I have never minded cover songs when the artists pay respect to the song by making a killer cover in their own style (no killer pun intended). For instance, Sonic Youth's version of "Superstar" thrills me beyond belief and I have no shame in saying that I loved The Carpernters' version and at that point, didn't know that it was a Delaney and Bonnie song. Sometimes it really is, as Steve says below, WHEN we hear the song, and both Stevie's and especially Elton's versions of those songs meant so much to me as a teenager searching for equality nd love. But keep writing cause it's so fun to engage in these discussions!