How about this for something different? John Otway singing a cover version of Gloria Gaynor's "I will survive" but sung in the style of Bob Dylan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_cE6I5V-bY

His version of House of the Rising Sun is not too bad either!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7m4hlLPv4

How's this for something different? The Eurovision Song Contest in 2000 was won by this ballad.

Barely three years later - and the year of our infamous nil point appearance - it was made into this club smash.

Werewolves of London

Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDpYBT0XyvA
Sultry Cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLlpu341PdA

Actually, here's something different.

Viktoriya Yermolyeva is a classical pianist who for some reason, started doing heavy metal covers on youtube.

Example, Metallica's Master of Puppets.

Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnKhsTXoKCI
Piano cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIJPxxoF7dw

Kiss - Prince Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNDcJAC7QW8

Kiss - Tom Jones and Art of Noise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uZQFOfMSfY

Two more different versions would be hard to find

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBZnGk1nAjw
Billy Joel - Just the way you are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9iFEkNqHac
Barry White

If - Bread
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGfVOdTiUEc

If - Telly savalas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNVvlLAvswg

How about the wonderful Lyrian covering Ultravox's 'Vienna'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYz5hG2aYGQ

and Van Halen's 'Tattoo'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC3Xqw8y_EE

or

Turisas - Rasputin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdkBs0VCSX0

I adore Sixpence none the richers "Dont dream its over" cover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bdOefF_tyU

I like the tune What The World Needs Now Is Love By Burt Bacharach & Hal David.

Here's Jackie DeShannon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUaxVQPohlU



I love this jazz instrumental version by tenor saxophonist Stan Getz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzHBYVlu1K8

Going back to the idea of "opposite" cover versions, how about Bette Midler's version of Do You Want To Dance?

The Beach Boys' version is about dancing. Bette Midler's sounds like she has something entirely different in mind.

The Beach Boys - https://youtu.be/GSvuRBbIKUs
Bette Midler - https://youtu.be/QGpwgSo3THE

There's a few covers that I really love that whilst not reinventing the wheel are different enough to add something very different to the original.

Genie in a Bottle:
Christian Aguilera
Speedway

The Sound of Silence:
Simon & Garfunkel
Disturbed

Rolling in the Deep:
Adele
Linkin Park

Torn:
Lis Sorensen very recognisable as the base for the TR version.
Ednaswap The original version by the original writers but only recorded after the LS version.
Trine Rein clearly the blueprint for the NI version
Natalie Imbruglia Most well known but the 3rd version to be released!
Ednaswap A version done much later on & after the NI release. Also my favourite

Tainted Love:
Gloria Jones
Marilyn Manson

The Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" https://youtu.be/nrIPxlFzDi0
Devo - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" https://youtu.be/jadvt7CbH1o
Jonathan King - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" https://youtu.be/66cTHKWtfAE

Frank Sinatra - 'I Get a Kick Out of You' https://youtu.be/FtwO2tKZmwQ
Gary Shearston - 'I Get a Kick Out of You' https://youtu.be/TkrucTzwIYE

John Kongos - 'He's Gonna Step On You Again' https://youtu.be/ld1vQVoaQIM
Party Boys - "He's Gonna Step On You Again' https://youtu.be/282N-EvZtXI (not that different but great)
The Happy Mondays - 'Step On' https://youtu.be/2CQLAhNlbfQ


The Merseys - 'Sorrow' https://youtu.be/BCMJPG_svTc
David Bowie - 'Sorrow' https://youtu.be/LxDVc80Z3FI

charted as 'bubblerock' . jk had many pseudonyms.

Cliff Richard has a new album on Spotify. His new single is a cover of Roll over beethoven and his album is rock and roll covers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ_E3c7gC2k

2 fantastic Madonna & Kelly clarkson covers courtesy of post modern jukebox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhod-UI40C0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUuQ4hoXsCM

The BiB is what people are finding weird, plus the fact last year you had a different precious beauty

Both the above are excellent cover versions. Of the two the Beach Boys' cover (my favourite version) is a lot more faithful to Bobby Freeman's original. Here is Freeman's version:-

Bobby Freeman - Do You Wanna Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53iso7IailQ


A decent cover by Cliff:-

Cliff Richard and the Shadows - Do You Wanna Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBRK9v840gg


A very different sounding cover by the Mamas and Papas:-

The Mamas and the Papas - Do You Wanna Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUCoPkECQ4

Oh I most definitely have not forgotten about my other favorite. I actually saw him on the day before yesterday.

God bless you and him always!!!

Holly

The only covers I usually enjoy are the versions that are a completely different genre.

This original is one of my favourite songs and I love the cover version almost as much.

Sound of Silence cover

Sound of Silence original.