Friday 5: Cover Songs

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This week for the Friday 5 we will be looking at what I view as the 5 best cover songs out there. There are so many cover songs out there that I was surprised to find out were covers when I was researching cover songs. There will be some awesome ones missed but it is only because of the numbers.

5. “Respect” – Aretha Franklin … Originally by: Otis Redding

Everyone knows the classic R-E-S-P-E-C-T Aretha Franklin got for this song but many don’t know it is a cover of an Otis Redding song. Aretha Franklin covered it and made it her own much like everyone on the list. It is hard to imagine the song sounding any different or even hearing other versions than Aretha’s.

 

4. “I Love Rock & Roll” – Joan Jett … Originally by: The Arrows  

The Joan Jett classic and staple around sporting events and bars is actually a cover by The Arrows, a group I had never heard of. Safe to say Joan Jett’s version was the superiors but also came out about a year after the original. Joan Jett’s version would help her break away as a member of the Runaways and gave Joan her first and only song to hit number one on the charts despite other classics.

 

3. “Proud Mary” – Ike and Tina Turner … Originally by CCR

I actually heard the Ike and Tina version before the CCR thanks to the show Lip Sync battle so it was interesting to hear CCR’s original version. Proud Mary stands out with all the upbeat high energy Ike and Tina bring to the CCR classic. This is a prime example of the original and cover both being extremely successful. I will let you decide which version you prefer.

 

2. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston … Originally by Dolly Parton

This was a no brainer to be in the list and often can top most list of cover songs. How do you take a classic like Dolly’s version and all but erase it from a number of people’s memory, well you let Whitney Houston sing it. Dolly has told the story about the film The Bodyguard’s people reaching out and her giving her blessing, but never heard anything more. Apparently it was Kevin Costner’s idea to use the song, but Dolly didn’t hear it until she was driving down the highway needing to pull over to listen to it. Dolly has said it is Whitney’s song after that version took off.

 

1. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash … Originally by Nine Inch Nails 

Taking the top spot is nonother than Johnny Cash taking a song by a metal band Nine Inch Nails. The unlikely cover was not enjoyed by songwriter and frontman of the band Trent Reznor saying  he was “flattered” but worried that “the idea sounded a bit gimmicky,” until he saw the iconic music video. Johnny stripped down the dark song and made it immortal. The song originally being debate about what the dark meaning of it was, was turned into a song examining a long life lived under Cash’s vocals. Trent, much like Dolly with Whitney, has said that the song is Johnny’s now after that version was released and took off.

 

Next week will be Live Action TV theme songs, as animated ones can have their own list.

– Everett