Jacob Takes On…Originals v. Covers

Earlier this week, worldwide sensation Susan Boyle, released her third studio album Someone to Watch Over Me.  This album was filled with a range of songs from the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” to Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence.”   This got me thinking about covers versus original songs.   Now do not get me wrong but sometimes covers are better than the original and vice versa.   In this blog post, you will find 10 different songs (one original and one cover); listen to both of them and I will let you be the judge.

When Love Takes Over (Miriam Nervo, Olivia Nervo, Kelly Rowland, David Guetta and Frederic Riesterer)

*Original: David Guetta and Kelly Rowland; Cover: Frenchie Davis

This 2009 dance-pop song was originally featured on French DJ-music producer David Guetta’s fourth studio album: One Love.  In this song, Guetta delivered terrific crescendo beats while former Destiny’s Child member and X Factor UK mentor Kelly Rowland sang smoothly throughout the song.     The result of this collaboration was successful as it cracked several European countries’ Top 10 lists.   However in 2011, The Voice finalist Frenchie Davis took the song with a faster tempo and more dynamite vocals, Davis received rave reviews for her rendition of the song.

To compare each version of the song, I have attached links to each version:

-Guetta & Rowland: http://youtu.be/6pHaBstZQ40

-Davis: http://youtu.be/6Rh6hIy0XE0

Imagine (John Lennon)

*Original: John Lennon; Cover: Ray Charles and Ruben Studdard

Rolling Stone named John Lennon’s classic, the third best song of all time, in their special The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  This song’s powerful message combined with Lennon’s impeccable vocals and the simplistic piano playing in the song’s background you get ingredients that are needed to make a classic song.   While over 100 artists have recorded this song, the late Genius: Ray Charles inserted gospel and soul into his version of “Imagine” with the help of American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and the Harlem Gospel Singers.

Here are links to both versions of “Imagine”

-Lennon: http://youtu.be/-b7qaSxuZUg

-Charles, Studdard and the Harlem Gospel Singers:  Unfortunately, YouTube does not provide a link for this cover.  Please visit iTunes to listen to a preview of this song.

Don’t Turn Around (Diane Warren & Albert Hammond)

*Original: Tina Turner; Cover: Ace of Base

Did you know that songwriters Diane Warren and Albert Hammond expected to have a hit from Tina Turner?  Unfortunately, they were disappointed when Turner’s record label released her version of “Don’t Turn Around” as a B-side to “Typical Male” on her 1986 album.   What made this song great were Turner’s powerful vocals that accompany the heavy rock background.    If you want to move while listening to a version of this song, then Swedish pop group Ace of Base’s version is the one for you.

Here are the links to each of these songs:

-Turner: http://youtu.be/4aWAzJP3Rnc

-Ace of Base: http://youtu.be/3N7jUsNorn0

Black or White (Michael Jackson & Bill Bottrell)

Original: Michael Jackson; Cover: Adam Lambert

This song was the very first single from the King of Pop’s Dangerous album.  “Black or White” was a song against racism and xenophobia and encouraged world unity.  Jackson’s vocals combined with hard rock guitar based on inspiration from master guitarist Slash, made it an instant hit and one of Dangerous’ successful tracks.    Jackson performed this song on both his Dangerous and HIStory World Tours and his 30^th Anniversary Celebration in 2001.  Jackson also was preparing to perform this song for his This is It tour before he died.    That same year, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert performed a cover of this song that featured explosive vocals and was received high praise from the judges.

Here are the links to each of these songs:

-Jackson: http://youtu.be/sumpxORV_tE

-Lambert: http://youtu.be/1t9sAmwChbc

Take A Look At Me Now (Phil Collins)

Original: Phil Collins; Cover: Mariah Carey

Phil Collins’ power ballad debuted on the radio in February 1984.  Collins’ gentle vocals weaved a tale of heartbreak as a man watched his loved one walked away from their relationship.   This classic was apart of the 1984 film Against All Odds that starred Jeff Bridges and James Woods.   15 years later, R&B diva Mariah Carey recorded a cover of this song for her Rainbow album.   Carey turned the song around as a man walking away from the relationship.   Carey’s powerful vocals made this song on par as a great cover to the original.

To hear both versions, click on the links:

-Collins: http://youtu.be/tv5koEP3WEI

-Carey: http://youtu.be/tv5koEP3WEI

Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder)

Original: Stevie Wonder; Cover: Eric Clapton

One of Stevie Wonder’s greatest songs of all time is “Higher Ground.”  This inspirational song was part of Wonder’s classic 1973 album Inversions.  As usual, Wonder infused his brand of funkiness into this song that was made a part of Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.    For the 2003 tribute album Conception-An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Songs, legendary rocker Eric Clapton fused funk with his signature rock style in his cover of Wonder’s classic.

To listen to both versions of “Higher Ground,” here are the links to the songs:

-Wonder: http://youtu.be/4wZ3ZG_Wams

-Clapton: http://youtu.be/_huAaQ47x3A

4 Minutes (Madonna, Tim Mosley, Justin Timberlake and Nathaniel Hills)

Original: Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland; Cover: Glee’s Chris Colfer and Amber Riley

One of the best songs of 2008 was “4 Minutes” which featured the Queen of Pop collaborating with superstar Justin Timberlake and Hip-Hop producer Timbaland.  If there are any young artists out there who want to collaborate to their mentors, this is the song to look at.  “4 Minutes” provides incredible vocals, a great beat, and a terrific arrangement of background arrangements.     Two years later, Glee co-stars Chris Colfer and Amber Riley took the song to a whole other level when they performed the song on “The Power of Madonna” episode.

Here are the links:

-Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland: http://youtu.be/Gi5OP7fecrc

-Chris Colfer, Amber Riley and the Cast of Glee: http://youtu.be/GchwTaro7IA

Let It Be (John Lennon & Paul McCartney)

Original: The Beatles; Cover: Jennifer Hudson

“Let It Be” was one of the Beatles’ final hits before the band broke up in 1970.  This master class swan song was a comforting message for their fans across the globe.  From Paul’s reassuring voice and the backing voices of John Lennon and George Harrison to the quality of their musicianship through their instrument including Ringo Starr’s percussion solos and George Harrison’s guitar playing.     Decades later, Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson performed the song with the Roots backing her.   Hudson brought soul and gospel into her cover and comforted many people across the world with her soothing voice.

To listen to both versions of “Let It Be,” here are the links to the songs:

Beatles: http://youtu.be/ajCYQL8ouqw

Jennifer Hudson: http://youtu.be/FNB63sSQF7Y

A Song for You (Leon Russell)

Original: Leon Russell; Cover: Ray Charles

One of the best songs of all time is Leon Russell’s “A Song For You.”  Russell brought passion and heartbreak to his song that will give viewers goose bumps.  Many people took notice of this song including Sir Elton John, who called it an American classic.   Numerous singers covered this song over the decades but there has been only one person who matched Russell-The Genius: Ray Charles.   When Charles covered this song on his 1993 My World, he not only tore this song up into pieces but he also brought soul into it.  Charles’ cover of this song won him the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

To watch these renditions of “A Song for You,” visit these links:

Russell: http://youtu.be/37dw2r45Xzg

Charles:  http://youtu.be/JSlv_n-gBmk

Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me (Elton John & Bernie Taupin)

Original: Elton John; Cover: Gloria Estefan

I bet a lot of people have heard “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” a lot during the past couple of years, due to its’ overexposure on reality shows like American Idol and The X Factor (UK).  The reason why audiences have been hearing that song a lot is due to the fact that it is this song is the creation of the songwriting team of Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin.  Every time, Sir Elton performs this song, he brings a lot of heart, soul and power into Taupin’s lyrics that ignite in brilliant performances. When Gloria Estefan made a cover version of this song in 1994, she made it into her own and sung it with a Latin-flavored twist.

To hear both versions, go to these links:

-John: http://youtu.be/t3m8wGTSQWo

-Estefan: http://youtu.be/JPij54u4F6I

So who performed the song better? The original artist? The Cover Artist? You be the judge! Sound off!

I do not own all of these music clips! These audio clips belong to the artists, songwriters and record companies! You can buy all of these songs on iTunes or any MP3 online store.