Furthermore, a lot of people who don't mind cover songs hold cinematic remakes in disdain.

But wouldn't dare shit on the canonical, high-culture Ulysses by Joyce.

Yeah, but I don't think most bands mentioned in this thread became famous because of a cover. They were already there. Jimi Hendrix, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Chili Peppers, Nirvana..

What's wrong with putting your soul into a song someone else has already put their soul in? Double the soul!

Completely different medium. Covering a song doesn't take nearly asm uch to remake a film. And most of the time, they're done for different reasons. Most covers are done as a tribute to inspirations, some done to convey their emotions in someone else's words, and some just to redo something popular. That last reason is the one behind most cinematic remakes. I hate it when people remake already great films just to bring a breath of fresh air into it without accomplishing anything. Leone managed to experiment his style with a remake of Yojimbo, but it worked. However if say Scarface was remade tomorrow, it would be to take advantage of the original's popularity like most remakes these days are.

But like I said, I can pick up my guitar right now and play a Nirvana, Alice in Chains song, whatever. It's entirely different from me directing a remake of a film. It may not sound different, but it's much more convenient and easier to do.

I disagree. I think most cover songs are done for commercial appeal, to update the song for new generations. Pop charts are littered with them. I think what you're saying is a cynical misconception that favours renditions in one medium but treats with disdain renditions in another.

I disagree. Like I said it's a completely different convenience. Sure, there are covers done for commercial reasons, and some work, but most fail. Britney Spears doing "I Love Rock N Roll" made me wanna shoot myself.

But most with actual talent cover songs as a tribute to those who inspired them (John Mayer) or simply because they aren't primarily writers and convey their emotions through someone else's words (Frank Sinatra/Michael Jackson). Though I guess if you wanna make logical parallels, Michael Jackson singing "She's Out of My Life" is no different then many directors who didn't write the original screenplay, but directed the final product.

Most with talent, yes.
A lot of pop stars don't write their own music. They do perform it, though.

Anyway, what a boring discussion.

Back to listing our faves.

Elvis never wrote none of his music, but he was the greatest thing to come out of modern music

He was a way for white people to relate to music created by African Americans

He didn't intend to do this.He just did what was natural to him..

If he never went in too Sunrecords on the off chance to record a song for his mum,music would be a whole lot differant..

Same with Eminem

But with Eminem,he had 40 years of music to inspire too.Elvis started it all.

So Elvis and Eminem are ways for the white man to like black music without having the black people?

Sure.

haha It helped them relate to the style of music.
Just like how they depict Christ as white with blue eyes.

If that's true, then there would be no Elvis. Elvis liked blues and played it. Just because he was white doesn't mean he's any less then any normal blues player. I don't think of race when judging anyone from Elvis to Robert Johnson or BB King.

And as far as Eminem goes, rap has been popular since the early 80's, so I highly doubt he was thr white savior.

And Jesus probably wasn't black. He was Hebrew and if not white would probably be Middle Eastern, but now we're getting ridiculously off-topic.

Bottom line, in the 50's/60's, you didn't have to be black to appreciate or play depressing music.

Who said that..

That's not what DeNiro said. Before we go any further, Elvis & Eminem do not even belong in the same musical conversation.

Elvis was the first white singer to gain massive popularity singing songs written by black artists. He's been referred to as the first white singer who had sounded like he was black. In essence, he was one of the first "cross-over" artists.

As wealthy as Elvis was, he could have been the Donald Trump of music had he written his own songs. Regardless, he was one of the pioneers of rock music.

Aerosmith - Train Kept a Rollin' (LIVE 1974)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hge_il6COU
The Yardbirds Cover

Guns N' Roses - Mama Kin (LIVE @ The Ritz)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-7mH9yTiRo
Aerosmith Cover

Guns N' Roses - Jumpin' Jack Flash (LIVE 1986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LCvkK-8Nlw
The Rolling Stones cover

Van Halen - The Rover (Demo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu2IbWYxgAY
Led Zeppelin Cover

I'm not sure if that has been posted already but this has to be one of the best cover songs ever at least in the sense that it was covered and done differently than the original.

Dynamite Hack - Boys in the Hood

As much as I like that era of VH, that has to be one of the worst covers I have ever heard. DLR does not hold a candle to Plant's vocal range and Roth's weaknesses are glaring in this song. I do like what Eddie did with the guitar (no big surprise).

Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me" is a classic remake IMO.

Sex Pistols - Substitute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBc-ROF-1uk
The Who Cover

Really? Come on now. Honestly.

So name someone bigger, apart from Sinatra

The Beatles

I'm talking in the musical sense, not about merchandise and all that garbage.

Since "I Fought the Law" was writter by Sonny Curtis and originally recorded by Curtis and the post-Buddy Holly Crickets, I would argue that the Bobby Fuller Four version is also a pretty damn good cover version. Fuller's life, and death, are a very interesting story.

A couple of songs I especially like...and I'll climb "under the covers" because I like the original just as much...

Me and Bobby McGee -- Janis Joplin
Originally written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson. Joplin's version is spectacular, but Kristofferson's original is equally as compelling.

City of New Orleans -- Arlo Guthrie
I believe it was no less than David Allen Coe that called this the best damn train song ever written. He was actually talking about the original version by Steve Goodman, the Chicago folk music legend, and not Guthrie's version which got more recognition. Goodman's version is bouncy and happy. Guthrie's is plaintive and forlorn. Goodman actually felt Guthrie got it right.

Old '55 -- The Eagles
First appeared on Tom Waits' album Closing Time. The Eagles made it a more "radio friendly" song and consequently a modest success. Waits is an excellent songwriter, but his songs and style are definitely an acquired taste...one I acquired by seeing Waits on the original Soundstage television series produced by Chicago's public television station. I heard his version of Old '55 well before The Eagles when I bought copies of Waits' first few albums in the 1970's, and the album is filled with songs that could have been hits were they recorded by anyone else.

(Big Joe and) Phantom 309 -- Tom Waits
Originally written by a little-known country musician named Tommy Faile and recorded by Red Sovine. Like Guthrie's version of Goodman's CNO, Waits absolutely nails this on his live album Nighthawks at the Diner. There's no way this works except as a live version.

tony b.

...Good stuff there, TonyB. Here's another:

AC/DC - Baby Please Don't Go (LIVE 1974)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VlRUIHwygc&feature=related

Sex Pistols - Something Else
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsq7AXUYGVc
Eddie Cochran Cover