Songs get covered all of the time. In fact, many of them can even sound much, much better than the original (subject of upcoming post). We’ve heard them all, and fell in love with some of them. But, you know, there are some that just simply should not be touched for every reason in the book. And why? Well…honestly, who can do “Stairway To Heaven” (and I don’t even like that song…at all). But who can do it better? I’m pretty sure it’s no one. Now, I LOVE “Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll”. But still, no one can do them, nor should be allowed to look silly enough trying.
I have a list of such songs that belong in the realm of the original artist. Lots of Springsteen songs should never be touched including “Born To Run”, “I’m On Fire”, and “Adam Raised A Cain”. Similarly, who can possibly do justice to Don McLean’s “American Pie”? The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”? “Wishbone Ash’s “Ballad of the Beacon”?
There are easily hundreds, perhaps thousands, more.
Let’s hear your songs that should never be touched!
My vote goes for any Boston song.
BTW, there was a GREAT cover of “Stairway to Heaven” in ’86 by Far Corporation. Interestingly, it’s the only time the song has ever charted.
I don’t know. It’s only rock and roll. I’m not sure any song is so sacred that someone shouldn’t remake it. However, the more iconic the song the more difficult to do it justice.
Several years ago there was a cd called “Working Man” which had various members from other bands covering Rush songs. I’m a huge Rush fan, how could I not enjoy that? Well, I never realized how unique and essential Geddy’s voice is (yeah, I know, most people that hate Rush point out Geddy’s voice as one of the reasons) in defining those songs and making them what they are.
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to it again.
So I get your point Matt, but to those younger fans that don’t have classic rock songs’ original version tattoed in their brain it’s all fair game.
If yoyu want a better version of “stairway…” try Frank Zappa’s on The Best Band You Never Heard album.
I remember that – I believe several members of Toto were in the band. Stanley Clark also did an instrumental cover.
Bohemian Rhapsody is the only song that comes immediately to mind. Most of the time, I don’t mind covers. When I worked in college radio back in the late eighties, I would occasionally pair a cover song with the original version. I remember Dash Rip Rock used to do “Stairway to Freebird….”
I would have said “Strawberry Fields Forever”, but then the Tomorrow or Ben Harper covers are quite palatable… I never heard other Beatles staples like “A Day In The Life” or “I Am The Walrus” to be completely satisfying so I will go with that and add “Paint it, black” and “Satisfaction” by the Stones, the whole “Pet Sounds” album, anything by Pink Floyd and I join Leonard Cohen on his request to stop murdering “Hallellujah”: for this one, they will never compete with the Jeff Buckly version (which in return should be forgotten of any ads or tv series, but that’s another subject…)
Sorry, I meant “Jeff Buckley”, I think the reader will correct themselves…
This is an easy one. There are exactly zero songs that fall under this category for me. In some ways, I think a song isn’t really a full-fledged piece of music until someone other than its creator gives it a go. A cover song doesn’t have to be “better” than the original. In fact, most covers will probably be quite terrible, if for no other reason than there are a lot more terrible bands and musicians out there than great ones. But I guarantee that any song you can name, somebody somewhere will be able to do a version of that you will like.
I believe the idea that certain songs should never be covered is complete bullshit. Every song can be covered. But if you are going to do a cover, make sure that it’s good and respectful to the original. Simply put, don’t muddy up the original. This never works because it always leaves the listener unsatisfied. For example, when Sheryl Crow covered Guns N Roses “Sweet Child O Mine.” That was a dreadful cover. But when an artist/band re-invents the song and makes it their own, you get some real gems. For example: Johnny Cash – Hurt (Nine Inch Nails), Pearl Jam – Baba O’Reilly (Who), Rodrigo y Gabriela – Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin), and Green Day – Working Class Hero (John Lennon) to name just a few.
I believe all songs are fair game. After all I don’t know of any songwriters who don’t want someone to record their song. It’s called songwriters royalties. I remember Jerry Jeff Walker saying that his song “Mr. Bojangles” paid for his house on Lake Travis near Austin.
While I agree that some artists should be shot for butchering a great song, their version sometimes just makes me appreciate the original even more.
I am a great fan of tribute compilations. I especially enjoy when the contributors to the tribute really take the song they chose and make it their own or totally re-invent it. Some of the most interesting examples are those tribute CDs put together by the Mojo and Uncut magazines. Especially the ones that cover a classic album from the past like “Revolver” or “Highway 61 Revisited”.
There’s only one song that comes to mind that I believe should not be covered again and that’s Focus’ “Hocus Pocus”………How can the yodeling be topped??
Kenny, I absolutely agree
Matt, I take you never heard Johnny Cash’s cover of “I’m On Fire” then? Maybe not the very best of the many covers he sang in his later years, but still damned good.
I can’t imagine anyone matching “Born To Run” though, you’re right… Frankie Goes To Hollywood sure as hell didn’t!
That would make a long list. I don’t think I have ever heard a good U2 cover either.
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Please…not again.
I would have to say Neil Young – “Like A Hurricane” that song no one has any reason to touch. The one song that was remarkable touched and done so much better was Aerosmith version of “Train Kept A Rollin”
Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode, the most recent butchering by Susan Boyle upsets me
While I tentatively agree that almost any tune is fair game, there are such things as “perfect records”, like Born To Run, which is without peer. The 1st one that comes to mind is Otis Redding’s “Dock Of The Bay” which, although it has been covered (and not very well), it is Otis’s version which remains definitive, perfect amp; timeless.
The challenge to musicians is to make every effort, when they do a cover, to surpass the original. The musical landscape is littered with the corpses of these failed attempts at exceeding greatness. The successes are fewer and therefore notable. Cash’s take of “Hurt”, Buckley’s “Hallelujah” amp; certainly Jimi’s “Watchtower”.
Sometimes, a certain song will fit a particular artist like old jeans. Steve Earle cut a version of the Stones’ “Dead Flowers” that sounded like he wrote it. I think The Smithereens did a fabulous job doing an entire CD that covered “Tommy”. That one took some guts amp; a lot of homework.
I wouldn’t want anyone else doing “Tumbling Dice” (Stones). Yes, I’ve heard the covers, liked none of them. That song is Stones and Stones only.
Johnny Cash also did a great version of Springsteen’s “Johnny 99”. As for Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” Heart did a credible version of it on their first live album, just sayin’……
But Johnny Thunders version of “Pipeline” is far better than the original. Wait, what was the question….?
Greg…I agree wholeheartedly on that one.
I grew up wanting a Juke Box so I could put all of my favorite songs in one place, and play them in any order I wanted. So, a PC does this for me. I primarily listen to mp3′s and wav’s. In the car, CD-R’s. I have always made compilations, so I rarely listen to complete albums except when I first buy them. Then I record my favorite songs from the album on CD-R’s or digital.
(Left by Ron Hatchell)
Has anyone heard the Oak Ridge Boys version of “Seven Nation Army?” It’s actually pretty good.
I thought the above comment was going to another article. I haven’t figured out what I am doing with these comments yet.
I don’t have an answer to the question, because I thought “Stairway to Heaven” would be a good answer for years until I heard an a capella version of it by the West Coast All Stars, and I have already enjoyed listening to this version at least forty times.
I beg to differ on “Stairway”… go listen to Dolly Parton’s minimalist, Page amp; Plant-approved cover from a few years back. It’ll remind you why that song was such a big deal in the first place (yes, really).
Oh, and the worst cover-that-should-not-be? That dreadful “Freebird/Baby I Love Your Way” mashup by Will To Power in the mid-80’s. If you’ve never heard it, be thankful.