Original: Bee Gees

Original: U2

Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon - Urge Overkill (Neil Diamond)

I'll probably end up being raped for this but w/e :P

The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" given a VERY 90's makeover. :p

Edit: My mistake, looks like it was recorded in '89

Ok, she modified it quite a bit, changing the lyrics and stuff, but I still think this is an exceptional cover.

To think the original was only a B-side too.

I think of covers like I do when it concerns film remakes - the more obscure the better. The odds are more in your favour that way.

Is Smithy's gif making anyone else's computer lag or is it just me?

This one is possibly an aquired taste.

Not quite as good as the original, but an epic cover imo

Gun's cover of Cameo's "Word Up"

Myabe not better but I love this! (originally the Beatles)

Madonna herself doesn't even like her American Pie cover Harry, sit down.

No shade to Nina's original, but I think that Muse's Feeling Good is spectacular <3

I know she doesnt like it but I do though...

Madonna's American Pie is one of the biggest atrocities to ever happen to popular music.

Another one.

yeah she added so much of her own unique talent to that...

I'd consider this version about neck and neck with the Muddy Waters original, but it absolutely pisses all over the more famous Etta James version from the Diet Coke ad.

Yeah I can't think of the Etta version without some silly window cleaner popping up in my head.

Nirvanas version of Lake of Fire was far better than The Meat Puppets original as was Plateau




Edit : Joe had this posted already so I'll change it to plateau!

Cover versions that are better than the original
 

The thread on Leano Lewis' version of Run got me thinking about the rare occasions when a cover of a song is actually better than the real thing:

Here's a couple I could think of:
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Westlife - What About Now
Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi