Top 20 Worst Cover Songs Ever

[@WatchMojo]

Check out our featured song: "Overdue" by The Quadroholics! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIPRg2xvj5mDaZY Any lackluster covers we missed? Drop us a comment below

[@olvialee7221]

I guess these singers choices for doing these covers are overdue

[@aidenmarple6437]

Top 20 worst rock bands ever

[@LadyArmand2000_]

Jessica Simpson should have never touched "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin. She destroyed a classic with her heavy breathing and nasally singing voice.

[@kylemiddleton4185]

U lost me at Panic at the Disco my dude

[@stone1andonly]

Could you please end the whole Mojo Music bullshit? Please? We need to leave some music for our radio stations, before they all become political bullshit factories.

[@kadajsnightqueen]

Kaanye West’s cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most god-awful cover I’ve ever heard. How did it miss making this list?!

[@clevelandbci9562]

Not to mention I thought it and Cheryl Crow's Sweet Child O' Mine would be fighting for #1.

[@madman00774]

It was not eligible

[@Metfan722]

@@madman00774 How was it not eligible?

[@dnapolyace6342]

Because people mistaken his pride for talent

[@madman00774]

@@Metfan722 Because it was just performed live and not released as a single.

[@nickgiampaolo9977]

Celine Dion covering Shook Me All Night Long? Sheryl Crow covering Sweet child of Mine? And Kanye West's version of Bohemian Rhapsody?! You guys dropped the ball on this one!

[@stevedimmock930]

That Celine Dion cover is like watching and listening to a drunk auntie at a wedding reception

[@jeremiaholin2859]

How bout highway to hell by manson

[@stephenbell8349]

Madonna killing American Pie

[@alexandriajimenez5999]

These are all horrible remakes, but can we add Mariah Carey's remake of def leppard's "bringing on the heartache" please. When I first heard her version I thought that my ears were going to bleed.

[@shamelessstacib7351]

WHOA WHOA WHOA Celine Dion did ACDC???? O I must find this travesty

[@ironguy6482]

Really didn't expect to see Panic at the Disco here. What should have been there instead was Kanye's version of Bohemian Rhapsody.

[@maddluv123]

EXACTLY. I thought P!ATD's version of the song was decent.

[@Dtgray12]

I liked their version

[@mrblaktastik1865]

I really don't agree, Brendon Urie did a great job with the IMPOSSIBLE task of covering Queen.

[@Tjl1294]

Ya I don’t get why this made the list when so many other shitty covers didn’t

[@Andrew_trollino344]

Speaking of Queen, Panic at the Disco's and Kanye's versions of Bohemian Rhapsody were pretty crap, even though I've never heard either version, besides what Watchmojo broadcasted here. However, have you guys heard Céline Dion's version of "The Show Must Go On"? Good God, that stuff was terrible. Should have certainly made this list.

[@jamesshaw1167]

You forgot Kelly Osborne’s Papa don’t preach cover which even got a Chappell joke “Daughter don’t sing” 😂

[@ddjr6673]

That was excruciating!!

[@ticketyboo2456]

She didn't even have the looks to make up for her awful vocals😂

[@Zzzsleepzzz]

Damn, I actually like it better than the original

[@roguejester4986]

I know a few people who actually like it.

[@bort_hill]

​@@Zzzsleepzzzthis is the worst take ive ever heard in my entire life lol

[@stephenbell8349]

Madonna destroying American Pie- has to be the worst ever

[@Jongen.]

No that one is good.

[@heatherpierce9123]

It made my ears bleed 🩸

[@purpleroom101]

It put me in hospital!!

[@sslssg247]

I'm sure I will be in the minority, but I think that any live covers are just bands showing how much they love a song by putting their on spin on it. Some of them, which or obviously produced to promote something, meh, but really if someone wants to cover a song, I think of it as a love letter to the original, be it good or bad.

[@jenewok]

I agree. Live covers really shouldn't count on this list.

[@craighenry2351]

No, Limp Bizkit deliberately butchered Faith as a joke, and I loved it. Man did I hate George Michael and all the other whiney British singers who put out mindless garbage in the 80’s.

[@sslssg247]

Possibly. There exceptions to absolutely everything, and Limp Bizkit was certainly an exception.

[@ASMR-Arboretum]

Live songs are ment to be part of the live show experience. They are there to give the people there a song to sing along to and to have with. Not to make a big hit for the band. Very few bands don't play some covers at live shows. They aren't ment to be as good as the original.

[@kevinsmarts9953]

The thing is bands covering others in live performance goes back at least as far as the Beatles and Stones when they'd watch each other perform. The likes of Jimi Hedrix got involved in that too, even playing Cream's latest hit when he was meant to play his own on a music TV appearance. None of it was meant to be better or something taken completely seriously. It was a sign of respect and part of the way acts learnt from each other. To have a song called out as a cover it should only count if it was recorded and released.

[@LakeFX]

Leaving Puddle of Mudd's cover of "About a Girl" off this list is criminal.

[@hollymeredith9998]

💩

[@ethnedragon8287]

Yep. That to me is more offensive than anything Durst and company have done

[@ghostmark2005]

Ah man the cover where he was off his nut is so awful and so sad he clearly thought he sounded incredible in the drug consumed haze but it's just sad

[@toddb8951]

I went ahead to see if it was #1, it wasn't, and it's a crime against humanity it isn't

[@IGutlessIWonder]

"RRRRHHEEEEEEE"

[@IAmTheOfficialBlueFlame]

The real #1: Anything and everything by Kidz Bop

[@fromthehaven94]

YES!

[@pohsibkcirrag6312]

Pretty sure they could make a whole top 20 worst on that.

[@mystikx2205]

@@pohsibkcirrag6312 Try Top 100, considering they release a new Kidz Bop album every other week these days...

[@vorakitlertackakorn2827]

Is Kidz bop better than Justin Bieber or Rebecca Black?

[@charlesharris5717]

Id vote Alvin and the chipmunks is worse

[@farrismusicofficial]

Putting Avril Lavigne’s “Imagine” instead of that GOD AWFUL celebrity COVID “Imagine” is a crime 🤣

[@Myp0tat0head]

Link

[@rtrfan7398]

No. A Perfect Circle's version of Imagine is the worst version of Imagine. It turned it into a depressing song. The best version of Imagine is by Train the band that did Hey Soul Sister, Drive By, Play That Song, and Drops of Jupiter

[@jarink1]

"Imagine" is already an incredibly nihilistic and depressing song. It has a message of "become cookie-cutter people with no defining characteristics, history, faith, or hope and you'll be happy".

[@ticketyboo2456]

Nah. Lavigne is ALWAYS the worst.

[@solanakolike4816]

i didn't hear original version but covering it wasnt good. Do u recommended to listen original version?

[@B3arAbl3]

00:51 (20) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Williams Shatner 01:15 (19) Crush on you - Aaron Carter 02:52 (18) Lose Yourself - The Script 03:52 (17) Three Little Birds - Maroon Five 04:48 (16) Imagine - Avril Lavinge 05:56 (15) Bohemian Raphsody - P!ATD 06:42 (14) Baby One More Time - Travis 07:47 (13) Love will tear us apart - Fall Out Boy 09:03 (12) American Pie - Madonna 09:58 (11) Under the Bridge - All Saints 11:11 (10) Lucy in the Sky with Diamons - Flaming Lips & Miley Cyrus 12:11 (09) Seven Nation Army - Marcus Collins 13:17 (08) Smells like Teen Spirit - Take That 14:18 (07) I can't no - Britney Spears 15:29 (06) My Genration - Hillary Duff 16:17 (05) Back in Black - Shakira 17:44 (04) 911 is a joke - Duran Duran 18:20 (03) Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters 19:18 (02) These boots were made for walking - Jessica Simpson 20:34 (01) Faith - Limp Biscut

[@natalierocheleau1793]

Ok so I can't get no satisfaction was not that terrible lol. Not that great either but still was ok

[@shamelessstacib7351]

Oh look they all sucked to begin with!

[@chloemchll3774]

Not all heroes wear capes… TY for making it possible for me to see the whole list without watching the mediocre at best and entirely too long presentation.

[@lauracook8203]

Don't forget William Shatner singing David Bowie's Space Oddity . And while its not exactly a cover- check out the video of Jessica Simpson doing a duet with Jewel doing "who will save your soul". I don't know how tf Jewel kept a straight face hearing JS chew up those words.

[@cracker67]

Thanks for the list so that we don’t have to sit through the ordeal

[@g3b110]

Kanye's version is much worse than Panic! At The Disco's

[@ryanfriend1337]

It's so bad that they made a hilarious Hitler Reacts to it that was incredible.

[@onkeyjoe]

I don't think it was included because Kanye didn't actually release an official cover. It was just something he did at a concert that a lot of people don't know about. At least that's my theory

[@Magelog490]

​@@onkeyjoesome of these entries were concert only covers too.

[@KayleighNatasha]

Jessica's version of These Boots Are Made For Walkin' was just horrendous

[@AnonyMous-fs2gp]

It was better than Nancy's

[@alg11297]

But she is so hot in that bikini and hot dance moves you can watch it over and over

[@gailsinacola2743]

@@AnonyMous-fs2gp exactly

[@Rekko82]

Megadeth made the best version, Nancy's version sounds like she's tortured. Jessica made it sound erotic, Megadeth made it angry. Nancy has great songs but These Boots is quite mediocre.

[@fuktrumpanzeeskum]

KMFDM cover of "These Boots..." was my favorite. They also did a cool cover of U2's "Mysterious Ways".

[@megjulia4007]

That Shatner cover of "Lucy In the Sky" is absolutely hilariously bad. I love it .

[@peterang6912]

The first officieuze rapper....lol

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Cold Storage

[@chrismulwee4911]

First season America's Got Talent winner, Bianca Ryan's cover of "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals. Yes, it DOES exist! Some of the words were changed, she replaced. On A Sunday Afternoon with "Sunny Afternoon" and the there's a RAP section by some hip hop artist!

[@linainverse9369]

I think it's terrible, but at the same time it's hilarious

[@EdnaK728]

Elton John does a pretty good cover of it

[@princevultan6589]

I remember playing in cover bands and the rule of thumb was If you ever cover a Beatles song…… do it EXACTLY like the album. Never try to add your own flair because it will NEVER work.

[@amy_Greenwell]

Devil Woman by Cradle of Filth as well!!!

[@veaton77]

There is one exception to the rule - John Farnhams cover of The Beatles 'Help'. John Lennon heard it and said that it was supposed to be sung that way, as a ballad, and not as a fast pop number that the studio insisted they record it

[@StuartBenson-ih3dn]

Siouxie & the banshees version of ‘Dear Prudence’ incorporated their own sound and was entirely successful. Personally I prefer it to Lennon’s. Both are wonderful.

[@xz3ss]

@@veaton77 I thought that was Deep Purple

[@chuckeecheeze4649]

I was unaware that Madonna played linebacker at one point. In the US, we don't get Canadian Football League highlights. The tiara doesn't make her hips near as wide as those beastly shoulders.

[@lsax1028]

Shakira doing Back in Black made Limp Bizkit's Faith look like a classic.

[@craighenry2351]

Once again, Bozo’s, Limp Bizkit was not doing a serious cover. I think their cover was hilarious, which is what they were going for. You are probably someone who would get offended by the Chipmunk covers of songs that were done in the 80’s. When I was in college, my roommate had a couple of Chipmunks albums and we had the loudest stereo on our floor, so if someone was playing a song we hated and we had a Chipmunk version, we would crank our stereo and drown it out with Alvin and the Chipmunks doing the same song. It’s a joke people. The original artists are not gods. And, by the way, George Michael’s music was a joke. That was Limp Bizkit’s point.

[@nu-metalfan2654]

@L Sax. Limp Bizkit’s version was much better than the original.

[@lorddavid3dxw]

@@craighenry2351 Tell me you're a toxic person without telling me you're a toxic person. You shouldn't be proud about how you were an asshole in college. That's shit you should be ashamed of and be trying to distance yourself from.

[@warwickrun542]

Being blue eyes was also quite painful

[@mightybk]

I understand the hate for it, but I like Limp Bizkit's Faith cover as much as the original. But this whole list is wrong for one HUGE omission. If you dislike Madonna's American Pie cover, the version by the Brady Bunch is FAR worse. Look it up -- they sound painfully off-key, and it actually hurts my ears to listen to it.

[@cwalker6911]

Agreed!!!

[@Jenifer_R_]

Why did you tell me this? Of course I googled it... I could have lived happily, not knowing this ever existed!!

[@ethnedragon8287]

My god I hadn't thought of that nightmare in years

[@mightybk]

@@Jenifer_R_ Just sharing the love! 😁

[@Jenifer_R_]

@@mightybk You need to take a good look at yourself and think about what you've done. I start therapy on Tuesday.

[@andrewpappas9311]

Honestly, I think that Panic! did a good job covering Bohemian Rhapsody since it’s not an easy song at all and Brendan Urie has the range for it whereas Kanye West didn’t even try

[@ch1ckmom217]

Brendon Urie did well, plus he honored the song and Queen, he wasn't trying to do it in his genre or make it his song. I guess I'm lucky I haven't heard the Kanye West version and I have no intention, just the name alone says a lot.

[@mikeneiger2010]

i absolutely love the Panic cover. I think Brendan Urie does amazing

[@jesusaceves3893]

He's very talented and did great.

[@gerardomartinez8314]

Bohemian Rhapsody is not a song to be covered. Period

[@SpookeyClown]

Ya, I was shocked that panic's made the list because it was so wonderful.

[@1SaG]

1:40 Actually, it's also a "must watch". The ancient looking transitions and effects, the fugly 70s tux, bow-tie and shirt, Shatner's "look at me I'm a serious artist!"-facial expressions and him awkwardly pretending to smoke a cigarette... it's a perfect storm of WTF?!.

[@lightningmchick8948]

What about Puddle of Mudd's cover of About A Girl originally by Nirvana

[@maddluv123]

I saw the #1 spot coming from a mile away 😂 Dishonorable mentions: a) "September" - cover by Taylor Swift, originally by Earth, Wind and Fire (it's not the worst cover I've ever heard, but it sucks out all the upbeat, lively vibes from the original and turns it into a drippy, dull song) b) "You Shook Me All Night Long" - cover by Anastacia and Celine Dion, originally by AC/DC (why. Just why.) c) "Sing" - cover by the cast of Glee, originally by My Chemical Romance (nuff said.)

[@kensredemption]

Covering MCR is as futile as covering Don McLean. 😩

[@KayleighNatasha]

Another dishonourable mention Baby, I Don't Care - Jennifer Ellison (Originally by Transvision Vamp)

[@marcohidalgo1101]

ANother dishonourable mention: d) "About a Girl" - cover by Puddle of Mudd, originally by Nirvana (quite possibly The Room of bad cover songs, where it's so bad you can't stop laughing)

[@maddluv123]

@@kensredemption Yup. You can say that again.

[@maddluv123]

@@KayleighNatasha Oh! Haven't heard that cover(and probably shouldn't either 😆)

[@heavenlycute]

WatchMojo: “If you’re going to cover a song, at least put your own spin on it!!” Britney: *puts own spin on “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” WatchMojo: “Hated it!!!” 😂😂😂😂

[@Rtotalmagic]

Also feel a bit like that with Marcus Collins (although the idea of a soul/big band cover of “Seven Nation Army” came from a French soul singer called Ben L’Oncle Soul). It’s not a good mover by any means, but I wouldn’t say it was one of the ten worst in the world...

[@scottdavis2252]

Even Devo's was better than Britney's.

[@aprilgosa5779]

I think the stones complimented her

[@nathanblevins158]

What about fall out boy and panic covers. They try to be different but still being like the original but NOPE! Watch mojo thinks they’re the worst cover song! Am I the only one that hate watch mojo?

[@BasedChadDaddy]

And their no.1 pick..... A band that literally put a massive spin on it and yet no.1 they sit lol

[@ericaglas3199]

I think it´s a bit unfair to single out live performances that are just meant to be a bit of fun and tribute.

[@Hazard-xv7vn]

What about I'm good (Blue) by David Guetta Bebe Rexha? Every time I hear it I feel so betrayed by the radio expecting Blue dabade by Eiffel 65. As well as Big energy by Latto instead of Mariah Carey fantasy. Maybe do a top 10 or 20 songs that betrayed us.

[@LuOli2]

I think the same as you. That new version of “I'm Blue” is beyond me! The original is way better than the cover.

[@PolyBiBadger]

It’s laughable that version but nothing beats the original

[@neilnelson2933]

You can't do Seven Nation Army without significant bass. That heartbeat bass line is what makes the song what it is.

[@hw2508]

Someone might keep the lyrics and write completely new music. But in general, you are right.

[@roeta13]

Katy Perry covering "Don't stop me now" returns to haunt me once in a while

[@gfear24]

**shudders** You ain't wrong on that. Katy has a good voice for her style of music. Queen is NOT her style of music, and Freddie is someone you do not try to cover unless you have a voice that is comparable like Pink when she did Bohemian Rhapsody, or Celine Dion when she did The Show Must Go On, or Taylor Hawkins (R.I.P. overnight) when he did Stone Cold Crazy with the Foo Fighters.

[@andrewpersac897]

@@gfear24 Katy Perry DOESN'T have a good voice for ANY style of music....

[@Jongen.]

Dont fuck me nowwww.

[@williamfox17]

This is one of the worst WatchMojo videos I've ever seen. Not even that I disagree with the choices, but the substance of the list, itself is unbearable. For starters, Seven Nation Army doesn't have a bassline, it's played on a guitar. Panic! At The Disco did a fine cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, Kanye's was much worse. There are several contradictions. "If you're going to cover a song, at least put an original spin on it and make it your own". They criticize the majority of the other covers in this list because they don't sound like the original. Also, William Shatner? Yeah, no shit. Kind of low-hanging fruit, at this point.

[@kyller69]

and the Travis - Baby one more time, have been one of my favorite cover for years and years when it came out! It was a great cover at the peak of the time that the original was so much overplayed! Finally, there's no way in hell ''Faith'' is the worst cover ever! It was a memorable song for teenager for sure! Great... no, but worst one, cmon!! One of the worst list I've seen for sure! :)

[@DamnableReverend]

The Shat has entire albums full of classic covers, and they're qutie charming, in their unique way.

[@nicksilva7113]

like a bunch of these covers are totally fine, just kind of forgettable

[@ASMR-Arboretum]

I agree. Also alot of the songs on this list were done live. And bands add cover songs to live shows for the live experience. So fan can sing along and enjoy a band they like playing a song they know. Not to be a huge hit. And a lot of these songs might not be as good as the original but are still good for what they are.

[@08wildhoney]

Thank you! If I wanted to hear the original, I would listen to it. This was a cringy video.

[@josephlilo2040]

I'm so glad the narrator was speaking through most of the songs been played on this list; he did an awesome job hiding how cringe alot of them were.

[@Terri_MacKay]

As someone in her 50's who loves all types of music, 19 of these covers made me cry....Hilary Duff singing "My Generation" made my ears bleed. It was hard to pick a "worst cover" from this list, but that one did it for me. 🤕

[@teslaacademy4736]

We do not disparage Mr. Urie in this house.

[@art.of.verser]

The fact that Limp Bizkit were never big on covering originals in live shows or the studio yet did so anyway is obviously ironic, since the covers of "Faith" and "Behind Blue Eyes" were tailor-made for a crowd of teenagers...when Nü Metal was still popular in the 90s. I still listen to some Nü Metal tracks myself these days, so what do I know? 😂

[@somberstricken4424]

I did too and I still love them and I'm a mother of 3.

[@YetiMan500]

Listen to nu metal for hours a day every day Soil halo Linkin parks early work Shinedown early work Nu metal and pop punk are fucken awesome

[@alexbarriga983]

I like their cover of faith...

[@WonHakWoon]

@@alexbarriga983 Me with Behind Blue Eyes 😇

[@lynnevetter]

I never liked Limp Bizkit, until I heard Faith. Lol! That was the only one I liked of there's. 😂

[@davidwatsonillustrations3445]

You forgot about the time Sheryl Crow totally butchered "Sweet Child O' Mine" That should've been number one on the list

[@selalewow]

Thank-you for bringing this up again, 6 months of therapy down the drain.

[@davidwatsonillustrations3445]

@@selalewow Whoops, sorry lol

[@erik5374]

I can stand her voice better than axl’s.

[@Mystress1980]

I was waiting for that, and I'm kind of surprised it didn't appear. What a horrible take on a great song. It should have replaced Panic! on this list. As untouchable as Freddie is, that cover wasn't bad at all. And this is coming from someone who generally detests covers lol

[@michelledawn7446]

Her cover isn’t that bad..

[@sarahlovee1865]

The crowd laughing while he's saying Hit me Baby One More Time was priceless

[@ticketyboo2456]

Yeah the American narrator simply doesn't get it bless his cotton socks.

[@StevenWoolf-eb5xy]

14:40 - Joan Jett's cover of the Arrows *I Love Rock n' Roll* destroys Britney's pathetic attempt at the song! 19:18 - Amanda Lear: "At least my version of *These Boots Are Made For Walking* is no longer the worst version."

[@purpleroom101]

I don't have a problem with artist's singing covers in a concert. If they do that, it just proves they have no decent original material of their own - OR they are paying tribute to the original artist OR they just love playing the song. I have no issue at all with that. If they record it, they have no business messing with originally successfully recorded, respected and popular songs. There are exceptions though, with my blessing. As far as The Beatles, Elton can sing Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. Zoot can play Eleanor Rigby. John Farnam did justice to Help! Joe Cocker can happily sing With A Little Help From My Friends. That Avril Lavine should hold her head down in shame. As for Madonna sexualising American Pie, that is vomit worthy and cheap. The clip was even worse. My ears and my eyes bled.

[@DokkaChapman]

To be fair to Travis, they were totally taking the piss when it came to the Britney cover. If you listen to the b-side version they are even heard laughing in parts of the recording.

[@wistiacritch8549]

I actually like their version

[@DokkaChapman]

@@wistiacritch8549 Hey if it works, it works. They have proven on numerous occasions that they can do amazing covers. 'The Weight', 'Lovely rita'... there are other artists in the genre that deserve that spot, Snow Patrol is a good example lol.

[@ticketyboo2456]

He's a yank so just will never get it😂

[@chloemchll3774]

Didn’t know it was a joke but I kinda assumed it was. There was kind of a phase when lots of those pop hits were getting covered by bands in the punk/emo scene, but since Travis is Brit Pop I wasn’t sure if they fit that mold. That said, I actually like their cover better than Britney. For one, he can actually sing, and (at least from what I saw) he puts an emotional quality into the vocals that Britney is completely incapable of regardless of the song’s need for it. It isn’t a good song in any event (mainly because the lyrics are dumb as hell) but at least Travis tried something different with it.

[@Drowningpic]

The Travis version of baby hit me one more time is brilliant. I think this channel missed the irony of when they did it.

[@Miaheleneart]

Yes I agree - have seen Travis perform this and its definitely ironic

[@YetiMan500]

Yeah and somehow leona Lewis covering stop crying your heart out isn't on here?!?! Bullshit list

[@WonHakWoon]

It sounds great though, I can't see why it's bad enough to end up in this list

[@Drowningpic]

@@WonHakWoon I agree, there are worse covers that should have made this list. I think the person didn’t get that the band knew the irony of making that cover at the time. Or they are a big Britney Spears fans

[@ch1ckmom217]

@@Drowningpic Honestly I didn't know either but if I were the one doing this video I would off done much more research. Yes, there are worse covers out there. Not all covers are bad, just remember or listen to Johnny Cash's Hurt, even Nine Inch Nails was like damn, he made it better, no joke.

[@scottlemiere2024]

And just like every other bad cover list, you completely missed Sheryl Crow butchering Sweet Child of Mine.

[@Kauffdrop]

She should be banned from singing after that abomination

[@ethnedragon8287]

Agreed. There are just some singers who have a voice so distinctive that nobody can cover their songs successfully. Freddie Mercury, Axl Rose, Brian Johnson, Kurt Cobain...

[@donnaparnell4639]

so true, it was so bad

[@LN-Lifer]

That is definitely number 1!

[@LN-Lifer]

@@ethnedragon8287 True but Kennedy does pretty good. No Axl for sure

[@shattenheir]

FYI: Marcus Collins' Seven Nation Army was a karaoke version of the same remake but by Ben L'Oncle Soul a few years earlier. ...and i loved that one!

[@mslisadianemorse]

Shatner is always tongue and cheek.

[@machupikachu1085]

Whos cheek?

[@vaibanez17]

Where was Metallica When Doves Cry, they even messed up the lyrics, forgot to sing at the right time, it has it all. Worst cover of all time.

[@Leo_dont_shoot_video]

Ok, bad enough... but what they did to Turn the Page deserves the honey and ant treatment...

[@princessmewtwo]

I'm British but Take Thats version of Smells like Teen Spirit is down right insulting

[@greenrobot5]

Any cover done by Glee should of been here

[@johnnycalvino7490]

*should HAVE been

[@elibrown8116]

Glee sucks

[@ericaburns8652]

Yeah but which glee cover is the worst out of all of them

[@WhippedforMinho]

Not all of the glee covers were bad

[@CrazySpruiker2001]

Kidz Bop is even worse!

[@robertbales3030]

Let's not forget Will To Powers synth pop cover of Free Bird.

[@Apis4]

Limp Bizkit was never my thing, Nu-Metal is tragic AF..... but they do not deserve #1 spot. Their rendition of Faith, was cool. Not as good as Michael's.... but the original's genre was Pop, and we all know that even Nu-Metal is better than POP. PS: Daniel Johns was NOT putting an original spin on Smells Like Teen Spirit, he just covering Tori Amos covering Nirvana.

[@clevelandbci9562]

*EVERYONE* probably thought Cheryl Crows Sweet Child O' Mine would be #1. I remember a station in Indianapolis played the GNR version once an hour for a week as an apology for playing her version once🤣

[@ethnedragon8287]

That station knew how to apologize properly

[@clevelandbci9562]

@@ethnedragon8287 Yes they did!!!

[@aprilgosa5779]

i likd her version but i love the original

[@jallerlepine3596]

That version frequently plays on a radio station where I live so I though for a long time that it was beloved. Reassured to know its not entirely the case

[@Simplybookdreams88]

The Lose Yourself cover was painful for me:(

[@Prkwon]

Um to every artist here... "Stay in your lane!" Ps...especially you miley cyrus.

[@cwalker6911]

😂 😂 😂 its the especially Miley part for me lol

[@FleaRHCP97]

she did some acoustic duet cover I kinda remember liking

[@cwalker6911]

@@FleaRHCP97 was it when she did Jolene? I think I remember her doing a cover with someone for that and it was great. I’d lose it if she’d f up that classic 😂

[@MusicGeniusInternational]

I think you miss the point why labels put this tracks out... To amplify the originals... But behind blue eyes is the best of limp bizkit

[@karawigley6231]

I just want to know who thought turning Under the Bridge a song about addiction, struggles in sobriety & loneliness into a pop song was a good idea. I wish I could go back in time I never knew such a cover song existed.

[@estherkeizer6080]

Venus, originally by Shocking Blue, covered by Bananarama. When you hear the strength of the voyce of Mariska Vere in the original, the cover feels soal less. I will be trapping on a lot of toes, but I really don't like Killing me softly by the Fugees. Roberta Flacks version is much better for me.

[@jhawkkw87]

Slight issue is that Roberta Flack's version is also a cover, so you're comparing one cover to another cover version. That said, as much as I do enjoy the original by Lori Lieberman, I do agree that Flack's version is the definitive version. The Fugees' version is so far removed from Lieberman's original that it feels like a lot of the meaning and emotion was lost.

[@sandityche]

Panic's cover of Bohemian Rhapsody was amazing live when we saw them. You want to slam a cover of this song... you should've gone for Kanye West's version.

[@mmsiphonevinyls1027]

I dont exactly adore the PatD rendition, but I wholeheartedly agree it’s a masterpiece next to Kanye West’s version.

[@atvena]

Same I've seen it live he can sing !!!

[@728huey]

Mariah Carey is one of the greatest vocalists in pop music, and het cover of "I'll Be There" is amazing. The same can't be said for her cover of Def Leppard's "Bringing On the Heartbreak". It was so watered down that it became a sonically gooey mess.

[@deedeelarson8149]

Ironically Def Leppard loved her version

[@ricknickell3324]

Not to mention, she had to put a bird whistle at the ending 😬

[@ch1ckmom217]

Wait, what? She made a Def Leppard cover, that alone tells me no. I'm sorry just because you can sing every genre.

[@JustDJ75]

I've said of her before, she can make beautiful stuff when she tries (Hero, Vision of Love) and even perform a great cover (Without You gives all the feels of Harry Nilsson). That said, lay off my classic rock, especially the Def Leppard, you screechy harpy.

[@marcus813]

​@@deedeelarson8149I always thought it was a decent cover. I've heard much worse recorded covers than that one.

[@missymother]

That cover of Behind blue eyes was awesome

[@purpleroom101]

Until they shoved their name in the lyrics! That is an insult to Pete Townshend.

[@jalliboy]

here is a list of songs that has been covered right axel rudi pell - hallelujah korn- one liliac - symphon of destruction nightwish - over the hills and far away metallica - turn the page floor jansen - alone blackmore nights and judas priest - dimonds and rust judas priest - johnny be good puddles the clown, pentatonix and disturbed - sound of silence

[@ThiccTropius]

How P!ATD's version of Bohemian Rhapsody made this list and not Kanye's version really is baffling because even if it is an impressively difficult song Brandon managed to sing his parts strongly! And any cover by William Shatner would have made this list... I just think his cover Rocket Man was the worst

[@yudhabagaskara98]

Dishonorable mentions: Miranda cosgrove - about you now (sugababes) Jonas blue - fast car (tracy chapman) Vaults - one day I'll fly away (randy crawford) Ronan keating - iris (goo goo dolls) Ashley tisdale - never gonna give you up (rick astley)

[@maddluv123]

Also the "One Way or Another/Teenage Kicks" mashup by One Direction.

[@yudhabagaskara98]

@@maddluv123 and 5 seconds of summer - what i like about you (the romantics)

[@LeniLori55]

The only one I disagree with is About You Now by Miranda Cosgrove I love that song.

[@salehali9541]

Disturbed's the sound of silence is garbage too

[@JayValentine36]

Hold on Miranda cosgrove version is the one my generation grew up with and we thought she ate it up😂😂

[@garyhatmaker6589]

Usually I forgive live covers because they're either done for fun or as a tribute to the original. So the work to perform the song spectacularly wasn't put in. You could tell Take That probably practiced Smells like teen spirit earlier that day and just went out there. However, if the band took the time to record it, that's a whole different story. The two covers that will always be at the top of my list will be Purple Rain by Dwight Yoakam (original by Prince) and Shine by Dolly Parton (original by Collective Soul).

[@gavinkerslake]

Dwight Yoakam. YIKES !!!!! thanks for destroying one of my fave songs.

[@andrewpersac897]

Actually, Dolly's bluegrass take on Shine isn't that bad for what it is. Of course, the original song is an iconic one...

[@StevenWoolf-eb5xy]

You can probably make a top 100 of this list pretty easily. With that said, here's my top 10: 1. Kim Wilde - Steppenwolf's *Born To Be Wild* - Little Kimmy Wilde's cover history is quite interesting. Ranging from good (Yvonne Elliman's *If I Can't Have You),* to average (Diana Ross and The Supremes' *You Keep Me Hangin' On).* But Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild is just brutally bad! From the butchered BGM, to the wussy singing, Little Kimmy needs to learn how to rock better! 2. Tori Amos - Slayer's *Raining Blood* - What the hell is this incoherent garbage!?! Some of her singing is hard to understand! And don't even get me started on the horrible BGM! I'd like to see Amos pull this bullshit with Macabre's *McMassacre!* 3. The Imagined Village - Slade's *Cum On Feel The Noize* - Just what the world needed. A FOLK cover of Cum On Feel The Noize. Whoever thought this was a good idea needs to be taken to a woodshed! 4. Bananarama - The Beatles' *Help* - Covers is not exactly Bananarama's strong suit. But this brutal rendition of a Beatles classic really takes the cake with the awkward singing. Having a bunch of comedians who did a skit making fun of them (that the Banana's apparently liked) involved in this makes it even worse. And before you ask, yes, I did see the skit, and all I have to say about it is, "what's so funny about that?" Toby Danger that skit it ain't. 5. Jules Gary - Tears For Fears' *Mad World* - This clown can't sing the way Curt Smith does! And the BGM goes from dark, scare jumping (of Tears For Fears) to sleep inducing. Zzzzzzz. 6. Bran Van 3000 - Slade's *Cum On Feel The Noize* - It seems nobody can take a hint from the gold standard that Quiet Riot did when they covered the Slade classic correctly. This singer sounds like a drunk. BGM is awful too. 7. Bif Naked - Twisted Sister's *We're Not Gonna Take It* - This girl can't sing! BGM is also watered down too. Dee Snider is rolling in his grave...oh, wait... 8. No Doubt - Talk Talk's *It's My Life* - If you are going to butcher the BGM and singing of a Talk Talk song, do one of their weaker entries in *Life's What You Make It!* 9. Laura Branigan - The Shirelles' *Will You Love Me Tomorrow?* - Little Laura Branigan has not exactly made the best choices when it comes to covers (Jennifer Rush *Power Of Love* instead of Huey Lewis, and THE NAME GAME!?! Really?). But the biggest mistake here was mimicking Carole King's awful rendition of this Shirelles classic that Carole WROTE FOR THEM! Melanie Safka is the gold standard of how to do Will You Love Me Tomorrow correctly. 10. Rockman Exile (hack of Mega Man 2) - *Enker's theme* from the Game Boy *Mega Man 1* - Mega Man Ultra had some really bad covers of Spark Man and Dr. Cossack's 2nd theme songs, but that's nothing compared to this screechy sped-up cover of Enker's classic song. Enker would get a new version of his song in Mega Man 10 that is a worthy successor to the original.

[@youtubeemployeesarestupid3464]

Great list.

[@tiffanydoodyify]

Behind Blue Eyes is actually a pretty decent cover.

[@meaganburton588]

Agree

[@oliviah.4741]

I agree.

[@sosti]

Yes it is

[@MeDroid-Band]

True

[@dykevader01]

For real, I know it better than the original, it slaps so hard

[@DralenDragonfox]

U2's Bono's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on the Tower of Song tribute album. I was a huge U2 fan, and a huge Cohen fan, but this was recorded at that period around Zooropa when Bono was experimenting with that sort of falsetto minimalism, and it does not fit the iconic song at all. Give me Jeff Buckley or Rufus Wainwright any day.

[@laurabeane8862]

"Hallelujah" was just so Over done on USA Cop Dramas at one point it got disgusting and cold

[@seanswinton6242]

I lean towards Jeff Buckley. Rufus Wainwright's very good. I have that Tower Of Song tribute album. As a U2 fan I very disappointed. There are others U2 have done as B-sides and bonus tracks. As a U2 fan I just view them as experimental considering those 90's keyboards and electronics they added.

[@DralenDragonfox]

@@seanswinton6242 For sure! Some of the Achtung Baby b-side covers (like Fortunate Son) were great, but I didn't enjoy a lot of the Zooropa ones.

[@greylizard1040]

Sometimes people wonder what a song would sound like in a different style, might not always be as good as the original, but it's still something that I think is just fun to explore. There are clearly people on this list who probably really just liked a song and wanted to cover it, the record labels can also have a hand in selecting songs that they want their artists to do. We all hate when someone popular takes a really beloved song and does it poorly, because their popularity ensures that their song will be played like crazy, making the situation worse.

[@aliquotidian]

Canadian artist Loreena McKennett (folk, mediaeval, etc) has a version of Greensleeves as she imagined Tom Waite's would sing it.

[@MsUltrafox]

The rule in cover band culture. DO NOT DO QUEEN.

[@alltheworldsastage4785]

Nah, do Queen, just don't make his music boring.

[@atvena]

Even between the buried and me ?

[@Dirk_T_13]

Metallica’s Stone Cold Crazy and Blackie Lawless’ Tie Your Mother Down are pretty good.

[@khloeyates2860]

I agree leave Queen to Freddie Mercury! Why mess with perfection! Rest in peace Sweet Freddie 💞

[@thedebatehitman]

@@Dirk_T_13 I was about to say, Metallica did a great job with “Stone Cold Crazy.”

[@FoxxyFire-HellFrost]

I think several of these are just kinda BS. There is no way Brendan Urie singing Bohemian Rhapsody or Fallout Boy's rendition of Love Will Tear us Apart deserve to be here. They might not be as good as the originals (opinions aside), but they certainly aren't the worst and don't belong on this list next to that God awful rendition of Hit Me Baby One More Time.

[@dressshoeguy]

There are some songs you don’t fuck up and this band doing this botched cover of a classic Queen song is enough to make Freddie Mercury’s spirit come out and haunt them forever how dare this band trash Bohemian Rhapsody the guy who sang it is nowhere near the original. It’s more mirror shattering

[@Andrew_trollino344]

@dressshoeguy You could say the same thing about Céline Dion also. In what universe did she think she would make justice to Freddie Mercury and Queen by covering "The Show Must Go On"? That is pretty much one of the worst covers of a song I've ever heard.

[@Boobalopbop]

I actually like the Hit me baby one more time cover…. it’s nice to hear it from a man’s point of view and you pay attention to the lyrics. I think it’s sweet

[@SensationalBanana]

I have this personal rule that I will not listen to anyone else singing Queen songs. Freddie Mercury is the only one worthy to sing them.

[@Andrew_trollino344]

@SensationalBanana I fully agree with your view. I have just turned to this rule myself after hearing Céline Dion's cover of "The Show Must Go On".

[@gustavovillegas95]

I guess I am in that particular minority that unironically enjoys “We Will Rock You” by Nickelback.

[@Andrew_trollino344]

@@gustavovillegas95 Speaking of this, I've also listened to another version of "We Will Rock You" by girl band KCPC quite a few times. However, the original version still rocks, by far!

[@carastone3473]

@@gustavovillegas95 - I didn’t even know Nickleback did that until I read your comment! Found it here on YT and love it! They stayed very true to the original recording.

[@cmbells7736]

What about post mercury death Queen.

[@charadeyouare322]

Most overused words in every Watchmojo video: "classic," "iconic" "of all time." Ever heard of a thesaurus?

[@lisabrewer7825]

You all need to hear Cher cover Dancing Queen. I like Cher but that song was not meant for such a low register.

[@bluemary1872]

Scissor sisters was a great cover. Right up there with Tori Amos covering smells like teen spirit

[@Davids_Hobbies]

I like Limp Bizkit's cover of Behind Blue Eyes :( I like it more than the original. Oh well I guess at least it didn't make this list as a main point.

[@ThatFaceMelter94]

Limp Bizket’s version is beyond lifeless. What a snooze fest.

[@dblanco77]

Have you heard Richie Kotzen's version? Just a guitar amd his voice. Deep dark stuff. Amazing!

[@pohsibkcirrag6312]

I was in ATL and Fred asked me if I want to hear behind blue eyes. I told him no way f you. He said fine we will play it anyway!

[@BruceTorres]

I'm gonna defend Travis here because they're being ironic, like Snow Patrol's Crazy in Love and Franz Ferdinand's Womanizer.

[@damonnelson2835]

Crowe’s “sweet child” is worse than any of these

[@WonHakWoon]

It's just as bad as Miley Cyrus covering Metallica, Nirvana and The Beatles combined

[@jasonarthur7815]

Shakira should change the lyrics to back in orange is the new black..u kno, bc she's most Def on her way to prison...also idk if this technically fits as a "cover", but Fergie butchering the national Anthem Def should earn her a spot

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

The worst #1 remake of a #1 song. Madonnas version of American Pie 🥧 I have known Madonna personally since the early 80's and 3 weeks before it was released she came here to Las Vegas and she let me hear her demo . She's a very talented beautiful woman. I told her that she shouldn't have touched that classic tune. I told her you'll send it to the top 5 . But it's sacrilegious and I dislike it . Whenever I see her I look at her and she knows what I'm thinking about. Its a completely different thought than it was in the past! I still have her demo somewhere around here. I have been to over 500 concerts in my lifetime and I worked at the only black station in Nevada starting in the 11th grade!

[@craighenry2351]

Dude, I don’t think it was Limp Bizkit’s intent to make a serious cover of Faith. It is a comedy take on the song, and judging by the fact that you voted them number one on this list, I think they succeeded in a major way. I really can’t believe you took their Faith cover seriously. I thought that Fred’s vocals on Behind Blue Eyes should show you that he can sing much better than he did on Faith. Only fans of George Michael would miss the humor in Limp Bizkit’s take. Those of us who hated his brand of music found this cover freaking hilarious. And, by the way, Behind Blue Eyes was an excellent cover until Limp Bizkit added that Discover crap late in the song. All in all, though, I thought Fred did a credible job on Behind Blue Eyes.

[@Rogue0257]

I couldn't agree more, Behind Blue Eyes, is a great song, and fits well as the end music of the movie Gothika

[@j3rribur679]

I know you have to understand the band to understand what they were going for with Faith and the list makers dont seem to have a clue. Shocked this was number 1

[@michellecbm4326]

Huge George Michael fan and LOVED their remake! Behind blue eyes is GORGEOUS!! Hate this count down mojo 😡

[@natedeanmaan2]

Fall Out Boy also failed at covering Michael Jackson's Beat It. So yeah, they should NEVER touch classic songs

[@varkolak7779]

Weird Al Yankovic did a better job with Eat It.

[@natedeanmaan2]

@@varkolak7779 Eat It was a FAR better cover than FOB's Beat It, then again, Weird Al is king when it comes to covering a song

[@YetiMan500]

In what universe did they murder beat it 😂

[@johnnytable844]

They fail, period. Noise isn't music.

[@collegebro85]

Jess Simpson also butchered Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” too… As for the best cover songs, look no further than Ben Fold Five’s version of “Bitches Ain’t Shit” (superior to NWA’s version) and of course Cash’s “Hurt” originally by Nine Inch Nails!!

[@canadasleftcoast.5744]

Dwight Yoakum's version of Suspicious Minds is really cool. And Eddie Vedder's Last Kiss, which was covered by a bunch of different bands since the original 1961 version.

[@cathylarochelle3934]

Also Angels by Robbie Williams Simpson covered which was cringe. I forgot about Take My Breath Away

[@grayshigami6797]

Madonna's American Pie may not be near the original but it's not bad either. There are worse ones

[@GabrielaFarina-ux3rx]

I can forgive Panic At The Disco and Madonna, or sort of. But Shakira, Limp Biskit and Take That deserve capital punishment.

[@dimebagdave77]

Don't care if it was a live rendition, that "version" of About a Girl by Wes Scantlin or whomever deserved this number one spot 10 times over...🔥

[@jaygarcia8508]

Jessica Simpson.... The mess!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@valerieanne2440]

The emotion and vocals behind some songs just can’t be matched. Lesson learned make sure you understand the message and the emotions behind the song before covering it.

[@jadeb.7501]

Madonna's version of American Pie should be number one.. she destroyed one of the best tribute songs ever written and we all let her do it

[@jasonduncan8379]

Scissor sisters is a brilliant cover👍🏼 simpson needs walkin over with those boots

[@chrislaustin]

I had no clue the Flaming Lips had covered Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and after seeing this, I now know why. LOL They actually did a banging cover of "I am the Walrus", it's my favorite cover of that song, with Jim Carry's version in second place.

[@brittneyihrig1216]

Um Toris Amos also covered "Smells like Teen Spirit" and I think her cover is amazing. She took it slower but her naturally haunting voice showed a deep anguish of the song instead.

[@chloemchll3774]

She and Kurt were friends, and by all accounts he really liked the cover. She does a ton of great/interesting covers, her “Strange Little Girls” album was all covers (specifically, of songs written by men with a decidedly male perspective) and it is definitely worth a listen just for her take on an Eminem song where he talks about killing the mother of his kid and kidnapping the kid (the one where he’s trying to be funny about it, as opposed to the one that is just flat out scary) after where it honestly feels like Tori is taking on the role of the murdered woman… My personal favorite of her covers is probably A Case of You (Joni Mitchell originally) but Smells Like Teen Spirit is definitely high on the list.

[@machupikachu1085]

@@chloemchll3774 Didn't she do a Slayer cover or something as well?

[@chloemchll3774]

@@machupikachu1085 yup, she did a cover of Raining Blood.

[@filthybonnet]

@@chloemchll3774 I wasn't too fond of "Strange Little Girls" when it came out but I gave it a relisten a few years ago and I enjoy it now. I really love her covers of "Enjoy The Silence" and "I Don't Like Mondays."

[@heatherpierce9123]

I disagree. She's got a voice but not meant for Nirvana, sorry!

[@xatuyou8045]

You could do a worst samples list next.

[@laurabeane8862]

Has WatchMojo ever done a Top 100 yet? 😄 This topic would be it👍

[@amandabeaty1492]

That version of Imagine by Avril Lavigne was approved by Yoko Ono. The track appeared on an Amnesty International John Lennon tribute album for Darfur. There was an international version that featured a Canadian artist called David Usher. He said in an interview all the tracks had to be sent to Ono to be approved in order for Amnesty to be able to use the songs. Apparently, she didn't think it sucked...

[@jamielunsford1]

You really missed the mark by omitting Puddle of Mudd covering Nirvana's "About a Girl". Like, FRFR.

[@stevegallo8483]

"Imagine" leans on hope and optimism? Doubt it! "Imagine" is John Lennon literally singing the COMMUNIST MANIFESTO! Madonna's cover of "American Pie" is easily the worst cover of all time! Kanye's version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is worse than the Panic at the Disco version. Mary J Blige's version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" is another horrible cover. Much like "American Pie" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"," Stairway to Heaven" is not a song that should be covered by anyone.

[@shanehrt]

Except by Heart at the Kennedy Center Honors

[@momojojo590]

@@shanehrt - I agree! I’m a little biased though cuz Heart is one of my all time favorites.

[@solitaryman7485]

It is NOT a communist manifesto. Stop listening to the religious right from back in the '70's. It says nothing about the government owning everything. It's about having no reason to hate, be greedy or spiteful. All the things mentioned are causes of that, and causes of war and violence.

[@Shane3125]

Except Panic at the Disco's "Bohemian Rhapsode" was actually a good cover. What's the difference between him and Adam Lambert doing it? Still the same song even if Lambert performs with old Queen members.

[@stevegallo8483]

@@solitaryman7485 It is THE communist manifesto, and that isn't coming from the religious right. It's from a music expert.

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

Boo! Limp Bizkit did a great job making Faith something their own. I agree with all the others though. Maybe I’m just old but I still love all those nü metal bands….whatever. I don’t care what anyone thinks of my musical tastes. I’ve got everything from Korn to Ministry to The Cure to Motley Crue to The Prague Philharmonic doing Beethoven.

[@pohsibkcirrag6312]

Back when the song actually came out it certainly wasn't dated NU metal. It put them on the map.

[@stephanieyvonne9436]

Same here! I’ll always love Limp Bizkit and nü metal. Most of the new music out there is garbage imo.🤘🏻

[@jamesrobert680]

No it was a disjointed mess.

[@scottsummers4234]

I'm sorry but I kinda dig Madonna's American Pie 😩

[@HORRORZone666999]

So does Don McLean himself so you're not alone

[@tedcoop4392]

LSD is not a narcotic. Also: "Covering 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is never a good idea" -- unless you're Tori Amos, her cover of that song was fire.

[@nugboy420]

12:16 “thumping bassline” yeah where’s the bass :)

[@deliciousfilmreviews3871]

Panic!s cover of Bohemian rhapsody is great

[@dayboyo4054]

Idk if this counts but the Luude remix of Down under is actually atrocious, the og by Men at Work is incomparably better

[@106andie]

Just because we’re talking about covers, I wish that Adele would release a cover of Fastlove since I really liked her version when she performed at the Grammys as a tribute to George Michael ❤️

[@katycrannell8644]

At least Limp Biskit got us listening to the original FAITH in droves LOL