Sidney Crosley Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I was having a discussion with some friends about songs written after 1980 that have been covered the most times in a non-novelty context (so basically, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes don't count). There are tons of songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s (not to mention all kinds of standards from before that) that have been covered countless times, but I feel like songs from the 80s forward are covered less frequently in a serious context. But here is my thought for most covered song: Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) by Talking Heads Other ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Avatar Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 wagon wheel lol entendu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 according to SecondHandSongs.com (http://secondhandsongs.com/statistics/stat-most-covered-song), it looks like the answer is Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence. Full Disclosure: I unscientifically scanned the 'most covered song' list until I saw a post '80s song that I recognized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 wagon wheel lol Technically the modern version of that song is based on a tune Bob Dylan wrote in the 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Avatar Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I mean..... the chorus is taken from Bob Dylan but the verse and all was written by OCMS, who made it famous. I'd say it counts as past 1980! I bet Such Great Heights is up there on this list as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvham Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Maybe not most covered but Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know was covered by a shit ton of bands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I mean..... the chorus is taken from Bob Dylan but the verse and all was written by OCMS, who made it famous. I'd say it counts as past 1980! I bet Such Great Heights is up there on this list as well Debatable. Dylan has 50% songwriting credit on the OCMS version. In any case, the interwebs say there are 7 versions of Wagon Wheel and 11 versions of Such Great Heights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseydave77 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I thought this would link me to an article with the answer. I'm interested if anyone digs it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I thought this would link me to an article with the answer. I'm interested if anyone digs it up. I think my answer above is the most definitive you are going to find. You can browse the 'Most Covered Songs' list yourself. Most of the top listsings are Xmas tunes and hymns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawhizz Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Leonard Cohen 's Hallelujah has to be up there, right? People think of it as an older song , but it was released in 1984. The Saint 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shitty Rambo Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I'd say Black Flag - Wasted, but that was '78. I realized this is an irrelevant post, it just frustrates me whenever this song gets covered, especially when it's shitty bands like HeavyHeavyLowLow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntslash Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Leonard Cohen 's Hallelujah has to be up there, right? People think of it as an older song , but it was released in 1984. This has to be the answer. I've seen at least a half dozen artists cover it at shows I've attended. Add in all the TV appearances too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parkinglot Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Anything by Nirvana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I must be missing something. Are we talking about about live covers and not recorded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney Crosley Posted April 8, 2015 Author Share Posted April 8, 2015 I must be missing something. Are we talking about about live covers and not recorded? I was suggesting properly recorded, though looking back at my original post, I never suggested such. If you include shitty bar bands, the numbers are considerably skewed. And if you include wedding bands, it's probably fucking 'I Gotta Feeling'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Avatar Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 http://www.newsweek.com/60-versions-leonard-cohens-hallelujah-ranked-303580 If we are talking strictly famous recordings it's going to be a lot different than covered in general by any band. I do stand by that Wagon Wheel is the most covered by live bands cause I've heard that itss played live every night in every bar with live music down south (even if this is hyperbole it's probably got a bit of accuracy!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specterXmagic Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 a pretty good chunk of bands iv booked have covered damnit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 if we're talking about recorded covers. Hallelujah is pretty high up there at something like 116 recorded versions but highest post-80s song has something like 194 recorded versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steventangent Posted April 8, 2015 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Not entirely relevant, but I was thinking yesterday...is there a band that has more covered songs worth listening to than the Pixies? They've been covered by so many bands, and more often than not, even really exceptionally skewed takes on their songs are worth hearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebiglebowski Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Not entirely relevant, but I was thinking yesterday...is there a band that has more covered songs worth listening to than the Pixies? They've been covered by so many bands, and more often than not, even really exceptionally skewed takes on their songs are worth hearing. Agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Not entirely relevant, but I was thinking yesterday...is there a band that has more covered songs worth listening to than the Pixies? They've been covered by so many bands, and more often than not, even really exceptionally skewed takes on their songs are worth hearing. The Smiths. I generally prefer good Smiths covers over the originals. ExtraFox 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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