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

[stimps.livejournal.com]

That Norah Jones or whoever trying to do Fell In Love With A Girl. AAAAAAAAAAGH AGAHOUGAHOUGHHHHH.

Yeah, anyone who tries to cover Tom Waits deserves scorn in my book. I mean, just cut it out, ok? I mean, unless you're Marianne Faithful...

The Sundays version of Wild Horses. I just can't listen to it without going insane.

The whole of that Tori Amos cover album except for Heart of Gold. I think she did that one really well, but the rest needs drowning.

We were thinking that a Wesley Willis tribute band would be fun. I made up a new song called the Cow-Snake, all about fimmtiu. I think I am ready to take on the mantle. All I need is a rhythm ace!

[fimmtiu.livejournal.com]

I know it's heresy, but I like the Sundays' version better than the Rolling Stones one.

Also: any cover of Dire Straits' "Romeo and Juliet". I've never heard one that doesn't make me want to rip my ears off.

[stimps.livejournal.com]

I still wuv you. ;)

[mr-flippant.livejournal.com]

I thought I was the only one.

[frobisher.livejournal.com]

Re: R&J - I find myself fortunate that the reason that I've never heard one that didn't make me want to rip my ears off is that I've never heard one.