Top 20 Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers
You'll be shocked when you find out the origins of these iconic tracks! For this list, we’ll be ranking popular songs that actually had a life prior to being recorded by a different artist.
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00:00This girl, she just took this song, but I'm still gonna do it anyway.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 songs you didn't know were covers.
00:10Everyone I know goes away in the end.
00:19For this list, we'll be ranking popular songs that actually had a life prior to being recorded by a different artist.
00:25We won't be including instances such as Stevie Wonder's Superstition, which was written by Wonder but popularized by both him and guitarist Jeff Beck.
00:34Did any of these picks surprise you? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments.
00:40Number 20, Got My Mind Set on You, George Harrison, original by James Ray.
00:46The Beatles were no strangers to covering their favorite tunes back in the day.
00:50Guitarist George Harrison would certainly echo this years later with this late 80s hit from his Cloud 9 album.
00:57The original version of Got My Mind Set on You was written by Rudy Clark and sung by R&B performer James Ray back in 1962.
01:12And to be honest, it's just as cool as Harrison's version.
01:21Ray's rendition is soulful with a little calypso swing, while George's solid cover version has that processed 80s sheen going for it.
01:30There's also a more melodic vocal and two different video clips.
01:40Regardless, either song you listen to is a win.
01:44Number 19, Hanging on the Telephone, Blondie, original by The Nerves.
01:49Sometimes all it takes is a little X-factor to make a good song a great song.
01:54In the case of Hanging on the Telephone, that X-factor was Debbie Freakin' Harry.
02:05Don't get us wrong, the original version of this 1976 track by The Nerves is a fantastic slice of power pop with great garage rock guitar and an appropriately snotty vocal by songwriter Jack Lee.
02:20But once Blondie got a hold of it two years later, it became a certified smash with a new lease on life.
02:31Debbie's vocal is equally snotty but a bit more monotone, while the actual arrangements remain relatively the same.
02:38In short, it's a simple and direct rock song with a fantastic hook.
02:43Oh, I can't control myself. Oh, I can't control myself.
02:48Number 18, Torn, Natalie Imbruglia, original by Edna Swapp.
02:53The history behind Torn is slightly complicated, as it was written in 1994 and recorded in Danish by singer Liz Sorensen.
03:02Following this, it was performed by the song's original writers in their band Edna Swapp, and then again by Trine Rine.
03:24It finally landed in the lap of another singer whom you may be familiar with, Natalie Imbruglia.
03:30Imbruglia was attempting a singing career after carving out her name in Australian soap operas.
03:35Torn achieved its highest chart profile under her watch.
03:46The song's memorable chorus and arrangements were retained, albeit with less of an alternative rock attitude and more of Imbruglia's pop sensibility.
03:55We are not complaining.
04:01Number 17, I Fought The Law, The Clash, original by The Bobby Fuller Four.
04:09You can draw a direct line from the rebelliousness of early rock and roll to the anti-authoritarian snarl of punk rock in the late 1970s.
04:18Case in point, I Fought The Law from The Bobby Fuller Four.
04:21The song was expertly given a new lease on life thanks to an extra helping of aggression by The Clash.
04:27While it wasn't written by Fuller or The Four, the recorded version remains a brilliant slice of proto-garage rock.
04:41Meanwhile, The Clash's take was equally important.
04:46Meanwhile, The Clash's take was equally important.
04:49The punk legends amplified the aggression and the melody with a great lead guitar and a vocal that's full of spit and vinegar.
04:56It's simply awesome.
05:07Number 16, Crazy, Patsy Cline, original by Willie Nelson.
05:12Willie Nelson is a fantastic singer-songwriter who has composed some of the finest songs of his generation.
05:18One of those tunes is the morose and rather depressing ballad, Crazy.
05:29But we gotta admit that Patsy Cline has Willie beat in the vocal department with her rendition.
05:34While the Nelson original possesses all the trappings of a traditional country hit,
05:38Cline's haunting delivery is practically otherworldly in its power to bring us to tears.
05:43Every. Single. Time.
05:54It's just one of those songs that had the perfect composer, but needed to find its perfect singer to unleash its true calling upon the world.
06:01And we couldn't be more grateful it found its way to Patsy.
06:20Kris Kristofferson is another country legend with an impressive arsenal of songwriting prowess.
06:25He also has the ability to compose across multiple genres like pop, blues, and rock.
06:30Kristofferson wrote Me and Bobby McGee in the early 70s, and it was performed by a number of different singers over the years.
06:46These included Gordon Lightfoot and Roger Miller, who was the first to record the tune.
06:50But its most famous rendition is undoubtedly by 60s icon Janis Joplin.
07:01Joplin's sultry vocals brings a certain melancholy to the song,
07:07while also proving that Janis could balance the established power of her voice with a smoother dynamic.
07:13The results are classic rock gold.
07:16Black Sabbath wasn't exactly known for their cover songs, but this was an exception.
07:20A certified hit during a time when they were fresh on the hard rock scene.
07:24Evil Woman was Sabbath's first UK single, a cover of the hard rocking American biker group Crow.
07:45It's a standard bluesy number amplified by Tony Iommi's devastating guitar,
07:50not to mention Ozzy Osbourne's iconic vocals.
07:57It fell in line with Sabbath's own blues origins under the moniker Earth.
08:02Sabbath wisely decided to omit the horn arrangements present on the Crow version,
08:06and their take served as a suitable introduction to the future heavy metal legends.
08:15Although in the United States, Evil Woman was replaced on the debut album with the track Wicked World.
08:36Perez Prado composed the instrumental Mambo No. 5 way back in 1949.
08:42While Lou Bega would famously sample and cover the track years later in the 90s
08:46as a worldwide smash hit that dominated the radio airwaves.
08:58Bega's version is obviously updated with modern production,
09:02and his vocal recitation of all his many loves, Monica, Erica, and Rita to name a few.
09:12The end result is certainly its own thing,
09:16a nice recycling of Prado's original melodies and grooves with Bega's undeniable charisma.
09:22You know you love it, and we do too.
09:24The magic of a truly great song is often buried deep within its bones and DNA.
09:29It can be tapped into by a variety of singers with their own unique perspective.
09:41The First Cut is the Deepest is one of those songs.
09:44A song that is so well-known that it's almost impossible to miss.
09:49The song would go on to be covered beautifully by Rod Stewart in 1976
09:53before being tackled again to great effect by Sheryl Crow in 2002.
09:58Radical, but still fun.
10:00iconic version.
10:10The song would go on to be covered beautifully by Rod Stewart in 1976 before being tackled
10:15again to great effect by Sheryl Crow in 2003.
10:25The end results are slightly different each time, with the song's undeniable magic shining
10:29bright throughout the years.
10:31Who will take it on next?
10:32We cannot wait to find out.
10:44The influence of 1980s synth-pop was one that always permeated No Doubt's music, even back
10:49in their earliest ska-punk days.
10:59So when it came time for the band to tackle a cover song for their 2003 singles collection,
11:04It's My Life beat out a couple of other strong contenders.
11:15It was a good choice, as the song proved popular with fans, and No Doubt absolutely killed
11:20it with their own rendition.
11:27The bass line is an important part of the song, and Tony Canal is in total control the
11:32whole time.
11:33Meanwhile, the original's otherworldly synth vibe is still there.
11:37Gwen Stefani's vocal approach is less goth-influenced than Talk Talk, instead bringing power, glamour,
11:43and vibe.
11:44We love it.
11:52All Along the Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Experience, original by Bob Dylan
12:04The universal appeal of Bob Dylan's music has always lent itself well to other bands who
12:08covered his material.
12:16The Jimi Hendrix Experience certainly put their own creative stamp on Dylan's All Along
12:20the Watchtower, turning a relatively mellow folk song into a raging psychedelic rock anthem.
12:26In fact, Hendrix's version possesses so much unbridled power that it may just be the
12:31finest reimagining of a cover song ever.
12:34It's seriously that good.
12:43Jimi's otherworldly guitar soloing on the track is the stuff of legend, while the rhythm
12:48section of Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding hold it down with an urgency that's missing
12:53from the Dylan OG.
12:54It is mesmerizing stuff.
13:04Don't Turn Around – Ace of Bass, original by Tina Turner
13:07You would be forgiven for thinking that Swedish pop sensation Ace of Bass wrote their hit
13:12single Don't Turn Around, but the origins of the track actually date back to the late
13:1680s.
13:23It was recorded and released by the legendary Tina Turner as a b-side to her typical male
13:29single.
13:35It would actually be covered by a number of different artists before Ace of Bass even
13:39touched the track.
13:40The inimitable Bonnie Tyler even recorded a version back in 1988.
13:49Ace of Bass's rendition is quite good, lathered up in an early 90s production sheen.
13:55But Queen Tina's OG is an absolute 80s pop rock anthem.
14:06Hush – Deep Purple, original by Billy Joe Royal
14:10Deep Purple may be known today as one of the godfathers of heavy metal, but their earliest
14:14days were still largely steeped in the roots of psychedelic rock.
14:22It was during this time when Purple scored one of their early hits, a cover of the beat
14:26pop tune Hush, originally written by Joe South for Billy Joe Royal.
14:38Royal's version is comparatively more poppy than Purple's, with the latter benefiting
14:42greatly from Ritchie Blackmore's heavy guitar and John Lord's Hammond organ.
14:53Hush has been covered countless times since then, but if you want a truly groovy throwback,
14:59be sure to check out Deep Purple killing the song on Hugh Hefner's short-lived variety
15:03show Playboy After Dark.
15:13Nothing Compares to You – Sinead O'Connor, original by The Family
15:17There's no denying that Sinead O'Connor's cover of Nothing Compares to You has become
15:21the definitive version of this song.
15:29But did you know that the track was originally written by the Purple One himself, Prince?
15:33Yep, Nothing Compares to You was composed and given to a group called The Family.
15:38The band was signed to Prince's new label at the time, Paisley Park Records.
15:50Their version of Nothing Compares to You is very much a ballad, and still melancholic,
15:54but more indicative of a neo-soul style.
16:05It wasn't until Sinead lent her powerful voice to the track that it truly took on a
16:09life of its own, and boy, do we love to hear it.
16:18Number 6.
16:19Tainted Love – Soft Cell, original by Gloria Jones
16:23It's remarkable how close the arrangements are between these two versions of Tainted
16:27Love, recorded 25 years apart.
16:36The 1964 Gloria Jones version of Tainted Love is a straightforward R&B jam with a righteous
16:41vocal, superb backup singer work, and a driving, repetitive backbeat.
16:52Soft Cell kept most of this relatively intact in 1981, when they plugged in their synthesizers
16:57and drum machines to lay their own stamp on Tainted Love.
17:06The main difference is Soft Cell's emphasis on the punchiness of the rhythm.
17:11Mark Alman's vocal is also a bit more dramatic and gothic, in the best way possible, of course.
17:24Number 5.
17:25I Love Rock and Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, original by The Arrows
17:29It honestly isn't too much of a stretch to compare Joan Jett and the Blackhearts with
17:33The Arrows, who originally performed the hit I Love Rock and Roll.
17:45Both bands possessed a punky, garage rock approach, with a bit of glam influence from
17:50the saucy 70s.
17:51However, the original I Love Rock and Roll wasn't a huge hit for The Arrows, who remain
17:56a comparatively obscure act compared to Jett.
18:04Instead, Joan's version quickly became a defining song for her, thanks largely to her
18:12stellar vocal and one-of-a-kind attitude.
18:15As cool as The Arrows' original version, we'll always associate I Love Rock and Roll
18:19with the Divine Miss Jett.
18:30Number 4.
18:31Twist and Shout – The Beatles, original by The Top Notes
18:34Okay, hands up, who doesn't know Twist and Shout?
18:38Follow-up question, did you know that The Beatles' classic performance of the song
18:41was actually a cover?
18:47Well, the OG Twist and Shout was originally performed by an obscure doo-wop R&B outfit
18:56called The Top Notes, before receiving hit status when soul icons The Isley Brothers
19:07took their shot.
19:12Meanwhile, The Beatles' version was their only million-selling American single to be
19:19a cover, and featured John Lennon laying it all out on the table with a raw vocal performance.
19:31If you listen closely, you can almost hear the roots of rock and roll burying themselves
19:35deep within the cultural zeitgeist.
19:37Yep, it's that important.
19:45Number 3.
19:46I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston, original by Dolly Parton
19:50Here's some more trivia for you.
19:52Did you know that two of Whitney Houston's biggest hits were covers?
20:04Although today the origins of the Dolly Parton original for I Will Always Love You is becoming
20:08more well-known, The Greatest Love of All was actually a hit for jazz guitarist George
20:13Benson back in 1977.
20:24The fact that Houston didn't write either of these songs takes absolutely nothing away
20:28from how successful her stamp was on making both songs iconic.
20:38I Will Always Love You in particular makes an amazing transition from heartfelt country
20:43ballad to soaring pop crossover smash, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
20:58Number 2.
20:59Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper, original by Robert Hazard
21:03Musically speaking, both Robert Hazard's original version of Girls Just Wanna Have
21:07Fun and Cyndi Lauper's cover are fairly similar.
21:16They're both melodic new wave jams with quirky vocals and big hooks, although Lauper does
21:21slow her version down, making it substantially less hyperactive.
21:32The real differences, however, come from the lyrical perspective, with Lauper changing
21:36the tone from a face-value tune of sex, love, and dating to something more feminist in nature.
21:50To this day, Lauper's version is seen largely as an anthem for the movement, while simultaneously
21:54being one of the definitive pop hits of the 1980s.
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22:22Number 1.
22:23Respect – Aretha Franklin, original by Otis Redding
22:26Speaking of feminist anthems, you gotta love that the original writer of Respect, Otis
22:31Redding, admitted live on stage that Aretha Franklin stole this song from him and made
22:36it her own.
22:43The quote is taken from Redding's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, before
22:48he launched into a blistering version of his own.
22:59The arrangements in Aretha's version are smoother and more layered than Redding's raw R&B soul.
23:13Meanwhile, the lyrical and vocal shifts turn Respect into a lightning strike of female
23:17empowerment that turned Aretha into a megastar.
23:29Do you agree with our picks?
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