The 40 Best Cover Songs of All Time, from Hurt to Respect

What is the best cover song of all time?

Johnny Cash's "Hurt", originally by Nine Inch Nails, and Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower", originally by Bob Dylan, are most often named the greatest cover songs ever. Aretha Franklin's "Respect", Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" are close behind, each so famous that many people do not know they are covers.

Covers that became more famous than the original

1. "Hurt", Johnny Cash, 2002: a devastating late-career cover of the Nine Inch Nails song.
2. "All Along the Watchtower", the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968: Bob Dylan himself later played it Hendrix's way.
3. "Respect", Aretha Franklin, 1967: she turned Otis Redding's song into an anthem.
4. "I Will Always Love You", Whitney Houston, 1992: Dolly Parton's song, reborn for The Bodyguard.
5. "Hallelujah", Jeff Buckley, 1994: the definitive version of Leonard Cohen's song.
6. "Nothing Compares 2 U", Sinéad O'Connor, 1990: a Prince song that became her signature.
7. "Twist and Shout", the Beatles, 1963: their raw, explosive take on the Isley Brothers hit.
8. "Mr. Tambourine Man", the Byrds, 1965: the folk-rock version of Bob Dylan's song.
9. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, 1981: originally by the Arrows.
10. "Tainted Love", Soft Cell, 1981: a synth-pop remake of Gloria Jones' soul song.

Classic rock and soul covers

11. "With a Little Help from My Friends", Joe Cocker, 1968: a gospel-soaked Beatles cover.
12. "Proud Mary", Ike and Tina Turner, 1971: a slow-then-fast reworking of the CCR hit.
13. "Me and Bobby McGee", Janis Joplin, 1971: Kris Kristofferson's song, her only number one.
14. "Black Magic Woman", Santana, 1970: a Latin-rock take on Fleetwood Mac's song.
15. "Blinded by the Light", Manfred Mann's Earth Band, 1977: a number one Bruce Springsteen cover.
16. "Ring of Fire", Johnny Cash, 1963: first recorded by June Carter's sister Anita.
17. "Always on My Mind", Willie Nelson, 1982: the Grammy-winning version of a song Elvis also sang.
18. "The First Cut Is the Deepest", Rod Stewart, 1977: a Cat Stevens song also covered by Sheryl Crow.
19. "Feeling Good", Nina Simone, 1965: a song from a stage musical that became her anthem.
20. "Killing Me Softly with His Song", Roberta Flack, 1973: first recorded by Lori Lieberman, later revived by the Fugees.

Covers from the 80s and 90s

21. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", Cyndi Lauper, 1983: a Robert Hazard song she rewrote into an anthem.
22. "Red Red Wine", UB40, 1983: a reggae version of a Neil Diamond song.
23. "Jealous Guy", Roxy Music, 1981: a tribute to John Lennon.
24. "The Man Who Sold the World", Nirvana, 1994: their Unplugged cover of David Bowie.
25. "Torn", Natalie Imbruglia, 1997: originally by the band Ednaswap.
26. "Landslide", the Dixie Chicks, 2002: a gentle bluegrass take on Fleetwood Mac.
27. "Can't Help Falling in Love", UB40, 1993: a reggae Elvis cover that went to number one.
28. "Killing Me Softly", the Fugees, 1996: Lauryn Hill's hip-hop soul version.

Modern covers

29. "Mad World", Gary Jules, 2001: a slow, haunting take on Tears for Fears.
30. "Valerie", Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse, 2007: originally by the Zutons.
31. "Make You Feel My Love", Adele, 2008: a Bob Dylan song that became a wedding favorite.
32. "Smooth Criminal", Alien Ant Farm, 2001: a nu metal Michael Jackson cover.
33. "Africa", Weezer, 2018: a cover inspired by a fan campaign.
34. "Higher Love", Kygo and Whitney Houston, 2019: a Steve Winwood song.
35. "Fast Car", Luke Combs, 2023: a country cover of Tracy Chapman that topped the charts.
36. "Jolene", the White Stripes, 2004: a raw live take on Dolly Parton's classic.
37. "Personal Jesus", Johnny Cash, 2002: a stark blues take on Depeche Mode.
38. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, 1993: a ukulele medley with "What a Wonderful World".
39. "Hallelujah", Pentatonix, 2016: an a cappella version popular at Christmas.
40. "I Fought the Law", the Bobby Fuller Four, 1966: a hit version of a song first recorded by the Crickets.

What makes a great cover song?

A great cover does more than copy the original. It changes the feel, the tempo or the meaning so completely that the song seems new: Johnny Cash turned an industrial rock song into a meditation on mortality, Aretha Franklin turned a man's complaint into a demand for respect, and Jeff Buckley turned a dense, wordy song into a hushed prayer. The best covers reveal something that was always in the song but nobody had heard.

Cover songs for a wedding

Many couples choose a cover for their first dance. "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele, "Can't Help Falling in Love" in any of its versions, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole are all favorites, and "Higher Love" and "Valerie" are great for the dance floor. For more, see our first dance songs.

Cover songs for karaoke or a band

If you play in a band or sing karaoke, covers like "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", "Twist and Shout", "Proud Mary" and "Tainted Love" are proven crowd-pleasers. For more, see our best karaoke songs and easy guitar songs.

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