10 Cover Songs That Outshine The Original

3. Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll

This is another one of those songs where not only does the cover outshine the original but it is also much more well known. If you don't know, the original version was recorded by The Arrows in 1975 as what singer Alan Merrill described as "a knee jerk reaction to The Rolling Stones It's only Rock and Rock But I Like It." It wasn't until Joan Jett recorded it 6 years later that this song became a huge hit and reached the legendary status that it holds today. When you listen to both versions they are quite similar but Joan Jett has something that Alan Merrill doesn't and that's attitude. Jett's delivery is what makes this song a classic. Jett's punk rock bravado propelled this song to heights that Merrill could have only dreamed of and today it maintains a status as a rock anthem. You would have a tough time trying to find someone who has never heard Joan Jett's version of this song. This is just one of those songs that everyone knows and it will live on forever. There's no contest here Joan Jett may not have written this song but it would be nothing without her.