Top 20 Unexpected Cover Songs That Were AWESOME

#20: “With a Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker (1968)

Originally by The Beatles

Ringo Starr had many memorable vocal performances with The Beatles, but some would argue that his finest hour came on “With a Little Help From My Friends.” The song, which is a good old-fashioned tribute to the power of friendship, opened the legendary “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album in quite a fun and jovial way. But when Joe Cocker got hold of it, he turned it into a soul-filled rock anthem - making changes to the rhythm and melody. Paul McCartney himself even admitted that he was incredibly grateful for the cover’s existence and how far it deviated from the source material.

#19: “A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall” by Bryan Ferry (1973)

Originally by Bob Dylan

Out of all of the many, many Bob Dylan covers that have graced our ears over the years, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Bryan Ferry’s take on “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall.” The Roxy Music frontman takes the tune’s folk roots and gives it an update for the times - adding his own inimitable style into the mix. It’s punchy and immediate, but still retains every key element of the original. Ferry was a huge fan of Dylan and eventually went on to create an entire album in tribute to him, entitled “Dylanesque.” But for our money, his best take on old Bob’s work is definitely “Hard Rain.”

#18: “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen (1963)

Originally by Richard Berry & the Pharaohs

“Louie Louie” is a song that is so famous and so recognizable and yet it remains pretty mysterious. Most people probably don’t know that The Kingsmen’s version is actually a cover of a Richard Berry track. You also might not realize that it’s the most widely recorded song in rock music, and yet its most famous iteration is damn near impossible to decipher. To this day, people still debate about what The Kingsmen singer Jack Ely is actually saying. The song was an instant hit, but a 31 month FBI investigation into the lyrics was launched due to concerns that some inappropriate language and imagery were hidden within the slurred vocals. One of rock and roll's most essential hits!

#17: “Across the Universe” by Fiona Apple (1998)

Originally by The Beatles

Fiona Apple was not afraid to aim high when tasked with providing a cover for the soundtrack to the 1998 movie “Pleasantville.” Taking on a John Lennon signature track like “Across the Universe” is the type of task that can fall apart pretty easily. But Apple handles the song with some real character and restraint, paying homage to the spaciness of Lennon’s original while adding her own flair. Early attempts to pigeonhole Fiona Apple would be proven wrong time and time again with each album after her debut release. Her cover of “Across the Universe” gave us just a glimpse of the eccentricity that would follow.

#16: “Havana Affair” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (2003)

Originally by the Ramones

On the long list of covers that utterly change the roots of the original, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ take on The Ramones’ “Havana Affair” is worthy of a mention. The original comes packed with 70s punk fury, but in the hands of Anthony Kiedis and company, it turns into something entirely new. The pace is slower and sonically, it could’ve easily fit snugly onto the Chili Peppers’ 2002 release “By The Way.” Given the band’s history with blisteringly fast funk-rock, you’d expect them to tackle a Ramones song with a similar level of speed. But when push came to shove, they decided to reinvent the song entirely.

#15: “Take Me to the River” by Talking Heads (1978)

Originally by Al Green

Al Green is without a doubt one of the prolific soul artists of his day - penning classic after classic during his prime years. While tracks like “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness” have been covered by other artists, the award for the most transformative rendition of one of his songs was definitely won by Talking Heads. David Byrne and the band took Green’s 1974 classic “Take Me to the River” and turned it into a new wave masterpiece in 1978. Then, six years later, they released another version of the song on their iconic live album “Stop Making Sense,” this time taking the song back to its R&B and gospel roots, while still making it sound very different to the original.

#14: “Black Magic Woman” by Santana (1968)

Originally by Fleetwood Mac

Santana’s version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Black Magic Woman” is so famous that some people don’t even realize that it’s a cover. But then again, a lot of people who listen to Fleetwood Mac don’t really know about the Peter Green-led era for the group. “Black Magic Woman” was released as a single in 1968, but it really didn’t become the staple that it is now until Carlos Santana covered it on his band’s debut album “Abraxas.” The song was a huge seller in the U.S. and hearing Santana magnify the original’s Latin elements never gets old.

#13: “I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton (1974)

Originally by Bob Marley & the Wailers

Out of all of the directions that Eric Clapton could have gone in the mid 70s, few would’ve suspected that he could carve out a number one hit single with a reggae song. But just one year after Bob Marley put out the original “I Shot the Sheriff,” Slowhand himself gave it an injection of blues rock and managed to score the biggest hit of his career in the process. In fact, Clapton’s version was so beloved, that his take on the song earned him another spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame. It sounds weird on paper, but somehow it works.

#12: “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor (1990)

Originally by The Family

When Prince wrote the song “Nothing Compares 2 U” for the sole release by his short-lived band The Family, it was another clear example of his mastery of the songwriting craft. But for as much as Prince originally gave the song life, it was Sinéad O’Connor who turned it into a truly generational ballad. The song just hits so much harder when the legendary Irish vocalist is singing it. And in a stroke of genius, she added a heartwrenching high note in the chorus that takes the whole thing to another level. O’Connor was an excellent songwriter in her own right, but her finest hour most certainly came as an interpreter of someone else’s work.

#11: “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin (1971)

Originally by Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie

Here’s another track that a lot of you probably thought was an original. Led Zeppelin certainly had a habit of… let’s just call it ‘borrowing’ from other musicians. But to their credit, they never failed to imbue their own versions of songs with that iconic Zeppelin flavor. “When The Levee Breaks” was originally released all the way back in 1929 by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie. It does sound different to the version that Robert Plant would sing on Led Zeppelin IV, but it’s very clearly the same track. Given their history of leaving original writers uncredited, it’ll warm your heart to learn that Led Zeppelin did actually cite McCoy and Minnie as the composers when the track was released in 1971.

#10: “Wichita Lineman” by R.E.M. (1996)

Originally by Glen Campbell

R.E.M. became huge stars in the college rock circuit with their lyrically powerful take on alternative rock. 'Wichita Lineman' however is a country hit written by Jimmy Webb about the working man, which was quite a departure for the band. Since much of R.E.M.'s music on “Monster” has a loud rock energy, their quiet approach to Webb's song is the most surprising part. This said, the track's exploration of a man's desires and struggles is a great match to the stories they were telling at the time. With Michael Stipe's intimate vocals, R.E.M. gave 'Wichita Lineman' an update even Glen Campbell could enjoy.

#9: “Sussudio” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard (2001)

Originally by Phil Collins

In 2001, there was enough demand from the hip hop community to make an entire album of Phil Collins covers. Despite his major stylistic differences from Collins, Ol' Dirty Bastard tackles 'Sussudio' with a surprisingly smooth tone. Rather than a straightforward cover, ODB creates an entirely new rap while another vocalist reinterprets the chorus to fit the times. Even the primitive vocoder sounds of the era help transition the upbeat dance track into the world of hip hop. Though ODB is certainly going wild with his boasting lyrics, he pulls back just enough to avoid feeling out of place on 'Sussudio.'

#8: “Faith”by Limp Bizkit (1998)

Originally by George Michael

For their debut album, Limp Bizkit decided to expand the possibilities of nu metal by covering George Michael's 'Faith.' The band stripped their sound down to rhythmic guitars while Fred Durst offered surprisingly soft vocals. This changed in the chorus however where Durst howled out every repetition of 'Faith' painfully, while the guitars got equally grimy. The ending was particularly harsh, as Fred groaned so hard it sounded like he coughed from it. Their version however has amassed over 17 million views on YouTube. Pretty good for a counterfeit. Though it couldn't sound farther from the original track, 'Faith' was the only single on Limp Bizkit's debut to chart.

#7: “Always On My Mind” by Pet Shop Boys (1987)

Pop Standard

To honor Elvis' legacy on a live tribute show, Pet Shop Boys brought their synth styling to a dance version of 'Always On My Mind.' Their take was so well received that the duo recorded it and quickly had a hit. Though the song had been covered endlessly since its release, it had rarely ventured outside of conventional pop and country. Pet Shop Boys' additional harmonies and electronic undercurrents also helped the song feel less cookie-cutter than other renditions. As strange as it was for Pet Shop Boys to approach 'Always On My Mind,' they completely reinvented it.

#6: “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” by Clivillés and Cole (1991)

Originally by U2

After gaining fame through party hits like 'Gonna Make You Sweat,' covering U2 was an unexpected move for the brains behind C+C Music Factory. Credited to Clivillés and Cole, the duo had the added challenge of remixing 'Pride' as a techno track rather than just adding a dance beat. The song's tempo and industrial drums gave the original a futuristic edge, but their use of the original vocal melodies and guitar tracks worked surprisingly well considering the change of pace. The cover even managed to move over halfway up the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the time, despite its heavy subject matter.

#5: “My Way” by Sid Vicious (1979)

Popularized by Frank Sinatra

Sid Vicious usually critiques culture through actions, but his version of 'My Way' focuses on the music itself. Vicious spends an entire verse putting on a voice to mock the nature of Frank Sinatra's original. Sid also makes tons of silly faces and poses during the live version in 'The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.' But when the drums and guitars kick in, the song turns into a gritty punk rock cover that could start a mosh pit. Vicious even adds a line about killing a cat. By both parodying and updating 'My Way', Sid's cover is a lot to take in.

#4: “Africa” by Weezer (2018)

Originally by Toto

It took a lot of tweeting, but a 14-year-old Weezer fan convinced the band to cover Toto's hit song 'Africa.' While Rivers Cuomo and company stayed pretty faithful to the original track, they gave the synthesizers and drums a loud update. Weezer gave their own spin to the keyboard solo, and then brought Weird Al and his accordion out for good measure. This wasn't just a live one-off either; they even released the cover as a single. Instead of using a band photo however, Weezer framed the incendiary tweet as their artwork.

#3: “The Sound of Silence” by Disturbed (2015)

Originally by Simon & Garfunkel

With decades of screaming and thrashing behind them, Disturbed took a soft turn when they remade a Simon & Garfunkel classic. Though their cover of 'The Sound Of Silence' was undoubtedly louder, Disturbed never went into all-out rock. Singer David Draiman instead used his commanding shouts to make the song's climax more intense. With pounding drums and an orchestra, the band also gave the track an epic feeling without dishonoring what it stands for. Along with praise from Paul Simon, the cover has remained the band's highest performing single on the Billboard Hot 100. While unexpected, Disturbed showed their tender side on 'The Sound Of Silence.'

#2: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by Devo (1977)

Originally by The Rolling Stones

The riff to The Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction' was so iconic that Devo cut it out when they remade the song, and replaced the main hooks with angular melodies and off-kilter takes of the old vocals. If that wasn't robotic enough, the percussion popped with funky cymbals and a mechanical repetition. Mark Mothersbaugh's quirky delivery was all part of Devo's method of using a universally known song and deconstructing it. Though it was weird enough that Devo's label worried Mick Jagger wouldn't approve, Mick was reportedly dancing by the end of his first listen. Turning 'Satisfaction' upside down was a risk that paid off amazingly for Devo.

#1: “Hurt” by Johnny Cash (2003)

Originally by Nine Inch Nails

When Trent Reznor heard Johnny Cash wanted to cover 'Hurt,' he thought the idea was a cheap gimmick. Cash however stripped the song down to guitar, piano and vocals, to focus on the lyrics. Johnny's vocals are rugged and almost seem to fall apart at times, as he fleshes out how sad the story is. Each chorus is heartbreaking as Cash ramps up the intensity of his arrangements. Mark Romanek's video for the track not only reflects on Johnny's entire career, but also just how fitting the words have become to him personally. Cash's reimagining of 'Hurt' was so moving, that Reznor believed it's not his song anymore.

What cover song left you totally surprised when you first heard it? Let us know in the comments section below.