Has a cover version ever ruined the original for you?

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I've only heard Concrete Blonde's overwrought version of "Everybody Knows" once, but I can't hear Leonard Cohen's original without being reminded of Johnette Napolitano's caterwauling. Anybody else experience something similar?

― hank (hank s), Thursday, 27 April 2006 12:21 (twenty years ago)

I heared the original version of "Dancing in the Moonlight" and thought "Oh poor song, what did Toploader do to you?"

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 27 April 2006 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Heh, I love the original and the cover equally for both of those.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 27 April 2006 13:48 (twenty years ago)

I immediately liked the Toploader version when I heard it, even though I didn't recognize it as a cover. But it fit like an old glove, and obviously I must have heard it. I like the original, too, but my guess would be that if I listened to them side-by-side, it would suffer. Production values, innit? The original just sounds like it lacks guts, somehow.

I don't know if I'd say "ruined" per se, but similarly I much prefer the All Saints version of Lady Marmalade to the original now.

― someone let this mitya out! (mitya), Thursday, 27 April 2006 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Having heard Al Green's "Light My Fire," which is kinda awesome, I hate that Jim Morrison shit twice as much.

― ghost dong (Sonny A.), Thursday, 27 April 2006 14:37 (twenty years ago)

Scooter definitely ruined original of The Logical Song for me.

when I was young it seemed that life was so wonderful YEEEAAAHHH!!11!!1! THE PAINTED COW!!! I AM THE JUNGLIST SOULJAH!!

― Siegbran (eofor), Thursday, 27 April 2006 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Maybe they did, but they certainly improved upon "Rebel Yell".

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 27 April 2006 14:51 (twenty years ago)

Actually, I never thought of that!

Cover versions that are so good, you don't want to hear the original anymore!

OK, "Dying for it" by the Pooh Sticks.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 27 April 2006 14:54 (twenty years ago)

Dr. Wu by The Minutemen/Steely Dan - I alternately like / dislike either version depending on my mood ...

― Mark Taylor (sonicdeath), Thursday, 27 April 2006 19:50 (twenty years ago)

Australian singer John Farnham recorded a slow 'heartfelt' version of 'Help' a few years back that is absolutely a low point in popular culture. Can't say it's ruined the original for meas I'm not crazy about that either but I just wanted to slag it anyway.

― dr lulu (dr lulu), Thursday, 27 April 2006 20:33 (twenty years ago)

Michael Bolton singing "Dock Of The Bay"

― So Ho La (So Ho La), Friday, 28 April 2006 13:02 (twenty years ago)

Anything Eric Clapton touches.

― Jason Toon (Jason Toon), Friday, 28 April 2006 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Yo La Tengo's cover of Nuclear War

― Chris Bergen (Cee Bee), Friday, 28 April 2006 17:12 (twenty years ago)

I'll never be able to listen to Nirvana's "Rape Me" the same way after hearing Richard Cheese's cover...

― Matt Carlson (mattsoncarlhew), Friday, 28 April 2006 17:42 (twenty years ago)

The Bowie/Jagger "Dancing in the Street" didn't ruin the original for me (thankfully), but I do cringe every time I hear the original song and think of it.

― musically (musically), Friday, 28 April 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

when I hear the original "Dancing In The Street", I don't think so much of the Bowie/Jagger version as much as visualize their *horrible* dancing in *that* video...(I do, however, hear that awful Bowie line "in the streetz of Brazill", which taints the original)...

― hank (hank s), Friday, 28 April 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

I like the Henry Rollins w/the Bad Brains remake of "Kick Out The Jams" better than the original.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Friday, 28 April 2006 18:37 (twenty years ago)

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