Yes, the discussion about covers is interesting and I've noticed all this before myself.

You have the ones where the covers are more famous than the originals. Some of the great songs by The Beatles on the first album, like "Twist and Shout". I posted a video above called "It's My Life" by Talk Talk, however, the cover by No Doubt from the early 2000s has three times more views on YouTube. All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix - a Bob Dylan song.

Sometimes these covers are much better than the originals.

A classic of this type for me is Born to Run. The original by Bruce Springsteen is a bit lacking in energy. Frankie Goes To Hollywood released a far more punchy version...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfE2Se4r9w

But sometimes the earlier, less well known version is far better, like aforementioned It's My Life by Talk Talk.

Sometimes I like both original and cover equally. Great example of this is A Taste of Honey. The Beatles version is brilliant, but the one by Lenny Welch is just... so good. 1962 but has that flavour of the decade before. Quite a weird song really...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4glzb5lVnzA

I'm not even sure if Lenny Welch was the original version. That's the thing, there are a lot of songs that have so many covers that it is hard to tell.

One such example is I Fought The Law. As far as I know the original version was by The Bobby Fuller Four, probably my favourite version, but I also like the versions by Buddy Holly, The Clash and... Colin Farrell. The original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ5v8L08Flg

Favourite cover that is quite different to the original: Mr Tambourine Man by The Byrds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swqw5a8I4b4

Yikes, I've never seen a billion views before.

Original is better.

Labi Siffre

It Must be Love

https://youtu.be/-7NV5StCLu4?feature=shared

The Dubliners version is my favourite.

Mary Fahl sings "The Dawning of the Day"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRh3NL0lc68


This morning early I walked on
While my darling was in a dream
The last sweet days of summer bloomed
And dressed the trees in green
When soaring high in the gleaming sky
From far across the bay
Came a fearsome roar from a distant shore
And the dawning of the day

Then I called my men to follow me
Knowing well that the view was dim
Though tired and worn, how they fought all morn'
As time was closing in
And my heart was sad though sore with pride
For brave lads all were they
For as angels fly, how they climbed so high
On the dawning of the day

But the edge is moving nearer now
Inside the fading Sun
And calling, calling out to them
My brothers, one by one
But only dusty silence sounds
The ashes float away
As the twilight ends and the night descends
'til the dawning of the day

Forgive me love, I'm going now
So very far away
When darkness falls, only think me near
And do not be afraid
And please don't grieve when I am gone
Abide in what remains
'til the shadows end and we meet again
On the dawning of the day

For when shadows end,
We shall meet again
On the dawning of the day