Song covers that are better than the originals

Elton John's: 1 - Pinball Wizard (slings and arrows on the way I am sure)
2 - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Shelby Lynne - How Can I Be Sure

Hendrix - Watchtower

Mettallica - Whiskey in a Jar

Van Halen - You Really Got Me (if you include Eruption, there should never be a discussion)

Jeff Buckley covering Leonard Cohen's hallelujah.

From the last time this kind of thread went around:

Danny Gatton's take on Earle Hagan's "Harlem Nocturne", a song usually associated with Duke Ellington. IMHO, guitar playing doesn't get much better than this.

Don Dixon/Marti Jones' version of Joe Tex's "You Got What it Takes (To Take What I Got)". The sound of two singers in love/lust. (Dixon and Jones are married.) My wife and I used this one for our first dance.

Marty

John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel
Sid Vicious - My Way

Some lesser known covers

The Duhks - Love is the seventh wave.
The Red House Painters - All Mixed Up or Silly love songs

I prefer covers when they don't sound like the originals