Horrible cover versions

[substitute]

I’ve had a couple of conversations with nickjb and genericus about bad cover versions over the last few. We were dredging our brains for the worst covers we could think of, either because a good song was humped to death by some horribly inappropriate interpretation, or a mediocre song was taken to the logical limit of its badness.

Some notables were:

• Natalie Merchant doing “Because the Night” like she had a teacup on her knee.
  
• Fine Young Cannibals present the Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen in Love”
  
• Blood, Sweat & Tears do “Minnie the Moocher”. Late enough in their career to have drum loops.
  
• Phil Collins skullraping “You Can’t Hurry Love”
  
• Michael Jackson sings “Come Together”. Auuiiggh.
  
• 10,000 Maniacs again, this time murdering John Prine’s “Hello in There”
  
• James Taylor “How Sweet It Is to be Loved By You”
  
• Shaun Cassidy “Rebel Rebel”
  
• R.E.M.’s teeth-grindingly whiny version of “Pale Blue Eyes”
  

Please add yours!

Comments

[eyeteeth.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard it in its entirety so I can't speak for myself, but my friend Vince is morally repulsed by Sheryl Crow's cover of "Sweet Child O' Mine."

I don't doubt it.

[substitute.livejournal.com]

And interestingly enough I feel that Guns 'n' Roses doing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a low point in the genre itself.

Re: I don't doubt it.

[circumambulate.livejournal.com]

God, that cover made me want to stick pointy objects in my ears. One of my favorite Dylan songs, too. Have you seen the film?

Re: I don't doubt it.

[eyeteeth.livejournal.com]

Warren Zevon's cover is good, though. Even if you don't know that he was dying of cancer when he recorded it. Hearing him sing "Open up, open up, open up" makes me laugh and shiver at the same time.