Ill take the originals

I would gladly hear the little known originals over the mega hit covers of the following songs...
1. Talk Talk Vs. No Doubt- It's My Life

This may be a given but there are clear reasons why Id listen to Talk Talk over the very sexy very dear  No Doubt version of It's My Life.
It's all in the delivery. Mark Hollis' tortured and incoherent vocals quickly convince me that it is, in fact, "his life." I like a male singing here rather than Gwen Stefani's weepy and wobbly voice (ick) (so do others, here is a link to a mashup.)
Talk Talk's music video is dang freakin' killer too. A hearthurt man with a creepy smirk on his face singing into nowhere, pounding his fists (maybe playin' the guitar) surrounded by wild animals (trying not to throw his arms in the air and dance, perhaps?)

2. Gloria Jones Vs. Soft Cell- Tainted Love
I prefer the soulful original Gloria Jones version, without at doubt. These two versions are not so far off, both are good, but the synthesizer ruined it for Soft Cell. It could also be that their version is unbearable for me because of its presence on just about every single 80's compilation, ever. Soft Cell wins the most dancing star people in their music video contest though. Marilyn Manson also took a full on hip-hop swing and a miss at this song in 2007. That being said, thanks for killin' it the first time Gloria! (and for being in TRex and having Marc Bolans baby but then killing him during a drunk driving accident, ee.) Grab her Tainted Love mp3, Here.
3. The Nerves Vs. Blondie- Hangin' On the Telephone
I dont know how many different ways this song has been covered since 1980 but I thought it was important to highlight the two best versions of this killer pop ballad. Hangin' On the Telephone was written by Jack Lee and originally performed by his lesser known LA group called The Nerves, in 1976. With a clean and eerily modern sound, The Nerves set a riff that Blondie ran with, not long after its original release. Debbie Harry forever popularized the song by bringing it some much need soul. I think it's important to go back and hear it performed by the love culpret himself pleading with his girl and singing "whoah, hang up and run to me, whoah, hang up and run to me, whoah, oh oh oh" So download The Nerves version and then come back and watch Debbie do her magic in this 1979 live clip.