4Gary Jules – Mad World (Original by Tears For Fears)
Two decades after the Tears For Fears song was released, Gary Jules created this masterpiece interpretation of Mad World for the movie Donnie Darko. The song became an instant hit and charted at #1 in the UK versus the #3 the original had attained. The simple piano tune and stronger more emotion-filled vocals made the song more powerful and successful than the original.
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3Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You (Original by Dolly Parton)
Clearly this must be a mistake right? The song was created for the movie The Bodyguard no? We were just as shocked as the rest of the world when we found out that Dolly Parton owns the bragging right for the original I Will Always Love You. We don’t really need to say much more, sorry Dolly but no one can match Whitney's voice.
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2Joe Cocker – With a Little Help from my Friends (Original by The Beatles)
Covering The Beatles is one thing, but actually outperforming them is an astonishing feat. Joe Cocker took a simple campy song from the Fab Four and turned it into an extraordinary classic. Most people don’t even know that With a Little Help from my Friends is even a cover. If you were a kid in the 80s, you should recognize the song from its re-featured in The Wonder Years’ opening credits.
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1Johnny Cash – Hurt (Original By Nine Inch Nails)
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Many confuse the song Hurt thinking it was originally created by Johnny Cash and later covered by Nine Inch Nails, however that’s not the case. Trent Reznor wrote and released the song first; Johnny Cash simply took the song and made it his own. Cash’s interpretation was filled with emotion and was one of his last big hits before he passed away. It is often played during his tribute videos.
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