Prince Wants Cover Songs Outlawed: What's the Best Cover Song of All Time?
SodaHead Slideshows
2011/04/26 16:00:00
SLIDESHOW: What's the Best Cover Song of All Time?
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'I Feel for You,' Chaka Khan/Prince
"I Feel for You" was written by Prince and appeared on his 1979 self-titled album, but it became a hit single in 1984 for R&B singer Chaka Khan.
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'I Feel for You,' Chaka Khan/Prince
"I Feel for You" was written by Prince and appeared on his 1979 self-titled album, but it became a hit single in 1984 for R&B singer Chaka Khan.
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'Respect,' Aretha Franklin/Otis Redding
"R.E.S.P.E.C.T" was originally released by Otis Redding in 1965, but "Respect" became a 1967 hit for Aretha Franklin.
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'I Will Always Love You,' Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton released "I Will Always Love You" as a single in 1974, but Whitney Houston's 1992 version of the song was one of the biggest hits of all time.
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'Hound Dog,' Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton/Elvis Presley
"Hound Dog" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952, but Elvis Presley's 1956 version is one of the best-known songs ever recorded.
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'With a Little Help From My Friends,' Joe Cocker/The Beatles
"With a Little Help from My Friends" was released on The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album in 1967, but today it's usually associated with Joe Cocker's cover.
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'Turn! Turn! Turn!' The Byrds/Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger lifted most of the song from the Bible and released it in 1962, but The Byrds made it a hit in 1965.
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'All Along the Watchtower,' Jimi Hendrix/Bob Dylan
"All Along the Watchtower" was recorded by Bob Dylan, but Jimi Hendrix's version was a Top 10 single in 1968.
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'Hallelujah,' Jeff Buckley/Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah" was written and released by Leonard Cohen in 1984, but Jeff Buckley's 1994 version is largely considered even better than the original.
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'Thing Called Love,' Bonnie Raitt/John Hiatt
Bonnie Raitt took John Hiatt's song "Thing Called Love" to #11 on the U.S. charts in 1989.
Prince Wants Cover Songs Outlawed: What's the Best Cover Song of All Time?
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887 votes
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Prince doesn't want anyone covering his songs. Or anyone else's songs, for that matter.
"The artist" told George Lopez he thinks copyright law should be changed so that nobody can remake his hits.
"My problem is when the industry covers the music," he said. "There's this thing called compulsory licensing law that allows artists through the record companies to take your music at will without your permission."
Ironically, Prince himself covered Radiohead's "Creep" at the Coachella Music Festival a few years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
And covers of Prince songs have become hits in and of themselves, including The Bangles' version of "Manic Monday," Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2U" and Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You."
Click through our slideshow and let us know: From Aretha Franklin's "Respect" to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," what's the best cover song of all time?
"The artist" told George Lopez he thinks copyright law should be changed so that nobody can remake his hits.
"My problem is when the industry covers the music," he said. "There's this thing called compulsory licensing law that allows artists through the record companies to take your music at will without your permission."
Ironically, Prince himself covered Radiohead's "Creep" at the Coachella Music Festival a few years ago, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
And covers of Prince songs have become hits in and of themselves, including The Bangles' version of "Manic Monday," Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2U" and Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You."
Click through our slideshow and let us know: From Aretha Franklin's "Respect" to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," what's the best cover song of all time?
Read More: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/prince-wa...
Also "Maggie's Farm" by Bob Dylan had a great remake by RATM.
More than a decade later I'm still mourning the loss of Jeff Buckley.
Copyright infringement is the sincerest form of flattery. Besides, even Feel For You is NOT the best cover song of all time. That would be THIS Chaka Khan cover of "A Night In Tunisia". I don't recall Dizzy Gillespie objecting to HIS songs being covered.
What's to complain about with cover versions? If the artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince doesn't like a version of one of his songs done by someone else, he can cry all the way to the bank---if he held onto his publishing, and I'm sure he has, he can collect the royalties from the version.
(Besides, you don't mention Tom Jones's cover of Prince's "Kiss.")
Best cover is Joe Cocker with any song, but I love this cover of Tears for Fear's "Mad World" by Gary Jules (from Donnie Darko soundtrack):
And as far as Prince is concerned, well, several of his songs have been hits for the lucky band that was able to make the hearers forget he wrote it, e.g. Manic Monday by the Bangles. So, no wonder he doesn't like them. If anyone ever does a cover of Purple Rain, I bet the scream in Minnesota will be heard in Patagonia!
I think Geter Gabriels remake of The Book of Love by The Magnetic Fields as an awesome cover...
Oh Whitney and Aretha takes this too! They knocked it out.
As a musician myself, I actually collect different versions of songs. I may always find the original best, but it's nice to hear a different spin. There are times I prefer the cover!
Dolly Parton loved Whitney's cover and she's a smart business woman as well and collects royalities from it. Dolly's "Jolene" was covered by many artists. She praised Mindy Smith's version.
Stevie Nicks has had Landslide covered by everyone from from the Smashing Pumpkins to the Dixie Chicks.
Secondly, What moron picked these songs as most popular cover band songs? Jeez, Sodahead must have some losers working for them!
Here in the south it seems as if there is a prerequisite for every cover band. They MUST be able to play "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd! Country bands, rock bands, school bands, everybody plays it.
Hell, I think I heard the local symphonic orchestra rehearsing it at the college the other day!