I'll make this clear: there is no way I'm gonna write about all the covers, (in this particular case, according to wikipedia: over thirty.)

In the beginning, there was... Gloria Jones.
Shame on me, but I was quite surprised to learn that. All those years I lived believing the song was Soft Cell's and I even felt superior to all those maggots, who only knew Manson's version.
Yeah, i deserved this lesson.
So lets talk about Gloria Jones. Tainted Love
Listen to that track! (there you go http://youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U IIt's a 1964 song, lively, cool, funky. that woman has got a lovely voice. The atmosphere is not really different from the Soft Cell version. Which speaks no good for the latter. A simple piece, filled with energy and spirit, and, of course, soul. and quite not as tainted as it's successors.

As for them...
Blue Öyster Cult - 1980. right. 's cool. and makes things even worse for Soft Cell, cuz it sounds just like theirs. or maybe i should say theirs sounds like Blue Oyster Cult's..there it is (with a kinda crappy AMV)
Anyway, it seems this song didn't find an artist "tainted" enough to make it perverted as it should be.

1981 - the golden age. Indeed, Soft Cell did add something spicy in the context, with the vocals or maybe the video. Or perhaps it's just my imagination. Am I the only one, who hears nasty whips in the background? Am I?

1985 - SOmething Different. Coil. Do Make A DIfference. Finally something new in the speed, the rhythm, the mood .. everything. pity, but I really don't like it. Not at all. It bores me to death, but if you like slow, depressed, ambient music - go for it. Moreover - the video is really worth it, it adds something more to this song, putting it in a competely different context. Watch and learn.

Thank,you, Wikipedia! For i learned about Flying Pickets from you. Their track is worth mentioning because it;s made acapella. and it sounds really, really cool. curious group. :) :) :)
Here!

1997 - things are getting rough here
Atrocity - when i hear that i think of a few things - the hair!!! Alex Krull, that guy.. now i sound like Freaky Fred the Freaky Barber, don't I...
this band has pretty nice collection of covers, like Lili Marleen, one of the best versions of that song i've ever heard.
As for Tainted Love i, d like to mention that: They are the first ones to make that song "metal". Not Manson. (!)

Still, Marilyn Manson is the first one to add a truly tainted feeling to the track. Sorry for not being impartial, being a huge fan of manson. still that is probably the best version.we all know this band can make good covers. and probably the most famous one.
it is far from just a copy with a different arrangement. cool, flashy, perverted, hard pop, soft porn, dumb movie ost. nothing interesting in the video, but it's a pleasure to see.
So watch and learn. 2001... i must have been very young, i remember falling in love with manson after watching this video..
SH! YOU NEVER HEARD ME SAY THAT, UNDERSTOOD!? or you want ME to tell YOUR mama about... you know, that shameful little thing..

The first thing i ever heard from The Pussycat Dolls was this song. a live from... what the hell was it, the oscars!? no way..
Notice? First cover so far, made by women. and what women!it couldn't be more feminine.
indeed, it's pathetic. especially the added part which has nothing to do with the original.. or with anything, truth to be asid. or the hair -drier part in this fully ridiculous video. still, Nicole does it well. indeed, their song is no good even for dancing. Watch the video if curious. But better watch the sexier and .. uhm, well better videos those girls make after that one. with songs better suited for dancing, f*cking or whatever a person could find in that music. The best choice - just skip it.

And one last sad thing: remember Rihannas first hit: SOS, that appetizing video with the green dress? poor "Tainted love", life has been cruel to you.
Well at least it is fast and groovy, and it suits Rihanna well (it's time please some rescue Rihanna and tell her to NEVER EVER make ballads or whatever this slow and effusive @!$#@% like Unfaithful is called...)

a crappy ending, but that's how life is.