The Most Successful Cover Song of All Time, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the cover song you think is the most successful!
Updated on May 7, 2024 06:58
Cover songs often breathe new life into original tracks, transforming them in such a way that they appeal to a different audience or give a fresh perspective. This transformation can forge an emotional connection with listeners, sometimes making the cover version even more popular than the original. It's interesting to observe how artists interpret the work of others and make it their own, potentially leading a song to success in varying degrees across diverse listener groups.
Ranking the most successful cover songs provides an insightful glimpse into how music evolves and resonates across different eras and cultures. By participating in this voting process, you contribute to a broader understanding of musical impact and evolution. Your votes help to paint a clearer picture of which adaptations have truly captivated audiences, offering a unique engagement with music history.
What Is the Most Successful Cover Song of All Time?
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175votes"Yesterday" by The Beatles - considered one of the most covered songs in history, with over 2,200 versions recorded. It has been covered by artists such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Boyz II Men.
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219votes
"Respect" by Otis Redding (covered by Aretha Franklin)
Aretha FranklinAretha Franklin's version of this song became her signature hit and is considered a feminist anthem.The cover song "Respect" by Otis Redding, covered by Aretha Franklin, is a powerful and iconic rendition of the original. Aretha Franklin transformed Redding's soulful and pleading version into a feminist anthem embodying self-empowerment and demanding respect. It quickly became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and a landmark in American music history.- Original Artist: Otis Redding
- Cover Artist: Aretha Franklin
- Genre: Soul
- Released: 1967
- Duration: 2:29
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334votesWhitney Houston's version of this song is one of the best-selling singles of all time and won multiple awards, including a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.The cover song 'I Will Always Love You' by Dolly Parton, covered by Whitney Houston, is a powerful and iconic ballad that has become one of the most successful cover songs of all time. It was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973, but Whitney Houston's rendition in 1992 propelled it to even greater heights, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
- Original Artist: Dolly Parton
- Cover Artist: Whitney Houston
- Year of Original Release: 1973
- Year of Cover Release: 1992
- Genre: R&B, Soul, Pop
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418votesJeff Buckley's version of this song is considered one of the greatest covers of all time and helped popularize the song.
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516votesJimi Hendrix's version of this song is often cited as one of the greatest covers of all time and is credited with elevating the song's status.All Along the Watchtower is an iconic cover song originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan, but it gained massive popularity through the legendary electric guitar rendition by Jimi Hendrix. The song was released in 1968 and is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
- Year: 1968 (Jimi Hendrix cover)
- Genre: Rock
- Length: 4:01 (Jimi Hendrix version)
- Album: Electric Ladyland
- Cover Version Chart Performance: Reached No. 20 on Billboard Hot 100
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68votesNirvana's version of this song helped introduce David Bowie's music to a new generation and is considered one of the band's defining songs.The cover song 'The Man Who Sold the World' originally by David Bowie, is famously covered by the band Nirvana. The song was originally released by David Bowie in 1970 as the title track of his third studio album. Nirvana's cover of the song gained significant popularity when it was performed on MTV's 'Unplugged in New York' in 1993, just a few months before Kurt Cobain's tragic death. The cover version showcases Cobain's haunting vocals and the band's raw and stripped-down sound, giving the song a new and unique interpretation.
- Original Artist: David Bowie
- Cover Artist: Nirvana
- Original Release Year: 1970
- Cover Performance Year: 1993
- Album: The Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie), MTV Unplugged in New York (Nirvana)
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718votesSoft Cell's version of this song became a massive hit and is considered one of the defining songs of the 1980s.
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812votesMarvin Gaye's version of this song is considered one of the greatest soul songs of all time and is credited with revitalizing his career.
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912votesCyndi Lauper's version of this song became an instant classic and is considered one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s.
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107votesSinead O'Connor's version of this song became a massive hit and is considered one of the greatest ballads of all time.Nothing Compares 2 U is a powerful and emotional ballad originally written and recorded by the band The Family, but achieved enormous success when it was covered by Sinead O'Connor. The song explores themes of heartbreak, longing, and lost love, with O'Connor's haunting vocals adding a poignant and soulful touch.
- Original release year: 1985
- Cover version release year: 1990
- Genre: Pop, Rock
- Length: 5:09
- Songwriter: Prince
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Ranking factors for successful cover song
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Chart successHow high did the song chart on music charts around the world?
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Sales and streaming numbersHow many records or digital copies of the song were sold or streamed?
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Critical receptionWhat did music critics and other reviewers think of the cover version?
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Cultural impactDid the cover version have a lasting impact on pop culture and influence later artists?
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Original song popularityHow well-known was the original version of the song that was covered?
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Artistic interpretationDid the cover artist put their own unique spin on the song, making it stand out from other cover versions?
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Historical significanceDid the cover have any historical or political significance, such as being used as an anthem for a movement?
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most successful cover song of all time. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or cover is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2153 views
- 218 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each cover once every 24 hours. The rank of each cover is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most successful cover song of all time
Cover songs have been a staple of the music industry for decades. From Elvis Presley's rendition of "Hound Dog" to Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You," cover songs have the ability to take a familiar tune and transform it into something new and exciting.
But what makes a cover song successful? Is it the ability to stay true to the original while adding a unique twist, or is it the ability to completely reinvent the song and make it your own?
This debate has been ongoing for years, but one thing is for certain: there have been some incredibly successful cover songs throughout history. From Jimi Hendrix's version of "All Along the Watchtower" to Johnny Cash's take on "Hurt," these covers have gone on to become classics in their own right.
So, what is the most successful cover song of all time? It's a difficult question to answer, as success can be measured in a variety of ways. Is it the number of copies sold, the amount of airplay it receives, or the critical acclaim it receives?
Regardless of the criteria, there are a few cover songs that stand out above the rest. Some of the most successful cover songs of all time include "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell, and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.
No matter which cover song you believe to be the most successful, there is no denying the impact that these songs have had on the music industry. They have breathed new life into old classics
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