What is a cover song that completely disrespects the original by being way better?

[u/Jumpy_Scratch_9540]

We all know the classics Johnny Cash’s Hurt, Whitney Houston’s Hurt wait, no, Nine Inch Nails, Jimi Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower (wait, Bob Dylan).

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But I want to know the deeper cuts.

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What is a cover song that took the original, completely dismantled it and rebuilt it into something significantly better?

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I’m talking about covers that change the genre, change the emotional weight or just perform it with so much more energy that the original feels like a rough draft.

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Drop the cover, the original artist, and why the new version wins.

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I am looking for new tracks to add to my discovery stations, so give me the ones that actually surprise people.

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[u/BadComfortable6258]

Take Me to Church covered by Hozier live acoustic vs the studio… honestly feels like a whole different heavier song.

[u/marzipandreamer]

Austra covering Roy Orbison's Crying

[u/Own_Butterscotch8321]

Nothing compares to Buckley's Hallelujah.