Although I do not understand the scope behind remixing songs, I do understand and appreciate cover versions.  In layman terms, remixing a song boils down to adding a house or techno or even R & B beat to a song, and instead of using the same lyrics or try to adopt them, you mostly use the chorus.  With cover versions things are different.  A cover version can give a new image and feel to a song.  There are bands who are capable of doing it, while unfortunately others don’t, and they totally destroy a song.  In this blog I’m posting the top three cover versions, who actually transformed an original song into a better one, by giving them an appropriate face lift.  It is not that the original song needed it, as when the original song was released they couldn’t have been written in a different way.

The Gathering – In power we entrust the love advocate

This song was originally released from Dead can Dance in their 1984 EP called Garden of the Arcane Delights.  When compared to the original version, thanks to Anneke’s haunting vocals, more robust drums recording and the introduction of keyboards make this song sounds more complete and is able to deliver more feel.  The original version is quite silent and unpolished  compared to The Gatherings cover.

Lacuna Coil – Enjoy the Silence

This song was originally released from Depeche Mode in their 1990 album Violator.  Although I really love Depeche Mode,their music style and almost all 80′s music, Lacuna Coil managed to transform this song into a stadium rock anthem.  Depeche Mode are still able to transform this song into a stadium anthem, electronically, but only in live performances since the original version is much less hyper.  Again, thanks to female vocals, the introduction of guitars and heavier drum rolls instead of drum machines, make this song more catchy and needs to be played real loud!

Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

This song was originally released from Eurythmics in their 1983 album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).  With all his weird ways of doing it, Marilyn Manson managed to transform this song into a dark, gloomy and angry song, which obviously makes it more catchy.  With a catchy guitar solo, angry / screaming voice and industrial like sound effects, make this song a ‘dream’ song.  Well done Marilyn!

Stay tuned as in the next blog post we will post the worst three cover versions ever, in other words, how to screw up and destroy a song!