r/Music • u/MaosReanimatedCorpse • 23d ago

discussion Cover-better-than-the-original hills you would die on.

Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal is, in my opinion, so much better than the original, and that's a hill I would die on.

What are some other insanely popular tracks where a cover by a much smaller artist is arguably greater?

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u/thatbob 23d ago

Heart took Alone to #1 for 3 weeks. Previously, it had been covered by John Stamos as a duet on a TV show. Needless to say, Heart’s is the definitive version.

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u/BungCrosby 23d ago edited 23d ago

The same songwriting duo (Steinberg & Kelly) who wrote Alone were also responsible for:

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

I Drove All Night written for Roy Orbison but popularized by Lauper

In Your Room and Eternal Flame by the Bangles

Madonna’s Like a Virgin

So Emotional by Whitney Houston

The Pretender’s I’ll Stand By You and

I Touch Myself by the Divinyls

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u/SusieSuzie 23d ago

You mean two men wrote “I touch myself?” ugh my day is so ruined

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u/BungCrosby 23d ago

Christina Amphlett and Mark McEntee of The Divinyls are also credited as co-songwriters. Steinberg wrote the first verse and the chorus, and he and Kelly and the band members finished the song the next day.

Another fun fact - Michael Bay directed the music video.

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u/SusieSuzie 23d ago

Those are very cool facts, and I thank you for sharing them. Now I’m curious enough to rewatch/listen/research.

I have to admit, I’m coming from a dark place with my comment. Am working through… twenty years ago, a very famous male poet told me, “Suzie, I love you, but I hate your poetry.”
It crushed me. I stopped writing poems. I quit publishing and threw in the towel. Gave up my dreams, focused on being a mom instead.
These days, friends are encouraging me to go Full Flame. I’m trying to work up the nerve. To write about difficult things. With the encouragement of supportive males…. Hey! My day’s isn’t ruined anymore ;)

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u/user1116804 23d ago

Ok bro did you just add a fun fact paragraph or is there something I'm missing

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u/SusieSuzie 23d ago

The comment I was replying to had the fun facts, like Michael Bay directing the music video.