A song murdered by someone.

Linda Ronstadt-Desperado

I mentioned earlier Jackie Wilson's "Danny Boy."  I cannot begin to express how much of a contradiction is that performance--overwrought, corny, excessively showy and cheesy, and it doesn't help that the song is a tired warhorse--but, I cannot think of too many more amazing vocal demonstrations than this performance:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS9xhiudphU

try ella fitzgerald doing mack the knife...that keeps a smile on my face

Oh this list is truly lengthy and in some cases made average songs totally abysmal:

Percy Sledge 'when a man loves a woman' - cue Michael Bolton;
George Michael 'Last Christmas' - cue Wigfield (I think that's her name)
Righteous brothers 'unchained melody' - Robson and Jerome
Blondie 'tide is high' - Atomic Kitten
Bee Gees 'Tragedy' - Steps

The Platters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UskkwKmccGU

Sam Cooke:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV8XwoIGo5M

While I enjoy The Platters and love Sam Cooke, I have to say that Bobby Hatfield outsings them both without overdoing it (as is the current fashion) in this case. He just puts a lot more real emotion into it, IMHO, of course. I’m a strong believer that there’s no right or wrong answer in what music one prefers.