Brenda Holloway vs. Alicia Keys | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 3^rd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Brenda Holloway and Alicia Keys contend for the best rendition of “Every Little Bit Hurts.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 3^rd edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Brenda Holloway and 🎙 Alicia Keys contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Every Little Bit Hurts”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Brenda Holloway, “Every Little Bit Hurts”

💿 Every Little Bit Hurts • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1964

“Every little bit hurts / Every little bit hurts.” Hmm, why 🎙 Brenda Holloway, why? “Every night I wonder why / You treat me cold / You won’t let me go.” Yep, just as I suspected – those pesky matters of the heart! 🎵 “Every Little Bit Hurts” is the biggest hit of the Motown singer/songwriter, peaking at no. 13 on the pop charts. “Every Little Bit Hurts” appears on Holloway’s album of the same title, fittingly – it is that epic of a soul cut.

Soulfulness is the key word when characterizing “Every Little Bit Hurts.” This is not a cutesy, tongue-in-cheek vintage soul cut, something some early Motown cuts are renowned for, particularly from female artists. Brenda Holloway sings beautifully, but also packs a punch vocally. Her instrument is dynamic, , perfectly adorning the lush backdrop, which includes gospel-tinged piano and lush strings.  Listening to “Every Little Bit Hurts,” you can hear the pain.  She asserts, “My love is strong for you / I’d do wrong for you,” but does not get the same energy from him, evidenced by the lyrics, “I can’t take this / Loneliness you’ve given me / I can’t go on / Giving my life away.” She has a point.  That said, the fact that she begs is bothersome:

“Oh, come back to me

Darling, you’ll see

I can give you all the

Things that you wanted before

If you will stay with me.” 

Love is a five-letter word that begins with a B and ends in an itch.  We know and understand this far too well, worldwide.  That said, Brenda Holloway does a magnificent job of capturing this on 🎵 “Every Little Bit Hurts”.

Appears in 🔻:

• Brenda Holloway, “Every Little Bit Hurts”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 125 (2022)

2. Alicia Keys, “Every Little Bit Hurts”

💿 Unplugged • 🏷️ Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 2005

Not every musical artist could release a successful unplugged album.  By successful, I am referring to 💿 Unplugged, the 2005, 🏆 Grammy-nominated, unplugged R&B album by 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 Alicia Keys.  The album debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, eventually earning platinum certification from the RIAA. Unplugged features originals and covers with one of the best covers being 🎵 “Every Little Bit Hurts”.

In Keys’ hands, “Every Little Bit Hurts” is introduced to a brand-new audience.  Likely, unless you are extremely well-versed in early Motown, or younger, you may be unfamiliar with the original by Brenda Holloway.  Keys retains the sanctity of the original, with modern recording technology playing a sizable role, as well as adding her own pizazz.  She’s commanding from the onset, infusing additional soulfulness towards the end – really digging in and going for it!  This is one way she truly distinguishes from the original. Also making this cover utterly brilliant is magnificent recreation of the original orchestration and stellar production work.  Does Keys try to usurp the original? No, she just strives to add her own artistry to this epic classic soul gem.  She does just that exceptionally.

Appears in 🔻:

• Alicia Keys, “Every Little Bit Hurts”: Covers No. 3 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 Brenda Holloway or 🎙 Alicia Keys?  Hmm, that is tough! Holloway earned the highest chart honors, while Keys adds some of her own tweaks to the original, introducing it to a new audience.  Give the original by Holloway a slight edge, I suppose, though the Keys version is lit.

Brenda Holloway vs. Alicia Keys: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 3 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Motown, Sony Music Entertainment; Antoni Shkraba via Pexels; andresilva5, talha khalil, Valentin Tikhonov via Pixabay; Nick Wang on Unsplash]