Original vs Cover

The music is very similar in both, but the vocals in the cover sound a bit smooth and clean.

"Let It Go"

Original by Idina Menzel

Cover by Cece Frey

Cover for me. I just overall liked its vibes and performance.

"Stuck in the Middle with You"

Original by Stealers Wheel

Cover by Lazlo Bane

Edited by DreamCord on Sep 27th 2022 at 8:56:35 AM

The original. It's more laid-back than the cover, and seems to flow better.

"Paralyzed"

Original by Mystery Skulls

Cover by Ken Ashcorp

Same. That being said, there is also a lot of Narm Charm involved, that makes the cover work for me as much as it does.

Edited by AoeAbility on Oct 12th 2022 at 5:31:59 AM

I prefer the energy, vocals, and music from the cover, tbh.

"Sexual Healing"

Marvin Gaye's original version

Hot 8 Brass Band's cover

Edited by Angry_Clown on Oct 26th 2022 at 5:16:12 AM

I don't know why I expected a vintage big band sound from the cover, but I really enjoyed the personality it radiates. I wouldn't put it above the original, which is incredibly smoothly composed and performed on every level. That said, the cover's chill yet heartfelt performance, combined with its limited production value, gives it a great bardic vibe. The percussions are a bit of a weak point, IMO — I found their beat a little distracting, and they lack the punch of a full drum kit.

Super Tuna

Original by Jin BTS

Cover by Pianella Piano

I like both of them. The original is an energetic and fun little track, and the piano cover managed to capture that feel quite well. If I have to choose, though... I pick the original, by a slim margin. Both of them are really good, though.

EDIT: Huh, I can't post a link; is this normal?

Edited by DryBones on Oct 26th 2022 at 6:10:03 PM

Eh, to keep the ball rolling...

"Dream On"

The original, by Aerosmith

Ronnie James Dio's cover

Dio's "more is more" approach to performing actually feels like it's to the song's detriment here, particularly evident with the heavy riffs being on near constant blast. The original's more proper buildup feels cleaner and a bit more exciting when it actually gets there. Point to Aerosmith.

"Close to Me"

The Cure original

The Get Up Kids cover

The Get Up Kids seem like they were trying to find a balance between adapting it to their own style and being faithful to the feel of the original version and it works out pretty well- I like how the chorus is sung with more harmony, and interestingly I have an easier time understanding the lyrics. The ending feels a bit repetitive without the horn solo but I understand how that wouldn't have fit into an "emo" version. I still would rather be listening to the original because it just grooves better though.

"After The Gold Rush"

Neil Young original

Trio (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris) cover

Edited by MikeK on Dec 30th 2022 at 6:55:56 AM

I love Neil Young quite a bit but something about his voice in the studio version has always struck me as a bit off somehow. The vocal harmonies of the cover are quite nice. The orchestration is a bit too much but I'm gonna go with the cover.

Big Iron:

Marty Robbins original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzICMIu5zFY

Johnny Cash version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZfItlZG97Q

The original has a nice western folk sound that really puts me in an old west feel. Cash's version sounds too mainstream, and also too slow.

Since it's Christmas, here's "Frosty The Snowman"

Gene Autey (original)

Jimmy Durante (Rankin-Bass version)

Edited by Brandon on Dec 25th 2022 at 11:29:17 AM

The flourishes and choir added to the cover definitely made for a more fun listening experience, and Jimmy's voice fit the mood more.

"Strange Overtones"

David Byrne and Brian Eno original

We Barbarians cover

The original sounds abit like Giorgo by Moroder at times, and the funky bassline is very silly, and I love it. Meanwhile, the cover sounds kinda like typical rock, aside from that ambient intro. I'd choose the original.

Coming right up, "A6 - Things that are beautiful and transient":

Here's the original by The Caretaker

Here's the cover by EG Music

The original has a nice melody, kind of sounds like a 20's song, but good Lord is it slow!

The cover makes it sound like a video game track, which takes the melancholy from the original away, but at least it has a better rhythm.

"You've Got a Friend"

James Taylor's original version

Carole King's cover

Carole King's emoting on her cover of this just can't be beat. Taylor sings it as a straight folk song, but King building it up as a comforting, emotional track elevates the mood of the song considerably.

"Shady Grove"

Mudcrutch version

Takénobu version

bump

I couldn't really get into either, but I think the cover fits the mood of the lyrics better, where the original is too upbeat.

"Indian Reservation"

Original by Marvin Rainwater

Cover by Paul Revere and the Raiders

The Paul Revere version has more going on, but the original fits the mood of the lyrics more.

You Really Got Me

The Kinks(original)-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTTsY-oz6Go

Van Halen-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GklzVAF62Hw

Metallica and Ray Davies-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GERPwOoQl1I

All three versions are enjoyable. I guess it's really hard to ruin a song when its biggest strengths are its simplicity and power, something which all three bands were good at.

With that said, I'm gonna go with the original, not just for its status as an incredibly influential and iconic song, but because it's got a bit of a garage rock edge to it that I really dig, what with the squeaky drums and Ray Davies' amateur yet passionate singing.

I'd say Metallica's version is the weakest; although it's not bad by any means, I feel like James Hetfield's singing doesn't really fit the song, he sounds more menacing when the song requires more of a lustful kind of singing. It's nice that they got Ray back to sing with them, though.

"My Girl"

Original version by The Temptations

Otis Redding's cover

Edited by Angry_Clown on Mar 9th 2023 at 12:07:29 PM

the original sounds like really nice. it's groovy, basically what i'd expect from a 60's record/

the cover sounds pretty much the same expect a little more jazz. i'd choose the original.

next up: Teknopathetic

here's the original,

and here's the e-pop 'n' disco 80's mix from ollie king.

The cover seems more enjoyable and more like an actual song than the more techno-club oriented original

"We Are" (One Piece theme)

Original Japanese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHhNTt3oxtY

English version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5kRrG3FWok

Animetal USA version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kB7SQNmgNI

I don't love the animetal cover bringing it down to just another generic rock song. So it comes down to which vocal style between the japanese and english versions I prefer. And I think Hiroshi's vocals fit a bit more naturally. Point to the original.

"Var kommer barnen in" (Where do the children fit)

Hanson de Wolfe United original

Uno Svenningsson and Augustifamiljen cover

Opeth cover

I enjoyed Uno Svenningsson's version the most. Both the original and the Opeth version are way too mellow and way too long. Svenningsson's cover actually develops instrumentally, with the drumming being more dynamic and the guitars ringing more confidently. And it has a great trumpet too.

"Them Bones"

Original by Alice In Chains

Cover by Fishbone

That is some great singing, especially when they held it like at 0:16 (0:20 for the cover) and 0:52. I think I prefer the original because the background guitar added to the vocals better than the cover.

• Danny B: Innermost Apocalypse
  • Original
  • Cover

Edited by AxolotlFan on May 13th 2023 at 7:55:19 AM

My dude, you have to choose a favorite from the above post.