Top 10 Cover Songs Fans Want to Forget

Limp Bizkit (Originally by the Who)


This song is often cited as one of the band’s worst and it’s understandable why. The album this song appears on is already a major departure from their previous work in terms of sound. Their approach to this Who track didn’t sit well with many. Its stripped down approach is very tame and overly earnest. While there’s something to be said about vocalist Fred Durst’s performance on the track, it’s not enough to save it. Comparing it to the Who’s version, it’s missing so much nuance and flavor that makes the song a worthwhile listen.

Mick Jagger & David Bowie (Originally by Martha and the Vandellas)


Listening to the original Martha and the Vandellas’ version of this song and it’s quite clear it’s a loud and upbeat number. It even became part of the Civil Rights movement as its lyrics were interpreted as calls to action. Jagger and Bowie’s version has none of that. However, it’s loud and so over-the-top that it’s just tacky. Apparently the track was completed in half a day, and when listening to the end result, that’s not surprising to find out. Don’t even get us started on the music video where the two singers ham it up beyond belief.

Madonna (Originally by Don McLean)


Madonna’s cover of this Don McLean classic was made to promote her then upcoming film, “The Next Best Thing”. Apparently, she was convinced to cover the song at the suggestion of her co-star Rupert Everett. Maybe she shouldn't have listened. While it's not the worst cover ever, it lacks the emotional depth found in McLean’s version. It ends up sounding like a generic pop song. It also doesn’t help that Madonna cut out the majority of lyrics, presumably to get the length of the song down to a more radio friendly play time.

Jessica Simpson (Originally by Nancy Sinatra)


Conceived to promote the 2005 film “The Dukes of Hazzard”, Jessica Simpson re-envisioned this song to be from the point of view of Daisy Duke, the character she played in the movie. Because of this change, the lyrics focus on Daisy and her experiences whereas in the Nancy Sinatra version the song is about a wronged lover. A bridge and breakdown were also added by Simpson, but perhaps the worst aspect is her vocal delivery. She has a breathy approach that we guess is supposed to be sexy but it just falls flat.

Duran Duran (Originally by Public Enemy)


The only real positive of this song is that Duran Duran came up with a decent guitar loop. Maybe if they put it towards something different, we wouldn’t have this mess. The band is completely out of their element. Their take on this track from Public Enemy just doesn’t translate. The original serves as a commentary of how Black communities are underserved by emergency medical services and Duran Duran doesn’t have the wherewithal to make their cover work. It makes the song a bit of a joke, and not a good one at that.

Lenny Kravitz (Originally by the Guess Who)


Aside from skipping out on the original’s guitar solo, Lenny Kravitz’s take on the Guess Who track takes itself way too seriously. The modest guitar riff from the original becomes the centerpiece for Kravitz but its heavy crunch is way overdone. The focus shifts from anti-war and anti-American imperialism themes embodied by a metaphorical American woman to those of the sex appeal of an actual American woman. The end result is a song that ends up being way less enjoyable, even if you don’t care about political commentary present in the song.

Dynamite Hack (Originally by Eazy-E)


If you like the gimmick of preppy college kids singing gangster rap lyrics then this is the song for you. However, it’s something that wears thin real quick. Dynamite Hack’s soft delivery and chill guitars might work if you’re goofing around with your friends. Eazy-E’s version describes a day in the ‘hood in a fairly shocking and graphic manner. Dynamite Hack’s spin on the song doesn’t add anything and their approach gives off a mocking tone as if they’re putting down rap lyrics. It’s not as clever as it seems and the joke becomes tired after the first two verses.

U2 (Originally by Creedence Clearwater Revival)


Why U2 decided to cover this seminal tune from Creedence Clearwater Revival is beyond us. Their interpretation is simply perplexing. They give it a dance/pop feel that doesn’t add anything. It’s one thing to put your own spin on a cover to differentiate it from the original but in this case, it does not work. They’ve completely changed the tone of the song and you would never know it was an anti-war protest song. They would have been better off sticking to just a straight up cover or better yet, just leaving this CCR classic alone.

Faith Hill (Originally by Erma Franklin)


Perhaps it’s not Faith Hill’s fault that her cover of “Piece of My Heart” isn’t up to snuff. Maybe the most well known version of this song is sung by Janis Joplin and supposedly Hill wasn’t allowed to listen to it by her producers until she recorded her version. Whereas Joplin delivers a performance of a lifetime with a powerful and raw vocal delivery, Hill by comparison turns the song into a generic country tune. Listening to it, you would never guess it's a song about having your heart broken.

Machine Gun Kelly (Originally by System of a Down)


We’re not sure if Kelly is cut out for rock music based on his choice of covers. He’s done Rage Against the Machine, Paramore and System of a Down. His performance is lackluster to say the least. “Aerials” has a sense of fear and paranoia that vocalist Serj Tankian conveys. Kelly on the other hand, sounds like he’s bored. There’s a faux sense of intensity to his vocals. It all comes off as bland and monotonous. It’s a real shame because his backing band does a pretty good job in terms of their instrumentation but unfortunately MGK just brings the whole thing down.

What’s a cover song you want to forget? Let us know in the comments.