Five best Prince songs done by other artists

Prince is one unique dude. Therefore, you might be surprised to learn that other artists have done his songs — sometimes better. For instance, the world might not have ever been introduced to Sinead O’Connor without her big ballad on a Prince song. Prince recently played a long string of dates in Los Angeles, so it seems like as good a time as any to reconsider some of the cover versions of his songs that are out there.

1. “Nothing Compares 2 U” – Sinead O’Connor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0

Prince has a reputation for being a sex god and a party starter. Yet some of his best songs are the sad ones. Nothing else Sinead O’Connor recorded before of since compares to this cover. It’s just so sad, you might wish the world had actually ended in 1999.

2. “I Feel For You” – Chaka Khan

The combination of Stevie Wonder’s harmonica and Prince’s original groove made this one of Chaka Khan’s biggest hits. Admit it; you love to stutter her name at the beginning, too.

3. “Kiss” – Tom Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRQtldkHT3E

Before Prince seduced girls in Purple Rain, women were throwing keys and panties up on Tom Jones’ concert stage. He’s still sexy after all these years. Let’s see if Prince can, um, keep it up as long.

4. “If I Was Your Girlfriend” – Eels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzcLZN0KTL4

TLC was the first choice, until this twisted version came up on YouTube. After all, it kind of needs to be sung by a guy anyway. Eels is probably a band after Prince’s own heart.

5. “Darling Nikki” – Foo Fighters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEoYKYA9oHE

This one was included specifically because Prince — now the good JW — no longer sings it all the way through. Also, it’s a perfect song for a hard rock band like Foo Fighters.