The Ramones & the Great Cover Song Wars of 2026

Moi Say Moi back in 2010:

No one was better at covers than the Ramones. The first time I tried to get permission to go to a Ramones show my parents, who had been born in 1576, said "hellz no." A few days later I brought my mother a cassette I had made of all the old songs The Ramones had covered, including Let's Dance, California Sun, Do You Wanna Dance, Needles & Pins, Baby I Love You, Little Bit of Soul, Indian Giver and Palisades Park. My mother immediately thought "oh, it's an oldies group, great!" and allowed me to go.

I can't believe its taken me this longer with everybody but here we go - your old pal Xmastime will now declare version of every Ramones cover he prefers (except for Acid Eaters, which feels a bit more tiresome since it was a covers album - some good, some great, some terrible, but not in the spirit of putting a cover on a real album.)

RELEASED ON STUDIO ALBUMS

LET’S DANCE

Ramones version: 1976, Ramones | Original: Chris Montez, 1962

I love The Ramones’ version, and it sets what will become their modus operandi for most (okay, all) of their future covers, but there’s just something light/bouncy/fun about the original that’s so damn likable. Also, it’s just about dancing, fellas, I’m not sure we need the full-on Ramones effect here.

Ramones 0, Original 1

CALIFORNIA SUN

Ramones version: 1977, Leave Home | Original: The Rivieras, 1964

This is an example of both the original and the cover being A+ versions, but I gotta give the edge to The Ramones here: is there another song that rocks so hard & loud but still feels like Summer?

Ramones 1, Original 1

DO YOU WANNA DANCE?

Ramones version: 1977, Rocket to Russia | Original: Bobby Freeman, 1958

This is another one of those songs that seems impossible not to sound great no matter who’s covering it, but The Ramones have owned it for almost 50 years now. Perfect cover of a perfect song.

Ramones 2, Original 1

SURFIN’ BIRD

Ramones version: 1977, Rocket to Russia | Original: The Trashmen, 1963

See DO YOU WANNA DANCE.

Ramones 3, Original 1

NEEDLES AND PINS

Ramones version: 1978, Road to Ruin | Original: Jackie DeShannon, 1963 (a bigger hit for The Searchers, 1964)

Meh. On one hand, by Road to Ruin you’d be a little annoyed at another cover that’s simply “'60s pop hit sped up with Ramones ferocity”, and yet it’s a headscratcher that of all the songs they coulda thought to do this was the one, and then they kinda just did it as close to the original as possible? 🤔🤷‍♂️

Ramones 3, Original 2

BABY, I LOVE YOU

Ramones version: 1980, End of the Century | Original: The Ronettes, 1963

I love that Phil Spector was obsessed with Joey’s voice. I love they tried it. I even like it. But the original is perfection, and that’s that.

Ramones 3, Original 3

LITTLE BIT O’SOUL

Ramones version: 1983, Subterranean Jungle | Original: The Music Explosion, 1967

Another A+/A+ conundrum; in this case The Ramones’ ferocity makes it a little better, but Joey’s perfect pop singing (was Subterranean Jungle his singing peak?) really takes it over the top.

Ramones 4, Original 3

I NEED YOUR LOVE

Ramones version: 1983, Subterranean Jungle | Original: The Boyfriends, late 1970s

The most confusing of all these entries because it’s the only song nobody had ever heard of when it came out on Subterranean Jungle, I was never able to get my beady little ears on the original until YouTube appeared 25 years later; I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Ramones version, but in this case 1. a tie goes to the runner (the original) 2. it gets slightly dinged because as I said, nobody’d ever heard of The Boyfriends or this song before, and on one hand it’s really cool the Ramones would give another band some much-needed sunshine like this, but it's weird that starting about 8 seconds after Subterranean Jungle was released they never once acknowledged the song or the band ever again, so…🤷‍♂️

Ramones 4, Original 4

TIME HAS COME TODAY

Ramones version: 1983, Subterranean Jungle | Original: The Chambers Brothers, 1966

An okay cover of an okay song that fits in the “why?” category, it would've been better-served on their later covers album Acid Eaters, which unlike their other covers really made a point of leaning into late-'60s psychedelia. Also – why of all songs did they take the time/money to make a video for this one?

Ramones 4, Original 5

PALISADES PARK

Ramones version: 1989, Brain Drain | Original: Freddy Cannon, 1962

Same as Little Bit O’ Soul, in this case their ferocity makes a great song just a little greater; seems late in their career to be doing this one for some reason, but hey 🤷‍♂️.

Ramones 5, Original 5

TAKE IT AS IT COMES

Ramones version: 1992, Mondo Bizarro | Original: The Doors, 1967

This is the only Ramones cover they released on a studio album that’s a song I don’t like; tbh I can’t even say Joey’s voice can save this one. Therefore I’m grading it as honestly as I can, with a N/A: I don’t give a shit/let’s just pretend it never happened, much like the album it was released on (except for Poison Heart, obvs.)

I DON’T WANT TO GROW UP

Ramones version: 1995, ¡Adios Amigos! | Original: Tom Waits, 1992

Leading off their final album with a cover is strange, but this is an incredible version of an incredible song; normally I’d say Tom Waits wins since two A+ versions means the tie goes to the original, but in this case the versions are so incredibly different that The Ramones gets the edge for making it so radically different and yet still an A+ version.

Ramones 6, Original 5

I LOVE YOU

Ramones version: 1995, ¡Adios Amigos! | Original: Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, 1977

An okay song seemingly taken from the template of All You Need Is Love for which the lyrical simplicity of the song only really works when you have someone with a voice that sounds like it’s from the angels. Sorry, Johnny.

Ramones 7, Original 5

NOT RELEASED ON STUDIO ALBUMS

COME ON LET’S GO

Ramones version: 1979, Rock ’n’ Roll High School (film) | Original: Ritchie Valens, 1958

Even without Joey singing - he had the flu, although I don’t know why they couldn’t just wait a coupa days & then have him sing it - just as with Palisades Park, in this case their ferocity makes a great song just a little greater.

Ramones 8, Original 5

I GOT YOU BABE (JOEY RAMONE & HOLLY BETH VINCENT)

Ramones version: 1982, non-album single | Original: Sonny & Cher, 1965

A++++ song to start with, and then add Joey’s voice? Yes please! And yes this shouldn’t count since no other Ramone is on the track but this makes up for Joey not being on Come On  Let’s Go so if you don’t like it buddy, call the fucking doctor.

Ramones 9, Original 5

INDIAN GIVER

Ramones version: 1987, B-side of “A Real Cool Time” single (later on Ramones Mania, 1988) | Original: 1910 Fruitgum Company, 1969

Another song you think is great as is but suddenly becomes obsolete the second you hear the Ramones version. Joey’s “girl when I was down you said that you would always be there” is in the Xmastime Ramones Hall of Fame.

Ramones 10, Original 5

STREET FIGHTING MAN

Ramones version: 1985, B-side of “Howling at the Moon” single | Original: The Rolling Stones, 1968

Maybe the charm of Ramones covers always was that they leaned more towards bubblegum than “oh man, we are so young and so angry!”; this feels like a coupla middle-aged dudes sleepwalking through a “we have to do a Stones song” session; I’m sure somewhere there’s a story about Johnny being thrilled they knocked it out in 4 minutes & saved like $1,100.

Ramones 10, Original 6

SPIDER-MAN

Ramones version: 1995, Saturday Morning: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits (tribute album) | Original: 1967 Spider-Man TV theme

N/A. I’m glad they did it, it’s fun but I also couldn’t care less.

R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

Ramones version: 1995, ¡Adios Amigos! (Japanese edition bonus track) | Original: Motörhead, 1991

I didn’t know this song existed until The Ramones played my college in April 1995; after blazing through their hits so fast even I had a hard time hanging on to wtf they were playing, suddenly I hear CJ barking out “R.A.M.O.N.E.S RAMONES!!” (on a side note, his backups throughout the show were incredible) & I’m like “OMG DO THE RAMONES NOW HAVE A SONG CALLED THE RAMONES???” which, if we’re being honest as Ramones fans, would not have been a big surprise. Of course I quickly learned it was a Motorhead song from 1991; it’s a faithful cover but the band playing a song about themselves & totally pulling it off like only they could means it’s a “hey sorry Lemmy” from me.

FINAL SCORE: Ramones 11, Original 6

Enjoy this Spotify playlist of all these songs I’ve so very thoughtfully put together for you people and yes, you ARE welcome!!

Sitcom Ideas. I Have Them.

Xmastime, The World's Worst High School Guidance Counselor:

“Mr.________, should I take Summer school?”
"You? You couldn't get accepted to Summer school."

LOOKING FOR INVESTORS 💰💰💰💰

PREVIOUS XMASTIME, THE WORLD'S WORST HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR HERE

"That Skank Said WHAT?" #funwithShep

Ummmmmmm...

...how is this a "pretty wild backstory", por favor? This is only how about 20 gazillion times a bazillion songs have been written (so far!).

Insert eyeroll emoji here. 

 

I'll Say This.

I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again: it’s interesting that we’ve all pretty much accepted it as fait accompli that every accusation Trump makes is really a confession & yet not once have I heard anyone consider that his Magnum Opus of this genre will one day be revealed to be that he rigged the 2024 election in the exact way he’s still screeching the Democrats did for the 2020 election.

Current Events

Trump would rather not get into Heaven than forgive his enemies:

President Donald Trump said he wouldn’t forgive some of his political enemies even if it kept him from entering heaven.
"Let’s say you pass away, you're entering the next life, and all you have to do to enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years," said Douthat. "Do you think you can do it?"
Then Douthat put it more bluntly: "Is the answer no before the Judgment (Day)?"
"The answer is no. I want to be honest,” said Trump, who was impeached twice by the U.S. House of Representatives while Rep. Nancy Pelosi was speaker.

If hating James Comey is what keeps you out of eternal heaven with the God you profess to love so much then I'd say James Comey wins.

HAPPY 15TH BIRFDAY LUCY!! 🤗🕺

The greatest goddaughter ever. 🤗🕺❤️

 

Jelly du Jour

I haven't been this jealous since I found out about the guy who takes kids' shitty school drawings and honestly reviews them.

"But Xmastime", you say in the voice of Craig “Ironhead” Heyward from those soap commercials (RIP), "aren't you the OG of the subgenre, with your brilliant Vodka or Juice video from 2008?"

Sigh. Yes I am, faithful readers, YES I am!

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Speaking of Richard Lloyd

I railed for years about the absurdity of rock critics trying to compare The Strokes to Television, a lazy premise that caught fire with rock critics because just like everybody else rock critics are lazy af & were happy to merely cut & paste, even though anyone with ears knew Verlaine/Lloyd were like dueling jazz maestros while The Strokes' two guitar players were perfectly fine to the point of being unremarkable and probably too many by one.

So I find it interesting that on the day Lloyd died, The Strokes - whose cultural significance is decades past & most people probably had no idea were still doing it - played Saturday Night Live. Interesting. 

Richard Lloyd, RIP

After fighting it for 35+ years I finally go & fall in love with Television's Marquee Moon, and so Richard Lloyd goes ahead & dies on us. Goddammit.

From his obituary in The New York Times - or, as I call it, "The Times" - HERE:

Formed in 1973, Television was a pioneering part of the punk rock insurrection that coalesced around the Bowery club CBGB. The band was among the first of its kind to play at what had once been primarily a venue for country music and bluegrass and would only later become a springboard for acts like Blondie, Talking Heads and the Ramones.

Despite their fertile musical partnership, Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Verlaine had no personal contact for many years. Still, Mr. Lloyd never failed to give the band’s most famous member his due — up to a point.

“There’s no denying that Tom was a genius,” he told Guitar World. “He was a poet. I’m not poetic. "

“But,” he added, “in the realm of our magic, my guitar playing was on another level.”

When I listen to Marquee Moon now, I 100% agree. Bummed it took so long, really.

I'm Not Falling for This One Again.

Friday Nite with Shep! 🤗🐶❤️🕺

I Am an Asshole du Jour

"Hey ChatGPT how can I find out how much money I've donated to the Check Out Hunger Campaign while checking out at Wegmans so I can casually let it be known at the most opportune moment in my social calendar?"

Xmastime's Ramones Thought du Jour (You're Welcome Very Much)

Maybe it's because the movie didn’t do too great but Pet Sematary is a wildly underrated/overlooked Ramones song; pure Dee Dee all the way, haunting words full of regret & dread with a wannabe gothic sound that still bounces. We love you Dee Dee! 🤗❤️🎸🕺 

MORE Cheers to THE NEW YORKER, Animal-Style

I've mentioned several times before how incredible The New Yorker magazine cartoons laugh rate seems to be whenever they're about animals, most recently here, and the winning streak just keeps on going: 

I mean ffs these mugs did the unthinkable and made SNAKES funny!!!

Want du Jour

Six O'Clock, Winter
John Sloan, 1912
Insta Mukluks: arthistdaily 

 

Xmastime Confessions

If I told you how much of my day is spent with the McDonald's "ba-da-bum-bump baaaaah, I'm lovin' it!" song running through my head then buddy let me tell you right now, you wouldn't believe it.

Unfortunate Thumbnail Choice, PlutoTV

RANDOM OLD XMASTIME COMMENTS I NEVER SAW

From November 2006.

 

Xmastime Thoughts, by Xmastime

Imagine being born a motherfucking shark & then finding out you've got one of these lame-ass names; must be like making the Greyhound Bus Terrorist team.