who said imitation was the sincerest form of flattery
form of flattery
form of flattery welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 cover songs that sound completely
cover songs that sound completely
cover songs that sound completely different than the original for this
different than the original for this
different than the original for this list we’re looking at the artists that
list we’re looking at the artists that
list we’re looking at the artists that took major risks when covering songs
took major risks when covering songs
took major risks when covering songs from other musicians either changing the
from other musicians either changing the
from other musicians either changing the style or tone of the original
we’re not taking into account cover
we’re not taking into account cover songs which have been only performed
songs which have been only performed
songs which have been only performed live however just songs with a studio
live however just songs with a studio
live however just songs with a studio version to back it up your lollipop
version to back it up your lollipop
version to back it up your lollipop disobey is you’re the sucker to think
disobey is you’re the sucker to think
disobey is you’re the sucker to think that I would be a victim not another
number ten boys in the hood dynamite
number ten boys in the hood dynamite hack originally by eazy-e cuz the boys
hack originally by eazy-e cuz the boys
hack originally by eazy-e cuz the boys in the hood always hard become talking
in the hood always hard become talking
in the hood always hard become talking that trash will cool your car starting
that trash will cool your car starting
that trash will cool your car starting things off with one of the more odd
things off with one of the more odd
things off with one of the more odd entries on our list
entries on our list
entries on our list dynamite hacks cover is a mellow and
dynamite hacks cover is a mellow and
dynamite hacks cover is a mellow and acoustic arrangement of easy ease
acoustic arrangement of easy ease
acoustic arrangement of easy ease gangster rap classic boys in the hood
gangster rap classic boys in the hood
gangster rap classic boys in the hood here reimagined with more than a little
here reimagined with more than a little
here reimagined with more than a little bit of post-grunge irony cuz the boys in
bit of post-grunge irony cuz the boys in
bit of post-grunge irony cuz the boys in the hood always are come talking that
the hood always are come talking that
the hood always are come talking that trash in your car the real key to
trash in your car the real key to
trash in your car the real key to dynamite hack success is the monotone
dynamite hack success is the monotone
dynamite hack success is the monotone delivery of the lead vocals matched with
delivery of the lead vocals matched with
delivery of the lead vocals matched with all the originals gruff and boisterous
all the originals gruff and boisterous
all the originals gruff and boisterous bravado which provides all of the
bravado which provides all of the
bravado which provides all of the comedic punch and timing needed to make
comedic punch and timing needed to make
comedic punch and timing needed to make this cover a hit only
this cover a hit only
this cover a hit only breath start stink and gotta get my girl
breath start stink and gotta get my girl
breath start stink and gotta get my girl to rock that body
Cardon number nine smells like teen
Cardon number nine smells like teen spirit Tori Amos
spirit Tori Amos
spirit Tori Amos originally by Nirvana
dining singer-songwriter Tori Amos is no
dining singer-songwriter Tori Amos is no stranger to releasing inventive unique
stranger to releasing inventive unique
stranger to releasing inventive unique cover versions of artists as diverse as
cover versions of artists as diverse as
cover versions of artists as diverse as Eminem REM and Slayer yet it’s this 1992
Eminem REM and Slayer yet it’s this 1992
Eminem REM and Slayer yet it’s this 1992 version of Nirvana’s smells like teen
version of Nirvana’s smells like teen
version of Nirvana’s smells like teen spirit that really strips down the
spirit that really strips down the
spirit that really strips down the originals arrangement and essence to its
originals arrangement and essence to its
originals arrangement and essence to its basic memorable vocal melody entity Amos
basic memorable vocal melody entity Amos
basic memorable vocal melody entity Amos is passionate central vocals are set on
is passionate central vocals are set on
is passionate central vocals are set on full display here as is her evocative
full display here as is her evocative
full display here as is her evocative and haunting piano playing which punches
and haunting piano playing which punches
and haunting piano playing which punches each chord with a charged palpable
each chord with a charged palpable
each chord with a charged palpable energy if intense head banging and rough
energy if intense head banging and rough
energy if intense head banging and rough vocals aren’t your scene yet just might
vocals aren’t your scene yet just might
vocals aren’t your scene yet just might enjoy this powerful rendition instead
yeah so what you want to do good I got a
yeah so what you want to do good I got a pocket full of rubbers in my heart boys
pocket full of rubbers in my heart boys
pocket full of rubbers in my heart boys do too
do too
do too so turn off the lights and close number
so turn off the lights and close number
so turn off the lights and close number eight gin and juice the gourds
eight gin and juice the gourds
eight gin and juice the gourds originally by Snoop Dogg gzip frees up
originally by Snoop Dogg gzip frees up
originally by Snoop Dogg gzip frees up for a second now now Freddy ever wonder
for a second now now Freddy ever wonder
for a second now now Freddy ever wonder what it would sound like if a bluegrass
what it would sound like if a bluegrass
what it would sound like if a bluegrass band decided to cover Snoop Dogg’s
band decided to cover Snoop Dogg’s
band decided to cover Snoop Dogg’s classic gin and juice well look no
classic gin and juice well look no
classic gin and juice well look no further than the gourds complete with
further than the gourds complete with
further than the gourds complete with violent scratches mandolins and extended
violent scratches mandolins and extended
violent scratches mandolins and extended southern twang in some beats and bass
the gourds don’t stray far at all from
the gourds don’t stray far at all from their musical roots instead adopting the
their musical roots instead adopting the
their musical roots instead adopting the originals lyrics into their own upbeat
originals lyrics into their own upbeat
originals lyrics into their own upbeat musical arrangements which fit in just
musical arrangements which fit in just
musical arrangements which fit in just fine with their swing and country roots
fine with their swing and country roots
fine with their swing and country roots rock eventually reaching the ears of
rock eventually reaching the ears of
rock eventually reaching the ears of snoop d-o-double-g himself who gave the
snoop d-o-double-g himself who gave the
snoop d-o-double-g himself who gave the gourds cover his seal of approval
gourds cover his seal of approval
gourds cover his seal of approval shortly after this version was
shortly after this version was
shortly after this version was originally released
number seven I can’t get no satisfaction
number seven I can’t get no satisfaction Deva originally by the Rolling Stones
the idea of Devo covering the Rolling
the idea of Devo covering the Rolling Stones is a bizarre one in and of itself
Stones is a bizarre one in and of itself
Stones is a bizarre one in and of itself but it isn’t until ears are properly
but it isn’t until ears are properly
but it isn’t until ears are properly tuned to the band’s cover of
tuned to the band’s cover of
tuned to the band’s cover of satisfaction that the true size of the
satisfaction that the true size of the
satisfaction that the true size of the situation can be assessed can you say a
situation can be assessed can you say a
situation can be assessed can you say a total musical deconstruction well Devo
total musical deconstruction well Devo
total musical deconstruction well Devo certainly can with this unique and
certainly can with this unique and
certainly can with this unique and avant-garde retooling of the stones
avant-garde retooling of the stones
avant-garde retooling of the stones classic stripping virtually all of the
classic stripping virtually all of the
classic stripping virtually all of the rock bomb bass from the original and
rock bomb bass from the original and
rock bomb bass from the original and replacing it with the futuristic and
replacing it with the futuristic and
replacing it with the futuristic and cold machinations the results are a
cold machinations the results are a
cold machinations the results are a weird yet no less driving take on the
weird yet no less driving take on the
weird yet no less driving take on the song although dyed-in-the-wool stones
song although dyed-in-the-wool stones
song although dyed-in-the-wool stones fans are required to stay as far away
fans are required to stay as far away
fans are required to stay as far away from this one as possible
number six Billie Jean Chris Cornell
number six Billie Jean Chris Cornell originally by Michael Jackson stripping
originally by Michael Jackson stripping
originally by Michael Jackson stripping down a song to its most basic form is a
down a song to its most basic form is a
down a song to its most basic form is a popular method of covering a song and
popular method of covering a song and
popular method of covering a song and this was exactly the method Chris
this was exactly the method Chris
this was exactly the method Chris Cornell followed for his take on this
Cornell followed for his take on this
Cornell followed for his take on this MJ classic
so though my
so though my what do me
whereas Jackson’s original was a
whereas Jackson’s original was a cautionary tale against the dangers of
cautionary tale against the dangers of
cautionary tale against the dangers of groupies with a super-sweet bassline
Cornell drops the tone down
Cornell drops the tone down significantly with his version as with
significantly with his version as with
significantly with his version as with the civil wars in 2011 dropping the bass
the civil wars in 2011 dropping the bass
the civil wars in 2011 dropping the bass and drums in favor of a man and his
and drums in favor of a man and his
and drums in favor of a man and his guitar approach this gives Cornell’s
guitar approach this gives Cornell’s
guitar approach this gives Cornell’s version a darker and starker vibe while
version a darker and starker vibe while
version a darker and starker vibe while his powerful vocals carry Billie Jean
his powerful vocals carry Billie Jean
his powerful vocals carry Billie Jean into a much harder rock arena we still
into a much harder rock arena we still
into a much harder rock arena we still miss that bass line though
number five style Ryan Adams originally
number five style Ryan Adams originally by Taylor Swift
when news hit that Ryan Adams was going
when news hit that Ryan Adams was going to be releasing a cover album of Taylor
to be releasing a cover album of Taylor
to be releasing a cover album of Taylor Swift’s entire 1989 anticipations were
Swift’s entire 1989 anticipations were
Swift’s entire 1989 anticipations were fairly high as to what Adams would do
fairly high as to what Adams would do
fairly high as to what Adams would do with the material
predictably Adams is 1989 is very much
predictably Adams is 1989 is very much in the singers established approach of
in the singers established approach of
in the singers established approach of emotional pop and indie rock with his
emotional pop and indie rock with his
emotional pop and indie rock with his take on Swift’s shake it off and style
take on Swift’s shake it off and style
take on Swift’s shake it off and style serving his early standouts off his own
serving his early standouts off his own
serving his early standouts off his own from the record Adams replaces the 80’s
from the record Adams replaces the 80’s
from the record Adams replaces the 80’s electro vibe of style with a jangling
electro vibe of style with a jangling
electro vibe of style with a jangling rock style not that dissimilar from
rock style not that dissimilar from
rock style not that dissimilar from classic Bruce Springsteen while at the
classic Bruce Springsteen while at the
classic Bruce Springsteen while at the same time keeping the big melodic chorus
same time keeping the big melodic chorus
same time keeping the big melodic chorus which made the Swift originals such a
which made the Swift originals such a
which made the Swift originals such a hit
number four all along the watchtower
number four all along the watchtower Jimi Hendrix Experience originally by
Jimi Hendrix Experience originally by
Jimi Hendrix Experience originally by Bob Dylan no reason to get excited
Bob Dylan no reason to get excited
Bob Dylan no reason to get excited the thief he kindly spoke
the thief he kindly spoke
the thief he kindly spoke many who feel in life is but a Jew it
many who feel in life is but a Jew it
many who feel in life is but a Jew it takes a certain special sort of cover to
takes a certain special sort of cover to
takes a certain special sort of cover to become better known than its original
become better known than its original
become better known than its original and that power can definitely be heard
and that power can definitely be heard
and that power can definitely be heard here with the Jimi Hendrix Experience as
here with the Jimi Hendrix Experience as
here with the Jimi Hendrix Experience as they run through an iconic take on Bob
they run through an iconic take on Bob
they run through an iconic take on Bob Dylan’s all along the watchtower
the song is very cinematic in scope
the song is very cinematic in scope having made appearances in numerous
having made appearances in numerous
having made appearances in numerous films and soundtracks over the years and
films and soundtracks over the years and
films and soundtracks over the years and with good reason as a deep production
with good reason as a deep production
with good reason as a deep production soulful vocals and powerful guitar works
soulful vocals and powerful guitar works
soulful vocals and powerful guitar works sends this electrified Bob Dylan
sends this electrified Bob Dylan
sends this electrified Bob Dylan original into the upper echelon of stone
original into the upper echelon of stone
original into the upper echelon of stone cold cover version classics
number three Woodstock Crosby Stills
number three Woodstock Crosby Stills Nash and young originally by Joni
Nash and young originally by Joni
Nash and young originally by Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell was dating Crosby Stills
Joni Mitchell was dating Crosby Stills Nash and young member Graham Nash when
Nash and young member Graham Nash when
Nash and young member Graham Nash when she wrote Woodstock in 1969 but didn’t
she wrote Woodstock in 1969 but didn’t
she wrote Woodstock in 1969 but didn’t actually attend the event thanks to bad
actually attend the event thanks to bad
actually attend the event thanks to bad advice from her then manager Nash and
advice from her then manager Nash and
advice from her then manager Nash and his CSNY bandmates David Crosby Stephen
his CSNY bandmates David Crosby Stephen
his CSNY bandmates David Crosby Stephen Stills and Neil Young would include an
Stills and Neil Young would include an
Stills and Neil Young would include an upbeat harder rockin version of the
upbeat harder rockin version of the
upbeat harder rockin version of the track in their deja vu album updating
track in their deja vu album updating
track in their deja vu album updating Mitchell’s soft and emotional folk style
Mitchell’s soft and emotional folk style
Mitchell’s soft and emotional folk style into the burgeoning rootsy rock movement
CSN why’s Woodstock is an aggressive to
CSN why’s Woodstock is an aggressive to the point road trip track with hard
the point road trip track with hard
the point road trip track with hard drums and some slick guitar licks making
drums and some slick guitar licks making
drums and some slick guitar licks making a musical snapshot for this legendary
a musical snapshot for this legendary
a musical snapshot for this legendary festival of peace love and music
number two hurt Johnny Cash originally
number two hurt Johnny Cash originally by Nine Inch Nails
this cover song may have some of the
this cover song may have some of the most emotional impact of any on our list
most emotional impact of any on our list
most emotional impact of any on our list as evidenced almost immediately from
as evidenced almost immediately from
as evidenced almost immediately from Johnny Cash’s raw and ravaged vocals
Johnny Cash’s raw and ravaged vocals
Johnny Cash’s raw and ravaged vocals brimming with passion and determination
brimming with passion and determination
brimming with passion and determination as he rips out a heart-wrenching Lee
as he rips out a heart-wrenching Lee
as he rips out a heart-wrenching Lee brilliant cover of Nine Inch Nails hurt
this cover was one of the final releases
this cover was one of the final releases of Cash’s career appearing on his
of Cash’s career appearing on his
of Cash’s career appearing on his American for the man comes around
American for the man comes around
American for the man comes around release and the accompanying video
release and the accompanying video
release and the accompanying video serves as a moving tribute to the man in
serves as a moving tribute to the man in
serves as a moving tribute to the man in black
black
black while both versions are intensely
while both versions are intensely
while both versions are intensely personal Cash’s death shortly after the
personal Cash’s death shortly after the
personal Cash’s death shortly after the tracks release adds an extra layer to
tracks release adds an extra layer to
tracks release adds an extra layer to the already emotional song
I would find a way before we reveal our
I would find a way before we reveal our top cover song pic here are a few
top cover song pic here are a few
top cover song pic here are a few honorable mentions
don’t be so down tweeted me number one
don’t be so down tweeted me number one blinded by the light manfred Mann’s
blinded by the light manfred Mann’s
blinded by the light manfred Mann’s Earth Band originally by Bruce
Earth Band originally by Bruce
Earth Band originally by Bruce Springsteen
tonight manfred Mann’s Earth Band took a
tonight manfred Mann’s Earth Band took a slinky disco meets Prague approach to
slinky disco meets Prague approach to
slinky disco meets Prague approach to this Bruce Springsteen Jam in 1976
this Bruce Springsteen Jam in 1976
this Bruce Springsteen Jam in 1976 taking the bosses workingman aesthetic
taking the bosses workingman aesthetic
taking the bosses workingman aesthetic and shining it real nice with plenty of
and shining it real nice with plenty of
and shining it real nice with plenty of smooth hi-hat action bright lights and
smooth hi-hat action bright lights and
smooth hi-hat action bright lights and sequins turning blinded by the light
sequins turning blinded by the light
sequins turning blinded by the light into a major if not quirky hit Doosan oh
into a major if not quirky hit Doosan oh
into a major if not quirky hit Doosan oh the wrong the bad even decides to throw
the wrong the bad even decides to throw
the wrong the bad even decides to throw in a little bit of Euphemia allen’s
in a little bit of Euphemia allen’s
in a little bit of Euphemia allen’s chopsticks melody for good measure
chopsticks melody for good measure
chopsticks melody for good measure because why not
of course there’s also that little bit
of course there’s also that little bit of business about the song’s chorus
of business about the song’s chorus
of business about the song’s chorus being one of the most commonly misheard
being one of the most commonly misheard
being one of the most commonly misheard in the world for the record it’s wrapped
in the world for the record it’s wrapped
in the world for the record it’s wrapped up like a deuce deuce
so do you agree with our list what
so do you agree with our list what unique cover songs do you think should
unique cover songs do you think should
unique cover songs do you think should have been included
have been included
have been included you’re a womanizer
for more fun top ten list published
for more fun top ten list published every day please subscribe to
every day please subscribe to
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