14 Cover Versions That Did Not Win Over The Original Artist
Cover songs usually show up wearing confidence.
New voice, fresh attitude, and a quiet assumption that the original artist is going to nod approvingly like a proud parent at a school recital. That does not always happen.
Every now and then, a remake lands with enough nerve to get people talking, while the person who recorded it first is sitting somewhere thinking, absolutely not.
Music history has plenty of covers that became hits, caused arguments, or picked up fans who had no idea there was already an earlier version floating around.
Still, success with listeners does not guarantee a warm reaction from the artist who made the song famous in the first place.
Taste gets personal fast when somebody else grabs your lyrics and melody, then rearranges it. Some reactions were icy, some were blunt, and a few felt like the musical version of a very public side-eye.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and entertainment purposes only. Reactions from original artists to cover versions are based on publicly available interviews, statements, and reports, which may vary in tone, context, or interpretation.
1. Guns N’ Roses – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Bob Dylan wrote “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” as a quiet, heartfelt ballad for the 1973 film Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
Then Guns N’ Roses cranked it up to eleven. Heavy guitars, stadium energy, and a whole lot of attitude replaced Dylan’s gentle folk feel.
Dylan reportedly said the remake reminded him of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, basically comparing it to something that looks familiar but feels completely wrong inside.
Ouch. Still, GN’R’s version sold millions, proving that even a disapproving legend cannot stop a rock anthem once it leaves the building.
2. Barbra Streisand – Life on Mars
David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” is one of rock’s most theatrical, mind-bending songs, full of cinematic imagery and emotional punch.
So when Barbra Streisand recorded her own version in 1974, Bowie did not hold back his feelings. He reportedly called it “atrocious” and later used the word “bloody awful” to describe it.
He did eventually apologize for being so harsh, which is rather classy. Streisand is undeniably a legend, but even legends can accidentally wander into territory that makes another legend cringe.
3. Maroon 5 – Kiss
One of those songs that feels almost impossible to cover is Prince’s “Kiss.” It’s funky, minimalist, and entirely built around Prince’s one-of-a-kind personality.
Maroon 5 gave it a shot, and let’s just say Prince was not handing out gold stars.
Prince had strong feelings about artists recording and commercially releasing covers of his songs without adding anything genuinely new.
For Prince, a song was almost a sacred thing, and someone casually repackaging it felt like borrowing a Picasso and returning it with doodles on it.
4. Frank Sinatra – Something
“One of his finest songs,” was how George Harrison regarded “Something,” which he wrote himself.
Frank Sinatra famously called it the greatest love song of the last fifty years, which sounds like a compliment until you realize Sinatra kept crediting it to Lennon-McCartney instead of Harrison.
Harrison said he was “not particularly thrilled” by the version, mostly because of that repeated misattribution.
Imagine writing one of rock’s most beloved ballads and then watching someone else get the credit!
Harrison did soften on Sinatra’s version over time, eventually appreciating the legendary crooner’s interpretation.
5. Peter Gabriel – Street Spirit
Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” is genuinely haunting.
Thom Yorke has described it as one of the band’s darkest songs, filled with an almost unbearable sense of dread and beauty. Peter Gabriel recorded his own version, giving it a softer, more orchestral feel.
Radiohead apparently were not fans. Gabriel himself admitted that communication with the band cooled noticeably after he sent the recording over.
No fiery public statements, just a very telling silence. Sometimes the most powerful review is when someone simply stops returning your calls.
6. Helen Reddy – You’re My Home
As a tender, personal tribute to his then-wife Elizabeth, Billy Joel wrote “You’re My Home.” Helen Reddy recorded her own version, but Joel was not exactly moved by her interpretation.
Joel joked that Reddy had cut his song “to pieces,” which is a pretty colorful way to express disappointment.
He later said she even promised not to record any more of his songs, which is either the most awkward musical agreement ever or a very polite way of saying they both knew this collaboration was not meant to be.
7. Linda Ronstadt – Alison
With real emotional depth, “Alison” was written by Elvis Costello as a sharp, bittersweet song.
Linda Ronstadt covered it in 1978, and Costello had feelings about it that went way beyond polite disagreement.
He called her version “sheer torture,” which is about as blunt as music criticism gets. However, he did admit the royalty checks were a nice bonus, proving that even artistic horror has a silver lining.
Costello’s original is raw and slightly ragged in the best possible way, while Ronstadt’s version leaned smoother and more polished.
8. Okkervil River – The End of the Innocence
A polished, reflective classic from 1989, “The End of the Innocence” is one of Don Henley’s most memorable songs.
Indie band Okkervil River recorded a version that took some creative liberties, including changes to the lyrics, and Henley was absolutely not here for it.
He disliked the alterations enough to send in his legal team, which is a pretty dramatic way to leave a music review.
Henley stated plainly, “We were not impressed.”
9. Judy Collins – Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell wrote “Both Sides Now” and recorded her own version, but it was Judy Collins’ 1967 recording that became a huge hit first.
You might think Mitchell would be grateful for the exposure. Apparently not entirely.
Collins later said she heard that Mitchell disliked her version and guessed that jealousy might have played a small role.
Whether that was really the reason or not, it is a fascinatingly human moment. Even brilliant artists can feel a sting when someone else’s version of their song becomes the one everybody remembers.
10. Eagles – Ol 55
A gritty, worn-in road song that sounded like it had seen better days on purpose, “Ol’ 55” was written by Tom Waits. The Eagles covered it in 1974, smoothing out every rough edge until it practically gleamed.
Waits was not impressed. He said he was “not that particularly crazy” about their version and called it “a little antiseptic.”
That word, antiseptic, is chef’s kiss as a music criticism because it perfectly captures the idea of something being scrubbed clean of everything that made it interesting.
The Eagles were massive, but sometimes polish is exactly what a song does not need.
11. Frank Sinatra – Mrs Robinson
Written specifically for the 1967 film The Graduate, “Mrs. Robinson” is deeply tied to a particular cultural moment.
Frank Sinatra recorded his own swinging version, but he took some creative liberties with the lyrics that Paul Simon did not appreciate at all.
Simon reportedly said, “He can’t do that,” which is a wonderfully direct reaction. Over time, though, Simon softened and said he came to genuinely love Sinatra’s recording. Growth! Character development!
12. The Hollies – If I Needed Someone
George Harrison wrote “If I Needed Someone” for The Beatles’ 1965 Rubber Soul album.
British pop group The Hollies recorded their own version and released it as a single, expecting it to be a hit. Harrison had a very different opinion.
He called it “rubbish” and said, “They’ve spoilt it,” which is about as unfiltered as feedback gets.
Harrison felt the Hollies had missed the entire soul of the song, turning something meaningful into something hollow.
The Hollies were a talented band with genuine hits, but this particular cover landed like a wrong note at a recital.
13. Limp Bizkit Behind Blue Eyes
The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” is a deeply personal Pete Townshend song about feeling misunderstood and trapped inside your own emotions.
Limp Bizkit covered it in 2003, adding their signature nu-metal energy and a music video that raised a few eyebrows.
Townshend reportedly called it “an embarrassing effort” that “discredits a fine song,” and honestly, he did not mince words.
When the person who wrote a song about feeling misunderstood says your cover misunderstood the song, that is a whole layer of irony worth appreciating.
14. Glee Cast Kiss by Prince
When the Glee cast recorded their version of Kiss as part of the show’s ongoing trend of covering pop and rock classics, Prince had something very pointed to say about it.
He publicly asked, “Do you want to hear somebody else sing ‘Kiss’?” and Far Out Magazine ties that remark directly to Glee’s recording.
Prince was fiercely protective of his music and his artistic identity throughout his career.
For him, a cover was not just a tribute, it was a question of whether anyone could actually bring something real to the table. Glee fans loved it. Prince, not so much.
