David Schultz:
All Along The Watchtower – Dave Matthews Band covering Bob Dylan
This plodding cover tune has become a staple of every Dave Matthews performance, often as the closing tune. In a misguided effort to duplicate Dylan's restrained fury, the DMB version is simply dreary and weighed down with by the band's own sense of self importance. Oh yes, the fact that Jimi Hendrix' laid the blueprint for the perfect way to play the song doesn't help.
Heroes – The Wallflowers covering David Bowie
In a bizarre decision, Heroes, a song inspired by an East German tryst David Bowie observed by the Berlin Wall, was selected to be the signature piece for a Godzilla remake. The Wallflowers, who were in their heyday at the time, unfortunately signed on to record a cover of Bowie's signature piece. Devoid of the passion that the song deserves, the Wallflowers created an unemotional recitation that simply falls flat.
Live And Let Die – Guns & Roses covering Paul McCartney & Wings
Guns & Roses possessed a relatively good track record when choosing songs to cover as evidenced by their relatively restrained version of Knockin' On Heaven's Door. However, on Live and Let Die, the band's bombastic approach is too heavy-handed and Axl's screeching is distracting.
Time Will Tell – The Black Crowes covering Bob Marley
The Black Crowes may be many things, but a reggae band is not one of them. Making the odd choice to close their Southern Harmony & Music Companion with a Marley tune, the Crowes attempt a straight cover without bothering to learn a reggae beat. It ends an otherwise solid album on the flattest of notes.
I Shall Be Released – The Band covering Bob Dylan
It is time to finally discuss the elephant in the room by pointing out that Richard Manuel destroys this song with his cracking wheezing voice. Rather than play the song in a key in which he can sing, the Band chooses one that makes it sound like Manuel is having an asthma attack. Instead of an anthem of peace, the Band created the musical equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard.
[JD note: There's a solid live version of I Shall Be Released on the U2 "Covering Them" bootleg when Bob joined the lads onstage in LA back in 1987. He also sat in for Knockin' on Heaven's Door, also on that same disc.]
Ripple – Janes Addiction covering the Grateful Dead
Perry Farrell added a host of effects and distortion in a wrongheaded effort to create a trippy version of the Dead classic. The result was a muddled, confused mess. This is a road that no one should travel.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aaman
How about Jackie Chan and Ani DiFranco doing "Unforgettable"?
2 - Jeff Davidson
I haven't heard that one, but it sounds like a "winner"!
3 - Barry Stoller
Hey, nothing more fun than tearing apart the losers and cover songs is an easy mark. Not bad, a few chuckles but ya blew it right at the end - ELP's total demolition of classical music on the undeniably rockin' "Nut rocker" was intentional, thus successful. It was the zenith of the generation gap, maybe ya had to be there.(Also, "Nutrocker" was a cover of the Kim Fowley's 1961 classic.)
4 - Chris Beaumont
Mariah Carey: Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Ugh.
5 - Jeff Davidson
yeah, that's pretty bad too.
6 - Eric Berlin
I disagree with a number of these selections, particularly regarding The Scissor Sisters (which may be one of the GREAT covers of all time) and Thorogood, who is just plain old fun on whatever he does.
My vote for worst cover of Dancin' in the Streets ever: David Bowie and Mick Jagger, mid-80s style. Throw in the video if you really want to cringe.
7 - Tom Johnson
Rufus Wainwright "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)
This cringe inducer almost ruined "Shrek" for me.
In the film, "Hallelujah" is NOT sung by Wainwright but by John Cale. The soundtrack has the Wainwright version. Wainwright's version may not be up to the standard set by Jeff Buckley's stunning take on Grace, but if you actually think Wainwright's version is bad, then I fear hearing what you do think is good.
8 - Paul Dobry
I am ofcourse not asking anyone to agree with my selections. If for example you managed to find something likeable in the Scissor Sisters' cover of "Comfortably Numb" please see Earvolution's list of Best Covers where a fellow writer lists that as a favorite.
I am aware that Wainright had the version on the soundtrack and not in the film. For the record, yes I actually think Wainright's version is awful, it was hard to chose between that and his dreadful "Across the Universe."
These lists are purely meant for fun, and anything under my name reflects my opinion. They are not meant to be definitive lists that all can get behind.
9 - Andrew Ian Dodge
That crappy rap version of 'Cold As Ice' originally covered by Foreigner.
10 - david mazzotta
How could you miss Blinded by the Light? A transcendently joyous early Springsteen tune that Manfred Mann turned into a song about a feminine hygeine product.
11 - Eric Berlin
Is there anything not crappy about Foreigner?
What do y'all Shrek fans think of the Cale version? I kind of like it.
12 - Sunny
Whoever that chick was that tried to do "Boys of Summer" a couple of years ago; that was just horrible.
13 - Tan The Man
Yeah, Sheryl Crow's version of "First Cut" is pretty bad.
14 - Randy P/Tube Pinoy
Lance's girl is on here too many times. She needs to really stop doing covers.
15 - Mark Sahm
311 did a cover of the Cure's "Love Song" a year or two ago that made me cringe everytime I heard it.
16 - godoggo
No contest: U2 doing "I've Got You Under My Skin."
17 - Tim Jarrett
Actually, I think the Bono and Frank Sinatra version of "I've Got You (Under My Skin)" isn't bad. I'm unaware of a full band version of that tune...
Their version of another Cole Porter tune, "Night and Day," is another story. They hadn't quite mastered all the club influences they were absorbing while putting together Achtung Baby and the orchestral blasts plus Bono's falsetto are pretty cringeworthy. Nice drums from Larry on that cut, though.
And regarding the question from Eric Berlin about Cale's cover of "Hallelujah," I've always loved it. It was a great closer to the I'm Your Fan tribute album, and its influence on Jeff Buckley's version is pretty darned clear. That said, I'm not sure it needs to be used for every movie or TV show that has a sad scene, as I seem to see happening recently.
18 - Rob
How About:
Ozzy, "All the Young Dudes". I don't think he can sing anymore. Someone, please take him off studio life support and make him retire.
G&R, "Knocking on Heaven's Door". Annoying piece of crap.
Counting Crows, "Big Yellow Taxi". What a watered down muzak mess. We are now destined to hear this bland version in every Dentist's office and Elevator in North America. I really like this band; why did they do this??!!
Metallica, "Whiskey in The Jar". I could never understand why this song got so much radio play.
Motley Crue, "Smoking in The Boys Room". Didn't care much for the original either, but The Crue really turned it into cheese.
19 - Bryan Doe
I can add some truly awful (or maybe the misspelling "offal" might fit) cover versions:
War, "Nights in White Satin Suite": This was from their second album, way back in 1971, so it's much older than what was already listed here, but it's awful nonetheless, for no other reason than because Eric Burdon CANNOT SING.
SOS Band, "Who's Making Love": Johnny Taylor's original had a lesson to teach; the SOS Band had space to fill on their album. Nuff said.
Living Colour, "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing": I'm not sure which is worse, leaden rhythms or Corey Glover's tortured attempts at singing.
Then there are those "inspired-by" songs that are not actually covers, but plainly inspired by songs the artist wish they had the talent to cover, like "Stepping the Stones" by the SOS Band, who apparently had some "Beast of Burden"/Rolling Stones envy issues to work out; "Under a Nouveau Groove," by Club Nouveau, at the beginning of contempo R&B and hip-hop's infatuation with all things P-Funk...
I could go on and on, but I won't.
20 - dyrkness
Julie London doing "Yummy,Yummy,Yummy" by the Ohio Express.From the chanteuse who created "Cry Me a River"(incidently covered quite bizarrely by Joe Cocker)to a cover of a bubblegum novelty is in my opinion jaw-droppingly terrible.
21 - Paul Dobry
Yikes, I am kicking myself for not including that terrible "Big Yellow Taxi" that the Counting Crows did with Vanessa Carlton. While I was happy to forget it for a time it should be on my list.
22 - Adam
Something of an aside: regarding "Blinded By The Light": does Springsteen's version include, "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun; but mama, that's where the fun is"? Regardless, I think this may be the single most comprehensive statement of rock 'n' roll ever made. Any thoughts?
23 - bhw
does Springsteen's version include, "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun; but mama, that's where the fun is"?
Yep.
24 - Laura
Avril Lavigne's cover of "Chop Suey" originally done by System of a Down.
Jessica Simpson's cover of Nanci Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" - that's horrendeous.
AFI's cover of "Head like a Hole" (original by Nine Inch Nails) is pretty damn bad.
I agree that 311's version of "Love Song" is gag worthy.
Hilary Duff and Haylie Duff butchering "Our Lips are Sealed" by the Go-Gos and soon to be covering "Material Girl" in the future ... ack!
25 - Bob A. Booey
I have to stick up for my girl Sheryl. Her version of "First Cut is the Deepest" is way, way better than the original Cat Stevens version.
That is all.