Name a cover that’s better than the original, and you’re not allowed to mention Jeff Buckley or Sinead O’Connor.
— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) August 2, 2018
This is my jam – literally. I collect covers like some people take breaths. Here are some of my favorites that I think are better than the originals, off the top of my head. I’ve tried to mostly stray from the “obvious” ones that everyone knows, unless it was truly exceptional (which some of them are).
Anyway, the list:
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Lick the Tins (Original by Elvis Presley)
C’etait L’hiver – Isabelle Boulay (Original by Francis Cabrel)
Happy Together – Miley Cyrus (Original by The Turtles)
I Found a Reason – Cat Power (Original by Velvet Underground)
Crazy Mary – Pearl Jam (Original by Victoria Williams)
These Days – 10,000 Maniacs (Original by Jackson Browne)
Who Will Save Your Soul – UPenn Off the Beat (Original by Jewel)
Are You Experienced? – Belly (original by Jimi Hendrix)
Jambalaya – Lucinda Williams (Original by Hank Williams)
Twist and Shout – The Beatles (original by The Top Notes, made famous by the Isley Brothers)
Yellow – Bill Frisell and Petra Haden (Original by Coldplay)
Bizarre Love Triangle – Frente! (Original by New Order)
Ring of Fire – Social Distortion (Original by Johnny Cash)
The Scientist – Willie Nelson (Original by Coldplay)
Wish You Were Here – Rasputina (Original by Pink Floyd)
Was It 26 – Chris Stapleton (Original by the Charlie Daniels Band)
Shine – Dolly Parton (Original by Collective Soul)
Close To You – The Cranberries (Made famous by The Carpenters)
It’s Not Unusual – Belly (Original by Tom Jones)
Live and Let Die – Guns N’ Roses (Original by Wings/Paul McCartney)
Heart of Glass – Lunachicks (Original by Blondie)
All I Want – Natalie Merchant (Original by Joni Mitchell)
Hunger Strike – Halestorm (Original by Temple of the Dog)
Don’t Dream It’s Over – Sixpence None the Richer (Original by Crowded House)
Freedom! 90 – Anna Kendrick (Original by George Michael)
Bad Blood – Alessia Cara (Original by Taylor Swift)
Closer – Kawehi (Original by Nine Inch Nails)
No Expectations – Odetta (Original by The Rolling Stones)
Grammy – Purity Ring (Original by Soulja Boy)
You Send Me – Dixie Chicks (Original by Sam Cooke)
Angel from Montgomery – Susan Tedeschi (Original by John Prine)
Across the Universe – Fiona Apple (Original by The Beatles)
The Man Who Sold the World – Nirvana (Original by David Bowie)
The A Team – Grace VanDerWaal (Original by Ed Sheeran)
Hazy Shade of Winter – The Bangles (Original by Simon & Garfunkel)
Easy (Like Sunday Morning) – Faith No More (Original by The Commodores)
Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin (Original by Kris Kristofferson)
Tonight, Tonight – Kate’s Party (Original by the Smashing Pumpkins)
It’s Oh So Quiet – Björk (Original by Betty Hutton)
