Greatest Takeover/Hijack of a song

[buckjohnson]

Yes, I know some do not like a music topic on this type of forum. But there are some knowledgeable and passionate music lovers that are members, and I really respect their opinion, so I wish to discuss the following and hope I wont disappoint too many. Don't worry; my next topic will be about sex.

Last night I listened to Aretha Franklin's version of Respect. The song was written and originally recorded by Otis Redding. It was sung from a male's opinion of respect, had no bridge part, and Otis sang it like he, and men in general, are owed respect.

Miss Aretha’s version flipped the script, placed respect as a demand from and for women, adding a sexy and powerful bridge featuring her sister Carolyn. Musically, the musicians kept reinforcing this theme of woman’s empowerment with powerful accompaniments.

Otis, while recoding a live version of Respect, also noted the difference, saying Aretha just “took over his song".

Has there ever been a better takeover of a song recorded previously by another artist, or is my hypothesis is generally accepted?

Please post your opinions.

[raybbaby]

"I Love Rock and Roll", by Joan Jet, is only thought of as a Joan Jet song. I think it was originally done by the arrows. But Joan owns that now. "Do you wanna touch" is another one, originally done by Gary Glitter. Joan just owns it. "Hurt" originally done by NIN, becomes a different animal entirely when Johnny Cash got ahold of it. The "weight" Cash's voice give to it makes it nearly unrecognizable. The first time I heard it, I knew I recognized the lyrics immediately, but it took me a while to figure out where I'd heard it before. And there was a time when I listened to quite a bit of NIN. (we'll just call it a phase). That's definitely a take-over.

[fred41]

hmm..good thread.

I like the Guns 'n' Roses version of "Knockin on Heaven's Door" better than the original recorded by Bob Dylan.

...but it's not really a hijack (complete takeover)..so I'll have to think on that some more.

[fred41]

Got one : "Breadfan" recorded by Metallica. It was originally performed by a band called Budgie....but it's basically Metallica's song now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM34tEG3bOo

[Dirky]

I like music threads so keep them coming, buckjohnson. One can only discuss cocks and 'gayness' so many times without it becoming redundant.

Some picks off the top of my head...

Hendrix's 'All Along the Watchtower'. I seem to enjoy Dylan's songs more. when they're sung by somebody else. (Aside from that awful Guns N' Roses cover of 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'. Sorry Fred)

'Heartbreak Hotel' as done by John Cale.

Type O' Negative's version of 'Summer Breeze'.

Siouxsie and the Banshees doing 'Helter Skelter'.

[rockabilly]

Love Hurts - Kim Deal and Robert Pollard
I actualy prefer this version over the original by Nazareth.
Kim Deals vocals are beautiful on the song and it just has a different feel to it. It's on the "Love and a .45" soundtrack ... good movie too btw.

[Dirky]

I'm no fan of Oasis and I like Ryan Adams even less but Adams does a bang up job with Wonderwall.

I also think any song Nina Simone covered, she made her own.

[rockabilly]

Joe Strummers cover of Bob Marley's reddmption song is good , i love both versions.

[SarahG]

Blue Monday is the first one to come to mind.

Seems people only ever know the Orgy version, or maybe I just think that because most people my age were being convinced when the original version by New Order was popular.

[rockabilly]

Convinced or Conceived? ;) I can convince you of your conception but i can't conceive that you would need convincing.

[SarahG]

Convinced or Conceived? ;) I can convince you of your conception but i can't conceive that you would need convincing.

lol, you know what I meant.

[rockabilly]

:lol: I know ;)

[Dirky]

I love Nick Cave but I have to admit Johnette Napolitano with help from Steve Wynn absolutely steal 'The Ship Song' from Nick.

[rockabilly]

The Smiths " How Soon is Now " has been covered alot , Love Spit Love did a cover for The Craft soundtrack which later became the opening to the Charmed tv series ... even t.A.T.u. did a cover of the song. The original is still the best imo.

And the cover of Tears for Fears's "Mad World" by Gary Jules is so haunting and melodic , it was a perfect fit w/ Donnie Darko.

[SarahG]

Now that I think of it...

Type O Negative's version of "…Baby One More Time" is a decent contender for this thread. It was better than when Britney did it, and was even more flamboyant than the original.

And let's not forget Tricky's cover version of The Cure's "The Lovecats" while we're at it.

[rockabilly]

No Doubt's cover of Talk Talk's " It's my life " was good.

[AngelinaTorres]

The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You
Whitney Houston - For The Love You

Buck i love the orchestration of Respect by Otis Redding !!

[fred41]

I like music threads so keep them coming, buckjohnson. One can only discuss cocks and 'gayness' so many times without it becoming redundant.

Some picks off the top of my head...

Hendrix's 'All Along the Watchtower'. I seem to enjoy Dylan's songs more. when they're sung by somebody else. (Aside from that awful Guns N' Roses cover of 'Knocking on Heaven's Door'. Sorry Fred)

'Heartbreak Hotel' as done by John Cale.

Type O' Negative's version of 'Summer Breeze'.

Siouxsie and the Banshees doing 'Helter Skelter'.

Don't apologize man....I thank you for reminding me about Type O" Negative's version of "Summer Breeze"...it's a great remake just for coolness alone (as are a lot of Type O's remakes).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmE_Zek4e1o

[rockabilly]

Death Cab for Cutie did a nice cover of " Earth Angel " for the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack ...lots of good covers of classic songs on that album.

And OMG Nirvana unplugged ... doing " The Man Who Sold the World " by David Bowie and Leadbelly's " Where Did You Sleep Last Night " That song is so emotional and haunting ... a great performance by a very talented man.

[Dirky]

Head On (The Jesus and Mary Chain) - The Pixies

The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie) - Nirvana

Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan) - The Butthole Surfers

Some Velvet Morning (Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood) - Lydia Lunch and Rowland S. Howard

He's a Whore (Cheap Trick) - Big Black

Love Is All Around (the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore show)- Husker Du

[Rogers]

Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails', "Hurt".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho

[rockabilly]

New Order - Bizzare Love Triangle covered by ...
1. Gravity Euphonic
2. Stabbing Westward
3. Frente

The Ramones - Here Today , Gone Tomorrow covered by Rooney
and " I Believe in Miracles " covered by Eddie Vedder w/ Zeke

[buckjohnson]

J. Cash takeover of 9 inch nails was gangster

[JohnnyWalkerBlackLabel]

Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton

stolen by

Elvis Presley

her version blows Elvis' away

[icarus2112]

Stevie Ray Vaughn's cover of Little Wings by Jimmy Hendrix, he dropped the words and owned it.

[transmaven]

One of my favorite examples from the supreme master of takeovers:

now, no doubt the original is a great song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqeQ_PfKMAo&fmt=18

and now the master:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6H9Y1H_RRg&fmt=18

and he did this more than a few times. R.I.P. O Underrated One...

[rockabilly]

Soft Cell's cover of " Tainted Love " by Gloria Jones was one of the 80's best songs.

[droog]

Stevie Ray Vaughn's cover of Little Wings by Jimmy Hendrix, he dropped the words and owned it.
i'm not quite sure how one can "own" this:

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

next you'll prolly say that wingers' cover of purple haze was better than the original.

[Willie Escalade]

Some will disagree with me on this one, but Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's version of "If This World Were Mine" is better than Marvin Gaye and Tammy Tarrell's version.

Oh yeah..."War" by Edwin Starr was originally sung by The Temptations.

And "Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams was originally sung by The Royalettes.

Everyone knows "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. It was originally sung by Gloria Jones.

Finally, speaking of The Queen, everyone knows her song "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". It was originally recorded (and co-written) by Steveland Morris; it wasn't released until 1977 after Aretha's version.

I could go on and on. I LOVE music threads!

[buckjohnson]

Some will disagree with me on this one, but Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's version of "If This World Were Mine" is better than Marvin Gaye and Tammy Tarrell's version.

Oh yeah..."War" by Edwin Starr was originally sung by The Temptations.

And "Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams was originally sung by The Royalettes.

Everyone knows "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. It was originally sung by Gloria Jones.

Finally, speaking of The Queen, everyone knows her song "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". It was originally recorded (and co-written) by Steveland Morris; it wasn't released until 1977 after Aretha's version.

I could go on and on. I LOVE music threads!

Great choices. Slight disagreement with Marvin's If This World Was Mine. I think Marvin's live versions with many different females was superior and his original version had some resentment and disappointment both in tone and delivery, (as well as more soulful) while Luther's version was a little more pop and gloss, probably cause the intended audience was different.

[transmaven]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMT-oiiY7DE

Palmer even managed to more than hold his own with Marvin Gaye

damn...

[Dirky]

Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton

stolen by

Elvis Presley

her version blows Elvis' away

Agreed on both counts. It's good to go back and listen to the original source.

[rockabilly]

Metallica's cover of Thin Lizzys " Whiskey in the Jar " and of Bob Seger's " Turn the Page " ... great video's for both as well.

[Artmann100]

From America's got Talent...lol..

AGT winner Kevin Skinner's covers of Garth Brooks and Aerosmith both make the originals sound like pieces of gale-force-wind bombast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to_dareBr5Q&feature=related

proff that all you really do need is a good voice and the ability to express emotions.

[SarahG]

Ghost Riders In The Sky would be another good example. The versions most people know are nothing what-so-ever like the original from Stan Jones in 1948.

Die Apokalyptischen Reiter's Neue Deutsche Härte version is relatively true to the lyrics, but you'd never know it was a country song. The "feel" of the whole thing is totally different.

[Dirky]

I don't believe I've ever heard the original Ghost Riders in the Sky.

[rockabilly]

Stone Temple Pilots cover of " Dancing Days " was well done.

[Caff_Racer]

Metallica's cover of Thin Lizzys " Whiskey in the Jar " and of Bob Seger's " Turn the Page " ... great video's for both as well.

I'd like to point out that "Whiskey in the Jar" wasn't a Thin Lizzy song, but a traditional Irish folk song.

Speaking of Metallica, Motörhead blow them away with their cover of Enter Sandman. Judge for yourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKNLApfJNe4

They also did a damn good job with Louie Louie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDP7_h4wkgw

And what about Jumpin' Jack Flash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoxdH4FWuhg

Not bad, eh?

[rockabilly]

I stand corrected but never heard the traditional version played , only Thin Lizzys.

[Caff_Racer]

Here ya go, rockabilly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoiF7Qket_k

Brilliant, eh? :D

[rameses2]

No Doubt's cover of Talk Talk's " It's my life " was good.No. It wasn't. She sings through her nose, it's annoying!

[blakpadi]

Ewan MacColl wrote "Dirty Old Town" Shane from the Pogues nailed it.
Replacements version of "Black Diamond" over Kiss-Westerberg sounds Drunk and desperate and it works.
I Love Rufus Thomas(and Carla and Irma) but Check out Jackie Shane on YOUTUBE-she belongs on this Board! Walking the Dog!(her "Any Other Way" is class all the way as well)
The obvious Dan Penn Tunes "Dark End of the Street" Percy Sledge/or James Carr-BOTH GREAT!
"Do Right Woman" Aretha Franklin
Police and Theives -(written by Junior Murvin) I Liked Juniors version better when I was stoned and the Clashes version better when I was drunk!
This might be unpopular but John Lennons "Jealous Guy" Donny Hathaway sang the hell outa that w/ a New Orleans vibe on the live record...I love Lennon but I think even John would say Donny Sang ---the hell out of it!
Aguas de Marco(Waters of March) written by Jobim-OWNED by ELIS REGINA ---check it out on YOUTUBE!

[gotchagood]

Whitney Houston- I will always love you, originally recorded by Dolly Parton 1974.


Have a great day

[zookeeper]

Probably showing my age - The Lords of the New Church doing considerable justice to "Like a Virgin"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1DsD0_cHaQ
or Oingo Boingo making The Kink's "You Really Got Me" their own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgLSDPgrcA

[peggygee]

Maxwell versus Kate Bush - This Woman's Work, 60.8 % prefer Maxwell.
http://www.cover-vs-original.com/song-81.html

And if you get a chance to see Tyler Perry's “I Can Do Bad All By Myself”
check out the remake of Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" by Cheryl Pepsii
Riley.

[buckjohnson]

peggygee

good post about Maxwell version of This Woman Works.

gotchagood...same about your post

blakpadi
who knew about Dan Penn..great post.

[SarahG]

The Mission's version of "Dream On" was actually pretty good too, I forgot that in my earlier post.

[altarica]

Love Hurts - Kim Deal and Robert Pollard
I actualy prefer this version over the original by Nazareth.
Kim Deals vocals are beautiful on the song and it just has a different feel to it. It's on the "Love and a .45" soundtrack ... good movie too btw.

Errrrr the original version was by the Everly Brothers in 1960.
It was also covered by Roy Orbison, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, Jim Calpaldi, which is my favourite and by many others.

"Summer Breeze" The Isley Brothers is far better than the Seals and Croft version. Their version of "Hello It's Me" is pretty damn good although not better than any of Todd Rundgrens versions.

[fordly66]

Love Hurts - Kim Deal and Robert Pollard
I actualy prefer this version over the original by Nazareth.
Kim Deals vocals are beautiful on the song and it just has a different feel to it. It's on the "Love and a .45" soundtrack ... good movie too btw.
It's amazing how many people did this song.

[fordly66]

Rod Stewart owns :The first cut is the deepest" Written and first sung by Cat Stevens. Later done by Cheryl Crow and several others.

[DL_NL]

Amii Stewart's 'Knock on wood' covered by Eric Clapton.

[altarica]

Amii Stewart's 'Knock on wood' covered by Eric Clapton.

You mean the Eddie Floyd song, co-written by Eddie and Steve Cropper.

[buckjohnson]

Amii Stewart's 'Knock on wood' covered by Eric Clapton.

You mean the Eddie Floyd song, co-written by Eddie and Steve Cropper.

Good catch.. it was Eddie Floyd..........

[techi]

All Along the Watchtower

Jimi Hendrix's cover of the Bob Dylan song.

[Avagadro]

Can't believe this thread is 6 pages and no mention of Nothing Compares To You by Sinead O'Connor, originally written by Prince. Pretty much the definition of this thread for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0

Also, Red Red Wine originally written by Neil Diamond, but its UB40's version that is the classic for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc

[altarica]

Can't believe this thread is 6 pages and no mention of Nothing Compares To You by Sinead O'Connor, originally written by Prince. Pretty much the definition of this thread for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0

Also, Red Red Wine originally written by Neil Diamond, but its UB40's version that is the classic for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc


When you say "Originally written by...", does that mean someone else wrote it again later, or do you just mean "Written by."? :D

Gawd don't you hate a smartarse.

[surfblue]

snoop dog next episode sampled david mcallum - the edge

or tupac changes hijacked the melody of just the way it is

all good songs

[buckjohnson]

Love Rollercoaster-Ohio Players, though I am a funk fiend, I have to give hats off to Red Hot Chilli Peppers version of it. Not a takeover, but a great version. Perhaps we should start a thread of the worst singer with a mass following. Surely Anthony Kedis will be in this list top 10

[buckjohnson]

Can't believe this thread is 6 pages and no mention of Nothing Compares To You by Sinead O'Connor, originally written by Prince. Pretty much the definition of this thread for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0

Also, Red Red Wine originally written by Neil Diamond, but its UB40's version that is the classic for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc


agreed about both, but esp, Sinead O'Connor. How many artists can take a Prince's original, flip the script and wring out more emotion and pain then Prince did. His live version's can sometimes match Sinead's emotionality but cannont not top.

[Marinus]

Also, Red Red Wine originally written by Neil Diamond, but its UB40's version that is the classic for me.


Actually there's an older ska-version of this song (Tony Tribe 1969, a UK hit), so UB40 were able to take that one as a starting point in 1983 ....


I think that Hurt by Johnny Cash (original by Nine Inch Nails) has to be the best cover yet. You can really feel the hurt in his voice and knowing his past you know he doesn't lie ...

Other covers:
"Some kind of wonderful" by Soul Brothers Six, not Grand Funk Railroad
"Fever" by Little Willie John, not Peggy Lee (there were even covers before hers)
"Black Betty" by James 'Iron Head' Baker, not Leadbelly .... nor Ram Jam
"Jet Airliner" by Paul Pena, not Steve Miller (some of his musicians recorded with Pena)

Need more? --> http://www.originals.be/en/

[buckjohnson]

interesting

[fred41]

interesting

really?...tell me more.

[Prospero]

Purple Haze sung by Dion and Purple Haze played by the Kronos String Quartet.

[maxpower]

I'm amazed that no one has yet mentioned The Beatles version of The Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout." That song, like Aretha's "Respect" or Elvis' "Hound Dog," is the very definition of a hijack--a version so widely known and immediately associated with that artist, that few people realize or remember that it's a cover. The Beatles definitely own that one.

The Beatles - Twist and Shout [live] - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS0wuN_6wyw)

[Marinus]

I think not too many people know that 'War' is a cover too ...

"WAR
(Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong)
(o): Temptations (1970) label: Gordy
On their lp Psychedelic Shack.
(c): Edwin Starr (1970) [n°1 US; still faces radio bans any time a military conflict comes too close for comfort], D.O.A. (1982) , Jam (1982) , Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) , Bruce Springsteen (1986) [introducing his live version with the message: "In 1985 blind faith in your leaders or anything will get you killed"], Laibach (1994) , Joan Osborne (2002) , Boyz II Men (2007) , Sandrine (2010) ,

Motown wasn't the most obvious record label for an anti war song, not even in 1970. Berry Gordy's first choice was to launch it as an album track, not as a single. He didn't want to risk a good running band as The Temptations for what he considered an unpatriotic cause. That's why the single release was for newcomer Edwin Starr."

In 1970 the Viet Nam War was still raging and it's mostly portrait with black soldiers in the front lines and Motown as the soundtrack. They were allowed on AFN radio in Viet Nam because they kept up the moral. Berry Gordy Jr. personally vouched that there wouldn't be any political song going out their door.
In 1966 one song slipped through the mazes: 'Greetings (this is Uncle Sam)' by the Monitors, but it was never a big hit. By 1970 the war was considered a historical mistake and even Motown didn't stand off-side and gave their blessing to 'War'. They first recorded it on album by The Temptations and a little later on single by a different artist, Edwin Starr. That last one was a big hit and they knew it, because they didn't want to put their first-class act at risk.

[maxpower]

Elvis Costello's version of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?"

Elvis Costello - Peace Love and Understanding - Vintage Video - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWp67DsTk4)

[maxpower]

The Clash version of "Police On My Back" by Eddy Grant (of "Electric Avenue" fame).

The Clash - Police on my back - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hHUdW1N3v8)

[BellaBellucci]

Lean Like A Chola Lyrics - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqxcrFhdP1c)

Sporty Thieves/Thievez- No Pigeons - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJYL4odVu3s)

~BB~

[Nicole Dupre]

Richard Cheese - Gin and Juice (Snoop Dogg) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0-XQ0k7efs)

[kukm4]

Woodstock (Joni Mitchell) by James Taylor
"Woodstock" by James Taylor on Howard Stern - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J63DsysDIF4)


With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles) - Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSxzEy-m9KY)

[buckjohnson]

Really BB and ND, very weak.