The 25 worst cover songs of all time, ranked

Even great musicians with the best intentions can serve up a bad cover of a cherished song. In some cases they might try too hard to be faithful to the original, leading to an interpretation that’s too stiff or slick. Or they can alter a song until it contains just the vaguest air of what made the first version special. In some cases they can wildly misconstrue the classic track, turning their take into a memorable monstrosity.

Whatever the reason for the failings by these artists, there’s no disputing that the original songs remain beloved, which is why brutally bad updates can be so difficult to swallow. This list of the 25 worst cover songs, like our look at the 25 best cover songs of all time, doesn’t pretend to be comprehensive. Still, as we surveyed the last five decades of pop and rock music, we’ve done our best to corral the truly awful covers and order them in a way that metes out some semblance of order, if not justice.

23. William Shatner, “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (1968)

Depending on your perspective, William Shatner’s dramatic reading of the Beatles’ “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” is either a travesty or a work of gonzo genius. Pairing his interpretation of the psychedelic masterwork with a poem called “Spleen,” Shatner dives headfirst into a go-go arrangement of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” investing every word—even “the”—with meaning. Shatner’s emphasis can be puzzling—witness how he growls “girl” on “a girl with kaleidoscope eyes.” Equally baffling is the overheated orchestral arrangement, a square’s idea of what constituted hip in 1968.