5 Cover Songs That Changed the Meaning of the Original

Cover songs can be a great way for musicians to honor their own favorite songs an artists, all while presenting them in their own way. Some of the best, most memorable cover songs aren’t just faithful tributes—they’re transformative. While changes in things like the instrumentation and music can alter the feel of a song, the way a different artist interprets it can also present a whole new meaning.

“Respect” by Aretha Franklin

Otis Redding originally recorded “Respect” in 1965, and Aretha Franklin followed with her version two years later, in 1967. Franklin completely transformed the song, changing it from a song about a relationship—with some sexual implications—to one about female empowerment. Franklin’s iconic vocals helped flip the power dynamics and turn it into a feminist anthem.

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper

Similar to “Respect,” Cyndi Lauper’s interpretation of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”—originally by Robert Hazard—took a song originally written and sung from a male perspective and flipped it, creating a feminist anthem in the process. Some changes to the lyrics also helped change the song’s meaning, and it ended being Lauper’s breakout hit.

“Hurt” by Johnny Cash

In 2002, Johnny Cash released his final album, American IV: The Man Comes Around, largely consisting of covers. Among them was “Hurt,” a track originally performed by Nine Inch Nails—it was a dark, aggressive song about self-destruction. Cash’s version was much more stripped down and turned it into a somber reflection on his own mortality.

“My Way” by Sid Vicious

“My Way,” released in 1969, is remembered as Frank Sinatra’s signature song—Paul Anka wrote its lyrics with Sinatra in mind. Years later, Six Pistols bassist Sid Vicious released his own version, with a punk sound and significant—and explicit—changes to the lyrics. In his hands, “My Way” became a bold, defiant statement of individuality.

“Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley

“Hound Dog,” a song about a man who won’t stop pestering a woman, was written specifically for Big Mama Thornton to match her “brusque and badass” personality. It was released in 1952, but it became a huge hit for Elvis Presley in 1956. In Presley’s hands, the song lost its sexual undertones and is about someone who’s more of an annoyance.

Photo by Michel Linssen/Redferns