribute to your work.

Stairway is probably one of the most covered songs of all time... Rolf got conned into it, he apologised afterwards, because he was guest on a chatshow and everybody who appeared had to sing a cover of Stairway and he didn't take it seriously, until afterwards - ISTR that it was some Australian chat show. He did a big apology on British television afterwards, can't remember if it was Wogan or Russel Harty, Parkinson or one of those ilk.

Did anyone watch the Royal Variety Show? What was that woman thinking of trying to cover Evanescense - Going under?

I still think Madonna should have been shot from crimes against music with that terrible cover of American Pie.

I think the Scissor Sisters version was miles better.

I take it you preferred the RHCP's version of 'Higher Ground' more than Stevie's?

Oh, and I've tried to rid from my memory the Klaxons version of Grace's 'Not Over Yet'. An odd one I know but the original, well a certain mix of it, is linked to very fond memories of ending up in the basement of someone's house party on their decks for a couple of hours. Cracking night, wwwaaaaaayyyyyy back in the 90's.