Cover vs. Original

The Man Who Sold the World


As a Nirvana Fan I have to vote here for the cover version. But I think the cover is not so much different. David Bowie just created a great and timeless song.
Anyway it's a pity that Nirvana couldn't bring more such great cover versions or new songs into being after their recording of the Unplugged Album. Kurt Cobain, rest in peace.

- Michael Müller, Hamburg, Germany, 18.09.2005


Nirvana
1993

vs.

David Bowie
1970

CD-Cover: Nirvana - Unplugged in New York 56.3 % 43.8 % CD-Cover: David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World
Results of the voting: Cover versus Original
Click on the cover for listening Click on the cover for listening
Nirvana 3616 Votes David Bowie

Comments about The Man Who Sold the World:

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WHY ARE THERE SO MANY MORE NIRVANA VOTES. I doubt kurt cobain would be happy about this.
- Doolittle, New York, United States, 18.01.2011
Bowie
- Thom Y., Oxford, England, 09.01.2011
I think we should all just acknowledge the fact that because their music is more mainstream and accessible, Nirvana is going to have more votes here. However I will argue till my last breath that Bowie's version is better. Being a young person myself, I heard the Nirvana cover first and i loved the song. Years later as I got into Bowie's music and discovered such a depth with his version that immedietly trumps Nirvana's. When you listen to bowie's version it sounds unique and regal. When you listen to Nirvana's cover it sounds just like every one of their other songs. Although i wouldn't expect people with a shallow musical taste to understand this.
- Tracy, London, England, 08.01.2011
I like Lulu's version.

- Jonny Greenwood, Oxford, England, 15.01.2007

AHHHHHH Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead?? Please be him

Oh and Nirvana's Version is great, but it is the shit of the flies on the shit of Bowie's version. Ziggy all the way
- Phillipa, Sydney, Australia, 07.01.2011
i am not going to attack anyone. i respect David Bowie but IMO Nirvana's cover is just deeper, when i hear this song performed by Seattle boys i have goosebumps. I've heard original version from Bowie's concerts and it doesn't really do anything to me. I was 14 (in 1993) when i watched Nirvana Unplugged and i remember i picked especially on that song, i was playing it over and over, when my dad was playing the original version few years back i never paid attention.
- Magik, London, England, 07.12.2010
Is there even a comparison? Bowie's version has an ethereal, other-worldly quality to it. Nirvana's version is a respectful homage to the original, and one of very few excellent cover songs I can think of, but there's no way it captures the essence and majesty of Bowie's version.

I'll bet anyone here who is voting for Nirvana had never even heard Bowie's version until well after Kurt and friends covered it.
- Matt, Toronto, Canada, 14.11.2010
I hate that people are bashing Bowie when he's the one who created the song in the first place. Even if you do prefer the cover, I can't believe you would even consider attacking the person who actually made it in the first place, the one to come up with the tune, the lyrics, the whole thing. If it were not for that person you would not be listening to it and enjoying it. I prefer the David Bowie version because the original always beats the cover, for me. Both versions are brilliant though and you shouldn't attack one for not being the other.
- Joanna, Yorkshire, England, 14.09.2010
David Bowie, the greatest rock singer, IMO, in recorded history, is a genius on the caliber of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, and "The Man Who Sold The World" is simply in another dimension of astral reality and mystic quality that only people with an expanded consciousness can comprehend the incredible superiority of what Bowie did in the studio with that song. Almost on the level of Five Years, Moonage Daydream, Purple Haze and Time. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would rank Nirvana's version at 3, to Bowie's at 10+. (1971 version)
- Joe K., San Diego, United States, 21.07.2010
David's version is profoundly sacred--I can see why Nirvana (and Lulu) wanted to take a shot at it, because it's so mystically beautiful.
- owlbaby, Brownwood, TX, United States, 17.03.2010
Nirvana by far.

David Bowie is a weirdo and sounds like hes singing through a fan. Awful.

Cobain ftw, RIP
- Robert, NEW YORK, United States, 14.03.2010
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