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Type O Negative's version of "Summer Breeze" https://youtu.be/XNo7ZZryuSQ

ZOMG, no one has mentioned this version of What's up by 4 non blondes

Its sung by he-man and friends and is catchy AF, even in 2026

https://youtube.com/watch?v=FR7wOGyAzpw

Chvrches cover of "Do I Wanna Know?" by the Arctic Monkeys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjwwmFrsX_E

Am I Evil - Metallica, originally by Diamond Head

Somebody that I used to know - Walk Off the Earth, originally by Gotye

Common People - William Shatner and Ben Folds, originally by Pulp.

The first because Metallica was just SO much cleaner, second because I thought the song was trash until I heard it by somebody who didn't mumble through the whole thing, the third... well the Shatner one isn't exactly good, but it's at least entertaining, which is more than can be said for the original.

The Interrupters cover of "Bad Guy" and the Hailstorm cover of "Get Lucky" are 2 of my favorites.

It may be a trite answer for this question, but I still gotta go with Gary Jules' cover of Mad World by Tears for Fears from the Donnie Darko soundtrack. I appreciate both versions, but the cover is truly haunting. I also heard that version first, and I was at the right age when Donnie Darko came out for it to make a lasting impression on me.

Soft Cell — Tainted Love

Chris Cornell's cover of Nothing compares to you

Mad World

I was shocked when I finally heard the original after hearing like 3 or 4 covers of it first. Tears for Fears' original version is just... It's not bad, but it's the least good version of that song. Lol.

Cake - I will Survive

I’m going to save this for later, but then never check my saved threads

Hallelujah

Written and originally sung by Leonard Cohen:

https://youtu.be/YrLk4vdY28Q

But it was Jeff Buckley's hauntingly beautiful cover of it that made the song known to the world:

https://youtu.be/y8AWFf7EAc4

Heatwave. Linda Ronstadt crushed it.

All Along The Watchtower, because Hendrix.

Blinded by the Light

Written by Bruce Springsteen, but I think Manfred Mann did it much better.

Pet Shop Boys, Always on my mind, IMHO much better than the Elvis Presley original.

Fly Like an Eagle - Seal

Orgy “Blue Monday”

Rebecca Black‘s cover of Fame is a Gun https://youtu.be/3sni1ckbBqw

Maggie's Farm by RATM.

Janis Joplin - Piece of my Heart

Edit: Came back to add Blondie - The Tide is High. I was trying to think of it earlier, but it eluded me.

Orgy - Blue Monday

Chris Cornell - Nothing Compares 2 U

My Heart Will Go On — Dragonforce

David Draimen is a bootlicking chud but I love Disturbed's cover of Sound of Silence. Fuck

The Cascada versions are all better than their originals

Sound of Silence - Disturbed (this song is now theirs as far as I’m concerned; the original has zero percent of the emotion it was supposed to have)

Bizarre Love Triangle - nearly every remix is better. The original vocals are so, so bad.

Tell me why - 1991 Remix

Love is not enough - Hybrid minds remix

Alaska - Sofi Tukker Remix

On Hold - Jamie XX remix

Higher ground - Flight facilities remix

California Heaven - Medasin remix

Eric Clapton — I Shot the Sheriff (original by Bob Marley)
Disturbed — Sound of Silence (original by Simon & Garfunkel)
Manfred Mann — Blinded By the Light (original by Bruce Springsteen)

I love all of the original artists, but someone else did the definitive version of all of these. Disturbed is probably debatable, but I do think it's better.

Bangles: Hazy shade of winter

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: I love Rock’n’Roll

Thick of it (Ray Walter Music remix)

• Jimi Hendrix – "All Along the Watchtower”

Johnny Cash – "Hurt”

Aretha Franklin – "Respect"

Joe Cocker – "With A Little Help From My Friends"

Jeff Beck - “Morning Dew”

Glen Campbell- “Wichita Lineman”

Bruce Springsteen - “Trapped”

Janis Joplin - “Me and Bobby McGee”

Talking Heads - “Take Me To The River”

Devo’s cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.”

Supernaut by 1000 homo djs

Word Crimes, by Weird Al Yankovic