[DallasBiff]

Give me grief, but the Styx version, is much better than "the Beatles" version.

I know there is a lot of bad sh!t happening, but I needed a break.

[MD Expat in PA]

Amy Lee - Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCmNlMJdnE

Heart – Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cZ_EFAmj08

[The Duke]

I’m going with “On the Road Again”, covered by Metallica.

[Brasky]

VooDoo Chile by SRV

[Ellendra]

It’s a matter of personal preference, but I think:

The Peter Hollens version of “I See Fire” was better than Ed Sheeran’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymS1Pb7JfM

The Geoff Castellucci version of “Ghost Riders In The Sky” is better than any of the older versions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymS1Pb7JfM

And The Tenors (and Lindsey Sterling) did a better job with “Who Wants To Live Forever” than Queen did https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbYG30ucL7Q

I’m sure I’ll think of more later. Hopefully those links work.

[PeachyKeen]

I haven’t a clue but I’m loving the topic!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

"Hazy Shade of Winter" by the Bangles is better then the Simon and Garfunkel version.

The original is mildly sad. The Bangles is wild despair.

Of course the song added depth to the movie which was good as well.

[machman]

Johny Cash’s version of Ring of Fire.

[Uncle Miltie]

Stevie Ray Vaughn covering Hendrix.

Hendrix was the creative genius.

Stevie was the axe master.

*** Ducks ***

[dennisw]

Girls Talk by Dave Edmunds and Rockpile. Much better than what the author, Elvis Costello did with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDH0owA4CI

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MVeZSK6OyY

[texas booster]

I like Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy better than the U2 version.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Chris Stapleton beats George Jones on Tennessee Whiskey

https://youtu.be/IBLruNfUqUs

[Fiji Hill]

I prefer the following covers. The original artists are in parentheses.

• Over the Rainbow--Vera Lynn, 1940 (Judy Garland, 1939)

• (You Ain't Nothing but a) Hound Dog--Betsy Gay, 1953 (Willie Mae Thornton, 1953)

• Sh-Boom--Barry Frank & the Four Bells, 1954 (The Chords, 1954)

• Rock Around the Clock--Jack Richards, 1955 (Bill Haley & the Comets 1954)

• Roll Over Beethoven--The Four Chaps, 1956 (Little Richard, 1956)

• Long, Tall Sally--Pat Boone, 1956 (Little Richard, 1956)

• Stop the Music--The Glitters, 1962 (The Shirelles, 1962)

[dangus]

thanks. styx’s cover is the perfect update.

[Poser]

Many Linda Ronstadt songs.

[anton]

Moonglow the Bucky and Frank instrumental version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNDI5qsTWD0

[Fester Chugabrew]

It is often difficult to do a cover better than the original for the simple fact the hearer is accustomed to “that sound.”

Judy Collins cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” is one I would consider an improvement on a mild scale mostly for reasons of tempo. Both versions, however, are excellent.

[Kriggerel]

The Pogues’ cover of Eric Bogle’s song: “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”.

[FLT-bird]

Careless Whisper. Seether’s version is way better than the Wham!/George Michael version.

Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm is better than Michael Jackson’s original.

Pearl Jam’s cover of Last Kiss was better than the Wayne Cochran original

The Specials versions of Pressure Drop (Toots and the Maytals) and Rudy, a Message to You (Dandy Livingstone) were better than the originals.

Jimi Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower was so much better than Bob Dylan’s original its breathtaking. Dylan should have stuck to writing songs for people who could actually sing.

Frank Sinatra’s cover of Anything Goes is better than Cole Porter’s original.

[JonPreston]

Walk away Renee, the Four Tops over The Left Banke

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Feeling Stronger Everyday, by Leonid and Friends. Better than the Chicago original.