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Posted on 25/11/08 at 07:31:28 pm
News that this year's winner of 'X Factor' will release (and almost certainly score a Christmas Number One with) a cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' has already generated much pre-emptive gnashing of teeth among music purists.
To compound the misery, the single may be competing for the top spot with another ill-advised cover, Leona Lewis' hysterical demolition of Snow Patrol's 'Run', which boats the kind of epic production – replete with full gospel choir - that even Axl Rose might think a touch overblown.
It's hard not to conclude Lewis has rather missed the point of the original which, whatever you think of Snow Patrol, did at least exhibit a measure of hushed, slow-burn restraint.
Here are 10 more examples of cover versions gone wrong. Add your own suggestions - although bear in mind I'm not looking for deliberately silly covers (eg Arctic Monkeys doing 'Love Machine'). I'm only interested in wrong-headed reinventions that try, and signally fail, to match the power of the original.
10.t.A.T.u. – 'How Soon Is Now?'
Funny how Morrissey's epic of self-loathing loses some of its impact when trilled by two chipmunk-voiced faux-lesbians.
9.Fall Out Boy – 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
Patrick Stump's porcine emo honk is not a good substitute for Ian Curtis' mordant baritone. Amazingly, even Jamie Cullum fared better.
8.McFly – 'Born To Run'
"I wanna know if love is wild, I wanna know if love is real!" sings moon-faced Tom Fletcher, in the manner of a man destined never to find out.
7.Take That – 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
You don't know fear until you've seen Gary Barlow strip down to his leather keks and yell, "Are you ready for a bit of rock 'n' roll?" Check out the bum-waggle at 2.50 to experience the full horror.
6.G4 – 'Creep'
Note the way Louis Walsh's face pops up on screen when they get to the, "I'm a weirdo" bit (1.20). Seriously, though: I want this played at my funeral.
5.Celine Dion/Anastacia - 'You Shook Me All Night Long'
In which one of the most euphoric rock songs ever written becomes a sinister festival of bellowing, courtesy of two of the world's least appealing vocalists.
4.Guns N' Roses - 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'
Three funniest words in rock history: Axl Rose's optimistic squawk of "Gimme some reggae!" (5.33) – followed by the kind of desultory skank that only a delusional maniac would ever classify as reggae.
3.Duran Duran – '911 Is A Joke'
In Simon Le Bon's hands, Public Enemy's coruscating tale of police brutality becomes the most lightweight slice of rancid Americana this side of a Gomez album. Shame.
2.Limp Bizkit – 'Faith'
George Michael's slinky rock n'roll pastiche, here sung with all the elegance and grace of a shitting squirrel (complete with laughably extraneous turn-table scratching at 2.40) Cheers, Durst.
1.Reel Big Fish – 'Take On Me'
A pop masterpiece transformed into a parping ska-punk abortion, courtesy of four objectionable berks with trumpets. Staggeringly bad.
Permalink
Anon [Visitor] //November 25 2008 at 20:02
right NME Reel Big Fish cover of Take On Me is a good bloody cover, your just jealous because you cant do a better
Yup [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 02:02
Mcfly's cover was pretty good
Adrian Crawley [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 06:46
what the hell have you guys been smoking??
reel big fish's version of take on me is amazing, lol great driving song as well
Oscar [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 11:24
probably a bit biased being a huge (original line up) GnR fan, but their version (minus the reggae) is awesome...works beautifully and features one of Slash's best and most melodic solos. Lyrically there is nothing that makes in ironic or inappropriate.
Oscar [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 11:30
Another Limp Bizkit atrocity...Behind Blue Eyes by The Who. ew it makes me vomit a little.
plewsey [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 11:44
Ronan Keating and Moya Brennan covering (slaughtering more like)the Pogues Fairytale of New York.
Keating refused to be called a faggot so they even changed the lyrics to
"You scum bag You maggot
You're cheap and you're haggard"
This really is the worst cover version of all time and the only good to come out of it was some extra booze for Shane!
J [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 12:09
all saints under the bridge (awful)
Rage against the machines version of the ghost of tom joad (horrendous)
I once saw kelis do a live version of smells like teen spirit (disgusting) and lets not forget mike flowers pop version of wonderwall (now thats how to butcher a good song!?)
james baker [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 12:24
The hideously over-rated monotone, modern day George Formby rockers' Arctic Monkeys, playing a soulless version of Diamonds are forever. Any cover Joss Stone ever does leaves my ears bleeding too.
Matt [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 12:25
Leona Lewis' version of 'Run' was excellent, Luke Lewis, you are clueless dude.
Wess [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 12:56
G'n'R's version is horrendous. And that Take On Me cover deserves to be dragged out at dawn and shot in the face. Good selection NME, although I'd have had Tori Amos in there instead of Take That (close run thing).
sam [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:11
will young doing light my fire, jim morrison would have been spinning in his grave if he was dead.
melle [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:13
duran duran's cover of lou reed's "perfect day" was fucking horrible
Pete [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:19
This article should be renamed "10 songs that Luke Lewis doesn't like".
Lee [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:20
Even though Bowie played on it and produced it, Lulu's cover of "The Man Who Sold The World" takes some beating in the clueless covers department.
When she sings "I gazed a gazeley stare" I just have to crack up laughing.
Dave [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:23
Mark Ronson's take on QOTSA's No One Knows. Perfectly horrible.
Gavage Sambler [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:26
Reel Big Fish's version is clearly being deliberately silly you massive, massive cretin.
ryan [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:51
bono and the corrs murdering 'when the stars go blue' by ryan adams.
richard [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 13:58
that take on me cover is epic! shame on you nme.
Rob Yorkshire [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 14:07
Reel Big Fish cover is fantastic!! Joss Stone's cover of 'fell in love with a girl(boy)' makes me physically sick. Also Killers incredibly faithful cover of 'Romeo and Juliet' is just totally pointless.
Kel [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 15:00
Born To Run was a marvellous cover and I've had several Springsteen fans tell me that. Danny' a hardcore fan of the great man and he was so nervous performing it because he really wanted to make sure he'd done it justice. That cover song wasn't just a way to grab money at Bruce's expense, it came from the bloody heart.
Belly [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 15:02
......jim morrison would have been spinning in his grave if he was dead.......Isn't he?.......Must of heard a different version to you.......
Hannah [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 15:26
Being a die hard Take That fan, they usually can do no wrong in my eyes..but even I can't forgive Barlow and co for that cover of Smells like Teen Spirit. It gives me nightmares *shudder*
Alex [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 16:16
t.A.T.u's cover of 'How Soon Is Now?' is fucking brilliant!! They got the angst and self-loathing aspect of the song totally right. Still, at least you spelt their name right....
Fred Bizkit [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 16:18
Limp Bizkit Rawks!
Pete M [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 16:19
Hmmmm... the Real Big Fish track doesn't really fit your own criteria by being a) firmly tongue in cheek, and b) actually pretty good.
I'd vote for the Girls Aloud cover of Teenage Dirtbag, for the conceit we're supposed to imagine these five saucepots are gauky students unable to snag a boy in college. And the boy, unfathomably, has a girlfriend who brings a "gun to school".
David [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 16:38
Anything and everything on Ronson's album
mahuda [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 17:05
whoever that dreadlocked twat was who pointlessly re-hashed and de-beautified massive attack's Teardrop last year.
cloud306 [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 17:17
weird, i swear mark owen on bass looks exactly like jared followill:|
even plays like him.
Double j [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 17:48
nme is a joke
Z [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 18:33
I agree with All Saints - Under the Bridge.. what a complete insult to RHCP! And also agree to ANY Mark Ronson cover.. poor Kaiser Chiefs and Radiohead
David [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 19:16
Miley Cyrus's cover of The Velvet Underground's ' I'm Waiting For The Man '
Ally [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 19:56
All Saints "Under the Bridge"? Actually, it wasn't all that bad, but I recall many and angry indie fan loosing it at the time... Oh, and that Reel Big Fish cover is decent and totally harmless. The rest of the list, however, I would agree with...
Richard B [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 20:42
Haven't Nirvana fans suffered enough with the swing version of teen spirit without take that having a pop as well!
Dom [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 20:53
That is complete rubbish saying "Leona Lewis' hysterical demolition". She has an amzing voice and it's much better than any "NME Styled" artist.
Carlosssssss [Visitor] //November 26 2008 at 22:31
the love will tear us apart cover i think has ruined my life
massivehead [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 03:52
Alan Partridge's cover of "Close to You"... Disgusting...
Reel Big Fish arn't great but surely Mr. Clone NME journo has got to see past his thick-rimmed-indie-and-everything-80's specs and see that the cover was a joke in 1st place, before the song surpassed irony and somehow became cool again.
----- [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 04:06
What a terribly boring and predictable article from the NME.
Leona Lewis' Run is wonderful. I'm not a fan of hers really but it is without question 100 times better than the bland original.
José [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 05:48
Are you sure Take That's cover of Smells is worse than their cover of Another Brick In The Wall pt. 2? Save Ferris' nauseating version of Come On Eileen should have been topping this list.
Kaitis [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 06:05
Under Pressure by Bert McCracken and Gerard Way anyone? Especially over RBF. Fuck people who are hatin'. Long live the Fish!
http://www.we-rate-stuff.com
Kev [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 08:38
REM butchering Mission Of Burma's 'Academy Fight Song' should definitely have made the list. The Reel Big Fish cover being number 1? thats just silly.
Droog85 [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 09:07
Reel Big Fish did a wicked cover!! What you on about?
Droog85 [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 09:10
Where the Feck is 'Alex Park' covering 'Imagine' for that matter!?
Dan [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 09:12
this is a good list other than guns n roses knocking on heavens door and reel big fish dare i say it are better! than the originals. especially the reggae section in knocking on heavens door.
Seb [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 09:27
The GN'R cover is only here because of the all NME hates Chinese Democracy affair ... It is getting pretty sad and bashing GN'R does not make you look cool ...
Gravey [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 09:58
Limp Bizkit and Reel Big Fish are clearly tongue in cheek covers, so by knocking them Luke Lewis is the one missing the point. The ultimate covers band is, of course, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. If you've not heard of them, then check out their versions of Lionel Richie's Hello, Boys II Men's End Of The Line and Elton John's Rocket Man.
Joe [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 11:34
Take on me by Reel Big Fish is about 100000000 times better than the original, even if it is tounge in cheek.
Gravey [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 12:40
William Shatner singing Rocket Man. So wrong that it's right: http://tiny.cc/89Fgn
Colonel Cheese [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 12:54
I just can't believe that one of the great songs of our time is allowed to be butchered into a one hit wonder for the x factor, it was a bad enough that they let Rufus Wainwright record it for Shrek!
Paul Guided Missile [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 12:55
Surely Scissor Sisters' version of Comfortably Numb is the most ill judged and point-missing cover version ever. Unforgivable.
florlala! [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 13:05
mark ronson... stop me (the smith).... FUCKING HORRIBLE!!! it ruined an amazing song... people open your eyes!!
Pinkindiechick [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 13:40
3 words for you all
Mike Flowers Pops
(And real big fish rock nuts)
Matt Crane [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 14:09
'Take on Me' cover is guff - plain and simple. Skate-toss melded with pseudo-80's nostalgia. Placebo's cover of 'Where Is My Mind' made me want to throw piss at Brian Molko, and 'Fuel' (whilst not a great song) by Metallica being covered by pint-sized Canadian warble-strumpet Avril Lavigne was fucking terrible. As was Belle and Sebastian's cover of 'Gigantic'. But only because they didn't know the words.
Matt Crane [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 14:12
...Oh, and Will Young's godawful cover of 'Light My Fire' Big-chinned lisping cretin. Although that said, Massive Attack's version was pretty weak...
smithers [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 15:30
How about the BBC Children in Need celebrities' version of Lou Reed's Perfect Day? Talk about missing the point...
Bob Funkhouse [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 16:43
All those people who actually think Reel Big Fish's cover of Take On Me is good - please think long and hard about your existence. Nu-metal ska punk is possibly THE worst music in the world. I despair at those lost souls with their baggy trousers, skate shoes, low IQs and dumb piercings all over their ugly mugs. In terms of inappropraite covers, recall the light-jazz pop idiot Jamie Cullum and think of the absurdity of him recording Lover You Should Have Come Over and Wind Cries Mary. I'm thinking bullet in the head.
Barry [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 17:52
I HATE U ALL!!!
Cuze [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 18:43
I agree with the Celine Dion one, yikes. And who does Take That think they are to touch the perfect Nirvana classic. I do disagree with McFly though, they seem like a couple of talented kids just playing a good song. Not trying to change it, just enjoying it.
Plot [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 20:26
poor ian. after the butchering of one of his greatest songs, i assume he's happy never to have heard the cover version by that fucking emo falloutboy guy.
Evo [Visitor] //November 27 2008 at 22:20
American Pie by Madonna. Simply shocking.
The Reel Big Fish 'Take On Me' is an absolute classic!
NO FUN [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 02:38
What about all saints misinterpreting Antony Keidis's herion addiction for a love song with RHCP's Under the bridge?
NO FUN [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 02:44
Metallica doing Nick Cave's loverman is cringe worthy
Geraint [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 04:09
all these posts and they all (as well as the original list) omit Smashing Pumpkins' 'reinterpretation' of 'Once In A Lifetime' by Talking Heads? I like a fair bit of SPs stuff but this is Corgan at his worst, adding a load of extra screechy MY PAIN AND SADNESS lyrics to one of the all-time greats
jordan [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 08:30
Luke lewis (writer of the above article) needs sacking! - leona's version of 'run' is amazing! Some people may prefer snow patrols original version, however there is no denying that Leonas version is sung with so much emotion and is superb singing! NME please sack this ridiculous pathetic excuse of a writer!
Oggi [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 14:47
That Take That cover is COLLOSAL! :)
No words to describe how I laughed. Gary and Co, you should be shot in the face! Probably your mothers have already committed suicide after sawing this concert of yours!
My God, this is beyond my bravest fantasies :) Keep up the good work, Gary - tear your shirt, shake some fatty body and make us all enjoy the fact we're alive and can see you! :):):)
Oggi [Visitor] //November 28 2008 at 14:48
The Take That cover of "Smells like..." is COLLOSAL :)
No words to describe how I laughed. Gary and Co, you should be shot in the face! Probably your mothers have already committed suicide after sawing this concert of yours!
My God, this is beyond my bravest fantasies :) Keep up the good work, Gary - tear your shirt, shake some more that fatty body and make us all enjoy the fact we're alive and can see you! :):):)
[Visitor] //November 29 2008 at 09:58
Howzabout, guys and gals, Timothy Mallett's unhinged de-construction of Richard Thompson's paen to misery The End Of The Rainbow???? Total opposites don't attract......
louie [Visitor] //November 29 2008 at 20:09
why are you all so negative? i think leona's version is vocally amazing of run, and there only songs, i just find it funny how NME are so oppinionated about anything that isn't indie or rock. it's really quite boring
henry [Visitor] //November 30 2008 at 04:46
what a stupid article!! leona's run is simply beautiful and 1000x times better than the original!! she just touches our heart with the first chorus and explodes in the end.... love it!
Mr.Vain [Visitor] //November 30 2008 at 19:21
While I love this cover I do feel that All Saints' "Under The Bridge" deserves a spot here because it completely changes the meaning.
Nidal [Visitor] //December 1 2008 at 21:04
I'm sorry but this is just snooty and pretentious nonsense. Apparently Leona Lewis isn't good , or least says so the magazine which gave the best artists award to Kate Nash.
[Visitor] //December 2 2008 at 19:20
McFly's was allright. Better than Frankie's anyway.
Mauricio [Visitor] //December 6 2008 at 22:01
This List is RIDICULOUS!!!
This comment is from someone who doesn't know what is music !!
REEL BIG FISH IS ONE OF THE BEST SKA BAND OF THE WORLD!
Who made this list are totally IDIOTS! RIDICULOUS!!
Go listen Bitchney Spears !!!!and go to hell either!!
Cristiano [Visitor] //December 7 2008 at 01:52
Is ridiculs! Who made this list? Reel Big Fish on the 1º???... no way.
The Rainbow [Visitor] //December 7 2008 at 14:20
I don't think I agree with most of these!
The Guns N' Roses cover is actually quite good and the Celine Dion duet with Anastacia isn't anywhere near as bad as he makes out!
It was supposed to be a fun song to open the Divas concert, nothing more.
Pointless article!
Josh [Visitor] //December 7 2008 at 20:43
i personally reckon that leona's version is pretty in keeping with the orignal's overblown ballad but everything else is spot on. still can't think of anything more insulting than jls or eoghan singing leonard cohen. simon cowell obviously just heard it and thought "hey that'll sound good with a few key-changes and ridiculous vocal acrobatics" and completely missed the point. it will blatently replace any sexual references with some dreary bollocks about overcoming the odds "even when they told me i was wrong"
Dudey [Visitor] //December 7 2008 at 22:13
dude, cummon, leona lewis does not demolish that song. she's got a good voice, she came from x factor but so what? its a good renidition of the song, dont deny it, cummmooonnnn...
Sonia [Visitor] //December 8 2008 at 19:52
Sean f-ing Kingstons version of Alice Coopers I'm 18....now there is true horror for ya!
Jimmy_vamp [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 00:36
Britney covering Satisfaction tops all these big time.
This list is awful.
Squeoo [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 09:45
Landslide, the version by The Smashing Pumpkins and The Dixie Chicks. Only Stevie Nicks should sing it!!!
Oh and Leona Lewis' voice is so shrill and horrendous. Every time I hear her sing I wanna shoot myself in the face.
[Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 13:28
as clueless as some people may think this article is, i'm more worried by the people finishing their comments with 'If Jim Morrison was dead'. 100% except GNR
Benj [Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 20:11
Wow! What bile! Would you be giving Leona such a hard time if she had the blessing of the original songwriters? I doubt it.
I used to subscribe to the 'anyone who doesn't write, play, and sing is a fraud' school of thought - but then I grew up and lost a few prejudices. Leona sings 'Run' beautifully and powerfully - be fair to this girl because she's an undeniable talent.
There's nothing wrong with cover versions, as long as they add something to the original. The Pet Shop Boys version of 'Always on my mind' is one of the better examples of this...I'll leave it at that before getting worked up about sampling!
Tony [Visitor] //December 16 2008 at 12:41
In terms of missing the pint, which this list is meant to refer to, I'd choose Adelle fdoing Dylan's 'Make you feel'. It is actually meant to be sung as 'to make you fee, my love' - ie:despite us being ol, numb and abandoned by God, I'll make you feel something, anything, like we did when we were young. It's ahrdly Dylan's greeatest song, but shorn of its context on Time Out Of Mnd, it means nothing, especially when sung by a vacant, emotionless 20 year-old
Brent [Visitor] //December 24 2008 at 20:28
You Forgot Lenny Kravitz's American Woman.
Gary Lightbody [Visitor] //January 17 2009 at 00:50
I don't know, Leona's cover of Run seems pretty fucking good to me. And an overblown cover isn't necessarily a bad thing -- remember how Hendrix changed Dylan's "slow-burning" All Along The Watchtower into one of the greatest guitar songs ever?
Lauz [Visitor] //February 9 2009 at 00:35
What about Snow Patrol's cover of Bright Eyes' "You Will. You? Will. You? Will." They never released it - thankfully - but they played it live quite a few times and videos/mp3s aren't hard to come by.
What hurts the most is the fact that the singer completely ignores the double meaning caused by the intonation of the chorus.
James [Visitor] //February 19 2009 at 08:57
REEL BIG FISH should be no.1 for one of the best covers.
And it was just for a laugh you can tell.
How about SUGARBABES & GIRLS ALOUD 'Walk this way' - ARGGGHHH!!!!!!
Shanice [Visitor] //March 2 2009 at 15:55
McFly's version of "Born To Run" is actually really good! And they never actually released it or anything was just on radio 1 live lounge.
mark [Visitor] //March 4 2009 at 16:07
dude, you're clueless. leona lewis sang the hell out of run, it was amazing. She has more talent than anyone you listen too. you need to be slapped.
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