Ask Lemmy

Johnny Cash did a good job with "Hurt"

All along the watchtower covered by Hendrix.

Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm

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

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

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

Maggie's Farm by RATM.

Orgy - Blue Monday

Chris Cornell - Nothing Compares 2 U

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal

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.

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.

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

Cake - I will Survive

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World

• 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”

Bangles: Hazy shade of winter

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

• Video Killed The Radio Star cover by The Presidents of the United States of America
• Major Tom (Coming Home) by Shiny Toy Guns
• Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These by Marilyn Manson

I mostly listen to electronic music, where remix culture is huge. There are countless examples of remixes that I prefer to the original mix. Some of these examples, I dislike the original mix but do like a particular remix. And sometimes, I do still like the original mix but I just like a remix even more .

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

I prefer Perfect Circle's Fiddle And The Drum.

Orgy “Blue Monday”

Stairway to Heaven - Frank Zappa

With a Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker

Black History Month (Death From Above 1979), remixed by Death From Above 1979

Hurt (Nine Inch Nails), covered by Johnny Cash

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.

I'm surprised no one has said Metallica's cover of "Turn The Page". The original Bob Seger version is great, but I feel like James and the boys did it better.

Every time we touch - Electric callboy

Still waiting - Electric callboy

Heatwave. Linda Ronstadt crushed it.

All Along The Watchtower, because Hendrix.

DNA & Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner

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

Jose Gonzalez' cover of Heartbeats by The Knife is otherworldly, although The Kinfe's live version is also incredible. both are, in my opinion, better than the album version.