Many of the songs we love and listen to regularly are actually cover versions of earlier works. These covers often become so popular that they overshadow the original recordings, leading many listeners to believe they are the original versions. In this article, we’ll explore 50 surprising cover songs and delve into their origins. We’ll also provide a quick guide on how to remake songs using an AI Cover Song Generator.
50 Surprising Songs You Don’t Know Were Covers
In this list, we explore 50 surprising songs that you might not know were covers, shedding light on the original artists and the fascinating stories behind these timeless tunes.
“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley (Original: Leonard Cohen)
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin (Original: Otis Redding)
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (Original: Dolly Parton)
“The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals (Traditional)
“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses (Original: Bob Dylan)
“Light My Fire” by José José (Original: The Doors)
“All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix (Original: Bob Dylan)
“Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones (Original: The Rolling Stones, but inspired by Muddy Waters)
“Like a Rolling Stone” by The Byrds (Original: Bob Dylan)
“I Can’t Help Myself” by Four Tops (Original: The Five Royales)
“Twist and Shout” by The Beatles (Original: The Top Notes)
“Yesterday Once More” by The Carpenters (Original: The Carpenters, but inspired by The Association)
“My Way” by Frank Sinatra (Original: Claude François)
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival, but inspired by The Beatles)
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum (Original: Procol Harum, but inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach)
“Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton (Original: Eric Clapton, but inspired by J.J. Cale)
“Black Magic Woman” by Santana (Original: Fleetwood Mac)
“It’s My Life” by No Doubt (Original: Talk Talk)
“Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Original: Ike & Tina Turner)
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder (Original: The Four Tops)
“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac (Original: Fleetwood Mac, but inspired by Joni Mitchell)
“The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac (Original: Fleetwood Mac, but inspired by The Beatles)
“The Weight” by The Band (Original: The Band, but inspired by Bob Dylan)
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye (Original: Gladys Knight & the Pips)
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (Original: Led Zeppelin, but inspired by traditional folk songs)
“Hey Jude” by The Beatles (Original: The Beatles, but inspired by The Everly Brothers)
“Hotel California” by The Eagles (Original: The Eagles, but inspired by Ry Cooder)
“Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses (Original: Guns N’ Roses, but inspired by Chuck Berry)
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen (Original: Queen, but inspired by opera and classical music)
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (Original: Nirvana, but inspired by The Pixies)
“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix (Original: Jimi Hendrix, but inspired by Howlin’ Wolf)
“Layla” by Derek and the Dominos (Original: Derek and the Dominos, but inspired by Indian classical music)
“Superstition” by Stevie Wonder (Original: Stevie Wonder, but inspired by Latin jazz)
“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones (Original: The Rolling Stones, but inspired by blues and R&B)
“The Thrill Is Gone” by B.B. King (Original: Freddie King)
“All I Have to Do Is Dream” by The Everly Brothers (Original: Felice and Boudleaux Bryant)
“I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash (Original: Johnny Nash, but inspired by traditional Jamaican mento)
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack (Original: Ewan MacColl)
“Feeling Good” by Nina Simone (Original: Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse)
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong (Original: Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)
“I Shot the Sheriff” by Eric Clapton (Original: Bob Marley)
“I Put a Spell on You” by Nina Simone (Original: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)
“The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand (Original: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Marvin Hamlisch)
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel (Original: Simon & Garfunkel, but inspired by gospel music)
“Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley (Original: Carl Perkins)
“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (Original: First Choice, but Gloria Gaynor’s version is the most famous)
“Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin (Original: Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht)
“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers (Original: Alex North and Hy Zaret)
“When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge (Original: Percy Sledge, but inspired by soul and R&B)
“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding (Original: Otis Redding, but inspired by The Beatles)
How to Make AI Covers Online for Free
Traditionally, making a cover song could be a time-consuming process. But nowadays, with the help of AI technology, it has never been easier to create covers of your favorite songs. Tools like PopPop AI Cover Generator enable you to make song covers using your favorite voice with just a few simple clicks. It’s free, online, and requires no login. You can use this tool to remake songs on your computer or mobile device whenever you want.
To make your own cover:
- Visit PopPop AI Cover Generator.
- Select the voice you’d like to use.
- Upload the audio/video that contains the music you want to cover or paste the URL of the online video/audio.
- Click Generate to start generating the cover.
- Enjoy the song or download the MP3 file to your computer, tablet, or phone.
Conclusion
Cover songs have a rich history and continue to captivate listeners with their unique interpretations and emotional depth. Whether you’re a fan of classic covers or looking to create your own, the world of cover songs offers endless possibilities. With the help of AI tools, making a high-quality cover has never been easier. So, dive in, get creative, and share your musical journey with the world.