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Post by Whitneyfan on Feb 26, 2017 11:48:22 GMT 1
...than the vastly superior original.
I was just listening to 'Oh L'Amour' by Erasure and can't believe it only made it to #85 when the Dollar version got into the top 10. Especially seeing as Dollar hadn't had a top forty hit in 6 years. Erasure did do a lot better with a remixed version of the song in 2003, but it still didn't make the top ten.
Another that springs to mind is 'They Don't Know' which didn't even chart for Kirsty MacColl when released in 1979, although this is blamed on a strike by her distributors preventing the record on getting into the shops. The fact that it was #2 in the airplay chart makes you wonder how much different things could have been. Tracey Ullman took the song to #2 in 1983, and many people prefer that version of the song... but, although I do think it's a good version, I don't think it even compares to Kirsty's original.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 11:58:29 GMT 1
Girls Aloud I'll Stand by You
Westlife Seasons In The Sun
Kylie Minogue Locomotion
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Post by raliverpool on Feb 26, 2017 12:02:16 GMT 1
All Saints UK #1 cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers UK #13 "Under The Bridge" says hi.
But surely the number one example has to be:
This UK #1 from 2010:
The then on sabbatical David Bowie was so upset by that horrific cover of his 1977 masterpiece "Heroes" which stalled at UK #24 (as he was so out of vogue then, despite the media's revisionism today) that he broke his silence to post on his website expressing his strong dislike of the bland massacre of arguably his greatest song; and encouraging music fans to buy this charity single instead for the same charity which lets face it is vastly more preferable than Simon Cowell's puppets Westlification recording:
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 12:05:14 GMT 1
Gareth Gates Unchained Melody
Timmy Mallett Itsy Bitsy
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Post by raliverpool on Feb 26, 2017 12:16:24 GMT 1
Gareth Gates Unchained Melody Timmy Mallett Itsy Bitsy Whilst I agree they are both awful, I don't think the originals by Todd Duncan (from the 1955 film "Unchained"); and Brian Hyland's USA #1 teen idol original are much to write home about either. |
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Post by Whitneyfan on Feb 26, 2017 13:41:38 GMT 1
'I'll stand by you' and 'Heroes' I would definitely agree with. 'Unchained Melody' by Gareth Gates was hideous I agree, but the definiteive version has to be the Righteous Brothers which was also a massive #1 hit. 'Seasons in the sun' by Westlife was awful (there are probably quite a few examples by them), but the original Terry Jacks version was also a massive hit. 'Locomotion' was too - although I have to admit to preferring Kylie's version. *hides* Ronan Keating has probably also put his voice to a few, but this one in particular he totally destroyed. The original here is just lovely, but Boyzone's version that reached #1 lacked the emotion of the original, which only reached #22 in the UK. Some comfort can be taken from the fact that it was a US #1 though! Anne Murray - You Needed Me |
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Post by Earl Purple on Feb 26, 2017 13:49:59 GMT 1
Whilst I thought her version of Knock On Wood was ok, Amii Stewart then followed that up with a disco cover of "Light My Fire". That got to #5. The Doors original had only reached #49 when first released, although it was later re-issued in 1991 and got to #7 (I think). Still, that's lower than Amii Stewart's version.
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Post by Earl Purple on Feb 26, 2017 13:52:22 GMT 1
Two inferior cover versions of "Against All Odds" and one of "American Pie" reached #1 when the originals had reached #2. However getting a position higher doesn't mean they sold more, so I'm not sure they were actually bigger.
Similarly it's unlikely that Undercover's awful version of "Baker Street" sold more than Gerry Rafferty's, even if it did peak one position higher. Sales were generally far higher in 1978 than they were in 1992.
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Post by raliverpool on Feb 26, 2017 13:55:49 GMT 1
'Seasons in the sun' by Westlife was awful (there are probably quite a few examples by them), but the original Terry Jacks version was also a massive hit. Here is the original English language adaptation of "Seasons In The Sun" of the Jacques Brel original "Le Moribond" from 1963: |
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Post by Laurence on Feb 26, 2017 14:00:13 GMT 1
Jonas Blue 'Fast Car' is the most recent travesty although it's arguable that it did significantly better than Tracy Chapman who has sold a lot on downloads. I would also say Gareth Gates was in the same category.
Mary J Blige made no.2 with U2's 'One' and that was pretty rank.
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Post by Laurence on Feb 26, 2017 14:04:10 GMT 1
I know loads will say Calum Scott but I have a soft spot for it.
Alexandra Burke's 'Hallelujah' too
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Post by Whitneyfan on Feb 26, 2017 14:10:45 GMT 1
I've learned something already... I had always assumed Terry Jacks version of Seasons In The Sun was the original.
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Post by raliverpool on Feb 26, 2017 14:29:24 GMT 1
I've learned something already... I had always assumed Terry Jacks version of Seasons In The Sun was the original. Yes it is up there with "Without You" which 98% of people think is a Harry Nilsson original when it was a Badfinger original composed by Pete Ham & Tom Evans in 1970 ... |
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vya
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Post by vya on Feb 26, 2017 15:13:55 GMT 1
Inferior (although not absolutely dreadful) cover: Karen Ramirez - "Looking For Love"
Superior original, completely ignored by the singles-buying public: Everything But The Girl - "I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love"
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vya
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Post by vya on Feb 26, 2017 15:16:08 GMT 1
Anyone who has covered songs by the Sundays pretty much automatically falls in this category, too...
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Post by rubcale on Feb 26, 2017 15:26:23 GMT 1
I've learned something already... I had always assumed Terry Jacks version of Seasons In The Sun was the original. Yes it is up there with "Without You" which 98% of people think is a Harry Nilsson original when it was a Badfinger original composed by Pete Ham & Tom Evans in 1970 ... The Badfinger version is pretty awful but I'll stand up and be counted and say that I think Mariah Carey does the definitive version. |
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TheThorne
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*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
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Post by TheThorne on Feb 26, 2017 15:29:32 GMT 1
Inferior (although not absolutely dreadful) cover: Karen Ramirez - "Looking For Love" Superior original, completely ignored by the singles-buying public: Everything But The Girl - "I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love" Didn't know that one was a cover but now you say it its so obviously a EBTG song, I think she does a good version though |
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Post by Doctor Blind on Feb 26, 2017 18:27:39 GMT 1
I know loads will say Calum Scott but I have a soft spot for it. You prefer it the Robyn original?!? Too many to mention, but Leona Lewis' insipid and frankly offensively-dull version of the Johnny Cash cover of Nine Inch Nails drives me to severe depression; likewise the Snow Patrol cover. I guess the upside is she is now consigned to the dustbin of time with no threat of any career revival anytime soon. |
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Post by o on Feb 26, 2017 18:29:59 GMT 1
I like both versions of American pie but know I am in a minority. I've also got no problem with all saints and under the bridge.
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Post by o on Feb 26, 2017 18:31:05 GMT 1
Matt cardle cover of biffys many of horror, and I love Johnny cash hurt.
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