Bad Classic Rock Covers You Probably Forgot (or Tried To)

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of hearing a classic rock cover that was so bad it felt like a personal attack, you’re not alone. Music fans have strong opinions, and “Ultimate Classic Rock” put together a list of cringe-worthy renditions that many would rather forget. Think “American Pie” by Madonna or U2’s version of “Fortunate Son.”

Let’s just say, some of these tracks have aged about as well as unrefrigerated potato salad.

1. “Dancing in the Street” – Mick Jagger & David Bowie
   It’s iconic, but not necessarily in a good way. Equal parts campy and chaotic, this one still haunts YouTube comment sections.
2. “Fortunate Son” – U2
   U2’s take on the Creedence Clearwater Revival protest anthem left fans wondering if irony died in the studio that day.
3. “What’s Going On” – Cyndi Lauper
   Cyndi took a socially conscious Motown classic and gave it… whatever this was.
4. “Faith” – Limp Bizkit
   George Michael meets Fred Durst. Need we say more?
5. “American Pie” – Madonna
   She trimmed the song and added electronic beats. America still hasn’t forgiven her.
6. “My Generation” – Hilary Duff
   When the Who said “Hope I die before I get old,” they probably didn’t imagine it sounding like Disney Channel.
7. “Imagine” – Avril Lavigne
   A cover so safe it somehow manages to miss the emotional core entirely.
8. “One Way or Another” – One Direction
   Teen pop energy meets punky Blondie attitude. One of those things got lost in translation.
9. “I Love Rock ’N Roll” – Britney Spears
   Featured in her movie “Crossroads”, this version came with a pop sheen that left the grit behind.
10. “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” – Paris Hilton
    No, Paris. Just… no.
11. “Purple Haze” – The Cure
    Their sample-heavy, synth-drenched version of Hendrix’s classic felt more like a remix than a tribute.
12. “Behind Blue Eyes” – Limp Bizkit
    Featuring a Speak & Spell bridge, it managed to alienate both Who fans and nu-metal fans.
13. “Big Yellow Taxi” – Counting Crows
    A lifeless take on Joni Mitchell’s environmental anthem that critics called cloyingly commercial.
14. “Anarchy in the U.K.” – Mötley Crüe
    The glam metal treatment stripped away the Sex Pistols’ sneering edge and punk attitude.
15. “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” – Sugar Ray
    A too-smooth cover of Joe Jackson’s acerbic original, with none of the bite.
16. “About a Girl” – Puddle of Mudd
    A live performance so off-key, it went viral for all the wrong reasons.
17. “You Shook Me All Night Long” – Celine Dion & Anastacia
    Bombastic vocals and dance-pop flair tried to overpower AC/DC—and failed spectacularly.
18. “Toys in the Attic” – R.E.M.
    Folk-rock meets hard rock, and neither comes out looking good.
19. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Take That
    A bubblegum boy band tackling Nirvana’s anti-mainstream anthem. You can imagine how that went.
20. “Cat’s in the Cradle” – Ugly Kid Joe
    Ironically a hit for them, but many felt their grungy take on the soft-rock ballad missed the emotional mark.
21. “Papa Don’t Preach” – Kelly Osbourne
    Riding the coattails of reality TV, Kelly’s version lacked Madonna’s conviction—and energy.
22. “Rocky Mountain Way” – Godsmack
    They gave Joe Walsh’s groove a heavy-metal makeover. It didn’t stick.
23. “The Sound of Silence” – Disturbed
    Some loved it, some loathed it—but many felt it bulldozed the delicate poetry of the Simon & Garfunkel original.
24. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” – Nickelback feat. Kid Rock
    This cover ditched Elton John’s glam swagger for blaring guitars and a whole lot of testosterone.
25. “Burning Down the House” – The Used
    Talking Heads’ funky, eccentric vibe got lost in an emo-punk blender.

If you’re brave enough, you can check out the full 35-entry list at UltimateClassicRock.com. Just maybe keep the volume low—and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

And if you’ve never seen the silent music video for “Dancing in the Street”… you’re welcome.