August 18th 2024.
Believe it or not, all of these songs are actually covers! We've all had that moment when we're belting out a tune we've known and loved for years, only to be told that it's not the original version. You know, like Whitney Houston's iconic rendition of "I Will Always Love You," or Adele's emotional take on "Make You Feel My Love." Oh, and let's not forget Amy Winehouse's soulful cover of "Valerie" or Bananarama's fun version of "Venus." These are just a few examples of some of the most beloved covers in music history.
But every now and then, a cover version comes along that surpasses the original and becomes even more popular. In fact, some of the biggest names in music have had their own songs overshadowed by cover versions that became major hits. It's happened more times than you'd think, and it's always a surprise to find out that a beloved song is actually a cover. So, let's take a look at some of these hidden gems. And hey, let us know if you were already aware of some of them!
First up, we have Natalie Imbruglia's hit song "Torn." This 1997 single launched the Australian actress's music career and quickly climbed the charts worldwide. But did you know that it was actually a cover of a song by Danish singer Lis Sorenson? The original version, titled "Brændt," was released in 1993. And before that, the song was written by a trio of songwriters: Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, and Phil Thornalley. Scott even recorded his own version with his band Ednaswap in 1995. It wasn't until Phil worked with Natalie on her version that it became a massive success, topping charts across Europe and solidifying Natalie's place in the music industry.
Next up, we have "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. This 1980s hit song was actually written back in 1964 by Ed Cobb. And get this - it was first recorded by Gloria Jones, who was in the car with T Rex's Marc Bolan on the night of his fatal crash. Talk about a wild connection! Despite being recorded by Gloria again in the 1970s with Marc, the song never charted in the UK. But when Marc Almond of Soft Cell discovered the song in the late 1970s, he decided to record his own version. And the rest, as they say, is history. "Tainted Love" became a worldwide hit and put Soft Cell on the map.
Moving on to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper. This iconic 1980s tune is one of the quintessential songs of the era. But did you know that it was actually written and recorded four years earlier by singer-songwriter Robert Hazard? He released a demo in 1979, which showed that the lyrics were originally written from a male perspective. And it turns out that Cyndi had more of a hand in the final version than we may have realized. Not only were the lyrics changed, but the sound of the song was also transformed into the upbeat pop anthem we know and love today.
Now, let's talk about "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls. This catchy 2000s hit, featuring Busta Rhymes, was actually written by Busta and Cee-Lo Green. But the iconic chorus was actually taken from a song called "Swass" by Sir Mix-a-Lot. And get this - the first full version of "Don't Cha" was actually recorded by Tori Alamaze in 2004. But it wasn't until the Pussycat Dolls got their hands on it that it became a worldwide smash. And fun fact: the song was originally offered to Sugababes and Paris Hilton before being given to the Dolls.
Last but not least, we have the classic "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. This 1967 hit is one of Aretha's most famous recordings and is still celebrated today as one of the greatest pop songs of all time. But did you know that it was originally written and recorded by Otis Redding? He first heard the song when it was presented to him as a ballad in the mid-1960s. He then changed the lyrics and tempo and released it on his 1965 album, "Otis Blue." Aretha later put her own spin on the song, featuring gender-swapped lyrics and a new bridge. And the rest is history.
And finally, we have "Mickey" by Toni Basil. This catchy 1980s hit was actually a cover of a song called "Kitty" by Racey. But before that, it was written and recorded by a band called the Singing Demons in the mid-1960s. Toni's version became a worldwide sensation and launched her music career, while the original versions remained relatively unknown.
So, there you have it - some of the biggest hits of all time are actually covers. Who would have thought? Which one of these surprises you the most? Let us know in the comments!
In the original text, it was stated that all the songs mentioned were covers, and some of them even became more famous than the original versions. Some of the most well-known covers include Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," The Beatles' "Twist and Shout," Adele's "Make You Feel My Love," Amy Winehouse's "Valerie," and Bananarama's "Venus." These songs have become iconic and beloved by many.
However, there are also instances in pop music where cover versions become so popular that people forget about the original versions. Some of the biggest names in music history have had their original compositions overshadowed by cover versions that became huge hits. The following list features some of these artists and their well-known songs, all of which happen to be covers.
Let's start with Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn." In 1997, this song launched her singing career and became an instant hit worldwide. However, many people are unaware that it was actually first recorded and released in 1993 by Danish singer Lis Sorenson under the title "Brændt." Even before that, "Torn" was originally written by Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, and Phil Thornalley, and recorded in English by Scott's band Ednaswap in 1995. It wasn't until Phil worked with Natalie on her version that it topped the charts across Europe and kickstarted her pop career.
Another surprising cover is Soft Cell's "Tainted Love." This 80s hit was actually written in 1964 by Ed Cobb and first recorded by Gloria Jones, who later re-recorded it with her boyfriend Marc Bolan in the 70s. However, both versions failed to chart in the UK. It wasn't until the late 70s when Marc Almond of Soft Cell discovered the song's popularity in the Northern soul scene and recorded their own version, which became a worldwide smash and made them famous.
Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is another cover that many people may not know about. Released in 1983, it became one of the defining songs of the 80s and propelled Cyndi to stardom. But the song was actually written and recorded four years earlier by singer-songwriter Robert Hazard, who released a demo in 1979. Interestingly, the lyrics were originally written from a male perspective, and Cyndi had a hand in changing them to make it her own.
One of the most surprising covers is "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls, which features Busta Rhymes. This catchy hit was written by Busta and Cee-Lo Green in the early 2000s and was originally lifted from a song called "Swass" by Sir Mix-a-Lot in the late 80s. Before the Pussycat Dolls version, Tori Alamaze recorded and released it as a single, but it was not successful. The song was then offered to Sugababes and Paris Hilton, who both turned it down before the Pussycat Dolls made it their own.
Another famous cover is "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. This song is one of her most well-known recordings, but it was actually written and recorded first by Otis Redding, the King of Soul. Originally a ballad, Otis changed the lyrics and tempo and released it on his album in 1965. Aretha's version, with its gender-swapped lyrics and added bridge, became a huge hit, reaching number 10 in the UK.
And lastly, we have "Mickey" by Toni Basil. This song, released in 1982, was a huge hit and is still played at sporting events and parties today. But it was actually first recorded in 1979 by a group called Racey. Toni Basil's version, with its iconic cheerleader music video, became a worldwide sensation and overshadowed the original version.
So, there you have it – some of the biggest names in music history and their famous songs, all of which are cover versions. It's amazing to see how these artists have taken a song and made it their own, sometimes even surpassing the success of the original version. Did you know about these covers before? Let us know!
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