Who Could Successfully Cover 'Rocketman' by Elton John?

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I wonder if this song has ever been covered? I love the song, personally; it's one of Sir Elton John's best. If it were covered, I would think The Flaming Lips could do a bang-up job. Or can you imagine Tom Waits doing it?...

― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:24 (twenty-two years ago)

my morning jacket has covered this, quite nicely actually.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Both Kate Bush and John Tesh have covered it. Yeeesh.

― maypang (maypang), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

They had an episode of This American Life on NPR where John Langford of the Mekons assembled a motley group of musicians that he found from ads posted in the newspaper, including a senior citizen theremin player, and then had them all go into a studio-jazz musicians, rock musicians, all of varying degrees of talent-where they cranked out a version of Rocket Man that was really quite wonderful.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate Bush did it. It's just... no.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:32 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't believe that the langley schools music project album doesn't have a version of Rocket Man. It would have been a natural for them.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Pearls Before Swine...

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I like kate bush's version. Better than the original I say, but then again, I don't like Elton John much.

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I think that Mercury Rev and Lou Reed could do an awesome cover.

― The Second Drummer Drowned (Atila the Honeybun), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

andrew wk

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:39 (twenty-two years ago)

How about Eminem and Elton John singing Rocket Man together? eh?

― Jaromil (Jaromil), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I was at one of the tapings from this tour.

― Steev (Steev), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Andrew WK was built to cover "Philadelphia Freedom" (or "I'm Still Standing").

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 05:49 (twenty-two years ago)

William Shatner has successfully covered Rocket Man.

― (Jon L), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The Langford thing was hilarious. And it was the perfect song for that somehow -- ridiculous but kind of touching. I haven't heard the Kate Bush one in forever; wasn't it kind of a cod-reggae thing, with ukeleles or something? (Or is that just how I imagined it should be?)

The Flaming Lips could cover it, obviously. I'm not saying it would be a good idea, just that it would make sense.

― spittle (spittle), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 06:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Billy Joel

― ModJ (ModJ), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

me first and the gimme gimmes do a good version.

― MerkinMuffley (MerkinMuffley), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 06:17 (twenty-two years ago)

duh, Polyphonic Spree. duh, but... ick.

― bh, Tuesday, 24 February 2004 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Boy Sets Fire cover it...

― D Aziz (esquire1983), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The Kate Bush cover was indeed a cod reggae thing, can't speak for the ukes though. She even got a nomination for "Best Brit Female" on the strength of that one single! About the last truly great thing she did tho...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

i heard a techno version of it the once, and it was surprisingly good. no, really.
sadly, i can't remember who did it, but they also did 'breakdown' by one dove.
actually, if anyone does know who that was, i'd be grateful. it'd be worth kazaa-ing at least.

not fond of the original. any change to it is a good one, as far as i'm concerned.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 10:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Interestingly, Crystal Palace fans have started singing it in reference to manager Iain Dowie (who has a degree in rocket science).

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 10:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess AC can cover anything, can't they.

Captured By Robots, maybe?

― daria g (daria g), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Love & Rockets would have done a good version.

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Rocket Man" by William Shatner is the FUNNIEST COVER EVER!! It's not just the ridiculous 70s disco background music, it's not just the fact that the whole crowd of dorky Star Trek losers erupt into enormous applause when he finishes like they were emotionally touched by it, no, it's the way he says lines like, "Mars ain't a place to raise a family. In fact, it's cold as hell."

You just have to hear it.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 12:59 (twenty-two years ago)

funnier than his 'Lucy In the Sky..'?? awwwwww shiiiiiitttt

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

one word: daniel bedingfield

― donny dorko (searchanddelete), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't it pretty much just a matter of time before Coldplay does this?

― dleone (dleone), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

actually i'd like to hear the flaming lips covering 'goodbye yellow brick road'

― pete s, Tuesday, 24 February 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I adore Kate Bush with a devotion that borders on fanaticism, but her cover of "Rocket Man" (inna "reggae stylee") makes the Fixx sound positively irie by comparison.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

the Morning jacket version is, indeed, very lovely.

― jed_ (jed), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Freedy Johnston could do a good job with it I bet.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Built to Spill, maybe? I have a disc of various eclectic covers they've done -- Macy Gray, Steve Miller Band, Sabbath -- and I think they could do something cool with it.

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate Bush's cover is a thing of wonder and you're all mad.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 24 February 2004 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

allen clapp--his solo record sounded like an elton john record.

― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 01:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Me First & the Gimme Gimmes do a rockin' version of it which I quite like.

― Mark M, Wednesday, 25 February 2004 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Jobriath could have done it. Bobby Conn could do it.

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I know who could do it well

― JaXoN (JasonD), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 06:19 (twenty-two years ago)

OTM

― Sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

the pen salesman Mormon from "American Idol"!

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 25 February 2004 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Stewie, the baby from the cartoon 'The Family Guy' has done it.

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 26 February 2004 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

hakeem olajuwon

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 26 February 2004 07:11 (twenty-two years ago)

SCOOTER!!!!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Thursday, 26 February 2004 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Colin Blunstone.

― eddie hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 26 February 2004 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

lightning bolt

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Thursday, 26 February 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

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