Top 20 Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers

Want more music? Check out Innersleeve, WatchMojo's new music podcast!

You'll be shocked when you find out the origins of these iconic tracks! For this list, we’ll be ranking popular songs that actually had a life prior to being recorded by a different artist. Our countdown includes “I Fought the Law”, "Torn", “The First Cut is the Deepest”, “All Along the Watchtower”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, and more! Did any of these picks surprise you? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!

Watch more great music videos here:

Have Your Idea Become A Video!

Subscribe for more great content!

Visit WatchMojo Club for Great Deals!

Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news on Film, TV, Video Games, Comics, Celeb, Music and Superheroes.

#Music
#Songs
#Cover
#MusicCover
#Bands
#Musicians
#MusicalArtists
#Artists
#BestSongs
#CoverSong

[WatchMojo]

Did any of these picks surprise you? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!

Want more music? Check out Innersleeve, WatchMojo's new music podcast!

[_xavier_rosas_]

Here’s a fun fact for ya: The song ‘Valerie’ made partially popular by a cover from Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse was originally made by rock group The Zutons.

[gilmoreido]

I Fought The Law was originally recorded by the Crickets (minus the late Buddy Holly) in 1960, 5 years before the Bobby Fuller Four. All three versions kick ass!

[jsutton]

It's common knowledge that Prince wrote Nothing compares 2 U.

[geraldherrmann]

another one: "black magic woman" is originally not by santana, but fleetwood mac.

[baymuscle]

Great list! I would have included "I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends, originally written by The Beatles and soulful covered by Joe Cocker. Arguably, one of my favorite cover songs.

[GapingLotusX]

I would include Proud Mary by CCR covered by Tina Turner. Two amazing and completely different versions of the song.

[pounderpolizzo]

The Jimi Hendrix version of watchtower is the greatest cover ever... it might actually be the definitive version

[rikrob]

Where was Hallelujah? For me, Leonard Cohen wrote & recorded one of the best songs ever, but for versions you cannot beat what Jeff Buckley did with it! (the Rufus Wainwright version is pretty amazing too!)

[wildshadowstar]

What many don’t get, is that Whitney and Dolly’s song I Will Always Love You is about breaking up and leaving, but so many people use it at weddings.

[LadyKC]

Whitney’s version of I Will Always Love You is an incredible showcase for a phenomenal voice. No doubt. But I still love Dolly’s version better. There is more emotion in the song, you really feel the pain in her voice. It feels like doomed lovers whispering a goodbye to each other in the dark.

[WrenFaithBridger]

"Black Magic Woman" by Santana, originally done by Fleetwood Mac. Santana did such an incredible job on it that FM hardly ever performed it afterwards. Mick Fleetwood has even said that it's pretty much Santana's song now.

[ForbiddTV]

"Love Hurts" Nazareth, original Everly Brothers. there's a cool version by Roy Orbison too.

[OcarinaSapphr-]

I think there should be a part two, considering how many amazing covers reintroduced (& sometimes improved) songs to us...

[loboblanco]

Something like this list has been around for years... And I love it every time! Great job to both original artists and the covering crews! And the video crew too. Nice job guys!

[austinmwiinga]

Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All along the watchtower is my favorite

[alexwadsworth]

Blinded by the light should be on this list. Especially how good the cover of this song is

[Grandadflipsfurniture]

It's common knowledge that Dolly Parton sang "I Will Always Love You" first - it's in the film that Whitney's soundtrack comes from!

Talk Talk's version of "It's My Life" is infinitely better than the other one.

[errormachine]

Did I just miss it on the list? How was nine inch nails hurt covered by Johnny Cash not on the list? I've been in many an argument from people who didn't believe cash covered a NIN song.

[ojstrijbis]

Randy Newman wrote a few songs that became more famous when they were covered. Joe Cocker’s ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ and Three Dogs Night’s ‘Mama Told Me Not To Come’, to name two.