Great songs and artists who virtually own them?


In professional sports, when a player does such honor to his number that nobody else can live up to the legacy, that number is frequently retired. My question is simple: Are their artists that performed a great song so right, that nobody else can touch it and do justice to it? e.g., Etta James - "At last"; Billy Holiday (Sorry Frank) - "One more for my baby". IMO
phaelon
Nina Simone - "Just like Tom Thumb's Blues" If anyone hasn't heard this one, trust me...

Ballan, I too love Jeff Buckly's "Hallelujah", but can't agree that he wrestled it away from Leonard Cohen.
Vegasears,

LOL - If we were giving away a prize for the most correct answer, you would win on technical merit. But we're not, so you're wrong laddy, you're just plain wrong.
My Way
We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions
Born To Be Wild
Purple Haze
Good Vibrations
Light My Fire
Jailhouse Rock
Aqualung
Mississippi Queen
Whiter Shade Of Pale

Most songs by The Beatles
Audiofeil, would that be Joey Heatherton and "Light My Fire"? Great songs but you didn't mention the artists who you believe own them.