****What the best re-makes of a song ever done.........and the shittest?****

[respiration]

Worst of all-time:

Mary J. Blige - Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) - New York Undercover Soundtrack - Track #1

"Mary, don't touch my songs or my food!"

What was offensive about that was that Mary sang the first line wrong and made the rest of the words that came after make no sense.

Aretha - "Looking out on the morning rain, sometimes I feel so uninspired."
Mary - "Looking out on the morning rain, sometimes I feel so inspired."

 

[LSN]

Y'all are fukkin stupid man...

Worst of all-time:

Mary J. Blige - Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) - New York Undercover Soundtrack - Track #1

"Mary, don't touch my songs or my food!"

 

[Silencer215]

I love BGOL. (no homo)

Listen, I guess...

I was laughing before Ray J even started singing that.

 

[geechiedan]

websites i used for reference...add your own
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pag...coversongs.html
http://www.coversproject.com/artists

"Lean on Me"
By Club Noveau
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bill Withers
I've never liked the original (to slow and sappy) but club noveau's version made it tolerable...

"Higher Ground"
by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
RHCP's version is okay if i'm in the mood for hard rock but you can't top Steve Wonder...

"American Woman"
by Lenny Kravitz
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Guess Who
Lenny put some funk on this that the Guess Who couldn't do...

"Come Together"
by Aerosmith
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
The both sound real close so its a wash...

"Got To Get You In To My Life"
by Earth Wind and Fire
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
EWF's version is a bit more soulful...gotta give it to them...

"Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)"
by Stevie Ray Vaughn
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
Nothing can beat jimi's original although Stevie Ray Vaughn comes close...

"Easy"
by Faith No More
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Commodores
I don't know what the fuck was on FNM's mind when they decided to do this...

"Red Red Wine"
by UB40
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Neil Diamond
UB40 made this their own...

"Cum On Feel The Noize"
by Quiet Riot
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Slade
QR made it a but more gruffer..they get the nod...

"Kiss"
by Tom Jones and The Art of Noise
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Prince
I like Tom Jones version because he's not gonna hurt himself singing it..but it STILL a prince song..

"I Can't Stop Loving You"
by Ray Charles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Don Gibson
Ray Charles made it his own...

"Hard to Handle"
by The Black Crowes
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Otis Redding
Otis is the king but the Black Crowes did do a damn good job on this...

"Killing Me Softly"
by The Fugees
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Roberta Flack
Never liked many of Roberta Flacks songs and LEAST of all this one..but the fugees made it bearable

"Hazy Shade of Winter"
by The Bangles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Simon and Garfunkel
you CANNOT beat that blazing guitar in the bangles version...

"Walk This Way"
by RUN DMC and Aerosmith
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Aerosmith
RUN DMC revived aerosmith's career with their version...nuff said.

"Twist and Shout"
by The Beatles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Isley Brothers
Isleys all the way...

"I Shot The Sheriff"
by Eric Clapton
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bob Marley
Bob Marleys original is a classic but Clapton's is a keeper as well...

"A Natural Woman"
by Carole King
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Aretha Franklin
Name a song aretha can't make her own...

"All Along The Watchtower"
by Jimi Hendrix
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bob Dylan
Even Dylan had to agree Jimi blazed the shit outta this tune..

"A Little Help From My Friends"
by Joe Cocker
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
Close your eyes and you'd think a brotha was singing this...the beatles can't touch it.


"I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
by Gladys Knight / Creedence Clearwater Revival
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Marvin Gaye
MG recorded it FIRST but Gordy released it AFTER Gladys Knight's version..I like all three equally..each one did their own thing with it.

"Respect"
by Aretha Franklin
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Otis Redding
Again Aretha taking someones song and making it her anthem...

"Satisfaction"
by Devo
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
Depends on my mood but most of the time the Stones get my vote.

"Proud Mary"
by Ike and Tina Turner
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Ike and Tina put their foot in this song...they took it.

"Don't Leave Me This Way"
by Thelma Houston
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Gotta love thelmas soulful opening and it just rocks nonstop from there..she gets the nod.

"Knock on Wood"
by Wilson Pickett
and Amii Stewart
ORGINAL ARTIST: Eddie Floyd
Amii stewarts is a fun romp in pure 70s disco..but the wicked wilson pickett is pure soul..its a tie IMO

"Ladi Dadi"
by Snoop Doggy Dogg
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Slick Rick
A no brainer...rap remakes are ridiculous..IMO

"Black Magic Woman"
by Santana
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Fleetwood Mac
Santana owns this song..

"Blinded By The Light"
by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
I just like the MMEB version cuz it sounds like he's saying "wrapped up like a DOUCHE"

"Hound Dog"
by Elvis Presley
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Big Mama Thornton
Gotta admit one of the FEW songs i like by elvis..

"The Twist"
by Chubby Checker
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Hank Ballard
Chubby owned it..sorry hank

"Emotion"
by Destiny's Child
ORINGINAL ARTIST: Samantha Sang & the Bee Gees
Like the original better and DC's video for this was depressing as shit.

"I Say A Little Prayer"
by Aretha Franklin
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Aretha takes ANOTHER song..

"Don't Make Me Over"
by Sybil
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Sybil version thoroughly modernizes this songs and made it a club fave...

"Live And Let Die"
by Guns N Roses
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Paul McCartney & Wings
The original is great but GNR did a pretty good version..

Walk on By
covered by Isaac Hayes
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Isaac hayes version is over 7 MINUTES long and has more emotion than the original.

 

[jaimes31]

I always liked Bill Wither's Lean On Me, but Club Noveau's was a far greater hit and took home the grammy when it still meant something. One great remake is Donny Hathaway's rendition of Young Gifted And Black, it wasn't his but he made it his own not to mention his cover of Giving Up. I don't know if I overlooked this one in the thread but one of Luther's greatest covers is a duet called If This World Was Mine. Marvin and Tammi is a hard act to follow, but the song is phenomenal and I hate to say it, Luther is better than the original.

 

[c_commander]

Best:
Hello It's Me-Isley Brothers
Hello It's Me-Groove Theory
Inside My Love-Trina Broussard
Alien Ant Farm-Smooth Criminal
We Can Work It Out-Stevie Wonder
Cruisin-D'Angelo
Cold Blooded-O.D.B.

Worst:
The Closer I Get To You-Luther Vandross & Beyonce
In The Rain - Xscape

 

[NnubianN]

websites i used for reference...add your own
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pag...coversongs.html
http://www.coversproject.com/artists

"Lean on Me"
By Club Noveau
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bill Withers
I've never liked the original (to slow and sappy) but club noveau's version made it tolerable...

Bill's version was an inspirational song. Club's was more a dance themed version. Bill' more heartfelt. I give it to him.

"Higher Ground"
by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
RHCP's version is okay if i'm in the mood for hard rock but you can't top Steve Wonder...

Not even close.

"American Woman"
by Lenny Kravitz
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Guess Who
Lenny put some funk on this that the Guess Who couldn't do...

I keep hearing that commercial for classic rock when I think of this cut. Guess Who wasn't trying to be funky. Nonetheless it's a good hard rock piece. They get my vote.

"Come Together"
by Aerosmith
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
The both sound real close so its a wash...

Aerosmith's was an inky dark version of The Beatle's cutting edge song. I give the nod to Aero.

"Got To Get You In To My Life"
by Earth Wind and Fire
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
EWF's version is a bit more soulful...gotta give it to them...

No doubt. The Beates made it, EWF OWNED IT!

"Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)"
by Stevie Ray Vaughn
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
Nothing can beat jimi's original although Stevie Ray Vaughn comes close...

Never heard this one so I'll go with your opinion.

"Easy"
by Faith No More
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Commodores
I don't know what the fuck was on FNM's mind when they decided to do this...

No one will ever do this song better than the original.

"Red Red Wine"
by UB40
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Neil Diamond
UB40 made this their own...

I like them both but UB40 steals it.

"Cum On Feel The Noize"
by Quiet Riot
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Slade
QR made it a but more gruffer..they get the nod...

Agreed.

"Kiss"
by Tom Jones and The Art of Noise
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Prince
I like Tom Jones version because he's not gonna hurt himself singing it..but it STILL a prince song..

Tom Jones covered this? Best covers I ever heard him sing were "Hard To Handle" "I Believe" and "Green Grass Of Home." His best song was "Delilah."

"I Can't Stop Loving You"
by Ray Charles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Don Gibson
Ray Charles made it his own...

My father wore the grooves out of this record. Far as I'm concerned it's Ray's and no one else's.

"Hard to Handle"
by The Black Crowes
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Otis Redding
Otis is the king but the Black Crowes did do a damn good job on this...

Otis was so damn funky on this cut. Even Tom Jones couldn't do it justice.

"Killing Me Softly"
by The Fugees
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Roberta Flack
Never liked many of Roberta Flacks songs and LEAST of all this one..but the fugees made it bearable

No way do I go along with you on this. It's Roberta's signature song done poetically. It's hers.

"Hazy Shade of Winter"
by The Bangles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Simon and Garfunkel
you CANNOT beat that blazing guitar in the bangles version...

Never heard it before.

"Walk This Way"
by RUN DMC and Aerosmith
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Aerosmith
RUN DMC revived aerosmith's career with their version...nuff said.

Everyone deserves to have an opinion. I don't happen to agree with you here. Aerosmith's version was a huge hit. It was this song that made the top 10 on Billboard's chart in 77 and put them on the map. Another great song off the Toys In The Attic album was "Dream On" which also went top 10. Aerosmith was one of the top Rock groups throughout the 70s and to this day, having scored 9 #1 Rock hits, numerous music video awards and sold out concerts. Run-DMC's version is a classic but it doesn't top the original.

"Twist and Shout"
by The Beatles
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Isley Brothers
Isleys all the way...

"I Shot The Sheriff"
by Eric Clapton
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bob Marley
Bob Marleys original is a classic but Clapton's is a keeper as well...

As great as Bob Marley was on this, Eric "Americanized it" so the mainstream audience could swallow it. I heard Eric's version first and think it's outstanding. He gets my nod.

"A Natural Woman"
by Carole King
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Aretha Franklin
Name a song aretha can't make her own...

Stolen and OWNED!

"All Along The Watchtower"
by Jimi Hendrix
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bob Dylan
Even Dylan had to agree Jimi blazed the shit outta this tune..

Amazingly I've never heard either version.

"A Little Help From My Friends"
by Joe Cocker
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Beatles
Close your eyes and you'd think a brotha was singing this...the beatles can't touch it.

Never heard Joe's version. My all time fave of Joe's is "You Don't Mess Around With Jim." You Don't Tug On Superman's Cape...

"I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
by Gladys Knight / Creedence Clearwater Revival
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Marvin Gaye
MG recorded it FIRST but Gordy released it AFTER Gladys Knight's version..I like all three equally..each one did their own thing with it.

The "original" artist was Smokey Robinson & The Miracles" but Berry Gordy didn't release it. Gladys and The Pips strait OWN this song! Marvin was on some voodoo when he sang his. Digg that creepy organ intro. It's good...but ain't no contest!

"Respect"
by Aretha Franklin
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Otis Redding
Again Aretha taking someones song and making it her anthem...

Again...no contest. The Queen Of Soul over the Groove Man.

"Satisfaction"
by Devo
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
Depends on my mood but most of the time the Stones get my vote.

The Stones great hit. It's theirs but Otis Redding's version deserves an honerable mention.

"Proud Mary"
by Ike and Tina Turner
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Ike and Tina put their foot in this song...they took it.

Game, set, match. Ike & Tina.

"Don't Leave Me This Way"
by Thelma Houston
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Gotta love thelmas soulful opening and it just rocks nonstop from there..she gets the nod.

No way! Listen to the 12 inch remix by Harold with Teddy ripping his lungs out! "PLEASE PLEASE DON'T GO! PLEASE PLEASE! That was some soul on the dance floor. Thelma's was more commercially discoized but Harold's is the CLASSIC! Like Aretha said: Ain't No Way!

"Knock on Wood"
by Wilson Pickett
and Amii Stewart
ORGINAL ARTIST: Eddie Floyd
Amii stewarts is a fun romp in pure 70s disco..but the wicked wilson pickett is pure soul..its a tie IMO

1) Wilson, 2)Eddie. Nuff said.

"Ladi Dadi"
by Snoop Doggy Dogg
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Slick Rick
A no brainer...rap remakes are ridiculous..IMO

Slick Rick hands down and I never even heard Snoop's version.

"Black Magic Woman"
by Santana
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Fleetwood Mac
Santana owns this song..

Time/Life Music ran this commercial into the ground. The only song I can remember from it is "Gotta Black Magic Woman..."

"Blinded By The Light"
by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
I just like the MMEB version cuz it sounds like he's saying "wrapped up like a DOUCHE"

Manfred owns this song. I love it.

"Hound Dog"
by Elvis Presley
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Big Mama Thornton
Gotta admit one of the FEW songs i like by elvis..

His best song was "Return To Sender" but Hound Dog wasn't that bad.

"The Twist"
by Chubby Checker
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Hank Ballard
Chubby owned it..sorry hank

I can still remember Chubby twisting in a circle on The Ed Sullivan Show." I remember Hank's "There's A Thrill" better than his version of Twist.

"Emotion"
by Destiny's Child
ORINGINAL ARTIST: Samantha Sang & the Bee Gees
Like the original better and DC's video for this was depressing as shit.

Samantha & The Bees no doubt.

"I Say A Little Prayer"
by Aretha Franklin
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Aretha takes ANOTHER song..

Burt Bacharach rarely made a bad song. I think this is a tossup.

"Don't Make Me Over"
by Sybil
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Sybil version thoroughly modernizes this songs and made it a club fave...

I give this to Sybil cause it was such a groove and totally different from Dionne's almost stoic version.

"Live And Let Die"
by Guns N Roses
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Paul McCartney & Wings
The original is great but GNR did a pretty good version..

Never heard G&R's version.

Walk on By
covered by Isaac Hayes
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Dionne Warwick
Isaac hayes version is over 7 MINUTES long and has more emotion than the original.

How about D Train's version? It ripped through your body and MADE you dance. Sybil also did a decent cover. I gotta go with Isaac.

You got some nice origs and covers here. I dig your taste in music

 

[Mr. Met]

My God, how can I forget the absolute worst re-make in human history.

Pat Boone's re-make of Little Richard's Tutti Frutti.


He also re-made Fats Domino's Ain't That a Shame.

 

[Blunt]

I always liked Bill Wither's Lean On Me, but Club Noveau's was a far greater hit and took home the grammy when it still meant something.

Not quite. Both versions were #1 Pop hits with Withers' version also becoming a #1 R&B hit. His was the slightly bigger hit overall.

Also, it was Withers who won the Grammy for "Best R&B Song" the year Club Nouveau's version came out (around '87). The group was nominated for its performance but didn't win.

Withers also won a "Best R&B Song" Grammy for his other big hit, "Ain't No Sunshine," back around '73.

 

[elchoccolatte]

None whatsoever, They need to just leave the "Originals" alone period...

 

[Blunt]

None whatsoever, They need to just leave the "Originals" alone period...

That's silly. Lots of "originals" either go unheard or are actually not as good as the remakes. A good piece of music demands to be re-interpreted somewhere down the line.

As long as there's been recorded music there've been "covers," obviously. Good, bad and just okay.

 

[Tony Soprano]

Damn, y'all niggas did madd research on these shits and pretty much covered all of em.

 

[Mr. Met]

That's silly. Lots of "originals" either go unheard or are actually not as good as the remakes. A good piece of music demands to be re-interpreted somewhere down the line.

As long as there's been recorded music there've been "covers," obviously. Good, bad and just okay.

For once, Blunt makes a good point.

There was an old Louis Armstrong song called Bad Boy that was re-made by a group called The Jive Bombers for the Johnny Depp's Cry Baby Soundtrack.

I searched for Louis' version of the song and it turned out to be out of print. I recently heard it on WBAI and it was marvelous. But you would have never known that song existed unless it was re-made.

 

[LennyNero1972]

One of the better remakes was Intro's version of Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky".

 

[Tony Soprano]

"Who Can I Run To" by Xscape which was released in 1995.

It was originally recorded by The Jones Girls in 1979.

Xscape's version was better.

 

[NnubianN]

Back in the day Grand Master Flash & The Five dropped a cut called "Freedom." It was a rap cover of the orginal released a year or so earlier. DJs used the original for the break but the whole song was jammin. Don't remember who made it. Anybody got a clue (or the cut itself)?

You be the judge. Which version of "Don't leave Me This Way" is better:

Thelma Houston's or
HM&TBN With Teddy P

 

[Mad Genius]

Back in the day Grand Master Flash & The Five dropped a cut called "Freedom." It was a rap cover of the orginal released a year or so earlier. DJs used the original for the break but the whole song was jammin. Don't remember who made it. Anybody got a clue (or the cut itself)?

You be the judge. Which version of "Don't leave Me This Way" is better:

Thelma Houston's or
HM&TBN With Teddy P

Gotta go with ol' Thelma on this one. She straight killed it. Even though it's looked at as kind of a gay disco anthem....the song was still a great rendition.

 

[rude_dog]

My favorite cover is "Between the Sheets" by Fourplay with Chaka Khan singing a duet. Of course it was originally done by the Isley Brothers.

Bobby Caldwell remake of "Don't ask my Neighbor" by The Emotions. Plus Bobby covered "Heart of Mine" by several people. The one I know best is Boz Skaggs.

 

[NnubianN]

Gotta go with ol' Thelma on this one. She straight killed it. Even though it's looked at as kind of a gay disco anthem....the song was still a great rendition.

I hear you bruh. Just aint enough happening on the Thelma cut. Same bass line and drum beat throughout, the harmonies are just so-so, the horn and string arrangements are muffled. Thelma sounds good. She gives a true effort. But Teddy is begging his ass off. You can feel his plea. The drums and bass are kicking ass. The strings are crying and the horns are shouting. Not only does Teddy sing it better, the whole arrangement is better. IMO

 

[NnubianN]

Shit, just call me period cause I'm the black dot at the end of a thread.

 

[Mad Genius]

I hear you bruh. Just aint enough happening on the Thelma cut. Same bass line and drum beat throughout, the harmonies are just so-so, the horn and string arrangements are muffled. Thelma sounds good. She gives a true effort. But Teddy is begging his ass off. You can feel his plea. The drums and bass are kicking ass. The strings are crying and the horns are shouting. Not only does Teddy sing it better, the whole arrangement is better. IMO

Yeah...I feel where you're coming from with that. Teddy was a beast. I think what I'm appreciating with the Thelma version is that she injected some mass appeal and took it worldwide. Both cuts are dope.

 

[NnubianN]

Yeah...I feel where you're coming from with that. Teddy was a beast. I think what I'm appreciating with the Thelma version is that she injected some mass appeal and took it worldwide. Both cuts are dope.

Yeah her version did outsell the Blue Notes original so there is that.

Stevie Wonder/Luther Vandross-Creepin & Knocks Me Off My Feet

 

[troutwine]

Tyra B did a good job on Toni Toni Tone's "Lay Your Head On My Pillow"
http://myspace.com/tyrab
"Leave a Note On Her Pillow"

plus she's sexy (and light skinned 4 all u coons )



I also liked B5's rendition of Jackson 5's "All I Do", mainly beat-wise, i dunno aout the vocals tho.....

 

[Andeyhollawho]

Worst:

Shhh - Prince

Aight I'm late to the thread so go easy on me, but I thought Prince wrote Shhh... I know Tevin did it first, but is it really a remake if the man who wrote it decided to sing it himself? Don't mean to get off topic just curious what ya'll think on that one.