Interpretation / Adaptations

[Which Tyler]

What are your favourite interpretations / adaptations?
This might be a cover version, or adaptation into a different media.

I would suggest that "cheats" can have an honourable mention only - IMO, anything originally written by Bob Dylan, or Stephen King usually have adaptations that are better than the original. A partial cheat would be something like Game of Thrones, where the 1st season is a brilliant adaptation of the 1st book; but it goes downhill from there, rapidly. I would also regards an edit as opposed to a cover version to be a cheat (eg one of my favourite songs is Tricky's version of Milk, by garbage - but it's absolutely an edit, not a cover)



My first nominations would be:
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails) covered by Johnny Cash


Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Lead Belly) by Nirvana


Les Miserables (Victor Hugo) adapted into the stage show by Boublil, Schönberg and Kretzmer (NOT the film)


To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) adapted to the big screen by Robert Mulligan


Haunting of Bly Manor (Henry James) adapted to the small screen by Mike Flanagan




Let the disagreements begin
And also, just post whatever adaptations have tickled your fancy recently

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The Ataris - Boys of Summer is so much better than the original, and also so much better than anything else The Ataris put out


I much prefer Alien Ant Farm's smooth criminal to MJ's as well (MJ himself was a big fan of it too, not sure if it's urban legend but heard he personally approved it's release after his management said no)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ooh, don't agree with that Dylan take.

Johnny Cash was the master of a cover song though:



I'd consider nearly any adaptations or covers of Irish songs to be a cheat but Whiskey in the Jar by Thin Lizzy is so different, and better than any other version I'm happy to count it:



Patti Smith's adaptation of Gloria by Them (Van Morrison's first band) is a great piece of music too. I like the original but this is better: