Some rock songs from the 20th century just can’t be remade. Plenty of musicians through the years have attempted to cover the following five tunes, but were unsuccessful in delivering versions that were better than the originals. That’s not a bad thing, either. I have to hand it to them for trying, but some songs are perfect enough to be left alone. Let’s dive in!
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“Band On The Run” by Paul McCartney and Wings
A standout release from Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles years in the 1970s, “Band On The Run” really can’t be improved on. Like, at all. I’d be bold enough to say that this is one of McCartney’s best tunes of his career, and the man wrote a big chunk of The Beatles’ discography. Even Denny Lain, formerly of Wings, tried to release a solid version in 1996, but it just doesn’t match the power of the original. And don’t get me started on that Foo Fighters version…
“Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
I doubt anyone would try to remake “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd with the intention of doing a better job. This is a standard Southern rock anthem, one that has rivaled the staying power of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s other hit, “Sweet Home Alabama”. Though, I should mention that Will To Power released a dance-pop mash-up version of this song and “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton in 1988 that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a hot minute.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
Can you imagine anyone trying to pull this song off with the intention of being better than the original? It’s just not possible. However, I have had some fun hearing modern-day musicians give this song a stab. I personally enjoyed The Muppets version.
“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys aren’t always an easy act to cover. A lot of their music is quite complex, and the band really is the sum of its parts. That hasn’t stopped plenty of musicians from trying to cover “Good Vibrations” from 1966. Though, none have come close to the original prog-pop tune.
“Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
This example of rock songs that can’t be remade has certainly been covered many times. Plenty of artists have given this classic a shot. Even country superstar Dolly Parton tried to cover it. While there have been a few admirable attempts, this song really can’t be remade in the 2020s by anyone. I don’t even think the remaining members of Led Zeppelin could pull off a rendition better than the recorded original from 1971.
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