Which cover version is better than the original?

[Phil80]

Cover versions are usually overshadowed by the original. The first recording often captures something special, and fans can be fiercely protective of it. But every so often, an artist takes a song and turns it into something greater, either by changing the mood, the arrangement or simply bringing a voice that fits the song better. Some of these covers become so famous that many people do not realise they are covers at all

There are some famous examples. Johnny Cash's version of Hurt, originally by Nine Inch Nails, is often called one of the greatest covers ever, and even Trent Reznor said the song was no longer his. Jimi Hendrix turned Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower into a rock classic, and Dylan himself started performing it in Hendrix's style. Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton

Other covers that often come up include Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, Soft Cell's Tainted Love, Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U, Aretha Franklin's Respect and Gary Jules's Mad World. Each one took a song in a different direction and found a new audience. In some cases, the cover became the version everyone knows

My choice is Joe Cocker's With a Little Help from My Friends. The Beatles original is cheerful and charming, but Cocker turned it into a soulful, gospel tinged epic. His Woodstock performance is extraordinary. It feels like a completely different song

Which cover version is better than the original? And which cover ruined a great song?