Top 20 Cover Songs That Sound Completely Different Than the Original

These cover songs changed everything! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable song covers with a fresh, innovative twist, that managed to retain the spirit of the original while creating something entirely unique. Our countdown of cover songs that sound completely different than the original includes “Heartless”, “The Sound of Silence”, “Nothing Compares 2 U”, "Billie Jean", and more! Is there a cover song that you prefer to its original version? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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[WatchMojo]

What's YOUR favorite cover song of all time? Let us know in the comments!

[TornSparrow]

Cash's version of Hurt NEVER fails to give me chills. Brilliant cover..

[karolloveskorn]

I like the Bangles’s version of Hazy Shade of Winter.

[kornsin]

Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal is amazing. I have it on Rock Band and when I need a break from work I play it on drums to forget about everything for a few minutes.

[darrinlohmeyer]

RESPECT by Aretha is a cover of Otis Redding

[DavidR.-fkkc]

The following songs can also be included:
"The Man Who Sold the World"
-David Bowie, then Nirvana
"Sweet Dreams"
-Eurythmics, then Marilyn Manson
"Mrs. Robinson"
-Simon and Garfunkel, then The Lemonheads
"Come and Get Your Love"
-Redbone, then Real McCoy

[rwwilson]

I heard that when Johnny Cash requested to cover "Hurt, " Nine Inch Nails didn't hesitate and instantly agreed.

[HighHeelKnight]

"Girls Just Want To Have Fun" should be number 1.
Not only does Cyndi Lauper's version sound different, but the MEANING behind her version is vastly different that the original.

[rebeccamcdermott]

Disturbed's version of Sound of Silence is my favourite cover version. It's one of the best cover versions for me. They've done quite a few really good cover versions.

[rafaelamadeus]

1.David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" covered by Nirvana.
2.Tears for Fears' "Mad World" covered by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews (Adam Lambert also covered this song during American Idol).
3.Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" covered by Marilyn Manson.

[UltimateGamerCC]

"Sweet Dreams" - Marilyn Manson; Originally by Eurythmics

[daleperkins]

The Warning's spectacular reimagining of Metallica's Enter Sandman. The very first track on Metallica's Black List album.

[kimberlym.]

I see Tori Amos in the thumbnail, I click. She performed a live mashup of Smells Like Teen Spirit with Don McClean's American Pie shortly after she got the news that Kurt Cobain had died. I recommend looking up that live performance.

[whisty]

Chris Cornell’s version of Nothing Compares 2 U is better than anyone’s! (so far)

[gregjaro-mkzs]

R.I.P. JOHNNY CASH & WHITNEY HOUSTON, YOU GUYS ARE LEGENDARY. 🎶🎤🙏🕊️

[turnoffthetv]

A solid list - Tori's covers including SLTS and Famous Blue Raincoat are phenomenal. Some epic missing tracks: Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker; Burning Down The House - The Cardigans and Tom Jones; The Boys of Summer - The Ataris; Bad Moon Rising - Mourning Ritual; Dear God - Sarah McLachlan; Skyfall - Era9

[StaciePoole-ngky]

Why do you never put any Pentatonix covers in your lists? They have killer covers!

[adamparr]

Everyone really tries (more often than not) when they cover Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, they follow his tempo.

[SoullessGinger]

Civil Twilight did a haunting arrangement of Come as You Are, originally by Nirvana. It is probably my favorite Nirvana cover, though seeing Tori Amos playing her version of Smells Like Teen Spirit live was goose bump inducing. I have always liked Faith No More's version of War Pigs over the Black Sabbath original - more angry punch to the vocals. The late Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is my favorite of the many covers of this song, though I will always love Cohen's emotion. Hearing a new arrangement of a song you love lets you listen with fresh ears and sometimes appreciate the song more. I love both versions of Hurt for different reasons (and the one with David Bowie even more),

[mareecummings]

Kasey Chambers cover of Eminem’s Lose Yourself is phenomenal