This is always an interesting topic for me smile

There are some fantastic covers out there, no doubt. I find it amazing when a cover outdoes the original so well that people don't even realize it is a cover in the first place.

A good example of this is "Nothing Compares 2 You" by Sinead O'Connor, which many people don't realize was originally released 6 years earlier by a side project of Prince called The Family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZlzN0Gtpp8

Another example is "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell - an 80's pop classic that a lot of people don't know is a cover of a 60's soul song. In this instance I prefer the older, less famous version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJKe2j9Wjh4

Yet another example is the incredibly famous "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, which was originally by Dolly Parton. Slightly older folks might be aware of this one, but I was floored when I found out. For me, I always so strongly associated that tune with Whitney.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqqm_gTPjc

Then, my all time favourite cover is "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, originally by Nine Inch Nails. He transformed a dark and experimental 90's grunge tune into a heart wrenching country ballad. What made him feel compelled to cover it in the first place, I have no idea - but boy, am I glad he did. The cover so intensely surpasses the original that Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails himself says it is forever a Johnny Cash song now, despite the fact he wrote it 9 years before Johnny had his way with it.

Nine Inch Nails' version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPz21cDK7dg

And then Johnny Cash's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc

Very interesting topic of discussion! I'm excited to hear other people's personal favourites, or ones they deem notable smile

Cheers,
Deryk