Most cover songs have a reputation for criminally butchering the originals. Sure, we can name a few that didn’t do the source material any justice, but that’s a topic for another day. Releasing a cover of a beloved track has always been a gamble. That doesn’t mean the artists who dared to try weren’t talented; they just didn’t succeed in capturing the essence of what made the original special. Despite their best intentions to reintroduce cherished songs to new audiences, it sometimes proves difficult to replicate the magic of the original recording.
In an ocean full of failed song covers, however, there are some exceptional reinterpretations. Some have even elevated the very first version, going so far as to surpass the original itself. The three song covers listed below do exactly that, celebrated not only because they stayed true to what made the song special, but by transforming it as if it were their own work. Below are three covers that are arguably better than the originals — and no one can tell us otherwise.
Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Original Artist: The Family/Prince
That’s not to say Prince’s version wasn’t good. In fact, it could easily stand on its own as a Prince ballad. He originally wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” for the side project band he formed, The Family, and it appeared on their self-titled, and only, album released in 1985. Objectively, though, it was Sinéad O’Connor who breathed new life into the song, making it a worldwide hit five years later when she released it as a single in 1990 as part of her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.
But while Prince’s original version was already impressive on its own, O’Connor’s rendition made the already emotional lyrics feel even more personal, making each line — including “nothing can take away these blues” — more poignant. That’s thanks to her vocal delivery, and partly due to the intimate music video that elevated the track’s emotion.
Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah”
Original Artist: Leonard Cohen
A song as big as “Hallelujah,” one of the most covered and recognizable songs in history, was initially an obscure track, achieving underwhelming success when Leonard Cohen first released it in 1984. It took years for the song to gain attention, largely thanks to a cover by John Cale in 1991. Before Jeff Buckley released his version of “Hallelujah” in 1994, the song was no longer just a hidden gem. However, it was through his rendition that the song was transformed into a powerful and emotional masterpiece, just as it was meant to be.
To this day, Buckley’s version is widely considered the most popular and acclaimed. Cale’s rendition did pave the way for the song to permeate audiences’ consciousness, but Buckley ultimately brought the ambiguous track massive mainstream attention. Featured on his first and only completed album, Grace, Buckley’s music gained lasting recognition before his life was tragically cut short in 1997 at the age of 30. Still, he left behind a legacy that lives on. The song’s popularity skyrocketed further when Cale’s version was featured in the 2001 film Shrek. Since then, it has become one of the most frequently used songs in television shows and movies, proving that sometimes it just takes time for audiences to catch up to a hidden classic.
Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”
Original Artist: Dolly Parton
Released as the lead single from The Bodyguard soundtrack in 1992, which featured Whitney Houston in her debut acting role alongside Kevin Costner, “I Will Always Love You” became a global sensation and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Although universally recognized as one of her most iconic (and biggest) songs, the track tied to her legacy was originally a country song, written and recorded in 1973 by the “Queen of Country,” Dolly Parton.
Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” stands as not only the most popular but the definitive rendition of the song. It earned her the Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance awards at the 1994 Grammys, and it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 14 consecutive weeks, in addition to reaching number one in numerous other countries. With her powerful vocals and emotional delivery, Houston transformed a beloved country ballad into a global pop classic.
