Greatest Cover Songs and Remakes of the 1990s
Criteria: These cover songs/remakes of the 1990s 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.
Legend: Song - Original Artist with first recording (year) | Great Cover Version/Remake (year)
Legend: Song - Original Artist with first recording (year) | Great Cover Version/Remake (year)
Cover Songs 1990s
1. Nothing Compares to U
The Family (1985) | Sinead O'Connor (1990)
2. Killing Me Softly with His Song
Lori Lieberman (1972) | Fugees (1996)
3. Torn
Lis Sørensen (1993, "Brændt") | Natalie Imbruglia (1995)
4. Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen (1985) | Jeff Buckley (1994)
5. I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton (1974) | Whitney Houston (1992)
6. Hard To Handle
Otis Redding (1968) | Black Crowes (1990)
7. Change the World
Wynonna Judd (1996) | Eric Clapton (1996)
8. Last Kiss
Wayne Cochran (1961) Pearl Jam (1999)
9. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)
Merry Clayton (1963) | Cher (1990)
10. (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You
Elvis Presley (1961, as "Can't Help Falling in Love") | UB40 (1993)
The Family (1985) | Sinead O'Connor (1990)
2. Killing Me Softly with His Song
Lori Lieberman (1972) | Fugees (1996)
3. Torn
Lis Sørensen (1993, "Brændt") | Natalie Imbruglia (1995)
4. Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen (1985) | Jeff Buckley (1994)
5. I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton (1974) | Whitney Houston (1992)
6. Hard To Handle
Otis Redding (1968) | Black Crowes (1990)
7. Change the World
Wynonna Judd (1996) | Eric Clapton (1996)
8. Last Kiss
Wayne Cochran (1961) Pearl Jam (1999)
9. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)
Merry Clayton (1963) | Cher (1990)
10. (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You
Elvis Presley (1961, as "Can't Help Falling in Love") | UB40 (1993)
11. If I Ruled the World
Kurtis Blow (1985) | Nas (1996)
12. Cats in the Cradle
Harry Chapin | Ugly Kid Joe (1992)
13. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan (1973) | Guns N' Roses (1990)
14. Without You
Badfinger (1970) | Mariah Carey (1993)
15. Easy
Commodores (1977) | Faith No More (1992)
16. Go West
Village People (1977) | Pet Shop Boys (1993)
17. Layla
Derek and the Dominos (1970) Eric Clapton (1992)
18. Wild Night
Van Morrison (1971) | John Mellencamp and Meshell Ndegeocello (1994)
19. I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan (1977) | Whitney Houston (1993)
20. Baby, I Love Your Way
Peter Frampton (1975) | Big Mountain (1994)
21. Mercy Mercy Me - I Want You
Marvin Gaye ("Mercy Mercy Me", 1971) and ("I Want You", 1976) | Robert Palmer (1990)
22. Now That We Found Love
O'Jays (1973) | Heavy D & the Boyz (1991)
23. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
G. C. Cameron (1975) | Boyz II Men (1991)
24. Rhythm of the Rain
The Cascades (1962) | Dan Fogelberg (1990)
25. Waiting for Tonight
3rd Party (1997) | Jennifer Lopez (1999)
26. Sukiyaki
Kyu Sakamoto (1961) | 4 P.M. (1994)
27. Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Julie Covington (1976) | Madonna (1996)
28. Jump, Jive an' Wail
Louis Prima (1956) | Brian Setzer (1999)
29. When a Man Loves a Woman
Percy Sledge (1967) | Michael Bolton (1991)
30. Crying in the Rain
The Everly Brothers (1962) | a-ha (1990)
31. The Star Spangled Banner
Traditional | Whitney Houston (1991)
32. Fly Like an Eagle
Steve Miller Band (1976) | Seal (1996)
33. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
Traditional | Nirvana (1994)
34. Endless Love
Lionel Richie and Diana Ross (1985) | Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey (1994)
35. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Elton John (1977) | George Michael and Elton John (1991)
36. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Neil Young (1970)| Saint Etienne (1990)
37. The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie (1971) | Nirvana (1994)
38. Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon
Neil Diamond (1967) | Urge Overkill (1994)
39. Time After Time
Cindy Lauper (1983) | INOJ (1997)
40. Theme from Mission: Impossible
Lalo Schifrin (1966) | Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen (1996)
41. American Woman
The Guess Who (1969) | Lenny Kravitz (1999)
42. Turn the Page
Bob Seger (1973) | Metallica (1998)
43. It's All Coming Back to Me Now
Pandora's Box (1989) | Celine Dion (1996)
44. Love is All Around
The Troggs (1967) | Wet Wet Wet (1994)
45. No More "I Love You"s
The Lover Speaks (1986) | Annie Lennox (1995)
46. The Power of Love
Jennifer Rush (1984) | Celine Dion (1993)
47. It's Oh So Quiet
Horst Winter (1948, as "Und jetzt ist es still") | Björk (1995)
48. I'll Be There
Jackson 5 (1970) | Mariah Carey (1992)
49. Angel of Mine
Eternal (1997) | Monica (1999)
50. How Deep is Your Love
Bee Gees (1977) | Take That (1996)
51. I Say a Little Prayer
Dionne Warwick (1967) | Diana King (1997)
52. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Judy Garland ("Over the Rainbow", 1939) and Louis Armstrong ("What a Wonderful World", 1967) | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1993)
53. Rhythm of My Heart
Rene Shuman (1986) | Rod Stewart (1991)
54. Don't Turn Around
Tina Turner (1986) | Ace of Base (1994)
55. I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor (1978) | Cake (1996)
56. When You Say Nothing at All
Keith Whiley (1988) | Ronan Keating (1999)
57. Betcha By Golly Wow!
The Stylistics (1972) | Prince (1996)
58. Live and Let Die Wings (1973) | Guns N' Roses (1991)
59. Because the Night
Patti Smith Group (1978) | 10,000 Maniacs (1993)
60. Step On
John Kongos (1971, as "He's Gonna Step on You Again") | Happy Mondays (1990)
61. Turn the Beat Around
Vickie Sue Robinson (1976) | Gloria Estefan (1994)
62. Words
Bee Gees (1968) | Boyzone (1996)
63. Where Do You Go
La Bouche (1995) | No Mercy (1996)
64. Lake of Fire
Meat Puppets (1984) | Nirvana (1994)
65. Relight My Fire
Dan Hartman (1979) | Take That and Lulu (1993)
66. How Soon is Now?
The Smiths (1985) | Love Spit Love (1996)
67. She's the One
World Party (1997) | Robbie Williams (1999)
68. Come and Get Your Love
Redbone (1974) | Real McCoy (1995)
69. I'm Not in Love 10cc (1975) | Will to Power (1990)
70. Blue Monday
New Order (1983) | Orgy (1998)
71. They Won't Go When I Go
Stevie Wonder (1974) | George Michael (1990)
72. Oh Carolina
The Folkes Brothers (1960) | Shaggy (1993)
73. Tragedy
Bee Gees (1979) | Steps (1998)
74. Love Me for a Reason
Johnny Bristol (1974) | Boyzone (1994)
75. Lilac Wine
Eartha Kitt (1953) | Jeff Buckley (1994)
76. I'm Goin' Down
Rose Royce (1976) | Mary J. Blige (1994)
77. Sweet Thing
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (1975) | Mary J. Blige (1992)
78. Can't Get Enough of You Baby
? and the Mysterians (1967) | Smash Mouth (1998)
79. Have I Told You Lately
Van Morrison (1989) | Rod Stewart (1993)
80. Love Can Build a Bridge
The Judds (1990) | Cher, Neneh Cherry, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton (1995)
81. Why Can't We Be Friends?
War (1975) | Smash Mouth (1998)
82. Planet Caravan
Black Sabbath (1970) | Pantera (1994)
83. You Got It – Roy Orbison (1989) | Bonnie Raitt (1995)
84. There She Goes
The La's (1988) | Sixpence None the Richer (1997)
85. Ooh La La
Faces (1973) | Rod Stewart (1998)
86. Henry Lee
Traditional, originally called "Young Hunting" | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey (1996)
87. Cars
Gary Numan (1979) | Fear Factory (1998)
88. Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana (1991) | Tori Amos (1992)
89. I Go Blind
54-40 (1986) | Hootie & The Blowfish (1996)
90. Sweet Child o' Mine
Guns N' Roses (1988) | Sheryl Crow (1998)
91. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
XTC (1992) | Crash Test Dummies (1994)
92. Lay Lady Lay
Bob Dylan (1969) | Ministry (1996)
93. No Depression
The Carter Family (1936) | Uncle Tupelo (1990)
94. 32 Flavors
Ani DiFranco (1995) | Alana Davis (1998)
95. Head On
The Jesus and Mary Chain (1989) | Pixies (1991)
96. Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Four Lads (1953) | They Might Be Giants (1990)
97. Dirty Deeds AC/DC (1976, as "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap") | Joan Jett (1990)
98. Bizarre Love Triangle
New Order (1986) | Frente! (1994)
99. Across the Universe
The Beatles (1969) | Fiona Apple (1998)
100. Signs
Five Man Electrical Band (1970) | Tesla (1990)
Kurtis Blow (1985) | Nas (1996)
12. Cats in the Cradle
Harry Chapin | Ugly Kid Joe (1992)
13. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan (1973) | Guns N' Roses (1990)
14. Without You
Badfinger (1970) | Mariah Carey (1993)
15. Easy
Commodores (1977) | Faith No More (1992)
16. Go West
Village People (1977) | Pet Shop Boys (1993)
17. Layla
Derek and the Dominos (1970) Eric Clapton (1992)
18. Wild Night
Van Morrison (1971) | John Mellencamp and Meshell Ndegeocello (1994)
19. I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan (1977) | Whitney Houston (1993)
20. Baby, I Love Your Way
Peter Frampton (1975) | Big Mountain (1994)
21. Mercy Mercy Me - I Want You
Marvin Gaye ("Mercy Mercy Me", 1971) and ("I Want You", 1976) | Robert Palmer (1990)
22. Now That We Found Love
O'Jays (1973) | Heavy D & the Boyz (1991)
23. It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
G. C. Cameron (1975) | Boyz II Men (1991)
24. Rhythm of the Rain
The Cascades (1962) | Dan Fogelberg (1990)
25. Waiting for Tonight
3rd Party (1997) | Jennifer Lopez (1999)
26. Sukiyaki
Kyu Sakamoto (1961) | 4 P.M. (1994)
27. Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Julie Covington (1976) | Madonna (1996)
28. Jump, Jive an' Wail
Louis Prima (1956) | Brian Setzer (1999)
29. When a Man Loves a Woman
Percy Sledge (1967) | Michael Bolton (1991)
30. Crying in the Rain
The Everly Brothers (1962) | a-ha (1990)
31. The Star Spangled Banner
Traditional | Whitney Houston (1991)
32. Fly Like an Eagle
Steve Miller Band (1976) | Seal (1996)
33. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
Traditional | Nirvana (1994)
34. Endless Love
Lionel Richie and Diana Ross (1985) | Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey (1994)
35. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
Elton John (1977) | George Michael and Elton John (1991)
36. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Neil Young (1970)| Saint Etienne (1990)
37. The Man Who Sold The World
David Bowie (1971) | Nirvana (1994)
38. Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon
Neil Diamond (1967) | Urge Overkill (1994)
39. Time After Time
Cindy Lauper (1983) | INOJ (1997)
40. Theme from Mission: Impossible
Lalo Schifrin (1966) | Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen (1996)
41. American Woman
The Guess Who (1969) | Lenny Kravitz (1999)
42. Turn the Page
Bob Seger (1973) | Metallica (1998)
43. It's All Coming Back to Me Now
Pandora's Box (1989) | Celine Dion (1996)
44. Love is All Around
The Troggs (1967) | Wet Wet Wet (1994)
45. No More "I Love You"s
The Lover Speaks (1986) | Annie Lennox (1995)
46. The Power of Love
Jennifer Rush (1984) | Celine Dion (1993)
47. It's Oh So Quiet
Horst Winter (1948, as "Und jetzt ist es still") | Björk (1995)
48. I'll Be There
Jackson 5 (1970) | Mariah Carey (1992)
49. Angel of Mine
Eternal (1997) | Monica (1999)
50. How Deep is Your Love
Bee Gees (1977) | Take That (1996)
51. I Say a Little Prayer
Dionne Warwick (1967) | Diana King (1997)
52. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
Judy Garland ("Over the Rainbow", 1939) and Louis Armstrong ("What a Wonderful World", 1967) | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1993)
53. Rhythm of My Heart
Rene Shuman (1986) | Rod Stewart (1991)
54. Don't Turn Around
Tina Turner (1986) | Ace of Base (1994)
55. I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor (1978) | Cake (1996)
56. When You Say Nothing at All
Keith Whiley (1988) | Ronan Keating (1999)
57. Betcha By Golly Wow!
The Stylistics (1972) | Prince (1996)
58. Live and Let Die Wings (1973) | Guns N' Roses (1991)
59. Because the Night
Patti Smith Group (1978) | 10,000 Maniacs (1993)
60. Step On
John Kongos (1971, as "He's Gonna Step on You Again") | Happy Mondays (1990)
61. Turn the Beat Around
Vickie Sue Robinson (1976) | Gloria Estefan (1994)
62. Words
Bee Gees (1968) | Boyzone (1996)
63. Where Do You Go
La Bouche (1995) | No Mercy (1996)
64. Lake of Fire
Meat Puppets (1984) | Nirvana (1994)
65. Relight My Fire
Dan Hartman (1979) | Take That and Lulu (1993)
66. How Soon is Now?
The Smiths (1985) | Love Spit Love (1996)
67. She's the One
World Party (1997) | Robbie Williams (1999)
68. Come and Get Your Love
Redbone (1974) | Real McCoy (1995)
69. I'm Not in Love 10cc (1975) | Will to Power (1990)
70. Blue Monday
New Order (1983) | Orgy (1998)
71. They Won't Go When I Go
Stevie Wonder (1974) | George Michael (1990)
72. Oh Carolina
The Folkes Brothers (1960) | Shaggy (1993)
73. Tragedy
Bee Gees (1979) | Steps (1998)
74. Love Me for a Reason
Johnny Bristol (1974) | Boyzone (1994)
75. Lilac Wine
Eartha Kitt (1953) | Jeff Buckley (1994)
76. I'm Goin' Down
Rose Royce (1976) | Mary J. Blige (1994)
77. Sweet Thing
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan (1975) | Mary J. Blige (1992)
78. Can't Get Enough of You Baby
? and the Mysterians (1967) | Smash Mouth (1998)
79. Have I Told You Lately
Van Morrison (1989) | Rod Stewart (1993)
80. Love Can Build a Bridge
The Judds (1990) | Cher, Neneh Cherry, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton (1995)
81. Why Can't We Be Friends?
War (1975) | Smash Mouth (1998)
82. Planet Caravan
Black Sabbath (1970) | Pantera (1994)
83. You Got It – Roy Orbison (1989) | Bonnie Raitt (1995)
84. There She Goes
The La's (1988) | Sixpence None the Richer (1997)
85. Ooh La La
Faces (1973) | Rod Stewart (1998)
86. Henry Lee
Traditional, originally called "Young Hunting" | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and PJ Harvey (1996)
87. Cars
Gary Numan (1979) | Fear Factory (1998)
88. Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana (1991) | Tori Amos (1992)
89. I Go Blind
54-40 (1986) | Hootie & The Blowfish (1996)
90. Sweet Child o' Mine
Guns N' Roses (1988) | Sheryl Crow (1998)
91. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
XTC (1992) | Crash Test Dummies (1994)
92. Lay Lady Lay
Bob Dylan (1969) | Ministry (1996)
93. No Depression
The Carter Family (1936) | Uncle Tupelo (1990)
94. 32 Flavors
Ani DiFranco (1995) | Alana Davis (1998)
95. Head On
The Jesus and Mary Chain (1989) | Pixies (1991)
96. Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Four Lads (1953) | They Might Be Giants (1990)
97. Dirty Deeds AC/DC (1976, as "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap") | Joan Jett (1990)
98. Bizarre Love Triangle
New Order (1986) | Frente! (1994)
99. Across the Universe
The Beatles (1969) | Fiona Apple (1998)
100. Signs
Five Man Electrical Band (1970) | Tesla (1990)
Edited By: Tim, Bruno
Last Updated: 2022-04-07Newly added names are in Red
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.