Earlier in the year I posted a list of some of my favourite covers, but today I'm going to the other end of the scale. Bad cover versions of great songs by artists of some repute.
I'm not going for the low-hanging fruit here, there will be no Celine Dion, no actors with karaoke-style efforts and certainly nothing from Glee. This is a list of musical big guns misfiring badly.
Let the aural assault begin.
I Thank You - ZZ Top
It was this song that begun the construction of this list. Who would have guessed that if you got three facial-haired Texas rockers to play a soul classic it would turn out pretty soulless.
Fortunate Son - U2
There's a number of acts from the British Isles who went over to America and recorded great renditions of American songs. Think Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks. Don't think U2. I hope their attempt at the Creedence Clearwater Revival song was a piss-take.
Burning Down the House - Tom Jones
With help from Swedish group The Cardigans, Jones managed to slaughter a Talking Heads classic. Ironically it was a single from Jones' biggest selling album, an album of covers no less. There's no accounting for taste I suppose.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Toots & the Maytals
Toots and his Maytals did do some cracking reggae versions of popular rock and r'n'b songs but this isn't one of them. It's more an odd mash-up of reggae and r'n'b with way, way too much wah-wah pedal. I think once Marvin Gaye recorded his version, that should have been it for this song.
Dancing in the Street - David Bowie/Mick Jagger & Van Halen
Couldn't split these two efforts. There is just so much wrong with the Bowie/Jagger effort, clash of egos, voices, fashion, not to mention the freaky video. Similar things can be said of the Van Halen attempt and they also have form in the bad covers department, notably their rendition of The Kinks's You Really Got Me. Here's the original by way of comparison.
Back in Black - Santana
Why anyone covers AC/DC is beyond me, but yet they still do it. Santana's has an unfortunate habit grabbing vocalists to record bad covers, and this is the pick of the lot. Just stick to instrumentals Carlos!
What's Going On - Cyndi Lauper
I was debating whether to put this in or not, but then found out that Lauper has sold more than 50 million records. she therefore should have known better. You just don't cover Marvin Gaye songs, especially his signature ones. Bono and Coldplay also deserve a special mention here for their rather poor effort.
House of the Rising Sun - Muse
Muse have been accused occasionally (not by me!) of disappearing up their own arses and this effort is perhaps an example of that. Certainly not a patch on the most well known effort by the Animals.
Try a Little Tenderness - Chris Brown
Along with Marvin Gaye, any song by Otis is one you should probably leave alone. I don't care if it's not your usual style and for a corny movie, this effort is offensive.
Son of a Preacher Man - Aretha Franklin
It's not often the Queen of Soul gets out done, but when she does she should put her hand up and say "Well played Dusty". Not record her own version, which isn't some of her best work, shall we say.
What I must say in these artists' defence is even their worst moments are markedly better than the bad covers produced by lesser artists, and even worse, actors. But I don't think anyone could stand a list of those.
Cease fire!
I'm not going for the low-hanging fruit here, there will be no Celine Dion, no actors with karaoke-style efforts and certainly nothing from Glee. This is a list of musical big guns misfiring badly.
Let the aural assault begin.
I Thank You - ZZ Top
It was this song that begun the construction of this list. Who would have guessed that if you got three facial-haired Texas rockers to play a soul classic it would turn out pretty soulless.
Fortunate Son - U2
There's a number of acts from the British Isles who went over to America and recorded great renditions of American songs. Think Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks. Don't think U2. I hope their attempt at the Creedence Clearwater Revival song was a piss-take.
Burning Down the House - Tom Jones
With help from Swedish group The Cardigans, Jones managed to slaughter a Talking Heads classic. Ironically it was a single from Jones' biggest selling album, an album of covers no less. There's no accounting for taste I suppose.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Toots & the Maytals
Toots and his Maytals did do some cracking reggae versions of popular rock and r'n'b songs but this isn't one of them. It's more an odd mash-up of reggae and r'n'b with way, way too much wah-wah pedal. I think once Marvin Gaye recorded his version, that should have been it for this song.
Dancing in the Street - David Bowie/Mick Jagger & Van Halen
Couldn't split these two efforts. There is just so much wrong with the Bowie/Jagger effort, clash of egos, voices, fashion, not to mention the freaky video. Similar things can be said of the Van Halen attempt and they also have form in the bad covers department, notably their rendition of The Kinks's You Really Got Me. Here's the original by way of comparison.
Back in Black - Santana
Why anyone covers AC/DC is beyond me, but yet they still do it. Santana's has an unfortunate habit grabbing vocalists to record bad covers, and this is the pick of the lot. Just stick to instrumentals Carlos!
What's Going On - Cyndi Lauper
House of the Rising Sun - Muse
Try a Little Tenderness - Chris Brown
Son of a Preacher Man - Aretha Franklin
What I must say in these artists' defence is even their worst moments are markedly better than the bad covers produced by lesser artists, and even worse, actors. But I don't think anyone could stand a list of those.
Cease fire!
