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The 50 Best Cover Songs Ever

There's nothing better than hearing a great musician's fresh take on a classic song

By Esquire US Editors
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Bear Grylls//Digital Spy

Is there anything more exciting that a great musician reinterpreting a classic song? Sometimes a great cover is a faithful rendition, borne out of love and respect for the original track. Others completely reimagine the original tune, rendering it almost unrecognisable (in a good way). Here are 50 great cover songs—some of which improve on the originals. (Follow the playlist on Spotify!)

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1

The Slits - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"

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Originally recorded by: Gladys Knight & the Pips 

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2

Sinead O'Connor - "Nothing Compares 2 U"

Originally recorded by: The Family

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3

Hot Chip - "Dancing in the Dark"

Originally recorded by: The Beatles

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4

Aretha Franklin - "Eleanor Rigby"

Originally recorded by: The Beatles

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5

Sturgill Simpson - "In Bloom"

Originally recorded by: Nirvana

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6

Ra Ra Riot - "Suspended in Gaffa"

Originally recorded by: Kate Bush

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7

Ryan Adams - "Wonderwall"

Originally recorded by: Oasis

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8

Gary Jules - "Mad World"

Originally recorded by: Tears for Fears

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9

Tori Amos - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Originally recorded by: Nirvana

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10

Marianne Faithfull - "Working Class Hero"

Originally recorded by: John Lennon

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11

Fiona Apple - "Across the Universe"

Originally recorded by: The Beatles

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12

Antony and the Johnsons - "Crazy in Love"

Originally recorded by: Beyoncé

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13

Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"

Originally recorded by: Dolly Parton

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14

Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane"

Originally recorded by: The Velvet Underground

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15

Kele - "Goodbye Horses"

Originally recorded by: Q Lazzarus

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16

Joan Osborne - "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted"

Originally recorded by: Jimmy Ruffin

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17

Bettye LaVette - "Love Reign O'er Me"

Originally recorded by: The Who

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18

Maxwell - "This Woman's Work"

Originally recorded by: Kate Bush

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19

CSS - "Knife"

Originally recorded by: Grizzly Bear

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20

Cake - "I Will Survive"

Originally recorded by: Gloria Gaynor

From: Esquire US
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