Hit Songs You Never Knew Were Covers

Have you ever heard a hit song on the radio and gotten a weird sense of déjà vu? Like you’ve heard this song before, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? Well, the good news is that you’re not crazy — tons of beloved songs are actually covers.
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While it’s got to sting a little for the original artists to see someone else do their songs better, a lot of them don’t have any hard feelings. You probably wouldn’t either if it meant getting a comfortable cut of the royalties.

“Achy Breaky Heart” – Billy Ray Cyrus

Released with his debut album in 1992, it’s safe to say “Achy Breaky Heart” launched Billy Ray Cyrus’s music career. But, it had actually already been released a year prior by the band The Marcy Brothers. The original release had minor lyrical changes, most notably changing the title to “Don’t Tell My Heart.”

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The original was no match for Cyrus’s rendition, which made waves internationally to the point of being Australia’s number-one single of 1992. You know Australia? The home of country pop-rock?

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper

This one is going to blow your mind. Not only was Cyndi Lauper not the first recording artist to release this song — the original singer was a man! Robert Hazard wrote and released the song in 1979, and it was originally from a man’s point of view.

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Sounds a little creepy, but rest assured, the original version is just as fun and punchy as Lauper’s — and a little more rock, too.

“Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…)” – Lou Bega

This one-hit wonder for Bega is technically sampling rather than covering, but it had actually been around for almost five decades before Bega made it mainstream in 1999. That said, it was a little different back in 1950.

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The song started out as just an instrumental by Cuban artist Dámaso Pérez Prado, and Bega really made it his own with his cheeky lyrics. Just think of how different the early 2000s would have been without a little bit of Erica, Tina, Rita, and Jessica in our lives…

“Torn” – Natalie Imbruglia

“Torn” actually changed a number of hands before it landed in the lap of Natalie Imbruglia. The song was initially released in Danish by Danish songstress Lis Sørensen in 1993. The first English version was released in 1994 by the band Ednaswap and was then covered by singer Trine Rein in 1996.

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So, when Imbruglia released her version in 1997, the song was hardly new. Still, Imbruglia’s debut single clearly stood the test of time, with virtually everyone crediting the song to her.

“Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley

You may be surprised to hear that this Elvis classic isn’t originally his, but even more surprising than that is that the song has been recorded over 250 times! Given those specs, it’s pretty impressive that this was the best-selling song of Presley’s career.

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The original singer, Big Mama Thornton, didn’t do too shabbily either, and her version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. Bonus fact: In the 2022 Elvis Presley biopic, “Elvis,” Big Mama Thornton’s version of the song is sampled as a tribute to the original.

“If I Were a Boy” – Beyonce

This song had some drama behind it. It was originally written and recorded by BC Jean in 2008, but after her record label rejected it, it was handed over to Beyonce, who recorded her version in the same year. Problem was, Jean wasn’t made aware of this and was pretty irritated when she found out.

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Eventually, they reached an agreement, and the song was released that same year. We love happy endings.

“I’m a Believer” – Smashmouth

“I’m a Believer” is undoubtedly one of the most famous soundtrack songs of the early 2000s, but did you know this hit has been around since the ’60s? First recorded by The Monkees in 1966 (and penned by Neil Diamond. Didn’t see that one coming), the Smashmouth version shot to fame by being featured in the first “Shrek” movie.

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The song was so popular in the movie that it was featured again in “Shrek Forever After,” but that version was performed by the band Weezer. A double cover!

“I Fought the Law” – The Clash

Not only was this iconic rock song just a cover by The Clash — it wasn’t even the most successful one. The original song was recorded by The Crickets in 1964 and covered shortly thereafter by The Bobby Fuller Four.

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The Bobby Fuller Four version enjoyed way more success than The Clash’s version, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame naming it one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock. Still, most people associate the song with The Clash, likely because they were overall the most famous band.

“RESPECT” – Aretha Franklin

It’s hard to believe, but the song that put Aretha Franklin on the map wasn’t an original. The song was written and recorded by fellow soul singer Otis Redding in 1965. Franklin’s cover, though, does feature some significant changes.

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Most notably, the famous spelling out of “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” wasn’t in the original, nor was the reference to “TCB” (an abbreviation of “Taking Care of Business,” and an African American slang term that you’re better off researching yourself).

“Whiskey in the Jar” – Metallica

This famous rock song started out as an Irish folk song. Many artists and bands have recorded their own versions over the years, and Metallica’s cover bears a striking resemblance to an earlier version by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy.

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Still, Metallica’s heavy metal version of the song is the most famous and even earned the band a Grammy. It’s crazy to see how far a folk tune from the Irish mountains can travel!

“Twist and Shout” – The Beatles

Dubbed “the most famous single take in rock history,” John Lennon famously sang himself hoarse in this one-and-done recording. While “Twist and Shout” is considered a Beatles classic, the song is actually a cover from The Top Notes.

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You may have heard it was originally accredited to The Isley Brothers, and while that was the first version to chart, it was a cover itself. Another cover you may not have heard about was one recorded by hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa, who add a fun, feminine flair to the historically male-sung song.

“The Power of Love” – Celine Dion

One of the most famous love ballads, “The Power of Love” by Celine Dion topped the charts across the world. But did you know she wasn’t the original singer? Truth is, there is actually a fair chance you did know that, as the original version was also a huge commercial success.

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Jennifer Rush originally recorded the song in 1984 (a full decade before Dion’s version!), and it became the UK’s best-selling single of 1985. Rush was actually the first female recording artist to have a million-selling single in the UK, thanks to this little number!

“House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals

British rock band The Animals popularized this tune in 1964, but it actually has its origins back in the Appalachian mountains. As a traditional folk tune, there is no clear original artist, but the first recorded version dates back to the 1930s.

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Even so, there are reports of American miners singing the tune as far back as 1905. Wherever it came from, it’s now cemented as a rock classic thanks to The Animals.

“Venus” – Bananarama

One of the most successful advertisement jingles, “Venus” was a hit when Bananarama released it in 1986. But the truth is, the song was already a hit almost two decades before that. Initially recorded by the Dutch band Shocking Blue in 1969, the song topped the charts across the world.

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The catchy tune has been featured in multiple movie and television soundtracks, with tons of artists recording their own versions.

“Can’t Get Used to Losing You” – The English Beat

When The English Beat released their single, “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” back in 1983, it became the best-selling single of their career. This could have been partly because they also announced their breakup in 1983, so there was a lot of hype around the band. Still, the song became synonymous with them, even though it was only a cover.

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The original was recorded by Andy Williams back in 1963. Williams’s version did pretty well but, understandably, fell by the wayside after 20 years when it was picked up by the popular British band.

“Dazed and Confused” – Led Zeppelin

This cover comes with some drama. When Led Zeppelin recorded “Dazed and Confused” in 1968, they changed up some lyrics to better suit their style. However, the original singer-songwriter wasn’t credited at all, leading to a copyright infringement lawsuit in 2010.

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The original artist was Jake Holmes, who released it a year earlier, in 1967. Legal matters were settled outside of court, but the dirty laundry is still public.

“The First Cut Is the Deepest” – Sheryl Crow

“The First Cut Is the Deepest” was written by Cat Stevens and initially released by P.P. Arnold back in 1967. Since then, it’s been covered by a slew of artists, including none other than Rod Stewart. While the song earned places on the charts for many singers, arguably the most successful cover was Sheryl Crow’s, released in 2003.

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Crow’s version made waves internationally, even earning her a Grammy nomination. Stevens sold the song to Arnold for just £30 in the 60s, but thanks to multiple covers, Stevens earned songwriting awards for it well into the 2000s.

“Blue Suede Shoes” – Elvis Presley

It’s hard to imagine that a song so iconically Elvis wasn’t actually originally recorded by The King himself, but that’s the case with “Blue Suede Shoes.” The rockabilly tune was written and recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955, a year before Presley released it on his debut album.

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Presley actually only recorded the song to help out Perkins after Perkins was involved in a car accident. Presley hoped the financial boost would help Perkins as his own version of the song was on the decline after enjoying some success. Needless to say, it did a little more than help out.

“I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston

This iconic ballad wasn’t just covered by a powerhouse woman; it was also written by one. As one of the best-selling singles of all time, everyone likely knows this as a Whitney Houston song. But did you know the original artist was country queen, Dolly Parton?

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Parton’s version is a little more somber but just as soulful as Houston’s, and you won’t be disappointed with either. How does Parton feel knowing the cover is more successful than her original? Well, in her own words, “I don’t care who gets the credit as long as I get the check.”

“Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen

Okay, considering this song is widely considered the most covered rock song of all time, you may have heard through the grapevine that The Kingsmen weren’t the first to record it. That said, their version is the most popular, and they were one of the first covers, so they likely contributed to its popularity among other artists.

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The song was first released in 1957 by its songwriter, Richard Berry. The Kingsmen’s version was famously raucous and contained virtually unintelligible lyrics (presumably to mask the fact that they weren’t safe for radio), and remains their most popular song to date.

“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

As Joan Jett’s only number-one single, it’s easy to think of her strong vocals blasting “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Jett was a fan of the original, performed by British band The Arrows in 1975, and took it to her band, who released their chart-topping rendition in 1981.

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The Arrows’ version enjoyed moderate success, but nothing compared to the heights Jett’s version reached. Still, it earned them a television series in the UK, which is pretty cool.

“All Along the Watchtower” – Jimi Hendrix

“All Along the Watchtower” was actually written and recorded by legendary Bob Dylan. Jimi Hendrix was a huge fan of Dylan’s and was musically inspired by him for years.

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When Hendrix released his cover of “All Along the Watchtower” just six months after Dylan’s release, this passion shone through, and the song shot to the top of the charts. In turn, Dylan was strongly influenced by Hendrix’s rendition, and his subsequent performances of the song have reflected that.

“Whatta Man” – Salt-N-Pepa ft. En Vogue

This one is a lot closer to sampling rather than covering, but the recognizable parts are present, so we’ve slapped it on our list. Initially titled “What a Man,” the song was released by Linda Lyndell in 1968, where it saw moderate success.

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Salt-N-Pepa reworked the song into a rap song in 1993, giving us the tune we know and love today. The lyrics are notably different, and the title got a bit of a facelift, but it’s the same song at its core.

“Baby I Need Your Lovin'” – Johnny Rivers

One of Johnny Rivers’s defining songs, “Baby I Need Your Lovin'” was originally recorded by the Four Tops band in 1964. The song wasn’t Four Tops’ most successful on the charts, but it’s easily one of their most influential, even though hardly anyone knows it’s theirs.

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But, credit where it’s due — Rolling Stone placed the original song on their list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Johnny’s version generated far more chart success, and he still gets the credit today for the hit.

“Walkin’ the Dog” – Aerosmith

Aerosmith had to have done a stellar job on this cover for them to be the main artists associated with this one. Not because the original artist was so famous, but because the song was covered earlier by The Rolling Stones — and that’s usually a tough act to follow.

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Going back to the song’s true origins, Rufus Thomas released it back in 1963, and it became his biggest hit. Still, Aerosmith’s rendition was featured on their debut studio album, which actually didn’t do all that well on the charts, but still overshadowed all other versions before or since.

“Gloria” – Patti Smith

The opener for Patti Smith’s 1975 debut studio album, “Gloria” is cemented in pop culture as Smith’s raucous burst onto the scene. However, the song had already been around for a decade and had even been covered a few times already. Written by Van Morrison, the song was released by Morrison’s band, Them, in 1964.

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The song didn’t perform poorly on the charts. However, Smith’s version blended the lyrics with the poem “Oath” and featured overtly religious provocative language, which set it apart from the rest and earned it immense clout with the critics.

“Nobody’s Fault But Mine” – Led Zeppelin

Blind Willie Johnson wrote and recorded this one back in 1927 as a decidedly religious anthem detailing his personal spiritual struggle with damnation and faith. Then Led Zeppelin covered it close to 50 years later and made some minor adjustments.

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The meat and potatoes of the song are still there, but Led Zeppelin opted for a more secular adaptation of the lyrics to better suit their style. The result is that we now have two great songs that speak to about as wide an audience as you can imagine. That’s the power of music, folks.

“I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow

“I Want Candy” was Bow Wow Wow’s only single release and the one that put their name on the US map. Even though it’s entrenched in pop culture as a New Wave anthem, the song is just a cover. It was initially recorded by The Strangeloves in 1965.

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Interestingly, it actually performed better on the charts than Bow Wow Wow’s version, but given that Bow Wow Wow released their version in 1982, audiences had long forgotten about the original, leaving a clean slate for Bow Wow Wow to steal the stage.

“Killing Me Softly” – The Fugees

The Fugees’ version has been sampled so many times over the years that it’s mind-bending to think the song isn’t even theirs. Lori Lieberman released the first record of the song in 1972 after a heated public dispute about her writing credits (which she was denied). However, the song didn’t chart, and Lieberman’s efforts have been mostly for naught.

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Notably, Roberta Flack also covered the song in 1973, and while she even earned a Grammy for her performance, it was no match for The Fugees’ cover, which topped the charts in over 20 countries.

“A Case of U” – Prince

Prince had many muses throughout his life and career, but few artists reached the heights of Joni Mitchell in his eyes. So when Prince covered her song, “A Case of You,” in 2002, Mitchell’s 1971 song received a new breath of life.

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The only (seeming) downside is that Prince gets all the credit nowadays for the song — but that’s not Prince’s fault. He gave credit to Mitchell in the album notes, and also very publicly talked about his love for her for years.

“La Vie En Rose” – Grace Jones

Many artists actually tackled this French number, but no one did it quite like Grace Jones. Jones released the song as a single in 1977, and it made waves internationally. In truth, though, the song wasn’t an original. The first artist was French songstress Édith Piaf, who released it in 1947.

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The song was a success with European audiences and didn’t do too badly in the US either, but it wasn’t nearly as successful in the States as the covers were.

“Ray of Light” – Madonna

The story of how this song ended up as Madonna’s is pretty convoluted, but the point is that it’s not hers. In fact, the original artists only found out she recorded it when they heard it on the radio. Awkward. The musicians in question are Dave Curtiss and Clive Muldoon, who recorded the song under the name “Sepheryn” in 1971.

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While Madonna did change some lyrics, the song is a definite cover of the Curtiss-Maldoon version. But, all’s well that ends well, and the original artists received songwriting credit and a good chunk of money for their trouble.

“Rusty Cage” – Johnny Cash

It’s actually impressive just how many hit songs came from the American rock band Soundgarden, especially given how many of those hits were covers. Believe it or not, this Johnny Cash country classic started off as a Soundgarden rock song in 1992.

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Not only did Cash’s cover earn him a Grammy, but even Soundgarden has dedicated live performances of the song to the cover artist. They also performed the song more in-line with Cash’s version a few times.

“Mickey” – Toni Basil

The bad news: The tune you’re signing in your head isn’t original, and your life is a lie. The good news: The MOST famous line chanting “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine” is original, and you can breathe again. The song was originally titled “Kitty” and sung from a male point of view.

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The initial musicians were a pop group called Racey, who released the song in 1979. Basil covered it and gave it a female, cheerleader twist in 1981. Basil’s rendition received some controversial reviews by critics but is overall a pop culture staple that everyone knows and loves.

“The Tide Is High” – Blondie

This is one of those songs where even if you haven’t heard it in years, you still know all the lyrics by heart, because it’s just so darn catchy. Blondie popularized this tune in 1980, but the song was first released in 1967 by the Jamaican reggae band, The Paragons.

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It never got very far with The Paragons, but Blondie’s rendition topped the charts globally, and it’s still the version we think of today. You could say that Blondie really made *waves* with this one. You’re welcome.

“Blinded by the Light” – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

It’s no small feat for a cover to outdo the original, and it’s even more impressive when the original musician is Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen released the song in 1973, but it didn’t achieve particular notoriety on its own.

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Then Manfred Mann’s Earth Band took the reigns in 1976, and it shot to number one in the US and Canada. Not exactly the outcome you’d expect, but that’s showbiz, baby.

“Rock Around the Clock” – Bill Haley & His Comets

Does it count as a cover if the song was always intended for the cover artist and it was just a scheduling issue that prevented them from recording it first? Well, technically, yes. So, in that case, Bill Haley & His Comets covered the famed “Rock Around the Clock,” but you can likely guess the backstory from our clues.

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The first band to record it was Sonny Dae and His Knights (apparently, sentence-long band names were all the rage in the 50s) in March 1954. Then Haley took the mic in April 1954, and the rest was history.

“Feelin’ Good” – Michael Bublé

This may not be a huge surprise to many, given that a ton of Michael Bublé songs are actually covers, but “Feelin’ Good” is one of his biggest hits, so you would think there’s a higher chance of it being an original.

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Interestingly, though, this wasn’t any old cover – the song comes from a 1964 musical called “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd.” Bublé released his version in 2005, and while it hasn’t topped any charts, it’s the most successful and recognizable rendition of the song still today.

“Red Red Wine” – UB40

If you were to guess who the original artist was for this hit, you’d probably say Bob Marley, given how decidedly reggae “Red Red Wine” is. Surprisingly enough, the singer and songwriter on this one was Neil Diamond in 1967. What’s more, the song started out as an acoustic ballad.

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Diamond didn’t see much success with this one, possibly because he was clashing with his record label at the time and left them shortly after. UB40 took it on in 1983 and gave it that signature reggae bend. Interestingly, it only became a hit when it was re-released in 1988.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tiffany

Tiffany was just 15 when she released “I Think We’re Alone Now” on her debut album in 1987. The song was a hit and topped the charts in the US and UK. However, she wasn’t the first to record it.

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The original song came out in 1967 (before Tiffany was even born) and was recorded by Tommy James and the Shondells, a psychedelic rock band from the US. The original did moderately well, but nowhere near the success that Tiffany had when she turned it into a dance hit.

“Tainted Love” – Soft Cell

This synth-pop hit is so ingrained in 80s pop culture, it’s hard to imagine any other version of the song. But, as it happens, “Tainted Love” started out as a jazzy soul song. Gloria Jones was the first musician to record the song back in 1964.

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It achieved very little commercial success (okay, it was basically a complete flop) and didn’t chart at all. Still, Soft Cell saw the potential in it and gave it a facelift in 1981, resulting in the hit we still dance to today.

“The Best” – Tina Turner

We’re sorry to break it to you. Tina Turner was not the first artist to release this powerhouse hit that people still associate her with today. In truth, Bonnie Tyler was the original singer, but for some reason, her version just did not find success anywhere.

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Tyler released it in 1988, just a year before Turner took over. Still, Tyler doesn’t have any hard feelings — she herself admitted that Turner “did it much better than I did.”

“Jersey Girl” – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Given how many original songs Bruce Springsteen has dedicated to New Jersey, you’d be forgiven for thinking that “Jersey Girl” is no different. But the truth is, this one’s not on him.

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Tom Waits wrote and recorded the song in 1980. It was an ode to his future wife living in New Jersey at the time. It didn’t make a big splash until Springsteen recorded it in 1984, and it quickly became a fan favorite.

“Ring Of Fire” – Johnny Cash

This one is a tight ‘cover’ as it was released in the same year as the original. The first to do it was Anita Carter in 1963, not long before Cash released his far more successful version.

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If any superfans of Johnny Cash are seeing alarm bells with the last name “Carter,” that’s because Anita Carter is the sister of June Carter — Cash’s second wife. In fact, June Carter actually co-wrote the song for her sister, although there’s a juicy debate about that, with Cash’s first wife claiming Carter had no part in it.

“1985” – Bowling for Soup

Easily one of the, if not the, most famous songs to come from Bowling for Soup, “1985” didn’t start out with the band. The song was written and first recorded by fellow American rock band SR-71 in 2003. It didn’t make much of an impression.

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There are a few versions of the story of how the song ended up with Bowling for Soup, but regardless, it was an amicable handover, and the song performed incredibly well when the cover was released in 2004.

“MacArthur Park” – Donna Summer

This song was pretty much born to be a hit. Donna Summer wasn’t the first to release it, but she did give the song a disco spin that revamped it and won over pretty much everyone. The song was originally released by Richard Harris in 1968 and performed pretty well internationally.

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Still, a decade later and the music scene had moved more towards a disco undercurrent, laying the foundation for Summer to steal the show in 1978.

“Year 3000” – Jonas Brothers

RIP to the trust of every tween girl of the early 2000s. The Jonas Brothers released this track in 2006, and it quickly became a fan favorite. However, the song was a cover from a British pop-rock band called Busted, who first released it in 2002.

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A few of the lyrics had to be changed for the Jonas Brothers’ version as they were deemed too suggestive for the boy band’s younger audience. In 2019, the two bands actually joined forces and sang the song live at the Capital’s Summertime Ball.

“Sail On” – Destiny’s Child

This 1998 hit for Destiny’s Child was first released back in 1979 for The Commodores. What’s more, the song was written for them by none other than Lionel Richie, who recorded his own version in 2007.

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For The Commodores, the song charted in both the US and the UK and even earned the band a Grammy nomination. For Destiny’s Child, it formed part of their hugely successful debut studio album, which lasted a whopping 26 weeks on the charts.

“Me and Bobby McGee” – Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin recorded this chart-topping song just days before her passing in 1970. When it was released in 1971, it went straight to the top of the charts, making it not only Joplin’s only number-one single but also the second single in history to reach the top spot after the artist’s death.

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Initially, the song was released by Roger Miller in 1969, and it performed modestly on the charts. Kris Kristofferson, the songwriter, didn’t even know that Joplin had recorded the song and only heard it the day after she passed.

“Bless the Broken Road” – Rascal Flatts

This country classic has seen many renditions, but the original version came out way back in 1994. That’s not exactly the Stone Age, but old enough, considering the song only became famous in 2005 when Rascal Flatts released their cover. The first to do it was Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and it was never released as a single.

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Under Rascall Flatts, “Bless the Broken Road” won a Grammy award in 2005, and it wasn’t long before it went platinum, cementing itself in mainstream culture.

“Shout” – Lulu

Lulu released “Shout” in 1965, and it became the most successful song of her career. However, it wasn’t an original. The song was first released by The Isley Brothers in 1959.

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It was a minor hit for the band at best, but it did actually become their first gold single just by virtue of how long it stayed on the charts, albeit not very high up.

“It’s My Life” – No Doubt

No Doubt were (ironically) doubtful about recording a cover, but their creative risk paid off when “It’s My Life” charted for close to 30 weeks in 2003. The original was performed by the British band Talk Talk in 1984, and it didn’t have an amazing reception.

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It was re-released by the band in 1985 and again in 1990, but it was only the third release where it gained any traction. The No Doubt version, on the other hand, picked up a Grammy award and another nomination.

“Emotion” – Destiny’s Child

This hit from Destiny’s Child had been around for almost two-and-a-half decades before the girl group released their version in 2001. Samantha Sang was the first to release it back in 1977. Sang’s version was also successful, even breaking the top 5 on the charts at one point.

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Still, it didn’t compare to Destiny’s Child’s version, which made waves internationally and actually came to be a tribute song for the victims of 9/11. Bonus fact: the Bee Gees also recorded a cover in 1994, but this wasn’t released until it featured on their Greatest Hits album in 2001.

“Valerie” – Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson

Say it ain’t so! A song THIS iconic is just a cover? Somehow, yes. “Valerie” was originally released by The Zutons in 2006, just a year before Ronson and Winehouse covered it. Ronson was actually unsure of whether the song would suit Winehouse’s voice, but as soon as she hit the recording booth, he was sold.

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Within no time, “Valerie” became a quintessential Amy Winehouse song and the fact that anyone did it before her is kind of unthinkable.

“Alone” – Heart

Plenty of the world’s finest singers have given this song their best go. Including you in the shower, we’re sure. While Heart arguably did their best, they didn’t do it first. The original band was i-Ten in 1983.

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The song flew pretty under the radar until Heart released their cover in 1987, topping the charts in both Canada and the US. Since then, singers like Alyssa Reid and Celine Dion have also released versions, but none as successful as Heart’s.

“Make You Feel My Love” – Adele

The stats of this song are just crazy. At first, we thought it was a regular old Adele song, but then we learned it was a cover; interesting! Then we learned it was written by Bob Dylan and first performed by Billy Joel; crazy! Then we found out it’s been covered by more than *450* artists!

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Maybe we’ve just been living under a rock, and everybody already knew this, but we hope not. Anyway, after all that, it’s pretty impressive that the song is so strongly associated with just Adele. What a queen.

“No More I Love Yous” – Annie Lennox

“No More I Love Yous” was an international hit for Annie Lennox when she released it in 1995. The song even earned her a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, making her the first British artist ever to receive this honor.

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Lennox wanted to give the song another chance as she felt the original didn’t get the reception it deserved. The original artists were a group called The Lover Speaks, and they released the song back in 1986. The original version just never charted, but Lennox made sure to change that.

“What’s Love Got to Do With It” – Tina Turner

For this song, you (yes, you!) get to be the judge if this is a true cover or not. See, the first recording artist was a group called Bucks Fizz in 1984, just a few months before Tina Turner recorded her version. However, Turner ended up releasing her version first, so Bucks Fizz ended up postponing their release all the way til 2000.

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So, dear reader, does a song become a cover only when the cover artist *releases* it after another artist or as soon as they aren’t the first to *record* it? Food for thought.

“Don’t Cha” – The Pussycat Dolls

If it weren’t for office politics, “Don’t Cha” might have had a very different life. The song was originally released by Tori Alamaze in 2004. While the critics were overall impressed, the track’s commercial success was stifled because of Alamaze butting heads with her record company. The end result was that Alamaze’s version just never really got the chance to make it.

Instagram/@tori_alamaze & Alamy Stock Photo


The Pussycat Dolls covered it that year and released it in 2005 on their debut album. The PCD version was instantly a hit, achieving the heights that Alamaze might have, had she been given a fair shot.

“When You Say Nothing at All” – Ronan Keating

“When You Say Nothing At All” was the debut single for Ronan Keating in 1999 and is maybe still his most memorable song today. The song became a number-one hit for Keating, and people often only think of him when they think of the song.

Alamy Stock Photo


Truth is, however, that the track was first released back in 1988 by Keith Whitley, who actually also had a pretty good go of things on the charts. Whitley, unfortunately, passed away while the song was still successful, so he never truly saw the full fruit of his labors.

“You Got the Love” – Florence + The Machine

This dance hit was a perfect fit for Florence + The Machine’s soulful club sound, and this undoubtedly aided in the song’s success in 2009. However, the song had already existed for almost 25 years, first released in 1986 by The Source featuring Candi Station.

Getty Images Photo by Harry Herd/WireImage & Alamy Stock Photo


The original version had to go through a couple of remixes to reach success, unlike Florence + The Machine’s rendition, which ticked all the boxes for commercial success straight away.

“Untouchable” – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is known for writing virtually all of her own songs, so it’s surprising to learn when she covers another artist. In this case, “Untouchable” was originally released by Luna Halo, a rock band, in 2007.

Alamy Stock Photo & Instagram/@lunahalomusic


Now, if you’re anything like us Swifties, or if you’ve even just heard Swift’s 2008 version, you’re probably stunned to hear that this was a rock song, given that Swift’s rendition sounds more like a lullaby. Luna Halo was pretty surprised, too, and didn’t even recognize it at first. Still, this was Taylor Swift covering their song, so they didn’t hold any grudges.

“Girl With One Eye” – Florence + The Machine

This track is for sure a cover — Florence Welch proudly admits to that — but with an interesting twist in that the original song was never formally recorded or released. The original artist was The Ludes, a band whom Welch was close with.

Facebook/@TheLudes & Alamy Stock Photo


The Ludes wrote and performed the song at their gigs, and Florence would often join in. After some time, she got permission to record it herself and released it on her 2009 album, “Lungs.”

“It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” – Celine Dion

Arguably one of the most famous and dramatic love songs ever, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” was popularized by Celine Dion in 1996. However, the song had already been released almost a decade prior, in 1989, by Pandora’s Box.

Getty Images Photo by Ron Galella & Alamy Stock Photo


The original received mixed critical response, and commercially it didn’t really register. When Dion released it, however, the reception was outstanding, with Andrew Lloyd Webber calling it “the record of the millennium.”

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