Top 10 Bands Whose Biggest Hit Is a Cover

Hey, a hit is a hit! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the musical artists whose major success or public profile came about as a result of covering other artists. Our countdown of bands whose biggest hit is a cover includes Alien Ant Farm, The Black Crowes, Soft Cell, and more! Do you like any of these covers more than the original? Let us know in the comments!

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#Bands
#Music
#Cover
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#Rock
#Pop
#Songs

[WatchMojo]

Do you like any of these covers more than the original? Let us know in the comments!

[bricefleckenstein]

Dylan likes Jimi's version of Watchtower so much, he started using THAT version in his own shows.

The amazing part is that it WAS Jimi's biggest US hit - but only hit #20 while he was alive.

[ashlaynesaar]

Wife mentioned Sinead O'Connor' cover of Nothing Compares To You being a BIG miss from this video.

[John-tnnm]

You're going to need a part 2 to this.

[KevyNova]

Harry Nilsson, “Without You” by Badfinger
Three Dog Night, “One” By Harry Nilsson
Badfinger, “Come And Get It” by Paul McCartney
Many of Led Zeppelin’s biggest songs were covers, but without giving proper credit.
Tons of ‘80s hits were also covers:
Sinead O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2U” by Prince
Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
Naked Eyes, “Always Something There To Remind Me”
Kim Carnes, “Betty Davis Eyes”
And heck, ALL of Elvis Presley’s hits were covers!

[Mr_Velocity]

I remember so many of these from being a kid and listening to them because my parents listened to them around the house. Thank you for the memories again.

[AlexysB]

Had hoped to see Bananarama on the list with their cover of Venus by Shocking Blue...they had a lot of other chart singles that were covers as well.

[MsTimothyswan]

Honorable mention; early in their career, a Quartet of lads from Liverpool, England had a huge hit record with their cover of the Isley Brothers song, Twist And Shout.

[DavidR.-fkkc]

After watching this list, there were a few that were missed. Missed ones were:
"Blue Monday" by Orgy. (New Order)
"There She Goes" by Sixpence None the
Richer. (The La's)
"Lean On Me" by Club Nouveau.
(Bill Withers)

[lexotansteele]

I would add The Lemonheads with the cover of Simon & Garfunkel's Mrs. Robinson and Natalie Imbruglia with Torn (a song originally released with a lot less success by a band named Ednaswap)

[tylergoodman]

Honestly, the cover to "Smooth Criminal" was great. 🎉

[MrTeddyboy]

The Animals did House of the Rising Sun like noone else

[WWChampion]

Honorable Mention: Vanilla Fudge's cover of the Surpremes' You Keep Me Hangin' On.

[DanielNovaJr]

Naked Eyes’ signature song ‘Always Something There to Remind Me’ is a cover of a Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition that had been recorded by several artists. The first version of that tune to hit the Top 40 was R.B Greaves’ which peaked at #27 in 1970.

[MNATrevor]

Wet wet wet’s - love is all around (The Troggs)
Whitney Houston - And I will always love you (Dolly Parton)
Aretha Franklin - Respect (Otis Redding)

[AaronPeterson-nb]

What about Bad Wolves cover of the Cranberries “Zombie “

[FortuneKouki]

Shoutout I prevail, y'all covered Blank Space amazingly!

[alxstarsblue]

Santana made a better version of Black Magic Woman

[basvanloovere]

The constant bells-like atmospheric music under the voice-over drives me crazy!
It's like I'm stuck on a Wii loading screen!

[FleaRHCP]

I could do 100 of these. Save Ferris, Bananarama, Fugees, Bow Wow Wow, Lemonheads, Sinead, Natalie Imbruglia, Santana, Aretha, maybe Marvin Gaye, Gary Jules, Michael Damien, Sixpence None The Richer, Thelma Houston, Cyndi Lauper, Toni Basil, ok I'm tired now lol