Who did it better, the original or the cover?

[Rev. Rye]

Well, here’s three:

Sublime: By the Rivers of Babylon (orig. The Melodians, about five years before Boney M’s version)



I just love the unpretentious DIY feel of this version, just some guitars and I think some Orff percussion.

Langley Schools Music Project: The Long and Winding Road (one of very few Beatles covers that I think holds a candle to the original)



The very spare production really helps the desolation of this song, and somehow the girl really nails the long and winding aspect in ways even Macca doesn’t.

Vanilla Fudge: I Want it That Way (orig. by The Backstreet Boys)



I’ll just let the son of the temporary lead vocalist say it:

My dad (Bill Pascali) did the lead vocals for this song. I remember when he first told me the band was doing a cover from the Backstreet Boys. I was so happy because I was very young and I loved them (Idk what was wrong with me). Anyway many years later, I realize this version kicks the originals ass.

Also, very long, loud, and drawn out covers of popular songs are kind of Vanilla Fudge’s wheelhouse. If you’ve watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you should be well aware of this, because they soundtrack the scene where Leo and Brad Pitt kill the Manson Family.