Top 20 Cover Songs That Are More Popular Than The Original

Original: Bob Dylan (1973), Cover: Guns N’ Roses (1990)
Older generations may know this song from Bob Dylan’s album “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid,” from the film of the same name. For younger audiences, they might know it better as sung by Axl Rose. The Guns N’ Roses cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” brought the track to the modern era with style. The hard rockers gave the softer tune a pointed edge. During one of the band’s peaks, they were able to bring covers like this and Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die” to their fans. They successfully combine Dylan’s moving lyrics with an electric production. With some great guitar work from Slash, Rose’s iconic vocals make it all worthwhile.

Original: Gloria Jones (1965), Cover: Soft Cell (1981)
Decades after Gloria Jones recorded this tune, Soft Cell energized it with an 80s flair. “Tainted Love” became a new wave hit with all the pop sounds you could want from the decade. The newer version features high-powered synths, with Marc Almond[a]’s voice bringing all kinds of attitude. It reached number 1 on the UK Singles charts and broke the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. The latter rendition is undeniably catchy, taking the spark of the first recording and re-imagining it. It just goes to show that even a soul number from 1965 can translate to the wild world of 1981.

Original: Exile (1981), Cover: Huey Lewis and the News (1983)
Did you even know that this was a cover? Huey Lewis and the News recorded “Heart and Soul” in 1983, but they were following the Kentucky band Exile. The version from Lewis and his band features the singer’s strong delivery and some classic synth sounds. It’s a very catchy rock number that made a splash with audiences, climbing to 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single became one of the band’s most recognized hits during their heyday. While the first version has its own merits, the second recording had the magic that truly connected with listeners.

Original: The Paragons (1967), Cover: Blondie (1980)
Known for their new wave music, Blondie also tried some different genres. Their take on “The Tide Is High” finds the band trying out a reggae sound. The original song was first done by Jamaican group The Paragons, coming from the rocksteady genre. Many years later, a much different band got hold of the song and experimented with it. Debbie Harry and her bandmates adapt well to the dynamic track. They are both laidback and stylish, showing listeners that they can be as versatile as any other music act. The bouncy beat and Harry’s performance helped take the cover to number one on several charts.

Original: Pandora’s Box (1989), Cover: Céline Dion (1996)
While a group named Pandora’s Box first recorded this tune, it was Céline Dion that helped popularize it. She turned this song into one of her best performances. Dion’s version was a major hit on the Billboard charts, reminding everyone of the singer’s talents. The vocalist takes the romantic lyrics and makes them sound even dreamier. It’s yet another example of her hold on the 90s, showcasing her incredible range. The vocals reach an amazing peak during the chorus. Composer Jim Steinman crafted a fantastic track for both artists, but the cover really raised the bar for pop stars everywhere.

Original: The Zutons[b] (2006), Cover: Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse (2007)
You might not know The Zutons, but you should thank them for getting the ball rolling on this song. Their composition inspired Mark Ronson to record a new version with Amy Winehouse. Using Winehouse’s amazing pipes, the producer created one of the singer’s finest works. The piece has a throwback sound that’s perfect for the “Rehab” star. From a humble rock tune to a massive production, “Valerie” was completely enhanced by Ronson’s musical techniques. The featured vocalist turns the melody into her own, giving an awesome performance that ranks highly amongst her catalog.

Original: Slade (1973), Cover: Quiet Riot (1983)
When Slade put out this single in the 1970s, the rockers certainly connected with fans of glam. A decade later, the band Quiet Riot chose to put their stamp on the track. “Cum On Feel the Noize” became their most notable hit and one of the better covers of its kind. Taking the song firmly into a new era, the heavier rock band gave the track a metal flavor. It’s practically a standard within its own subgenre at this point. The big production gave it a remix that inspired audiences, while also saluting the brilliance of the original.

Original: Bob Dylan (1965), Cover: The Byrds (1965)
On their debut album, The Byrds chose to cover one of the most famous and revered musicians of their era. It might seem like a tall order to interpret Bob Dylan, but this group was more than up to the task. Their version of “Mr. Tambourine Man” helped to convince people of their groundbreaking folk-rock sound. Taking the song into an electric space, this version also helps show the evolution of folk music during a revolutionary decade. This cover holds an undeniable place in music history, likely influencing other artists to take similar chances.

Original: Gladys Knight & the Pips (1967), Cover: Marvin Gaye (1968)
Sometimes two great stars perform the same song, but one makes the track legendary. Gladys Knight & the Pips delivered a great version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” but they were clearly outdone by Marvin Gaye. The Motown classic was given its definitive and most influential rendition by the latter singer. It came to be one of his defining recordings in a career full of stellar work. Not only was he in the right place at the right time, the vocalist gave audiences a performance that’s stayed relevant over a half-century later. It’s another reason that Gaye was counted among the best artists of the 20th century.

Original: Big Mama Thornton (1953), Cover: Elvis Presley (1956)
The legendary Big Mama Thornton deserves much more attention for her work, but it’s impossible to deny the greater impact of Elvis Presley’s cover. The rock icon took “Hound Dog” to a new level of fame. Presley also bridges the gap between Thornton’s blues traditions and a new sound that would take the world by storm. His fiery vocals really sell one of the most iconic records of the 50s. He took his version to number one, with the single becoming one of his signature tracks. Truly, there ain’t nothin’ quite like his rendition.

Original: The Arrows (1975), Cover: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1981)
You’d be forgiven for not remembering Britain’s the Arrows, a glam rock group from the 1970s that first recorded and released “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Their version, as cool as it is, just isn’t widely remembered today, nor is it considered to be the definitive edition of the song. Instead, that honor goes to Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who heard The Arrows’ original, and decided to cover it a few years after its release. This comparatively more hard-rocking cover eventually grew to become something of a career calling card for Jett, particularly after departing her former group, the Runaways. It was Joan’s one-of-a-kind attitude and swagger that allowed “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” to hit harder than ever before.

Original: Robert Hazard[c] (1979), Cover: Cyndi Lauper (1983)
This song was less than five years old when Cyndi Lauper recorded it for her debut studio album, “She’s So Unusual.” As a result, its new wave stylings remain relatively intact within both versions. However, Lauper’s decision to play around with Robert Hazard’s lyrics allowed “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” to progress in a powerful and meaningful manner. She sings from a switched perspective of empowerment, whereas Hazard’s original is a comparatively vapid and face-value approximation of dating and intimacy. Lauper’s cover went on to become something of a feminist anthem, while Hazard’s demo has largely been relegated to trivia questions and lists like this one!

Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969), Cover: Ike & Tina Turner (1971)
A great song doesn’t always achieve chart success via multiple artists, but then again, “Proud Mary” wasn’t just an average, everyday pop hit. This boisterous and rockin’ tune did well with its originators, Creedence Clearwater Revival, in 1969. Solomon Burke’s cover that same year was also a hit. That said, it’s the version laid down by Ike and Tina Turner that electrified the song, adding even MORE energy and solidifying it within the public consciousness. Turner’s unfettered spark and charisma gave life to the band’s upbeat and soulful arrangements. “Proud Mary” had entered its final stage: a defining track for a new music superstar and a new generation.

Original: Davie Bowie (1970), Cover: Nirvana (1993)
Generations of music fans were already well aware of “The Man Who Sold the World” prior to Nirvana covering it for “MTV Unplugged” in 1993. These were older generations, however, folks from the ‘70s and ‘80s who were familiar with the David Bowie original, as well as hit covers from Lulu and Midge Ure[d]. Nirvana’s take, as a result, was delivered with perfect timing to keep the song relevant for the grunge-obsessed audiences of the 1990s. In fact, some say that it’s Nirvana’s version that helped retain interest in Bowie’s glam rock gem, allowing “The Man Who Sold the World” to live on for future generations. If that isn’t musical kismet, we don’t know what is!

Original: Otis Redding (1965), Cover: Aretha Franklin (1967)
There’s no denying that both Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin are legendary soul singers. That said, Aretha’s “stolen” cover is something special, like lightning in a bottle that has proven to be a timeless masterpiece. Her take is smoother and more refined, although the differences don’t necessarily take away from the value of either version in a major way. Instead, Franklin’s point of view allows her take on “Respect” to speak from a point of feminism and civil rights, in gripping fashion. Thus, the song became a career-making anthem for soul music’s First Lady, and deservedly so.

Original: The Family (1985), Cover: Sinéad O’Connor (1990)
Prince was famous for his work ethic, a tireless songwriter who seemed like he was always working. “Nothing Compares 2 U” was penned by him, and given to a group he formed called the Family. This musical group venture resulted in a single album that contained the OG “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Fast forward five years to Sinéad O'Connor’s second studio album, and it’s her version that has captured the imaginations of listeners for years now. The power of the song’s striking music video likely helped things along in this regard, but O’Connor’s version possesses an intimate and smolderingly intense power all its own.

Original: Bob Dylan (1967), Cover: The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
Masterclass songwriters of Bob Dylan’s caliber have always seen their music covered by a variety of artists. Adele’s take on “Make You Feel My Love” is a great example of this. So is the Jimi Hendrix Experience's hard-rocking version of “All Along the Watchtower.” It would go on to become one of the defining psychedelic rock songs of the ‘60s, a precursor to heavy metal that hinged upon Hendrix’s charismatic vocals and guitar playing. Meanwhile, the rhythm section hammers home an urgent groove that’s impossible to resist. Thus, the group updated “All Along the Watchtower” for a very swingin’ decade.

Original: Leonard Cohen (1984), Cover: John Cale (1991) & Jeff Buckley (1994)
There have been quite a few artists that tried to take a swing at Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” It was John Cale’s 1991 version that arguably piqued mainstream interest in Cohen’s 1984 original after it was included in “Shrek.” That said, few “Hallelujah” covers have as much palpable melancholy and sadness as Jeff Buckley’s 1994 recording. The singer-songwriter unfortunately died when he was only 30, which lends a fatalistic aura to his “Hallelujah” that’s echoed in his impossibly resonant and impassioned vocals. Cohen’s original features a metered, insistent cadence, while Buckley’s balladry is smoother and more stretched-out, allowing each word to drip down like honey or molasses.

Original: Nine Inch Nails (1994), Cover: Johnny Cash (2002)
Trent Reznor’s original version of “Hurt” for his band Nine Inch Nails possesses a unique and impenetrable darkness all its own. That said, it’s Johnny Cash’s cover from 2002 that has allowed the song to enter a transformative state, one that proves how truly great music can transcend genres. Cash was in the twilight of his life when he recorded and released “Hurt,” and this feeling of mortality envelopes the end result like a funerary shroud. It’s virtually impossible to retain our composure as images of Cash as a young man flash across the screen in the accompanying video, too. Thus, Cash gave Reznor’s evocative ballad a new and vulnerable life all its own.

Original: Dolly Parton (1974), Cover: Whitney Houston (1992)
It’s a musical Sophie’s Choice, of sorts: which version of “I Will Always Love You” do you prefer? Both are sung by generational talents: the originator and songwriter, Dolly Parton, and the artist covering it, Whitney Houston. Country purists or die-hard Dolly fans may swing her way. However, the public at large is probably more familiar with Houston’s cover, taken from the soundtrack to 1992’s “The Bodyguard.” Houston more than put her stamp on the song, creating a mesmerizing listening experience that’s indescribable. Thus, she allowed “I Will Always Love You” to crossover into the pop world and charts from its heartfelt country roots.