[Santa_Fe]

Many mainstream artists cover old hits lately.

I was watching VH1 countdown and noticed that a good bunch of songs there were covers. And they were done by unexpected artists. Sheryl Crow, Limp Bizkit, No Doubt, Kid Rock - all do covers. What's up with that? Why don't they write new (their own) songs instead?

[Miracle]

Originally Posted by Santa_Fe

Many mainstream artists cover old hits lately.

I was watching VH1 countdown and noticed that a good bunch of songs there were covers. And they were done by unexpected artists. Sheryl Crow, Limp Bizkit, No Doubt, Kid Rock - all do covers. What's up with that? Why don't they write new (their own) songs instead?

Because they can't write their own songs...just a thought. Or maybe it's a marketing ploy...sing songs that were hits once upon a time ago.

Stephanie

[Thomas Anderson]

...or perhaps they really like the song, and would like to sing it.

[RichieW2001]

Originally Posted by Thomas Anderson

...or perhaps they really like the song, and would like to sing it.

more likely.

[Neurotica80]

Artists who have had many hits of their own get more respect when they cover a song as opposed to a boy/girl manufactured band.

Still no excuse for Crows terrible covers of Sweet Child of Mine and First cut is the deepest......

[Santa_Fe]

That's why we have live shows. I'm all for covering songs you like during your live shows.

However, I really don't like it when rock bands make old hits their new singles. It's like they want good sales, and use already tried material to achieve good sales. Looks desperate to me. They get hits and media exposure (and possibly awards) because of mostly someone else's work. IMO this doesn't deserve respect.

[Thomas Anderson]

Originally Posted by RichieW2001

more likely.

Well I think when artists who write their own music cover a song now and again, perhaps as a tribute to the original artists, or just because they like the song then that is good...but the problem comes with most of todays chart music. A lot of the songs in the charts are cover songs, and the singers (and note I said singers, not artists) seem to release nothing but cover tracks, and the singers who release these covers probably don't even write any of the non-cover songs that they release.

[Sweet_Emotion84]

What I hate about covers (other than most artists totally screwing up the original) is the teenyboppers don't realize that someone else actually did the song earlier...and 97% of the time, a better version.

I, myself, was infuriated with Uncle Krackhead's cover of "Drift Away". I was with someone and it came on the radio and I, of course, made some stupid comment about how much his version sucks and my friend didn't even know it wasn't his...

Some covers, I don't mind...I like No Doubt's version of "It's My Life" originally by Talk Talk...I can tolerate Mandy Moore doing John Hiatt's, "Have a Little Faith in Me". And I really dig Kid Rock doing Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love".

Then, there are covers, IMO, that work out for the greater good of the song...
Black Crowes "Hard to Handle"
GNR "Knockin on Heaven's Door"
Poison "Your Mama Don't Dance"
Aerosmith "Train Kept a-Rollin'"
Aerosmith "Big Ten-Inch"
Motley Crue "Smokin' in the Boys Room"

I'll think of more later....

[jenn1189]

The worst thing I heard was at the bowling alley about a month ago. There was this techno/dance/remix kinda thing of Def Leppard's Love Bites. That was just terrible. I like Sheryl Crow, and I can tolerate her cover of First Cut... but I didn't like her version of Sweet Child O' Mine. I like Kid Rock's Feel Like Makin Love. And I didn't hate Uncle Kraker's Drift Away. I give him credit for at least getting Doby Gray on the track with him.

I think that artists do covers of songs because it's something they like. Most of the artists we're talking about here write their own stuff most of the time. So, like Bon Jovi does, they cover something they probably wish they had written themselves. As long as it's a credible version of the song, I don't mind covers. It is frustrating though when people don't realize that it's an older song redone.

[spunkywho]

I hat all covers.

Only one exceptions: GnR - Knocking on Heavens Door.




Sheryl Crow is seriously getting on my nerves!!!!!!!!!!!