When the Cover Wins
Sometimes a cover version completely eclipses the original. Many people don't even know their favorite songs are covers.
Famous Covers That Beat Originals
| Cover Artist | Song | Original Artist |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | Dolly Parton |
| Johnny Cash | "Hurt" | Nine Inch Nails |
| Jeff Buckley | "Hallelujah" | Leonard Cohen |
| Jimi Hendrix | "All Along the Watchtower" | Bob Dylan |
| Aretha Franklin | "Respect" | Otis Redding |
Why Covers Succeed
1. Better Timing
- Original was ahead of its time
- Cover hits when audience is ready
- Cultural moment aligns
2. Different Interpretation
- New arrangement reveals hidden potential
- Genre change reaches new audience
- Emotional reframing
3. Bigger Platform
- Cover artist has larger audience
- Better promotion and distribution
- Movie or TV placement
4. Vocal Performance
- Singer better suited to song
- More powerful delivery
- Different emotional tone
The Dylan Phenomenon
Bob Dylan wrote many songs better known as covers:
- "Blowin' in the Wind" (Peter, Paul and Mary)
- "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds)
- "All Along the Watchtower" (Jimi Hendrix)
Dylan himself said Hendrix's version was definitive.
Songwriter vs. Performer
Great songwriters aren't always great performers. The publishing industry exists partly because songs often need the right voice to succeed.