100 Greatest Cover Songs and Remakes
of the 2000s

Two record sleeves for Hurt by Nine Inch Nails and Don't Know Why by Norah Jones
Definition: The term "cover version" originally referred to a rival version of a tune recorded to compete with the recently released version of a song. Eventually it went on to have a more general meaning including any performance or recording by someone other than the original artist or composer of a previously recorded, commercially released song. For sake of this list, versions of songs which fit the newer definition of cover version but not the original one are referred to as remakes.

Criteria: These cover songs/remakes of the 2000s are ranked according to their initial and lasting popularity, influence and acclaim, as well as their cultural impact. The greatness of an original record is not taken into consideration. To qualify as a cover version, the song has to be neither the first recorded nor the first released version of particular song.

List Begun: 2019-02-03
Greatest Cover Songs 2000s
Cover Songs and Remakes 2000s collage image
Legend:
Song - Original Artist with first recording (year) | Great Cover Version/Remake (year)
  1. Hurt - Nine Inch Nails (1995) | Johnny Cash (2003)
  2. Don't Know Why - Jesse Harris & The Ferdinandos (1999) | Norah Jones (2002)
  3. Valerie - The Zutons (2006) | Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse (2007)
  4. I Turn to You - All-4-One (1997) | Christina Aguilera (2000)
  5. Mad World - Tears for Fears (1982) | Michael Andrews & Gary Jules (2003)
  6. Lady Marmalade - The Eleventh Hour (1974) | Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, & Pink (2008)
  7. Emotion - Samantha Sang (1977) | Destiny's Child (2001)
  8. Don't Cha - Tori Alamaze (2004) | The Pussycat Dolls (2005)
  9. It's My Life - Talk Talk (1984) | No Doubt (2004)
10. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (1969) | Joey Ramone (2002)
11. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (1975) | Dixie Chicks (2002)
12. You Got the Love - Candi Stanton (1986) | Florence + The Machine (2009, "You've Got the Love")
13. Feeling Good - Cy Grant (1964) | Muse (2001)
14. One - U2 (1991) | Mary J. Blige and U2 (2005)
15. Redemption Song - Bob Marley (1980) | Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros (2003)
16. Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan (1997) | Adele (2008)
17. Drift Away - John Kurtz (1972) | Uncle Kracker (2003)
18. Please Read the Letter - Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (1998) | Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (2008)
19. Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes (1983) | Gnarls Barkley (2006)
20. Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane (1990) | Rascal Flatts (2006)
21. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd (1979) | Scissor Sisters (2003)
22. Love, Reign o'er Me - The Who (1973) | Pearl Jam (2007)
23. Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson (1987) | Alien Ant Farm (2001)
24. Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson (1979) | Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis (2000)
25. The Boys of Summer - Don Henley (1983) | The Ataris (2003)
26. This Woman's Work - Kate Bush (1989) | Maxwell (2002)
27. Lovesong - The Cure (1989) | 311 (2004)
28. Such Great Heights - The Postal Service (2003) | Iron & Wine (2006)
29. Freak Like Me - Adina Howard (1995) | Sugababes (2002)
30. God's Gonna Cut You Down - Traditional | Johnny Cash (2006)
31. The Saints Are Coming - The Skids (1978) | Green Day and U2 (2006)
32. Renegades of Funk - Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force (1983) | Rage Against the Machine (2001)
33. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey (1981) | The Cast of "Glee" (2009)
34. Land of Confusion - Genesis (1986) | Disturbed (2006)
35. Black Betty - Traditional | Spiderbait (2004)
36. Somethin' Stupid - Carson and Parks (1966) | Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001)
37. Give a Little Bit - Supertramp (1977) | The Goo Goo Dolls (2004)
38. I'm a Believer - The Monkees (1966) | Smash Mouth (2001)
39. Some Hearts - Marshall Crenshaw (1989) | Carrie Underwood (2005)
40. Heaven - Bryan Adams (1985) | DJ Sammy, Yanou and Do (2001)
41. Here We Go Again - Ray Charles (1967) | Ray Charles and Norah Jones (2004)
42. Heartbeats - The Knife (2002) | Jose Gonzalez (2006)
43. Jolene - Dolly Parton (1973) | The White Stripes (2004)
44. Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush (1985) | Placebo (2003)
45. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? - Prince (1982) | Alicia Keys (2002)
46. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode (1989) | Johnny Cash (2003)
47. Run - Snow Patrol (2003) | Leona Lewis (2008)
48. 1985 - SR-71 (2004) | Bowling for Soup (2004)
49. The First Cut Is The Deepest - P.P. Arnold (1967) | Sheryl Crow (2004)
50. Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp (1988) | NSYNC (2000)
51. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before - The Smiths (1987) | Mark Ronson & Daniel Merriweather (2007, "Stop Me")
52. Eternal Flame - The Bangles (1989) | Atomic Kitten (2001)
53. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack (1974) | D'Angelo (2000)
54. Conquest - Patti Page (1952) | The White Stripes (2007)
55. Baby's Coming Back - Jellyfish (1990) | McFly (2007)
56. Shadowplay - Joy Division (1979) | The Killers (2007)
57. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) | Shinedown (2004)
58. My Prerogative - Bobby Brown (1988) | Britney Spears (2004)
59. Tainted Love - Gloria Jones (1965) | Marilyn Manson (2001)
60. Travelin' Soldier - Bruce Robison (1996) | Dixie Chicks (2002)
61. Hounds of Love - Kate Bush (1985) | The Futureheads (2005)
62. Take on Me - A-ha (1984) | A1 (2000)
63. Hard Sun - Indio (1989) | Eddie Vedder (2007)
64. Working Class Hero - John Lennon (1970) | Green Day (2007)
65. Not Over Yet - Grace (1993) | Klaxons (2007, as "It's Not Over Yet")
66. Darling Nikki - Prince (1984) | Foo Fighters (2003)
67. Take Me Home - Cher (1979) | Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2001)
68. Cactus - Pixies (1988) | David Bowie (2002)
69. How I Could Just Kill a Man - Cypress Hill (1991) | Rage Against the Machine (2001)
70. Wonderwall - Oasis (1995) | Ryan Adams (2004)
71. Strange Little Girl - The Stranglers (1982) | Tori Amos (2001)
72. The Fields of Athenry - Danny Doyle (1979) | Dropkick Murphys (2003)
73. Common People - Pulp (1995) | William Shatner and Joe Jackson (2004)
74. Word Up! - Cameo (1986) | Korn (2004)
75. I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself - Dusty Springfield (1964) | The White Stripes (2003)
76. Your Daddy Don't Know - Toronto (1982) | The New Pornographers (2002)
77. Livin' Thing - Electric Light Orchestra (1976) | The Beautiful South (2004)
78. Back in the High Life Again - Steve Winwood (1987) | Warren Zevon (2003)
79. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones (1965) | Cat Power (2000)
80. The Sign - Ace of Base (1993) | The Mountain Goats (2002)
81. Some Things Last a Long Time - Daniel Johnston (1990) | Beach House (2008)
82. All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem (2007) | John Cale (2007)
83. Streets of Your Town - The Go-Betweens (1988) | Ivy (2002)
84. I Should Have Known Better - The Beatles (1964) | She & Him (2008)
85. Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1994) | Arctic Monkeys (2009)
86. Born in the U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen (1984) | Richard Shindell (2007)
87. Year 3000 - Busted (2002) | The Jonas Brothers (2006)
88. Lollipop - Lil Wayne (2008) | Framing Hanley (2008)
89. I Can Hear the Grass Grow - The Move (1967) | The Fall (2005)
90. I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty (1989) | Johnny Cash and Tom Petty (2000)
91. Flying Without Wings - Westlife (1999) | Ruben Studdard (2003)
92. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd (1979) | Korn (2004)
93. All for the Best - Miracle Legion (1987) | Thom Yorke (2009)
94. Listen to Your Heart - Roxette (1988) | DHT (2004)
95. Death Letter - Son House (1965) | The White Stripes (2000)
96. Oops! I Did It Again - Britney Spears (2000) | Richard Thompson (2003)
97. Try Some, Buy Some - Ronnie Spector (1971) | David Bowie (2003)
98. #9 Dream - John Lennon (1974) | R.E.M. (2007)
99. Jack the Ripper - Screaming Lord Sutch (1963) | The Horrors (2006)
100. Arnold Layne - Pink Floyd (1967) | David Gilmour and David Bowie (2006)








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