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Last Post 6/12/2008 5:49 AM by  floodzer
Cover better then the original????
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Trix
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9/13/2007 2:35 AM
    I'm interested in seeing what people have to say about this one.
    Do yous think there is many versions of the cover being better then the original????
    I'll start it off with:

    Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, much better then the original.
    Peejay
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    9/13/2007 3:02 AM
    I was in a shop a few weeks ago and heard a cover of Echo and the Bunnymens 'the Killing Moon' by Nouvelle vague, or somebody like that. I thought it sounded great, better than the original.

    For all the thousands of Beatle cover versions, the only one I've heard that outdoes the original is Wilson Picketts 'Hey Jude'. He doesn't really change the song too much, he just adds some southern soul horns and hammond organ, but a song like that is just begging for a voice like his, and its brilliant.
    JamesT
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    9/13/2007 3:12 AM
    The Futureheads version of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" and funnily enough, Placebo's version of "Running Up That Hill" are both cracking versions.
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    9/13/2007 3:28 AM
    Posted By Peejay on 13 Sep 2007 3:02 AM
    I was in a shop a few weeks ago and heard a cover of Echo and the Bunnymens 'the Killing Moon' by Nouvelle vague, or somebody like that. I thought it sounded great, better than the original.





    You're kidding right? It's a decent version alright, but it'll never tingle the spine like the original.

    Camera Obscura do a great version of Abbas' Super Trooper, "better" is perhaps a strong word, but it brings home what a melancholy song it is, which goes over your your head when you listen to the upbeat sounding original.

    Maddonas version of American Pie wees all over the original by sounding better and being about ten minutes shorter.

    Miss Kittins Dub version of Smash TVs "What about me" is fantastic.

    Peejay
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    9/13/2007 4:04 AM
    No, I'm serious. It was just overheard in a shop though. I hadn't heard the song in a while and the girls fragile sort of voice, matched with that song, took me a little by surprise. And I liked it.
    mikmon1
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    9/13/2007 4:37 AM
    Mazarin's "Another one goes by" is covered by the Walkmen to great effect on their last album. They take the rythm down a notch and strip some of the instrumentation away. Its a bit darker too. I can still appreciate the original though cos a good melody will always shine through.

    Saint Etienne did a grat cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love can Break you heart" a couple of years ago - they give a shuffling disco beat and jazz it up a bit. Sounds awful? Surprisingly not. It works, proving that you can really do a lot with a great melody.

    They are two that stand out for me. I could go on but i have a country to run!


    Al>LeGalaxie
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    9/13/2007 4:49 AM
    John cale's version of LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends is the best thing I've heard this year.

    A version that really hits the nail on th e head in building up the suspense of the song. If you like the original you'll probably love it
    Binokular
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    9/13/2007 4:49 AM

    Saint Etienne did a grat cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love can Break you heart" a couple of years ago - they give a shuffling disco beat and jazz it up a bit. Sounds awful? Surprisingly not. It works, proving that you can really do a lot with a great melody.






    Love that tune! in my case, I heard it before every having heard the original.
    Daragh
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    9/13/2007 5:13 AM
    "all along the watch tower" the hendrix version, gotta be one of the best covers ever.

    i also quite like that cover of hotel california by some spanish geezers, not because its any good, but because of the big lebowski
    JamesT
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    9/13/2007 5:19 AM
    Posted By Daragh on 13 Sep 2007 5:13 AM
    "all along the watch tower" the hendrix version, gotta be one of the best covers ever.

    i also quite like that cover of hotel california by some spanish geezers, not because its any good, but because of the big lebowski




    That version is by Los Lobos - they do a lot of covers. I've even heard them play The Cranberries "Zombie" - it's bloody awful (not that the original was up to much!)
    Peejay
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    9/13/2007 5:57 AM
    Posted By Al>LeGalaxie on 13 Sep 2007 4:49 AM
    John cale's version of LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends is the best thing I've heard this year.





    John Cale!?! I've got to hear this! I think thats a great song.




    PARTON
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    9/13/2007 5:58 AM
    Live andLet Die- GNR..better than the original......

    Johnny Cash- Hurt (running for cover from trent fans!!)

    Trix
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    9/13/2007 6:00 AM
    Ah I'll back you up on the Johnny Cash - Hurt. Amazing cover.
    Idiot Kid
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    9/13/2007 7:05 AM
    Posted By JamesT on 13 Sep 2007 3:12 AM
    Placebo's version of "Running Up That Hill" are both cracking versions.




    Great song!

    Nirvana - Man who sold the world would be my favourite cover.
    JamesT
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    9/13/2007 7:12 AM
    Posted By Idiot Kid on 13 Sep 2007 7:05 AM
    Posted By JamesT on 13 Sep 2007 3:12 AM
    Placebo's version of "Running Up That Hill" are both cracking versions.




    Great song!

    Nirvana - Man who sold the world would be my favourite cover.




    It certainly beats the atrocious version that Lulu did (no joke - it does exist and it WAS truly awful)!!
    Peejay
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    9/13/2007 7:14 AM

    It certainly beats the atrocious version that Lulu did (no joke - it does exist and it WAS truly awful)!!




    Bowie produced that. Thats him singing in the background too.
    He likes Lulu, apparently.
    JamesT
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    9/13/2007 7:15 AM
    That's coz he was slippin her the baldy lad at the time!
    Peejay
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    9/13/2007 8:50 AM
    Posted By JamesT on 13 Sep 2007 7:15 AM
    That's coz he was slippin her the baldy lad at the time!




    Brian Eno?


    PeterQuaife
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    9/13/2007 9:06 AM
    Posted By JamesT on 13 Sep 2007 5:19 AM
    Posted By Daragh on 13 Sep 2007 5:13 AM
    "all along the watch tower" the hendrix version, gotta be one of the best covers ever.

    i also quite like that cover of hotel california by some spanish geezers, not because its any good, but because of the big lebowski




    That version is by Los Lobos - they do a lot of covers. I've even heard them play The Cranberries "Zombie" - it's bloody awful (not that the original was up to much!)




    thought it was the gipsy kings..top tune

    the byrds 'mr tambourine man'

    PQ

    Helmet
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    9/13/2007 10:18 AM
    Manson doing Tainted Love
    Cash doing Hurt
    Bowie doing My Death
    Papa M doing Wayfaring Stranger
    Plan B doing No Good (Start The Dance)
    Fun Loving Criminals doing I'm Not In Love
    Mike Power's Pops doing Wonderwall
    The Futureheads doing Hounds of Love
    Nina Simone doing I Shall Be Released
    diego_maradona
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    9/13/2007 1:15 PM
    I'd have to say the Man In Black covering Will Oldhams I See a Darkness...very dark, very moving

    James Iha doing the Cures On A Night Like This - not sure if it's as a solo song or part of the Pumpkins but his voice just sounds so strange and wonderful. Hadn't heard this song before but now it's one of my favourite Cure songs.

    Isaac Hayes doing Jimmy Webbs By The Time I Get To Phoenix. Possibly my favourite soul track. Chef talks in that great voice for about 5 minutes about a man being cheated on by his wife but he just can't leave her. Quite cheesy in a way but if you stick it out its worth it. When he gets to the part about the guy finally leaving, the band kicks in and......WOW!! I cannot recommend this highly enough.....oh and I suppose Glen Campbell also covering Jimmy Webb on the definitive version of Wichita Lineman

    Emmylou Harris covering Dylans Every Grain Of Sand on her fantastic Wrecking Ball album. What a voice.

    Mark Kozelek's sombre slow version of the Kiss rocker Shock Me.
    stephen
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    9/13/2007 11:18 PM
    There are soooo many.

    Stevie's Wonder's cover of We Can Work It Out.

    Tina and Ike's cover of Come Together is just astounding.

    The Cowboy Junkies's version of Viva Las Vegas is so steely... it's fab.
    Binokular
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    9/14/2007 1:00 AM
    Queen of Japan covering KISS "I was made for loving you"

    Not "better" than, but "just as good", which is quite a feat considering the song in question: Piney Gir covering "My Generation" by The Who, wees all over Green Days uninspired version anyday. Listen here: http://www.pineygir.com/music
    Daragh
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    9/14/2007 3:18 AM
    now, im not sayin this is better than the original, but it is f**king good, love the squealing horn thing!

    its marc ronson remixing dylan's "most likely you'll go your way and ill go mine" well worth checking out

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=oCeKkJlMJDQ
    Trix
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    9/14/2007 5:13 AM
    I'm still up in the air with this one, not sure if it's better but definatley just as good.

    Proud Mary CCR, cover Tina Turner.
    PARTON
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    9/14/2007 6:09 AM
    CCR doin heard through the grape vine....excellent.....
    John Doe
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    9/14/2007 7:11 AM
    Albert Nyland's cover of Wuthering Heights is pretty good.

    I'd agree with the very first post about Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah though. It has to be the ultimate example of a cover being better than the original.

    Nouvelle Vague, however, are w*nk IMHO.

    Trix
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    9/14/2007 8:09 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 14 Sep 2007 6:09 AM
    CCR doin heard through the grape vine....excellent.....




    Haven't heard it but I will be chasing that down fairly lively.
    aidan
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    9/14/2007 9:19 AM
    Posted By Trix on 13 Sep 2007 2:35 AM
    I'm interested in seeing what people have to say about this one.
    Do yous think there is many versions of the cover being better then the original????
    I'll start it off with:

    Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, much better then the original.



    I'm so sick of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah; all those buskers have turned me off it.

    Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love', on the other hand, is a fantastic cover version. And Elliot Smith's 'Because' is a wonderful Beatles cover.
    Binokular
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    9/14/2007 9:26 AM
    Posted By aidan on 14 Sep 2007 9:19 AM


    Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love', on the other hand, is a fantastic cover version. And Elliot Smith's 'Because' is a wonderful Beatles cover.




    I must be about the only person in the world who likes the original version of Tainted Love better, I was watching something about it on TV ages ago, Pop Years I think, one of those "pundit" type shows and even the singer who did the original version reckons the Soft Cell version is better!

    I clearly have no taste.
    vandala
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    9/16/2007 6:32 AM
    The Observer magazine today has a feature on the said subject.
    Carlsberg
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    9/16/2007 4:07 PM
    Bryan Ferry covering Bob Dylans 'Positively 4th Street'. Miles better.
    PARTON
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    9/18/2007 7:25 AM
    William Shatner, lucy in the sky with diamonds....
    Binokular
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    9/25/2007 3:35 AM
    Another cover by Saint Etienne that's better than the original: "Kiss and Make up", original by The Field Mice.
    Archie
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    9/28/2007 5:55 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 13 Sep 2007 5:58 AM
    Live andLet Die- GNR..better than the original......







    No no no no no are you mad?
    Protein biscuit
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    9/28/2007 6:31 AM
    Lots of good ones mentioned there. I like The Sea & Cake's cover of "Sound and Vision" but i'd be hard pressed to say it's better than the original which is probably my favourite Bowie song ever! Speaking of the Thin White Duke he does a cool cover of "I'm Waiting for my Man."
    Trix
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    9/28/2007 6:37 AM
    Lady Blacksmith Mumbazo and Des'ree - Ain't No Sunshine
    Peejay
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    9/28/2007 6:37 AM
    Bowies guilty of some horrible crimes against cover versions. God Only Knows, Across the Universe, Port of Amtserdam...bleauch! His VU covers aren't a patch on the origianls either (although Queen Bitch is a great VU-style song)

    I do like 'Lets Spend the Night Together' though
    Ekels
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    9/29/2007 2:56 PM
    Ryan Adams puts the listenability back into Wonderwall.
    muzak
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    10/1/2007 1:53 PM
    Shirley Bassey's "Light My Fire". Seriously.
    Protein biscuit
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    10/2/2007 1:19 AM
    Also liked the Arctic Monkey's acoustic cover of that Girls Aloud tune.....can't put finger on the name of it now. Didn't like their cover at Glasto though of Diamonds are Forever........
    Sebastian Dangerfield
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    10/9/2007 5:48 AM
    Johnny Cash and Elliott Smith, though already mentioned, really had the knack of hitting paydirt with other artists' material-they both have too many good covers to mention, but I reserve fond spots for Cash's version of I Hung My Head (Sting) and Smith's version of Waterloo Sunset (the Kinks).
    Trix
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    10/9/2007 7:41 AM
    Posted By Protein biscuit on 02 Oct 2007 1:19 AM
    Also liked the Arctic Monkey's acoustic cover of that Girls Aloud tune.....can't put finger on the name of it now. Didn't like their cover at Glasto though of Diamonds are Forever........





    Love Machine - brilliant, expecially like the way they crack up laughing at the end of it!
    Binokular
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    10/17/2007 2:19 AM
    Was listening to the first Bpitch Control "Camping" compilation again the other day and was reminded of Sascha Funkes cover of the Bros tune "When will I be famous", hahahaha, cheesy brilliance.
    jsmall
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    11/7/2007 7:21 AM
    Sometime shockingly bad songs take on a new lease of life with a new, coincidental or sarcastic owner. Off the top of my playlist, I submit Travis's "Baby, one more time", Ronson's "Toxic" and in fact any song "by" Britney that has been released by someone with more than negative musical talent. Also the Charlatan's "The Only One I Know", although I guess looking at it, it was only the chorus that was cribbed, it always seemed like "their" best delivered lyric until I played back that old LP, and all my childhood illusions fell away.

    Oooooh - Happy Mondays, Staying Alive! Better than the second best thing ever.

    JSm
    jsmall
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    11/7/2007 7:29 AM
    Sometime shockingly bad songs take on a new lease of life with a new, coincidental or sarcastic owner. Off the top of my playlist, I submit Travis's "Baby, one more time", Ronson's "Toxic" and in fact any song "by" Britney that has been released by someone with more than negative musical talent. Also the Charlatan's "The Only One I Know", although I guess looking at it, it was only the chorus that was cribbed, it always seemed like "their" best delivered lyric until I played back that old LP, and all my childhood illusions fell away.

    Oooooh - Happy Mondays, Staying Alive! Better than the second best thing ever.

    And valiant effort award goes to Australian Idol! Damien Leith for Crying.

    JSm
    Quint
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    11/7/2007 7:43 AM
    Posted By jsmall on 07 Nov 2007 7:29 AM
    Sometime shockingly bad songs take on a new lease of life with a new, coincidental or sarcastic owner. Off the top of my playlist, I submit Travis's "Baby, one more time", Ronson's "Toxic" and in fact any song "by" Britney that has been released by someone with more than negative musical talent. Also the Charlatan's "The Only One I Know", although I guess looking at it, it was only the chorus that was cribbed, it always seemed like "their" best delivered lyric until I played back that old LP, and all my childhood illusions fell away.

    Oooooh - Happy Mondays, Staying Alive! Better than the second best thing ever.

    And valiant effort award goes to Australian Idol! Damien Leith for Crying.

    JSm




    What.The.Fuck?????????????

    Binokular
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    11/8/2007 4:25 AM
    Posted By jsmall on 07 Nov 2007 7:29 AM
    Sometime shockingly bad songs take on a new lease of life with a new, coincidental or sarcastic owner. Off the top of my playlist, I submit Travis's "Baby, one more time",

    JSm




    Nope, the cliched "ironic" cover version thing is not big or clever. I mean sometimes a song is covered in humorous way, but for a cover to be any good, you have to be able to find something good in the original. Travis cover of "Hit me one more time", which is actually a very straightforward cover, just done accoustically, is good because at the core of it, it's actually a decent little pop song, it's just that Britney is possibly one of the worst pop vocalist ever and the production on the "original" is too in your face.
    Trix
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    11/8/2007 4:40 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 14 Sep 2007 6:09 AM
    CCR doin heard through the grape vine....excellent.....




    Haven't stopped listening to this song now, brilliant!
    starbelgrade
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    11/8/2007 4:48 AM
    The Fall's version of "Lost in Music" is pure class, as is Paul Anka's take on "Black Hole Sun"
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    11/8/2007 5:53 AM
    What, wasn't Crying a cover?
    jsmall
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    11/9/2007 11:54 PM
    Posted By Binokular on 08 Nov 2007 4:25 AM
    Posted By jsmall on 07 Nov 2007 7:29 AM
    Sometime shockingly bad songs take on a new lease of life with a new, coincidental or sarcastic owner. Off the top of my playlist, I submit Travis's "Baby, one more time",

    JSm




    Nope, the cliched "ironic" cover version thing is not big or clever. I mean sometimes a song is covered in humorous way, but for a cover to be any good, you have to be able to find something good in the original. Travis cover of "Hit me one more time", which is actually a very straightforward cover, just done accoustically, is good because at the core of it, it's actually a decent little pop song, it's just that Britney is possibly one of the worst pop vocalist ever and the production on the "original" is too in your face.




    I'm not sure. If someone (e.g Max Martin) writes a good song, and it deserves better, why not cover it. The Britney version is bad, the Travis version isn't, even if it is slightly tongue in cheek. If it is a straightforward cover, then it's definitely not "ironic", a word I consciously avoided - maybe a touch sarcastic but mainly in the way that someone who is good at something can seem sarcastic to someone who's not. I may be mad, but I'm not stupid. I guess the disagreement comes from my use of 'song' to mean a specific interpretation rather than the concept as a whole, for which I apologise. In a thread about covers it is probably the wrong way to go.

    JSm

    jsmall
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    11/10/2007 2:04 AM
    To avoid any more controversy, I thought of another better cover that no-one could argue about - Gasmask, by They Might be Giants.

    And The Pogues, Dirty aul' Town

    Then it strikes me, White Stripes - I just don't know what to do with myself. And I lapse into unconsciousness.

    JSm
    PARTON
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    11/12/2007 3:32 AM
    The Happy Mondays cover of "Step on"
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    6/11/2008 7:25 AM
    Cuds cover of Lola and Glen Hansard cover of Cry me a river
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    6/11/2008 8:16 AM
    "Also liked the Arctic Monkey's acoustic cover of that Girls Aloud tune.....can't put finger on the name of it now" - the original is WAY better. There's a brilliant demo version of it on one of the Pop Justice's albums.


    The Scissor Sisters' 'Comfortably Numb' is also better than the Pink Floyd original.
    PARTON
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    6/11/2008 9:56 AM
    The Scissor Sisters' 'Comfortably Numb' is also better than the Pink Floyd original

    You should be muted indefinitely for that. It sounds like the bee gees on speed.
    PeterQuaife
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    6/11/2008 11:24 AM
    Posted By PARTON on 11 Jun 2008 9:56 AM
    The Scissor Sisters' 'Comfortably Numb' is also better than the Pink Floyd original

    You should be muted indefinitely for that. It sounds like the bee gees on speed.




    motion carried...it was/is woeful

    joyrider - rush hour

    PQ
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    6/12/2008 2:24 AM
    No way, the Pink Floyd version sucks compared to SS.
    Trix
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    6/12/2008 3:08 AM
    Posted By UnaRocks on 11 Jun 2008 8:16 AM
    "
    The Scissor Sisters' 'Comfortably Numb' is also better than the Pink Floyd original.




    Van Morrisons version for The Departed is by far the best!
    floodzer
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    6/12/2008 5:49 AM
    Posted By Trix on 12 Jun 2008 3:08 AM
    Posted By UnaRocks on 11 Jun 2008 8:16 AM
    "
    The Scissor Sisters' 'Comfortably Numb' is also better than the Pink Floyd original.




    Van Morrisons version for The Departed is by far the best!




    Agreed, excellent cover.. Roger Waters sang lead, Van Morrison sang Gilmour's vocal parts backed by Rick Danko and Levon Helm of The Band, with guitar solos by Rick DiFonzo & Snowy White, and backup by the Rundfunk Orchestra & Choir


    I like Fiona Apples 'Across The Universe' (BEATLES), Becks 'Everybodys Gotta Learn Sometimes' (THE KORGIS) and The Bad Plus version of 'Flim' (APHEX TWIN)


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