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Redoing a popular song for an album or a concert is common in pop music. It could be a plain tribute to an early influence (Guns N’ Roses’ 'Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door'), a reworking of a song (Joe Cocker) or an awesomely bad rendition of a song no one expected them to get right. This list includes songs that fall into the last category – the most terrible cover versions.
'American Pie' – Madonna
Don McLean may have said that Madonna’s version is ‘mystical and sensual’, but we don’t think he believes that. Who’d have thought the classic folk tune would ever get a dance version? ‘The day that music died’ is a reference to the death of Buddy Holly, but with Madonna’s 2000 version, it seemed to have died again.
'You Shook Me All Night Long' – Celine Dion
Pop is where she belongs, but anything goes in Vegas, right? So one night over there in 2002, ‘The Power Of Love’ Celine decided to cover AC/DC’s sex song. Starting with a disastrous air guitar step, Celine Dion sings ‘knockin’ me out with those American thighs’ like a diva, which is as far away from reckless rock as you should be from this cover.
'Message In A Bottle' – Machine Head
Over four decades, Lemmy has made clear what he’s good at – hard and fast songs that clonk you in the head and last a little over two minutes. It should be evident to him – as it is to us – that anything by the Police is bad news. At brutality, he may be excellent; when singing Sting’s lonely tale, though, he sounds like a machine.
'Comfortably Numb' – Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters do well to adapt this brilliant Pink Floyd song, but did this song need a Bee Gees-style cover? Fans of Floyd will cringe at the utterance of the first ‘Hellllow’, but do wait for the solo.
'Sweet Child O Mine' – Sheryl Crow
Her version has even won a Grammy, but how often do those guys get it right? Where Axl attempts to cut through the lines, Sheryl puts on her faux rock voice and the solo is played on the keyboard. |
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