Cover songs that are better than (or as good as) the original

[Sita]

Oldie but goodie. 

Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY

I always thought this was original. Never heard another version. Now I must go looking...

[Bruno]

Contrary to popular belief, "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" was originally recorded by The Four Lads in 1953.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vankaSlfSr0

[AFK]

For Whom the Bell Tools as covered by Moonsorrow, cause yes Metallica can definitely suck it.
http://youtu.be/bT63PZ6zF9g


The original is still pretty good, and one of Metallica's best, but Moonsorrow completely owned it in this version.

[AFK]

Got the Time as covered by Anthrax
http://youtu.be/be7iNHw8QoQ


I'll be honest and I've never heard the original by Joe Jackson but I can't imagine how it could be any better.

[East Coast Hustle]

Got the Time as covered by Anthrax
http://youtu.be/be7iNHw8QoQ


I'll be honest and I've never heard the original by Joe Jackson but I can't imagine how it could be any better.

Shit, you totally beat me to that one!

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Paint it Black:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr1DYbOVgt4

[Eater of Clowns]

You'll forgive my lack of links as I'm at work but here's a partial list of my favorites, both good and blasphemous.

Misirlou - Dick Dale (yeah, his signature song is an adaptation of an old folk song)

And while we're on Dick Dale - Sloop Jon B

Baker Street - Foo Fighters

Harvest Moon - Elliott Smith

London Dungeon - Prong

Thirteen - Danzig (he wrote the song for Johnny Cash, then performed it, so maybe not technically a cover?)

Hurt - Johnny Cash (and pretty much the whole American V:  When the Man Comes Around album, with standouts like Personal Jesus and Bridge Over Troubled Waters)

Across the Universe - Fiona Apple

Feeling Good - Muse (only works because they are NOT TRYING TO BE NINA SIMONE)

And finally, a great cover lost to the ages by a now defunct local band called These Bones - Toxic.

[Luna]

This:

http://youtu.be/0VqTwnAuHws

[East Coast Hustle]

You'll forgive my lack of links as I'm at work but here's a partial list of my favorites, both good and blasphemous.

Misirlou - Dick Dale (yeah, his signature song is an adaptation of an old folk song)

And while we're on Dick Dale - Sloop Jon B

Hurt - Johnny Cash (and pretty much the whole American V:  When the Man Comes Around album, with standouts like Personal Jesus and Bridge Over Troubled Waters)

I love Dick Dale. Never knew he covered Sloop Jon B!

Also, like Hendrix with All Along the Watchtower, Hurt is now officially a Johnny Cash song.

[Eater of Clowns]

You'll forgive my lack of links as I'm at work but here's a partial list of my favorites, both good and blasphemous.

Misirlou - Dick Dale (yeah, his signature song is an adaptation of an old folk song)

And while we're on Dick Dale - Sloop Jon B

Hurt - Johnny Cash (and pretty much the whole American V:  When the Man Comes Around album, with standouts like Personal Jesus and Bridge Over Troubled Waters)

I love Dick Dale. Never knew he covered Sloop Jon B!

Also, like Hendrix with All Along the Watchtower, Hurt is now officially a Johnny Cash song.

Shit yeah.  I don't even hate Trent Reznor or Nine Inch Nails like I do Bob Dylan, but that song fit Cash like a goddamn glove.  It's why I think Thirteen is better as a Danzig song than a Johnny Cash one - it never sounded like it was made for him quite the same way.

[Bu🤠ns]

You'll forgive my lack of links as I'm at work but here's a partial list of my favorites, both good and blasphemous.

Misirlou - Dick Dale (yeah, his signature song is an adaptation of an old folk song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8

And while we're on Dick Dale - Sloop Jon B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vm1VkWGKRI

Baker Street - Foo Fighters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DmIk05vmMc

Harvest Moon - Elliott Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXnHa_78guk

London Dungeon - Prong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI-Kuw6ep9o  ??

Thirteen - Danzig (he wrote the song for Johnny Cash, then performed it, so maybe not technically a cover?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coTL7PZ8JiQ

Hurt - Johnny Cash (and pretty much the whole American V:  When the Man Comes Around album, with standouts like Personal Jesus and Bridge Over Troubled Waters)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aF9AJm0RFc

Across the Universe - Fiona Apple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ5WPXxNzPU

Feeling Good - Muse (only works because they are NOT TRYING TO BE NINA SIMONE)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwRQqJsegw

And finally, a great cover lost to the ages by a now defunct local band called These Bones - Toxic.
http://dailyrefill.blogs.com/daily/files/these_bones_toxic.mp3

for future parsing purposes
Thanks, EoC

[East Coast Hustle]

Oh, EoC, I almost forgot...

ARE YOU FUCKING HIGH? THERE IS NOT NOW NOR WILL THERE EVER BE ANY SUCH THING AS A COVER OF A MISFITS SONG THAT'S AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. BLASPHEMER!

[Bu🤠ns]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZpSjH4Mrik
I am Woman - SJP, Kim Cattrall, Kristen Davis, Cynthia Nixon.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Waiting For a Superman - Iron & Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avBJ9Lhggn0

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Einsturzende Neubauten - Sand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BiODjvVEOw

The first man I ever loved put that on a mixtape for me almost 20 years ago... I still have it, somewhere.