What are some of the most creative remakes of very popular songs? By creative, I mean songs that are so different from the original, people remember the remake more than the original or is done up in a totally different genre from the original (did i just say "totally"?)

Here are some of mine:

Luther's early remake of "Superstar"...originally done by the Carpenters (I think)

George Benson's "Masquerade" also originally done by the Carpenters (I think...)

and my favorite:

"Que Sera Sera"...remade by Sly and the Family Stone, originally done in the 50s by Doris Day/Sandra Dee...one of them...the original sounds like your standard upbeat 50s pop tune, but of course Sly's version is so mellow, soulful and reflect the melancholy of the lyrics...

-wpc

Check out my Joan Osborne thread
Every song on "How Sweet It Is" is something I'd list

Meshell Ndegeocello: "May this be Love"

Tori Amos: ". . . Teen Spirit" and "Purple Rain"

Dione Ferris: "Blackbird"

Rage Against the Machine: "Maggie's Farm" "Pistolgrip Pump" "Renegades of Funk"

Red Hot Chilli Peppers: "Higer Ground"

Heart: "Tell It Like It Is"


Honorable mention but not exactly straying from the original:
Teena Marie "Wishing on a Star"
Groove Theory "Hello It's Me"
Trina Broussard "Inside my Love" (Minnie Riperton would be proud!)
Xscape "In the Rain"
Fiona Apple "Never Is a Promise"

Maxwell's live version of NIN's "Closer"

I agree w/ Superstar by Luther too...

sorry, too obscure
[Edited 1/8/05 0:56am]

Respect - Aretha/Otis

Baby one more time - Dweezil zappa
Incense & Peppermints - A Little Bit Of Sound

CalhounSq said:

ITA
along with Maxwell's This Woman's Work and Eva Cassidy's -It Doesn't Matter Anymore

The power Station's version of Get it on.... It rocks more than the original T-rex version!

I forgot Foo Fighters'- Darling Nikki,Irresitable B**ch-Trik Turner's version,(even though I do like the originals better ) It's Not easy being Green-Ray Charles' Version, Respect-Aretha Franklin(I know it's obvious)and this version of "American Pie I heard by Tori Amos that I could never find...

Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Roger
I Feel For You - Chaka Khan

vainandy said:

on Roger's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"

RIP Roger...

I personally love Echo & the Bunnymen's version of People are Strange which was done by The Doors. Adding the haunting organ makes their version sound much more dark and gloomy, it sounds pretty funky too. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah which eclipses Leonard Cohen's so much that it became Jeff's signature song.

Joe Cocker-With a Little Help From My Friends
Pet Shop Boys-Always On My Mind

Lennon said:

Yes! Their version of this song is great!

Axchi696 said:

yeah i dig that too!

Speaking of Power Station...I also have a soft spot for

"I Didn't Meant to Turn You On" by Robert Palmer...originally by Cherelle (sp?)

I know it's blasphemous to say this, but I also like U2's version of 'All Along the Watchtower' above Hendrix's and Dylan's verions. Blah blah blah Bono adding an additional verse, yadda yadda yadda arrogance and pretention; I love the energy and emotion they brought to the song.


So shoot me!

Axchi696 said:

I agree on this one!! Shoot me too!

But...Actually I also like U2's version of Helter Skelter better than the Beatles one...
[Edited 1/9/05 8:35am]

Lennon said:

So do I. More forceful and concise than the Beatles version.
U2's Happiness is a Warm Gun, however, is complete and total shit.
[Edited 1/9/05 9:24am]

Axchi696 said:

And again...I agree with you!

Jackson Five's "Forever Came Today" better than the Supreme's version, IMO.

Have you ever heard Patti Smith's cover of "When Doves Cry"???

Well, that's very different!!!

Lodger said:

Yeah, that is a great one too indeed!

Beyonce ft. Luther Vandross/The Closer I Get to You

Whitney/You Light Up My Life

Fantasia/Summertime

Me'shell Who is He and Who is He to You
Cyndi Lauper When You Were Mine
Annie Lennox No More I Love Yous
Peaches Sex(I'm A)

ehuffnsd said:

All trax on her "Medusa" album are worthy for the title of this thread.

Lodger said:

I think Medusa is her best album to date

ehuffnsd said:

(I prefer "Diva"... )

Lodger said:

it's hard to pick relly but i think it's cause my Mom played Medusa all the time when i was in Middle school that it's my favorite. Her work is outstanding.

One time, I was listening to Barry White music, and I always enjoyed his song "Just the Way You Are", and I read that it was a remake of a Billy Joel song for which he won a Grammy. I've never heard his version before, so I downloaded it on my computer. It was crap. Barry White's version was far better compared to Billy Joel's version, I'll give him credit for writing a good song, but that's it, Barry White's version wins, hands down.

Same thing with "Walk On By", Issac Hayes version is far more superior than Dionne Warwick's version.