This is Mindless Self Indulgence’s cover of “Bring the Pain” by Method Man. I heard this version first in 2008 and had been listening to it regularly until I heard the original a year later. The band does take the song and put an entirely different spin on it other than using the same lyrics verbatim. Instead of Method Man’s more laid back rhythms and sound, this song is louder and has a harsh, distinctly rock/metal melody to it.

This is the original “Bring the Pain” by Method Man. The song is softer than MSI’s cover, and features classical instruments along with having a reggae vibe as opposed to the rock/metal sound of the cover. Lyrically, the song still retains a harsh message, despite the variance between the melodic sound between the two songs.

These songs could have been another countless example of the distinct difference between a remix or a cover, but what stands out is that though the lyrics and the message don’t change, the songs feel like entirely different entities all their own. Based on MSI’s difference in tone from Method Man’s, it sounds like two totally different songs. MSI made the song their own without forgetting to reference the original song writers, which is important as an artist when closely working with pre-existing material.

This also reminds me of “Hurt” originally written and performed by Nine Inch Nails and later covered by the country legend Johnny Cash.

Hurt By Johnny Cash

The original song by Nine Inch Nails.