Comments on The 3 R's Blog // Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness: Same but different: Favorite Song Remakes (Ten on ...

Karina - I first heard the Fray's version of "Hear...

2009-11-11T20:10:26.386-08:00

Karina - I first heard the Fray's version of "Heartless" when Kris Allen did it on Idol :-).

I suspect that a lot of those "why the heck would anyone remake THAT?" covers are probably ones where the artist was told to do it.

What a great list! I used to be a huge "original s...

2009-11-11T18:01:57.988-08:00

What a great list! I used to be a huge "original song" snob myself, and can still be if a cover is done not only poorly, but by an artist that probably never even knew the original and just did it because they were told to by their label. You know what I mean? lol

However, a well done cover, is a wonderful thing. I actually like Kris Allen's (another AI winner) version of Kanye's "Heartless", though I understand his is just a cover of Fray's cover. lol ;-)

Also, a recent favorite of mine is a cover of Wham's "Careless Whisper" done by Seether. Absolutely love that one.

TexasRed - Hope you find some new-to-you music you...

2009-11-11T08:43:30.375-08:00

TexasRed - Hope you find some new-to-you music you like!

Clover - I'm starting to think it's an age thing. Not to take anything away from Rufus Wainwright, but I think most of y'all who've said you prefer his "Hallelujah" are under 30 - that is, far younger than me :-). I do need to give that another listen, though.

Elizabeth - I'm just glad I'm not the only one who's heard that re-interpretation of "Comfortably Numb" :-). And I don't watch YouTube all that much, but I may need to look for that video.

I love the Scissors' version of Comfortably Numb -...

2009-11-11T07:10:19.286-08:00

I love the Scissors' version of Comfortably Numb - great fun!

My current favorite cover is also of Billie Jean, but by a duo called The Civil Wars - I don't think its available for purchase anywhere, but you can see a video of them performing it on YouTube. Love it! (But then, I'm a sucker for a good cover song.)

I haven't heard of a lot of these! I'm with the o...

2009-11-11T00:26:53.328-08:00

I haven't heard of a lot of these!

I'm with the other commenters, I definitely prefer the Rufus Wainwright version of Hallelujah. Worst Hallelujah cover came from the X Factor's Alexandra Burke last year. Whew, that was not necessary.

Very interesting list. I'm going to have to head ...

2009-11-10T19:39:43.122-08:00

Very interesting list. I'm going to have to head to iTunes to check these out!

Harriet - I'll be around to check out your list! ...

2009-11-10T18:40:15.223-08:00

Harriet - I'll be around to check out your list!

Judi - I really should listen to that some time, shouldn't I? I'm just not a big fan of Cohen's voice, although I do like his songwriting.

Average Jane - I think I prefer quite a few Dylan covers to Dylan's own versions, to be honest - again, it's the singing voice :-).

And I agree with you that the remake of "Signs" was just not necessary.

Kim - You and Caitie have me thinking I should watch Shrek again to hear that version. I actually should get to know Rufus Wainwright's music a little better anyway.

Nessa - David C. is my favorite AI winner, but not necessarily my favorite AI contestant - I'll always have a soft spot for Jason Castro :-). But David C. definitely made everything he did on the show his own.

Ohhhhhhh, David Cook is my fave Idol too. I fell i...

2009-11-10T17:53:59.367-08:00

Ohhhhhhh, David Cook is my fave Idol too. I fell in love with him when he redid Billie Jean and never looked back. Awesome the way he did it.

My favorite version of "Hallelujah" is the one by ...

2009-11-10T15:35:02.982-08:00

My favorite version of "Hallelujah" is the one by Rufus Wainwright on the Shrek soundtrack. That song makes me happy every single time I hear it.

Okay, mine's up now here.

2009-11-10T14:30:14.083-08:00

Okay, mine's up now here.

I knew someone would beat me to the Manfred Mann/S...

2009-11-10T10:56:34.839-08:00

I knew someone would beat me to the Manfred Mann/Springsteen covers.

I prefer Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watchtower" to Dylan's original. I am also a fan of Metallica's version of Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy," because it has a rough edge that works well with the subject matter.

One remake I can't stand is Tesla's version of "Signs," mostly because they change the lyrics from the correct line "fine, upstanding young man," to "fine outstanding young man," which doesn't even make sense.

Excellent list! Check out Cohen's version of Halle...

2009-11-10T10:44:24.260-08:00

Excellent list! Check out Cohen's version of Halleujah. I've liked almost every version I've heard, though. I'm off to check out Planes and Boats and Trains. I routinely like the originals better, but I have room for the remakes too.

I think I may have to post about this myself. I'l...

2009-11-10T09:26:20.851-08:00

I think I may have to post about this myself. I'll let you know when I get around to it.

Andi - That's a fun one. I still remember my "WHAT...

2009-11-10T09:10:47.112-08:00

Andi - That's a fun one. I still remember my "WHAT?" response when my husband (then boyfriend - it was during one of our early dates) told me that it was Clint Black :-).

Rhonda - Oh, good. I was hoping to get a couple of quirky ones in there :-).

Magpie - I don't have enough covers right now to give them their own playlist, but I think you may have just given me a goal!

And I might have to check out that link, too.

Caitie - Is the Rufus Wainwright version the one in Shrek? I've heard it a couple of times, and it's pretty good too.

I'm not familiar with the other song you mentioned, but there have been some very good covers of Elvis songs.

Lisa - It's certainly harder to dance to, but it's great :-D!

Love Cake's version of "I Will Survive!"

2009-11-10T08:45:16.273-08:00

Love Cake's version of "I Will Survive!"

I would have to say that I prefer the Rufus Wainwr...

2009-11-10T08:20:28.544-08:00

I would have to say that I prefer the Rufus Wainwright version of "Hallelujah" even to Jeff Buckley's.

I would have to also add the cast album version of "Can't Help Fallin' in Love from All Shook Up. They took a pretty melody and turned it into a huge choral monster...and it is amazing!

I like this. I have a playlist on my iPod called "...

2009-11-10T07:37:50.526-08:00

I like this. I have a playlist on my iPod called "covers" - for every song on the list, there are at least two versions.

Want an insane number of Hallelujahs? http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/02/mokb-covers-project-hallelujah-repost.html

This is a great list! And it offers a couple song...

2009-11-10T07:28:46.402-08:00

This is a great list! And it offers a couple songs I've never heard before. Thanks for that!

Great list. There are a few I haven't heard and I...

2009-11-10T07:23:25.792-08:00

Great list. There are a few I haven't heard and I'm now anxious to try -- especially the Clint Black one.

Mike - I like the Weird Al idea! It crossed my min...

2009-11-10T05:54:13.754-08:00

Mike - I like the Weird Al idea! It crossed my mind, actually...but then it left. And I considered including "For You," since I heard Manfred Mann's version before Springsteen's original, and I like it quite a bit (especially the piano parts). Also, both that and "Blinded By the Light" are songs that actually sound better sung by someone else (although Bruce's voice has improved a lot since 1972). Still, I decided that I just like Springsteen more and chose to leave them both off.

I'm not sure you should check out "Comfortably Numb" - I don't want it to be my fault if your ears bleed :-D.

You chose a Pink Floyd remake! How dare you?! :) ...

2009-11-10T05:27:29.601-08:00

You chose a Pink Floyd remake! How dare you?! :) I've never heard that version. I'll have Jenn check it out for me. :)

I know they are parodies and not remakes, but I'd go with all 'Weird' Al stuff. Just for fun.

Oh, and Manfred Mann's remakes of 'Blinded by the Light' and 'For You.' Both great songs, in my opinion.