Top 10 Most Annoying Cover Songs of All Time
#10: “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” (2003)
Nickelback feat. Kid Rock
Depending on who you ask, a Nickelback and Kid Rock team-up is either a whole lot of fun, or the worst idea imaginable. To call both artists divisive would be putting it lightly. So when they recorded a version of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” together, at least the results were going to be interesting - good or bad. Well, for most people, this cover wasn’t even that. It’s a pretty flat take on this hard-rocking classic, which took a seemingly can’t-miss formula and processed it down to its most vapid and boring form. It’s equal parts obnoxious and utterly forgettable, which is a difficult balancing act to pull off well.
#9: “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” (2006)
Paris Hilton
Rod Stewart may have gotten up on stage and sang “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” with a semi-straight face, but the song is clearly very tongue-in-cheek. Or at least it was until Paris Hilton decided to reinterpret it. As soon as that happened, all of the fun and playfulness of the original was lost. Hilton was genuinely telling you how attractive she was, and there was no wink and nudge behind it. Although we understand how someone could listen to Stewart’s song and think he was seriously that fond of his own reflection, it’s funny that Hilton and her team thought this was a good idea.
#8: “Big Yellow Taxi” (2002)
Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton
You could say that the Counting Crows’ style of alternative rock is like marmite: some love it, others completely despise it. Whatever one’s feelings about the group, taking an anti-commercial anthem like “Big Yellow Taxi” and turning it into a clean-cut commercial hit was a bit too ironic not to mention. The original, by Joni Mitchell, is a heartfelt plea about the merits of taking care of the environment. One particularly scathing review described the Counting Crows themselves as the parking lot that was put up after paradise was paved. It’s pretty safe to say that this critic is not alone in thinking that.
#7: “911 Is A Joke” (1995)
Duran Duran
The notion that Duran Duran ever thought it was a good idea to cover a Public Enemy song is an odd one. Hearing these millionaire pop idols attempt to dive headfirst into socially conscious hip-hop is a truly bizarre experience. Most people would agree that Chuck D and co. are one of the most influential and successful rap groups of all-time. Simon Le Bon and Duran Duran are quite accomplished in their own field too. To this day, though, it’s hard to understand exactly what they were trying to accomplish by attempting to earn some hip-hop acclaim. A total misstep in every sense of the word.
#6: “Dancing in the Street” (1985)
David Bowie & Mick Jagger
The sheer number of iconic musicians who have recorded a version of “Dancing in the Street” is a testament to the strength of the original track. First released by Martha and the Vandellas, everyone from Karen Carpenter to Van Halen has had a go at this tune. It’s the David Bowie and Mick Jagger version that really sticks out though. This rendition, and its very flamboyant music video, were conceived for 1985’s Live Aid concerts. Though the idea of Bowie and Jagger teaming up sounds like a dream come true, the resulting track was instantly mocked for being tacky. If it was tacky in 1985, the passage of time most definitely did not help it!
#5: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” (2005)
Jessica Simpson
Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” was penned by the legendary Lee Hazlewood and is in its own way a timeless classic. It should come as no surprise that it hit number one on the Billboard charts, becoming one of Sinatra’s signature songs. Jessica Simpson’s version, released as part of the “Dukes of Hazzard” soundtrack, went for a totally different tone. People were quick to point out that Simpson is by no means the level of vocalist that Nancy was. The song was also repurposed as a seductive and quite risque showpiece for Simpson, which some felt cheapened the source material. Sure, it sold well, but most people would agree that it doesn’t compare to the original.
#4: “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1991)
Mötley Crüe
The Sex Pistols burst onto the scene with an image and attitude that was totally fresh. When California band Mötley Crüe decided to cover “Anarchy in the U.K.,” the resulting track didn’t quite have the same impact. Sure, the instrumentation is spot on and brings solid energy to the table, but the rewritten lyrics and ill-fitting Johnny Rotten-esque adlibs fall flat. If you’re already a fan of Mötley Crüe, then there’s a good chance that this cover works for you. If you’re not, it’s just an irritating version that does nothing to improve on the original.
#3: “Burning Down the House” (2009)
The Used
Anyone who is familiar with Talking Heads will be aware of just how infectious their energy was, on record and onstage. Even by their standards, “Burning Down the House” stands out as one of the grooviest and catchiest songs in their discography. However, when The Used decided to give it an edgy, emo-tinged makeover, the result was interesting to say the least. People were just generally confused by this cover’s existence in the first place. Released as part of the “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” soundtrack, most people would agree that this one falls firmly into the category of unnecessary renditions.
#2: “American Pie” (2000)
Madonna
Did the world need a Madonna version of Don McLean’s “American Pie” to mark the turn of the century? Well, apparently the iconic pop star thought so. The original was a sprawling epic, running almost 9 minutes over several verses that deal with a range of themes and imagery. Madonna shaved it down to a compact two-verse structure and basically missed the entire point along the way. Acoustic guitars are replaced by dated synthesisers, leaving us without the energy that the original’s live band provided. The song went to number one in several different countries - and so there was a period of time where it was damn near impossible to avoid.
#1: “Faith” (1998)
Limp Bizkit
Trust us, Limp Bizkit’s version of “Behind Blue Eyes” by The Who was definitely in contention. However, no single cover summed up the obnoxiousness of the period quite like their take on George Michael’s “Faith.” Love them or hate them, Limp Bizkit were truly a product of their time, and this attitude-filled performance is just about as Limp Bizkit as it gets. Fred Durst’s vocal delivery is certainly… interesting. Of course, he makes a point of changing the line “not everybody has got a body like you” to “a body like me.” It’s brash, unapologetic, and unquestionably one of the most annoying covers of all-time.
But what cover songs truly grind your gears? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
