00:00 [Music]
00:02 "I hurt myself today."
00:05 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the covers that helped songs
00:12 shine in an entirely new light, and those that didn't quite have that same effect.
00:17 [Music]
00:26 Didn't hit the mark, American Pie, Madonna. There's no doubt that she's a stellar pop star
00:33 and one of the industry's biggest hit makers. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean her attempts
00:38 outside her comfort zone have all been successful. When she covered Don McLean's
00:43 classic American Pie, she wasn't quite able to recreate the magic of the original.
00:48 [Music]
00:56 His version is nostalgic and wistful, remembering stars that had lost their lives.
01:01 [Music]
01:08 Madonna's dance rendition lacked that sentimentality. It was also missing several
01:13 of the verses, practically butchering it in an effort to make it more radio-friendly.
01:18 Had she recorded it in its entirety, then it might have gone over better. But as it is,
01:23 you're left wondering why she decided to take it on.
01:26 [Music]
01:33 Redefined Genres. Respect. Aretha Franklin.
01:37 Considering how iconic her reinterpretation is, it's shocking to learn that this song didn't
01:42 originally belong to the Queen of Soul. Otis Redding was the first to sing this number
01:46 about demanding respect from those who refused to give it to him.
01:50 [Music]
01:58 Franklin took on the song a couple of years later, transforming it into a representation
02:02 of second-wave feminism and equality.
02:05 [Music]
02:13 Aretha's passionate vocals demanded respect from the listener, and she was given it in speeds.
02:19 While she kept the structure the same, she made small additions, such as spelling out
02:24 the word "respect," that helped it leave a new mark on listeners for generations.
02:28 It quickly became her signature song and helped her jumpstart a long-lasting career.
02:33 [Music]
02:40 Didn't Hit the Mark. Faith. Limp Bizkit.
02:43 George Michael's voice was perfect for this upbeat tune, creating a bop that would remain
02:48 beloved for generations to follow.
02:50 [Music]
02:55 But when Limp Bizkit covered it, they did so not because they respected it, but as a
02:59 way to grow their fanbase before the release of their debut album. Their adaptation starts
03:04 out inoffensively enough, following the dynamics set by Michael.
03:08 [Music]
03:15 However, once the chorus hits, chaos strikes. It devolves into a new metal massacre, with
03:21 singer Fred Durst screaming the words at the top of his lungs.
03:25 [Music]
03:32 While it was certainly a new take, it was also abundantly clear that the combination
03:36 didn't work, demonstrating a mockery of a pop classic rather than appreciation.
03:42 Redefined Genres. Proud Mary. Ike and Tina Turner.
03:47 Creedence Clearwater Revival's take was great, but it's undoubtedly more relaxed
03:52 and groovy compared to the raw power of the cover.
03:55 [Music]
04:01 The Turners added a bit of soul that elevates the song to a whole new level.
04:05 Tina found the sweet spot between subtle caressing and dynamic belting, creating the
04:10 perfect balance between softness and pure power.
04:14 [Music]
04:18 Ike's deep voice added the perfect amount of contrast in the beginning,
04:22 keeping things soft before she kicked it into high gear.
04:25 [Music]
04:31 The result was an energetic and passionate record that roused crowds across the nation.
04:37 Their interpretation has outlived the original at this point, and become a pop culture phenomenon.
04:43 [Music]
04:47 Didn't hit the mark.
04:49 Spleen - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
04:52 William Shatner.
04:53 While this crossover already seems like one you'd see in a weird parody movie of life,
04:57 it in fact happened in real life.
04:59 [Music]
05:07 Shatner decided to combine two things he enjoyed - theater and popular tunes - by releasing
05:12 an album consisting of songs meshed with soliloquies mostly taken from classic literature.
05:18 [Music]
05:23 The most egregious misfire on this pretentious album is his take on the Beatles' psychedelic
05:28 classic, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, which takes self-indulgence to new heights.
05:33 [Music]
05:41 His theatrical retelling is beyond melodramatic, and ends up unintentionally hilarious.
05:47 This album demonstrates why he found his success in television rather than music.
05:51 Redefined Genres - Fast Car - Luke Combs.
05:56 Tracey Chapman managed to capture the anxieties of people across the nation
06:01 with her hit about trying to hold on to hope for a better life while trapped in the cycle of poverty.
06:06 [Music]
06:13 The folk rock number was simple musically, with lyrics that cut straight to the heart.
06:18 The simplicity was intentional though.
06:20 Any changes to the melody would have taken from the message.
06:23 [Music]
06:29 Luke Combs knew this, and so he crafted his cover with just a few minor tweaks to give it a slight
06:35 infusion of country twang.
06:36 He left the words untouched, reintroducing the song to a new generation and audience,
06:41 without changing what had made it so beloved in the first place.
06:45 [Music]
06:52 Didn't Hit the Mark - Smells Like Teen Spirit - Take That.
06:56 Nirvana's hit, one of the most beloved singles of the 1990s,
07:00 is known for its effortless coolness.
07:02 [Music]
07:10 It seemed like it would make it easy to remake,
07:13 but some groups proved it was more challenging than it let on.
07:16 Take That, a British band, tried their hand at the piece during a concert.
07:21 They started off with cocky attitudes, and it was all downhill from there.
07:25 [Music]
07:32 The drums were completely off rhythm, the singer couldn't find the notes,
07:36 and the vibes were abysmal.
07:38 It was the ultimate proof that just because someone can cover a song,
07:42 doesn't mean they should.
07:44 Their rendition was the antithesis of grunge,
07:47 and didn't do much in helping them gain a new audience.
07:50 [Music]
07:57 Redefined Genres - I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston.
08:01 Given how iconic the R&B version has become,
08:04 it's hard to believe this started out as a country ballad.
08:07 Written and initially recorded by Dolly Parton,
08:10 it was popular on the country charts, but didn't cross over to pop audiences.
08:14 [Music]
08:22 That is, until it was taken on by the incomparable Whitney Houston,
08:26 who recorded it for the soundtrack of her film, The Bodyguard.
08:30 Houston conveyed the meaning beautifully,
08:32 with the emotion coming through in each run.
08:34 [Music]
08:41 The final chorus alone has become a cultural moment of its own,
08:45 showcasing Houston's stellar vocals and unmatched presence.
08:49 It revitalized the song,
08:51 sending it straight to the top of the charts where it always belonged.
08:54 [Music]
09:02 Didn't Hit the Mark - 911 is a Joke - Duran Duran.
09:06 We're not sure what Duran Duran was thinking when they took on this track.
09:10 In the original, Public Enemy focused on race relations in the United States,
09:14 sarcastically pointing out how first responders
09:17 seemed to take longer to reach certain neighborhoods.
09:20 It was an honest portrayal of the system at the time,
09:23 pointing out the shared reality of countless citizens.
09:25 [Music]
09:33 So who better to take on a reinterpretation than Duran Duran?
09:38 Their attempt at rapping was valiant,
09:40 but they couldn't come close to Flava Flav's flow.
09:42 [Music]
09:48 They also played it straight,
09:50 causing them to lose the nuance found in 911 is a Joke.
09:54 It came across like them simply wanting to cover a hip-hop track
09:57 without first looking into why it was so popular.
10:00 [Music]
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10:20 Redefined Genres - Hurt - Johnny Cash
10:26 The original was already despondent enough,
10:29 chronicling the self-loathing thoughts of someone with substance use disorder
10:33 at the end of his proverbial rope.
10:35 The discordant tones and Reznor's pained vocals were bleak yet entrancing.
10:40 [Music]
10:48 With all of that in mind,
10:49 it's incredible that Johnny Cash somehow made it darker.
10:52 He interpreted the piece through his own lens,
10:55 of a man who lived a full life and was coming to terms with everything he'd done.
10:59 [Music]
11:01 "I hurt myself today."
11:05 He transformed the alternative song into a country dirge,
11:10 making it sound even more melancholy and more gut-wrenchingly poignant than its predecessor.
11:16 Even Reznor himself has conceded that Hurt was no longer his, and it's easy to see why.
11:22 [Music]
11:30 Which cover do you think had the biggest impact on pop culture?
11:34 Let us know in the comments.
11:35 [Music]
11:43 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo,
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11:51 [Music]
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