Covers better than originals...

[Johnny Latino Heat]

The ones that immediately spring to mind are Disturbed's version of "Land Of Confusion" (original by Genesis), and Nine Inch Nails' version of "Dead Souls" (original by Joy Division).

[Captain Kirk]

Prolly been said already but "Hurt" by Johnny Cash although doesn't really count for me as I didn't really like the original.

[zero]

Going back to what Skummy said about no one being able to cover the Cure, have you heard Snake River Conspiracy's version of "Love Song?" It's not better than the original, but I love it just because how they completely make the song their own.

As for covers of songs I already like, but like the cover better:

A Perfect Circle's version of Devo's "Freedom of Choice"

KISS covering the Ramones' "Do You Remember Rock n Roll Radio"

NIN's version of Joy Division's "Dead Souls"

Hole's version of Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman"

Pretty much any cover Nirvana ever did.

Rise Against covering Journey's "Any Way You Want It"

Smashing Pumpkins's version of the Cars' "You're All I've Got Tonight"

Type O Negative's version of "Cinnamon Girl" originally by Neil Young

[Liam]

I've not heard the one you mentioned, but I'm always let down about how bad some of the Smashing Pumpkins covers have been in my eyes.

[zero]

I've not heard the one you mentioned, but I'm always let down about how bad some of the Smashing Pumpkins covers have been in my eyes.

Pumpkins have had some good covers I think. I like their version of "Landslide," "Never Let Me Down Again," "Destination Unknown" and "Clones" quite a bit.

[Liam]

I hated Never Let Me Down Again, and there was another one I really wasn't high on. I just think his voice fits their music, and doesn't work so well with other stuff.

[Turbo Yannis]

I really like the Killswitch Engage version of "Holy Diver" despite not being an overly big fan of the original.

Edited January 23, 2007 by Turbonegro

[jase12881]

It's not a whole song cover, but I like Metallica's version of A National Acrobat which they insert into their cover of Sabbra Cadabra on Garage Inc.

I wish they would have covered the whole song actually.

[MalaCloudy Black]

I've not heard the one you mentioned, but I'm always let down about how bad some of the Smashing Pumpkins covers have been in my eyes.

Pumpkins have had some good covers I think. I like their version of "Landslide," "Never Let Me Down Again," "Destination Unknown" and "Clones" quite a bit.

Oh man, I love their cover of Landslide. Great cover.

[Farmer Reil]

It probably doesn't count because they never recorded it, but Edguy cover The Trooper live at most shows, and it is/was awesome. I dunno about better than Maiden, but definately AS good.

Edited January 24, 2007 by Farmer Reil

[Benji]

I can't believe I forgot this one (especially since it's one of my most played songs), but QOTSA's cover of the Romeo Void song "Never Say Never" is one of the best cover versions I've heard.

[YI]

It probably doesn't count because they never recorded it, but Edguy cover The Trooper live at most shows, and it is/was awesome. I dunno about better than Maiden, but definately AS good.

[Ananas]

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, but Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun" is awesome and yet Peter Gabriel's is even better.

[Scruffy The Janitor]

It probably doesn't count because they never recorded it, but Edguy cover The Trooper live at most shows, and it is/was awesome. I dunno about better than Maiden, but definately AS good.

Thsi post makes me sad due to the fact a Strung Out/Death By Stereo 'supergroup' covered "The Trooper" on their final Australia tour show last year, but none of those fucking Aussie bastards recorded it, meaning it was lost forever. Strung Out had supposadely covered it a couple of times during the tour as well, but they haven't played it at any US dates. It can't be gone for good.

Also, try and find a cover of "The Trooper" by PandaOnPanda. They're some Japanese electro-y band It used to be on their myspace (but no longer is)...it's shockingly 'happy'.

[Guest bregnahd]

311's cover of "Long Song", Gary Jules cover of "Mad World".

[Skummy]

Ohh, 311's Love Song is atrocious. Snake River Conspiracy's is pretty good, actually, thanks to Zero for reminding me of that one. Nothing amazing, but better than most Cure covers. My theory on covers of Cure songs is slowly falling apart, though, isn't it?

[Gabriel]

Another that just jumped into my mind as better than the original is AFI's cover of Morrissey's Jake the Ripper.

Of course, I'm not a big Morrissey fan though...so...