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@@talkforlondonrelease dates don’t lie as a black man that cares about culture I appreciate this , we always segregate music it’s crazy to think our greatest black artist blew up on white Artist songs Just like Elvis and big mama Thornton just opposite
... Michael reaches into his pocket and pulls out a quarter. He flicks it off his thumb and it flies up into the air in slow-mo while everybody stands silently transfixed. It arcs down and lands perfectly into a jukebox on the other end of the room. He screams out "Ow!" just as "Blame it on the Boogie" turns on. The room erupts into cool dancing.
My mind is blown. When I first heard the Michael Jackson version of the song, I thought, "This sounds awfully familiar." Cut to the Luis Miguel version, and I immediately recognize it. Funnily enough, that song came out in a separate video about how some Luis Miguel songs sound like opening music for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Third Michael Jackson: Michael James Jackson who was American engineer, producer, and music supervisor, mostly known for producing Paul Williams and Kiss. Passed away from Covid.
Mick Jackson's 1st album (which features Blame It On The Boogie) is very good. It has a very Stevie Wonder vibe 2 it....I think he wrote those songs with him in mind. I actually own 3 Mick Jackson records. He's a very good artist.
The Mick Jackson version of this song made it into “Just Dance,” and I couldn’t convince my kid that Mick and Michael weren’t the same person. Then we looked the song up and could only find the MICHAEL version! It was the kind of argument reserved for “we can’t have pizza for dinner again!”
Had anyone told me in 1978 that in the 2020s I'd see a video breaking down, "Blame it on the Boogie," I wouldn't have believed it. Loved it then; Still do. I used to mix it with things like Chanson "Don't Hold Back" and Chuck Brown "Bustin' Loose." The friend who taught me to spin records thought it was too bubblegummy. Like that's a BAD thing??? This is the first song I remember where MJ does the "HEE-hee" thing. Is there an earlier one?
I love when fascinating things like this are made known. While it's certainly not uncommon for artists to do covers, some artists take that original rendition and give it a life all it's own. Great segment!
Two examples of songs with great cover versions: Didn't mean to turn you on by Cherelle, covered by Robert Palmer and You are in my system by The System, covered by Robert Palmer.
I like Mariah's version of "Didn't Mean To Turn You On", which was built off the same stems as the original and had the same producers (Jam and Lewis).
Its all subjective. In my opinion, the systems original of 'You are in my system' was way more of a bass-heavy club-banger than Robert Palmers cover that sounded more industrial. And Cherelle's 'I didn't mean to turn you on' was a banger in and of itself because it was girly and again... had a groove that worked in the clubs. The one thing Robert Palmer did that I really dug was The Power Station. That was insane.
As a mexican child who grew up in the 90s "sera que no me amas" by Luis Miguel was a must, that song was in every radio station on the streets, lets move forwards a few time later...when i ear in the radio (where else to?) Blame it on the boogie by MJ: 😮 Then imagine when i know about Mick Jackson original version a few years ago too: 🤯 One thing i know for sure: All of the three versions are dancefloor material
That’s how most people started out back then. You were expected to show proficiency in existing music before creating your own sound. This is a big reason why certain artists have no foundation.
There IS another cover. By a Miami-based Peruvian-American percussionist by the name of Tony Succar. Many years ago he got the rights to Michael's catalog from his estate, and made a Salsa record called "Unity: Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson" which featured several well-known Salsa and Latin Pop singers. The Luis Miguel version of "Será Que No Me Amas" was performed by a Puerto Rican Salsa singer by the name of... Believe it or not, MICHAEL Stuart.
DTG and Luis Miguel, could be a great episode. He has several hits which are covers of classic songs, but with different titles and lyrics in spanish, in some cases featuring the original musicians. Which is the case of TOP "Attitude Dance", featuring all the Tower of Power crew on "Que nivel de mujer". Amazing singer also.
I think what makes a song great are two things. Voice and finding the best arrangement. The best examples I can think of are what Luther Vandross did to basically all of Dionne Warwicks music with his voice and Anita Bakers arrangement of Mystery by the Manhattan Transfer. The second is a small change but I think its a stronger performs.
I've got Mick Jackson's version of the 12" mix on clear vinyl. It's got pride of place in my collection. I remember watching Mick Jackson singing on Top Of The Pops in the UK.
This was a really good video. I had to listen to the Mick Jackson song as soon as i finished watching this and the guy sounds a lot like Jay Kay from Jamiroquai.
I KNEW THIS ALREADY. BUT DID YOU KNOW, Mick Jackson originally wrote it for & offered it to Stevie Wonder, but Stevie turned it down. That's where Joe Jackson originally inquired about it. Yall should hire me for your some of your videos, I know a lot of music stories 🎵👌
Yes! And I was surprised to learn that Quincy COPIED most of Chaz Jankel's arrangement. However, the "I really know Corrida; I really want Corrida" background lines were Quincy's idea.
The more music I know, the more I realise I don't know. I only discovered the Mick Jackson version (the original) about two years ago. And, shockingly, it is the version that I like to listen to more (Boogie!!!!!!) You can really blame that on the boogie... Hahahaha
Very very knowledgeable gentleman I grew up with the Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 version and I love this song and when you played just a little snippet of the other one, I’m gonna go and download this song so I can hear the entirety of it because it’s pretty much the same song like you said, and I like to actually give props to the people who created this song like all the songs that Bruno Mars wrote for other people all the R&B songs that cool from cooling game wrote for other people The Brothers Johnson wrote songs for other people I like to give them their tribute as well you guys did a great great great job with this and you taught me something so thanks guys keep up the good work🫡🔥🔥🔥
Wow, I did not know that blame it on the boogie is a great song and I never listen to Mick Jackson version but I think I’m gonna look that song up and listen to it. Thanks for that information and I love your video.
Eventho I know most of this stuff(still a few things I didn't know tho), I can still listen to it as if I didn't know. Just nice to hear the story told.
This was another great video!!! But, Brandon, with as many videos you’ve made about Michael Jackson, I have a hard time believing you didn’t know this information already. You seem like the professor of Hip-Hop and R&B at this point.
I think it would be cool if you made a video on No Doubt and Talk Talk, as the former made a cover of the latter's song "It's My Life", but the No Doubt version appears to have more clout.
Heard about this about 6/7 years ago on a podcast called The Blindboy Podcast by Blindboy Boatclub. He's an Irish podcaster, musicians, and author who always has these crazy "hot takes" and stories. He goes digging for mad things like this about music, history, art, psychology, and more. Would highly recommend it. One of his short stories was just made into a short film starring Robert Sheehan from The Umbrella Academy.
I love what’s going on performed by Cyndi Lauper she does such a wonderful flow with that song it sounds so beautiful and special when she does it , Tina Turner also dose it very well and I know as a adult it was originally written and performed by Marvin Gaye but personally I love Cyndi and Tina doing it
There are so many great covers out there, so I’m gonna add a few I really enjoy (regardless of whether they are better known than the original or not.) Since you brought up All Along the Watchtower, I’ll start there- the song has also long been performed live by Dave Matthews Band, where it turns into a lengthy jam and is often a centerpiece of their setlist. DMB do a lot of covers live (last time I saw them live they did a terrific version of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer). Bob Dylan is actually an artist who is consistently made better in covers. Rod Stewart’s Forever Young is originally Dylan. So is Knockin on Heaven’s Door, which was done better by both Guns n Roses and Eric Clapton (who did a lot of covers himself, including Bob Marley’s I Shot the Sheriff.) I feel like it is worth mentioning that one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits, Hound Dog, is a cover of Big Mama Thornton. Switching gears to another performer who definitely has an ear for unexpected cover songs- Tori Amos. She actually did an entire album of cover songs written and originally performed by men called “Strange Little Girls” and I would highlight in particular off that record her cover of 97 Bonnie and Clyde by Eminem, which takes the song and makes it sound like it is coming from the perspective of Em’s baby mama, which ultimately gives it a completely different (and much darker) weight. While not on said album, she also famously used to cover Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, as well as more expected covers for her like her cover of Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You. Given this channel’s expertise (and I think you did a video on this one as well), I’d point out the Fugees (Lauryn Hill) did a cover of “Killing Me Softly”, originally performed by Roberta Flack. The Fugees also did a cover of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry (albeit, I think they changed some of the lyrics, so perhaps not a pure cover.) A few others- Johnny Cash needs to be mentioned for some of the covers he did late in his life; while most people are familiar with his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt, they may not necessarily know that it wasn’t a one time experiment with a more current song but something he did repeatedly (with the guidance of Rick Rubin) and also did songs like Rusty Cage by Soundgarden and Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode, among others. Speaking of Soundgarden, their frontman Chris Cornell did an amazing acoustic cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which was famously a Sinead O’Connor cover of a Prince original. Speaking of Prince, he and Foo Fighters did a trade of covers, with Prince covering their song Best of You while the Foo’s covered his song Darling Nikki. Speaking of the Foos, they have done an absolute ton of covers in their live shows, but also did an excellent take on Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty that was done on a compilation release and got regular radio play on rock radio at the time. Three last ones before I go- no discussion of the greatest covers of all-time is complete without at least mentioning Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Led Zeppelin actually managed to take two songs and cover them into one longer song in their “The Lemon Song”, which covers both “Killing Floor” by Howlin Wolf and “Traveling Riverside Blues” by Robert Johnson. But one of the most interesting covers I know, and the one I’ll leave this discussion with, is by Elliott Smith, namely the song “Because” by the Beatles. This cover was featured as the end credits music to the movie American Beauty, and notably is done a cappella, with Smith multitracking his voice to create the layered harmonies. I love this one in particular because I feel pretty strongly that it inspired the decision by Giles Martin (son of George), when remixing Beatles’ songs to create the soundtrack for the Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show, to strip away the instruments on the remixed version of Because that opens the show, as it opens the show a cappella as well, this time with the original vocals as done on the Beatles version that appears on Abbey Road. But really, this is just scratching the surface and is limited by my specific knowledge- there are so many great covers that it really is impossible to say with any certainty that anyone one cover is the best cover of all-time.
Yesss. I actually heard Mick’s version first. I heard it on the airwaves for about 2 weeks. Then a few weeks later I heard the Jacksons version and never really Mick’s agsin.
While probably not more famous than the original, she also did an excellent cover of “Love Song” by the Cure. Honestly, that song has been covered a bunch by a wide variety of artists (for example, the band 311 covered it.)
Jeff Buckley's cover of Leornard Cohen's "Hallelujah" might be more well know than the original. Talking Heads cover of Al Green's "Take me to the RIver" . The Isley Brothers cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's song "Ohio" and Hendrix's "Machine Gun" (titled "Ohio" / "Machine Gun") blows both originals out of the water.
When I live in Harlem everyone was talking about the jackson saying that michael & the people of Epic record wrote this song now I know the truth thank you guys
I remember when Destiny came out the big thing was the Jacksons wrote their own material. Wow mind blown. I always thought that was a corny song always. Shake your body down was the hit.
Joe SAVED his boys career getting them OUT of Motown back in 1975. he got them in Motown at the RIGHT time. and took them OUT and the RIGHT time. and who got Janet that deal at A&M records back in 1981...you got it, JOE JACKSON. joe made a few bad moves. he also made a few damn GOOD ones too. saving ALL their careers. if EL DEBARGE had a manager like Joe Jackson, and he got El OUT of Motown by the mid/too LATE 80's. BIG Superstar was waiting on El.
I can’t believe I forgot to mention Man Who Sold the World in my diatribe on the subject, considering I mentioned Nirvana in the context of Tori Amos’s cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit.
So what you are telling me is a band with an American Michael, and duo with an English Michael, and a Mexican solo artist with the last name that basically is Michael in Spanish all sang on this song? By that logic, I should sing it since half my DNA came from a Michael and I could make it worth my time...lol
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Stop trying to change history, right in front of our eyes. I've never heard of a Mick.Jackson. this is some type of Jedi Mind trick
Trey fucking rules dude. That's all I have to say.
Whatttttttt Mike took it from a white brotha is nutsss Great history Thankkk You G
@@talkforlondonrelease dates don’t lie as a black man that cares about culture I appreciate this , we always segregate music it’s crazy to think our greatest black artist blew up on white Artist songs Just like Elvis and big mama Thornton just opposite
@@talkforlondonwhite boi got soul let’s be real
Michael, Mick, and Miguel dance into a bar
Barman Leta Ubwalwa😂
ow
... Michael reaches into his pocket and pulls out a quarter. He flicks it off his thumb and it flies up into the air in slow-mo while everybody stands silently transfixed. It arcs down and lands perfectly into a jukebox on the other end of the room. He screams out "Ow!" just as "Blame it on the Boogie" turns on. The room erupts into cool dancing.
Surely they'd Moonwalk
Best comment 🤣🤣🤣
Before this song, the Jacksons had a top ten hit with Enjoy Yourself. This was their first hit on Epic after just leaving Motown.
trey gotta become a mainstay, i mess with that mans vibe...at least occasional cameos! 🕺🏾
My mind is blown. When I first heard the Michael Jackson version of the song, I thought, "This sounds awfully familiar." Cut to the Luis Miguel version, and I immediately recognize it. Funnily enough, that song came out in a separate video about how some Luis Miguel songs sound like opening music for Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Third Michael Jackson: Michael James Jackson who was American engineer, producer, and music supervisor, mostly known for producing Paul Williams and Kiss. Passed away from Covid.
And of course the AM radio host
THAT Michael Jackson was underrated AF. RIP. MJ.
Trey is a great addition to this channel.
Mick Jackson's 1st album (which features Blame It On The Boogie) is very good. It has a very Stevie Wonder vibe 2 it....I think he wrote those songs with him in mind. I actually own 3 Mick Jackson records. He's a very good artist.
One of my MJ favorites. Crazy how different the two songs sound.
5:43 Was totally expecting you to spin both vinyls and do a mashup... Pleasantly surprised to see y'all do it the human way though, haha!
The Mick Jackson version of this song made it into “Just Dance,” and I couldn’t convince my kid that Mick and Michael weren’t the same person. Then we looked the song up and could only find the MICHAEL version! It was the kind of argument reserved for “we can’t have pizza for dinner again!”
Had anyone told me in 1978 that in the 2020s I'd see a video breaking down, "Blame it on the Boogie," I wouldn't have believed it. Loved it then; Still do. I used to mix it with things like Chanson "Don't Hold Back" and Chuck Brown "Bustin' Loose." The friend who taught me to spin records thought it was too bubblegummy. Like that's a BAD thing???
This is the first song I remember where MJ does the "HEE-hee" thing. Is there an earlier one?
I love when fascinating things like this are made known. While it's certainly not uncommon for artists to do covers, some artists take that original rendition and give it a life all it's own. Great segment!
Two examples of songs with great cover versions: Didn't mean to turn you on by Cherelle, covered by Robert Palmer and You are in my system by The System, covered by Robert Palmer.
Robert Palmer also did a great cover version of The Gap Band’s “Early In The Morning”
I like Mariah's version of "Didn't Mean To Turn You On", which was built off the same stems as the original and had the same producers (Jam and Lewis).
Its all subjective. In my opinion, the systems original of 'You are in my system' was way more of a bass-heavy club-banger than Robert Palmers cover that sounded more industrial. And Cherelle's 'I didn't mean to turn you on' was a banger in and of itself because it was girly and again... had a groove that worked in the clubs. The one thing Robert Palmer did that I really dug was The Power Station. That was insane.
@@percyvolnar8010yes!
As a mexican child who grew up in the 90s "sera que no me amas" by Luis Miguel was a must, that song was in every radio station on the streets, lets move forwards a few time later...when i ear in the radio (where else to?) Blame it on the boogie by MJ: 😮
Then imagine when i know about Mick Jackson original version a few years ago too: 🤯
One thing i know for sure: All of the three versions are dancefloor material
I can’t believe the guy that composed Fly Robin Fly and the Airwolf theme had anything to do with Blame it on the Boogie😂
The Jackson’s were know for making new covers of other songs. Same with the song called “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” by the Jackson 5
Whos Lovin' You was a cover as well.
That’s how most people started out back then. You were expected to show proficiency in existing music before creating your own sound. This is a big reason why certain artists have no foundation.
There IS another cover. By a Miami-based Peruvian-American percussionist by the name of Tony Succar. Many years ago he got the rights to Michael's catalog from his estate, and made a Salsa record called "Unity: Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson" which featured several well-known Salsa and Latin Pop singers. The Luis Miguel version of "Será Que No Me Amas" was performed by a Puerto Rican Salsa singer by the name of... Believe it or not, MICHAEL Stuart.
Sadly, Mick's brother Dave passed away last week.
This is a great story and you guys have Avery warm and relaxed vibe together.
This one is regional in a sense, but Jamaican Singer Ken Boothe covered Bread's "Everything I Own", and made it one of his classic songs.
UB40 did Neil Diamond's Red Red Wine
How the hell am I only getting new drop notifications three days after a drop!? Bad form, UA-cam.
DTG and Luis Miguel, could be a great episode. He has several hits which are covers of classic songs, but with different titles and lyrics in spanish, in some cases featuring the original musicians. Which is the case of TOP "Attitude Dance", featuring all the Tower of Power crew on "Que nivel de mujer". Amazing singer also.
Ahora Te Puedes Marchar (I Only Want to Be With You) is an all time classic
Shake your body down to the ground, on the same album. That song sold big.
I think what makes a song great are two things. Voice and finding the best arrangement. The best examples I can think of are what Luther Vandross did to basically all of Dionne Warwicks music with his voice and Anita Bakers arrangement of Mystery by the Manhattan Transfer. The second is a small change but I think its a stronger performs.
0:15 So much for locking your doors. 😂
😂😂
Love the banter!
I'm sure what makes a song great for most people is how good the marketing is, but most are not aware of it.
I've got Mick Jackson's version of the 12" mix on clear vinyl. It's got pride of place in my collection. I remember watching Mick Jackson singing on Top Of The Pops in the UK.
keep it forever.
@3316xtendedmedia without a doubt my friend 👍🏽
This was a really good video. I had to listen to the Mick Jackson song as soon as i finished watching this and the guy sounds a lot like Jay Kay from Jamiroquai.
I KNEW THIS ALREADY. BUT DID YOU KNOW, Mick Jackson originally wrote it for & offered it to Stevie Wonder, but Stevie turned it down. That's where Joe Jackson originally inquired about it.
Yall should hire me for your some of your videos, I know a lot of music stories 🎵👌
McJackson 🍔🍟😂😝
Have a seat, class is in session with Digging the Greats 🔥🔥🔥.
Hard to Handle, You Really Got Me, Piece of my Heart...
Excellent work guys!!! Keep it coming!!
Another amazing video! I guess I learned something new today
Fantastic content 👊
AI NO CORRIDA
Lesser Known Original: Chaz Jankel (of Ian Dury & The Blockheads fame)
Better Known Cover: Quincy Jones
Yes! And I was surprised to learn that Quincy COPIED most of Chaz Jankel's arrangement. However, the "I really know Corrida; I really want Corrida" background lines were Quincy's idea.
One of my favorite Q songs..
Thank you for its history!
I shall dig in
The more music I know, the more I realise I don't know. I only discovered the Mick Jackson version (the original) about two years ago. And, shockingly, it is the version that I like to listen to more (Boogie!!!!!!) You can really blame that on the boogie... Hahahaha
There was also a baseball pitcher in the 80’s and 90’s who was born Michael but went by Mike Jackson because he didn’t want to be ridiculed
Played for my Cleveland Indians
Another classic 🔥 🔥 Episode
This is a nice comparison, like Mary J. Blige and Y?N Vee covering "I'm Going Down" at the same time.
The Y?N Vee that got a shout out in “This Is How We Do It” indeed
@changkwangoh I never realized that. Thank you.
F’n BRILLIANT Gentleman!!
I learned something I had zero clue about.
THANK YOU!
Fun fact that’s first song when mj does his iconic he he sound
Thank you for another great video!
This is one of my favorite songs! Thanks for the history.
Masterful musical mystery mined.
I was just listening to Starlight and here you come with another MJ vid 😂
Wow never knew they had another verof this song 🎵 b4 tje Jackson 5. Also it's not bad
Im pretty sure they mention this on Off the wall doc. But yet this is more intersting love it ❤
you and Trey is a great duo
Very very knowledgeable gentleman I grew up with the Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 version and I love this song and when you played just a little snippet of the other one, I’m gonna go and download this song so I can hear the entirety of it because it’s pretty much the same song like you said, and I like to actually give props to the people who created this song like all the songs that Bruno Mars wrote for other people all the R&B songs that cool from cooling game wrote for other people The Brothers Johnson wrote songs for other people I like to give them their tribute as well you guys did a great great great job with this and you taught me something so thanks guys keep up the good work🫡🔥🔥🔥
Wow this is amazing thanks you guys for Is dropping science
love this. Don't forget about Wilhite/Theo Parrish flip of the track! 🔥
Wow, I did not know that blame it on the boogie is a great song and I never listen to Mick Jackson version but I think I’m gonna look that song up and listen to it. Thanks for that information and I love your video.
This is the “Heard It Through the Grapevine” conundrum.
Eventho I know most of this stuff(still a few things I didn't know tho), I can still listen to it as if I didn't know. Just nice to hear the story told.
Yes I do remember the original Mick Jackson version of "Blame it on the Boogie" and the Jacksons version was streets ahead.
You guys make a great team, you should do more videos together...
This was another great video!!! But, Brandon, with as many videos you’ve made about Michael Jackson, I have a hard time believing you didn’t know this information already. You seem like the professor of Hip-Hop and R&B at this point.
There's actually a 4th version of the song: Big Fun - Blame It On The Boogie. That came out in the late 80's, produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman.
Best version by far! 😁
I've always wondered who D. Jackson was (next to M. Jackson's name, assumed to be Michael) in the writers' credits. Every day's a school day!
The lyrics in Luis Miguel's Spanish version fit very will with the song melody. Tremendous hit in Latin America.
You should do The Spinners people make the world go round, covered by the Jackson 5… Very few people have heard it
I think it would be cool if you made a video on No Doubt and Talk Talk, as the former made a cover of the latter's song "It's My Life", but the No Doubt version appears to have more clout.
Great covers surpassing the original? The Isley Brothers did that several times IMO anyway . Luther Vandross is another King Of The Covers.
Who sample got it wrong
Heard about this about 6/7 years ago on a podcast called The Blindboy Podcast by Blindboy Boatclub. He's an Irish podcaster, musicians, and author who always has these crazy "hot takes" and stories. He goes digging for mad things like this about music, history, art, psychology, and more. Would highly recommend it. One of his short stories was just made into a short film starring Robert Sheehan from The Umbrella Academy.
I’ve lived in Tijuana for 6 years now (originally from Delaware) and I ALWAYS hear the Mexican version of “blame it on the boogie”
And the UK version is also You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
my favorite example of a cover that (at least for me) was better than the original, was Pseudo Echo's version of "Funkytown"
Yes! I love that version.
Really need a video on Kool Keith. Well, probably a series of videos given his output over the years.
this duo is great
i have something " The Jackson - one more chance / Phils collins . One more night " its same, phil told to the jackson he was inspired by this song.
I found out about Mick Jackson and the original Blame It On The Boogie from Just Dance
I love what’s going on performed by Cyndi Lauper she does such a wonderful flow with that song it sounds so beautiful and special when she does it , Tina Turner also dose it very well and I know as a adult it was originally written and performed by Marvin Gaye but personally I love Cyndi and Tina doing it
There's also the Michael Jackson that played wide receiver for Cleveland in the 90s.
Do a video about Alfonzo, the OTHER Michael Jackson.
No Corey Feldman?
Genius met up with genius, resulting in a song that still sounds fresh after almost 50 years.
... don't forget the other Michael Jackson that produced for Pablo Cruise...
There are so many great covers out there, so I’m gonna add a few I really enjoy (regardless of whether they are better known than the original or not.)
Since you brought up All Along the Watchtower, I’ll start there- the song has also long been performed live by Dave Matthews Band, where it turns into a lengthy jam and is often a centerpiece of their setlist. DMB do a lot of covers live (last time I saw them live they did a terrific version of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer).
Bob Dylan is actually an artist who is consistently made better in covers. Rod Stewart’s Forever Young is originally Dylan. So is Knockin on Heaven’s Door, which was done better by both Guns n Roses and Eric Clapton (who did a lot of covers himself, including Bob Marley’s I Shot the Sheriff.)
I feel like it is worth mentioning that one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits, Hound Dog, is a cover of Big Mama Thornton.
Switching gears to another performer who definitely has an ear for unexpected cover songs- Tori Amos. She actually did an entire album of cover songs written and originally performed by men called “Strange Little Girls” and I would highlight in particular off that record her cover of 97 Bonnie and Clyde by Eminem, which takes the song and makes it sound like it is coming from the perspective of Em’s baby mama, which ultimately gives it a completely different (and much darker) weight. While not on said album, she also famously used to cover Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit, as well as more expected covers for her like her cover of Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You.
Given this channel’s expertise (and I think you did a video on this one as well), I’d point out the Fugees (Lauryn Hill) did a cover of “Killing Me Softly”, originally performed by Roberta Flack. The Fugees also did a cover of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry (albeit, I think they changed some of the lyrics, so perhaps not a pure cover.)
A few others- Johnny Cash needs to be mentioned for some of the covers he did late in his life; while most people are familiar with his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt, they may not necessarily know that it wasn’t a one time experiment with a more current song but something he did repeatedly (with the guidance of Rick Rubin) and also did songs like Rusty Cage by Soundgarden and Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode, among others.
Speaking of Soundgarden, their frontman Chris Cornell did an amazing acoustic cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which was famously a Sinead O’Connor cover of a Prince original.
Speaking of Prince, he and Foo Fighters did a trade of covers, with Prince covering their song Best of You while the Foo’s covered his song Darling Nikki.
Speaking of the Foos, they have done an absolute ton of covers in their live shows, but also did an excellent take on Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty that was done on a compilation release and got regular radio play on rock radio at the time.
Three last ones before I go- no discussion of the greatest covers of all-time is complete without at least mentioning Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Led Zeppelin actually managed to take two songs and cover them into one longer song in their “The Lemon Song”, which covers both “Killing Floor” by Howlin Wolf and “Traveling Riverside Blues” by Robert Johnson.
But one of the most interesting covers I know, and the one I’ll leave this discussion with, is by Elliott Smith, namely the song “Because” by the Beatles. This cover was featured as the end credits music to the movie American Beauty, and notably is done a cappella, with Smith multitracking his voice to create the layered harmonies. I love this one in particular because I feel pretty strongly that it inspired the decision by Giles Martin (son of George), when remixing Beatles’ songs to create the soundtrack for the Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show, to strip away the instruments on the remixed version of Because that opens the show, as it opens the show a cappella as well, this time with the original vocals as done on the Beatles version that appears on Abbey Road.
But really, this is just scratching the surface and is limited by my specific knowledge- there are so many great covers that it really is impossible to say with any certainty that anyone one cover is the best cover of all-time.
Yesss. I actually heard Mick’s version first. I heard it on the airwaves for about 2 weeks. Then a few weeks later I heard the Jacksons version and never really Mick’s agsin.
Make you feel my love - Adele vs Bob Dylan
While probably not more famous than the original, she also did an excellent cover of “Love Song” by the Cure.
Honestly, that song has been covered a bunch by a wide variety of artists (for example, the band 311 covered it.)
@ that was going to be my next suggestion too. But I didn’t want to come off too strong as an Adele fan 🤭
this was nice
State of Shock next....
Not only first letter Miguel is Michael in Spanish
Jeff Buckley's cover of Leornard Cohen's "Hallelujah" might be more well know than the original. Talking Heads cover of Al Green's "Take me to the RIver" . The Isley Brothers cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's song "Ohio" and Hendrix's "Machine Gun" (titled "Ohio" / "Machine Gun") blows both originals out of the water.
It's about timing and coincedence.
When I live in Harlem everyone was talking about the jackson saying that michael & the people of Epic record wrote this song now I know the truth thank you guys
I remember when Destiny came out the big thing was the Jacksons wrote their own material. Wow mind blown. I always thought that was a corny song always. Shake your body down was the hit.
Trey is great. :)
There was actually 10 Siblings Marlon twin died during birth
I discover your YT channel with this video. Thank you so much for your work : very interesting, funny, educational and so well done.
My metalwork teacher at high school was also called Michael Jackson! 😂
Papa Joe found the song for HIS boys...THE JACKSONS. LOVE those funky horn arrangements in the Jacksons version.
Joe SAVED his boys career getting them OUT of Motown back in 1975. he got them in Motown at the RIGHT time. and took them OUT and the RIGHT time. and who got Janet that deal at A&M records back in 1981...you got it, JOE JACKSON. joe made a few bad moves. he also made a few damn GOOD ones too. saving ALL their careers. if EL DEBARGE had a manager like Joe Jackson, and he got El OUT of Motown by the mid/too LATE 80's. BIG Superstar was waiting on El.
To name a couple:
Nirvana - The man who sold the world
Jamelia - Superstar
Johnny Cash - Hurt
I can’t believe I forgot to mention Man Who Sold the World in my diatribe on the subject, considering I mentioned Nirvana in the context of Tori Amos’s cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Michael, Marlon, Randy, Rebie (spelling?), La Toya, Janet = 9 kids
So what you are telling me is a band with an American Michael, and duo with an English Michael, and a Mexican solo artist with the last name that basically is Michael in Spanish all sang on this song? By that logic, I should sing it since half my DNA came from a Michael and I could make it worth my time...lol
I think it would definitely be a hit for you, yes 😂
12:15 - Can somebody say Michael Jackson/Floetry "Butterflies"😅
After over a year I just realized your channel is Digging in the Greats.... i thought it was "Crates. I'm sure that was an intentional pun but yeah