No Offense, but Cyndi's version is god awful compared to Prince's version. Itsstill a good song, but Prince's verion is so amazing it makes her version sound like crap.

The only Prince song I think is better when it was covered is Sinead's version of Nothing Compares 2 U. The sax is the only good thing about Prince's version. His version his bland and boring and hides rosie's singing skill. Sinead brought lie and emotion to the song. Her version is jusst brilliant. And for nods he didn't appreciate, well he openly despised Sinead, so I think that counts.

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" was huge when it came out (I believe it was 1984). I actually heard of it before I ever knew of a Prince version, which was on For You released in 1979. So, hers is better.

Despite who wrote it, Nothing Compares 2 U belongs to Sinead. She made it huge.

Se7en said:

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" was huge when it came out (I believe it was 1984). I actually heard of it before I ever knew of a Prince version, which was on For You released in 1979. So, hers is better.

Despite who wrote it, Nothing Compares 2 U belongs to Sinead. She made it huge.

Actually it was released on my 3rd favorite Prince album "Prince" released in 1979. "For You" was released in 1978.

aardvark15 said:

Se7en said:

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" was huge when it came out (I believe it was 1984). I actually heard of it before I ever knew of a Prince version, which was on For You released in 1979. So, hers is better.

Despite who wrote it, Nothing Compares 2 U belongs to Sinead. She made it huge.

Actually it was released on my 3rd favorite Prince album "Prince" released in 1979. "For You" was released in 1978.

That's right, thanks! I knew that, just typed it wrong. Still, Chaka Khan's version is undeniably the bigger hit.

Prince posted a mashup of his version with hers in the now-defunct NPGMC Reflection room . . . luckily I was able to snag that MP3, as it's pretty cool!

Although Prince's version of 'How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore' is awesome i really like the Stephanie Mills version, i like the band arrangement of it, kinda what Prince did on the One Night Alone tour. And of course Sinead's 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and The Bangles 'Manic Monday'.

Songs like Manic Monday, Nothing Compares 2 U and Shhh don't really fit into this category because they were not released by Prince prior to someone else covering them (Manic Monday has never been released by Prince).

It is said that Prince wasn't keen on Tom Jones's cover of Kiss - and who can blame him?!

Se7en said:

Songs like Manic Monday, Nothing Compares 2 U and Shhh don't really fit into this category because they were not released by Prince prior to someone else covering them (Manic Monday has never been released by Prince).

Nothing Compares 2 U counts because it was released on The Family's debut album

I never liked Cindy's take on When you were mine.. it sounds so cheesy and dated. Something in those synths and that plastic drum sound that makes a LOT of the music from the first half of the eighties sounds so terribly dated nowadays.

I love Sinead's vocals on Nothing compares to you the best, but i prefer the music on the Family version over Sinead's arrangement. Prince's version with Rosie is way too kitschy and vegas-like for my taste.

But i prefer Manic Monday by the Bangles over Princes version: Princes version is far more demo-like and Apollonia simply can't sing.

aardvark15 said:

Se7en said:

Songs like Manic Monday, Nothing Compares 2 U and Shhh don't really fit into this category because they were not released by Prince prior to someone else covering them (Manic Monday has never been released by Prince).

Nothing Compares 2 U counts because it was released on The Family's debut album

Doesn't count because Prince was not on main vocals and it's not a "Prince" release. The OP asked about other people covering Prince songs, not Prince-penned songs.

Se7en said:

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" was huge when it came out (I believe it was 1984). I actually heard of it before I ever knew of a Prince version, which was on For You released in 1979. So, hers is better.

Despite who wrote it, Nothing Compares 2 U belongs to Sinead. She made it huge.

I agree. I liked when Rosie sang lead on it too, but not Prince's or The Family's version.

To each their own.

I know this might piss off many orgers, but I like Tevin's "Shhh" just as much as Prince's version.

Just in different ways. Two different songs in my opinion. None the better.

Although P's live performance of "Shhh" in Hong Kong 2004(?) is brilliant!

I'd love to see a 2CD set of Prince recording his versions of his own songs that others have recorded first. Could be called "Prince: UnCovered" or something like that.

Manic Monday

Love, Thy Will B Done

Nothing Compares 2 U

etc, etc.

Se7en said:

I'd love to see a 2CD set of Prince recording his versions of his own songs that others have recorded first. Could be called "Prince: UnCovered" or something like that.

Manic Monday

Love, Thy Will B Done

Nothing Compares 2 U

etc, etc.

My guess is that we'd be pretty disappointed. Most of these songs he chose for them because it sounded better coming from them than him, or they were written specifically for them. Esp artists like Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell, or Sheila E. The Prince recorded songs you mentioned above - and more - can be found on bootlegs, so you could make your own cd set.

Mindflux said:

It is said that Prince wasn't keen on Tom Jones's cover of Kiss - and who can blame him?!

Indeed. Not only a shit cover, but also possibly one of The Art Of Noise's weaker moments.

fantasticjoy said:

I don't think it's fair to compare demos because obviously they are a work in progress, but I don't think I heard a cover that I thought was better than Prince's original. Although I think Chaka's version of Don't Talk 2 Strangers is on par with Prince's version. I guess I'm in the minority who likes The Family's Nothing Compares 2 U better. I can't stand the drums in Sinead's version.

There's an official live version of Sinead's NC2U that sounds better IMO and the drums are real.

As for Chaka's "Don't Talk 2"... I think her version is more heartfelt, especially as she is a mom and it seems to fit her narrative more than Prince (even though he wrote it).

The live performance of DT2S from Beautiful Strange is by far my favorite version.

fantasticjoy said:

I don't think it's fair to compare demos because obviously they are a work in progress, but I don't think I heard a cover that I thought was better than Prince's original. Although I think Chaka's version of Don't Talk 2 Strangers is on par with Prince's version. I guess I'm in the minority who likes The Family's Nothing Compares 2 U better. I can't stand the drums in Sinead's version.

That was Soul II Soul that did the music for that version. Just saying.

[Edited 10/7/11 17:24pm]

aardvark15 said:

Songs people did better than Prince himself:

• I Feel For You (Chaka kicked ass, that's all I'm gonna say about that one)
• How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (Stephanie's version, I'm not too fond of Alicia's though, Prince has the second best version of the song and that was just a demo)

I'm iffy on other covers. Some I think are real good (Mel'isa's "Do Me Baby") and others that are vomit-inducing (Ginuwine's "When Doves Cry" cover).

Timmy84 said:

eros said:

Timmy84 said:

Songs people did better than Prince himself:

• I Feel For You (Chaka kicked ass, that's all I'm gonna say about that one)
• How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (Stephanie's version, I'm not too fond of Alicia's though, Prince has the second best version of the song and that was just a demo)

I'm iffy on other covers. Some I think are real good (Mel'isa's "Do Me Baby") and others that are vomit-inducing (Ginuwine's "When Doves Cry" cover).

But there's a little boy who did a version of 'When doves cry' for the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack that I thought was really good ..but in my defense..... I was really, really stoned when I saw that film

I agree. That boys voice is amazing and makes it sound like a completely different song. Although it's impossible to improve on the original, but good effort.

Didn't even know that Cyndi Lauper did when you were mine, just had a listen on you tube. It is HORRENDOUS!!!!

How anybody on this earth could prefer that to the original is beyond me!!!!!

mysterymum said:

eros said:

Timmy84 said:

Songs people did better than Prince himself:

• I Feel For You (Chaka kicked ass, that's all I'm gonna say about that one)
• How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore (Stephanie's version, I'm not too fond of Alicia's though, Prince has the second best version of the song and that was just a demo)

I'm iffy on other covers. Some I think are real good (Mel'isa's "Do Me Baby") and others that are vomit-inducing (Ginuwine's "When Doves Cry" cover).

But there's a little boy who did a version of 'When doves cry' for the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack that I thought was really good ..but in my defense..... I was really, really stoned when I saw that film

Quindon Tarver? It was aight...

aardvark15 said:

No Offense, but Cyndi's version is god awful compared to Prince's version. Itsstill a good song, but Prince's verion is so amazing it makes her version sound like crap.

The only Prince song I think is better when it was covered is Sinead's version of Nothing Compares 2 U. The sax is the only good thing about Prince's version. His version his bland and boring and hides rosie's singing skill. Sinead brought lie and emotion to the song. Her version is jusst brilliant. And for nods he didn't appreciate, well he openly despised Sinead, so I think that counts.

HI aardvark15,

I completely agree, Prince's version is 1,000 times better. Sinead's nothing compares 2 u was very good I mean she made any girl who just was dumpled cry..... but the MASTER wrote it.... His version is awesome as well.

Not 2 my knowledge nobody does it better.

I like Jaguar, though I never heard Prince's version.

Wow -- no love for LaToya Jackson's take on "Private Joy"??

Seriously though I really liked the harder edge that the Foo Fighters put on "Darling Nikki". Now I loved the original but I have to give credit to the Foos taking an edgy song and taking it up to 11. Too bad we'll never get to hear Prince do an all-out rockin' version in this vein...