This thread wouldn't be complete without mentioning Sid Vicious's version of "My Way", Wilson Pickett's remake of "Hey Jude", and James Brown's wonderful rendition of "The Tennessee Waltz".
What's your favorite remake of a song
I know most remakes fall short of the original, but I suspect that it's usually due to the fact that the original was known and popular. The remake usually pales by comparison, but I've heard a few things lately that I really liked, and wondered what others have enjoyed...