Corinne Bailey Rae vs. Ritt Momney | Head 2 Head 🗣️

On the 23^rd edition of Head 2 Head, Corinne Bailey Rae and Ritt Momney duke it out over their respective versions of “Put Your Records On.” 

W

elcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing and contrasting 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.  For our 23^rd head-to-head, 🎙 Corinne Bailey Rae and 🎙 Ritt Momney duke it out over their respective versions of 🎵 “Put Your Records On”.  So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. Corinne Bailey Rae, “Put Your Records On”

💿 Corinne Bailey Rae • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2006

“Three little birds sat on my window / And they told me I don’t need to worry.” Sigh, can opening lyrics get much better than that? 🎙 Corinne Bailey Rae arrived in a BIG way with her record, 🎵 “Put Your Records On.” “Put Your Records On” sadly only peaked at no. 64 on the Hot 100 (bummer), but eventually, her 💿 self-titled album ascended to no. 4 on the Billboard 200, and was certified platinum.  The modest performance of “Put Your Records On” didn’t inhibit the two 🏆 Grammy nominations the song received for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Oh and by the way, Bailey Rae was nominated for Best New Artist as well… Pretty sure she can thank “Put Your Records On” for that!

“Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely
Sipping tea in a bar by the roadside (just relax, just relax).”

Ultimately, “Put Your Records On” is a simple but fantastic record.  It begins with Bailey Rae referencing 🎙 Bob Marley in the excerpted lyrics.  It continues with her soft, sweet voice and the cool, acoustic, natural, and soulful backdrop that fuels her fire.  Lyrically, she conveys a surefire vibe that’s free, innocent, and incredibly inviting.  There’s just something about the carefree, easy-going nature of “Put Your Records On” that made it endearing back in 2006, and still makes it a must-have on your playlist 15+ years later.  The crowning achievement is none other than the chorus:

“Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams
Just go ahead, let your hair down
You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.”

Can anyone top this? 

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2. Ritt Momney, “Put Your Records On”

🎵 “Put Your Records On” • 🏷 Disruptor / Columbia • 📅 2020

🎙 Ritt Momney – what a name, right? Of course, Salt Lake City singer Jack Rutter’s stage name is a play on the famous politician’s name, Mitt Romney.  Of course, Momney doesn’t end up on this head to head because of his distinct name, but rather his unique reinterpretation of the Corinne Bailey Rae classic, 🎵 “Put Your Records On.”  Where Bailey Rae opted for soft pop-infused soul with more acoustic elements, Rutter embraces electronics, modernizing the 2006, 🏆 Grammy-nominated hit.   

For the members of Gen-Z who had never heard the original, “Put Your Records On” in the hands of Momney feels right.  The song features clean, inoffensive lyrics, and just makes you feel good when you listen to it.  In Rutter’s hands, he captures this same aesthetic, even as he contrasts Bailey Rae as a male singing the memorable, tuneful chorus.  Additional contrast to the original includes ample, inescapable vocal effects (pitch shift, reverb).  Purists will cry foul, but with autotune and various vocal effects ‘all the rage,’ the ear’s used to be stretched with the human voice not sounding human.  Furthermore, Rutter plays around with the tempo, which adds another individual touch to the established aughts classic.  There’s lots to like honestly with Rutter reminding us how great the original is, while also making us appreciate his distinct, fresh cover.

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Corinne Bailey Rae or Ritt Momney?  Gen-Z will opt for Momney (I guess?), but being the millennial I am, who remembers the beauty of the original, I’m rolling with Bailey Rae on this one.  Sure, Momney does cool things with his viral, charting take, and brought attention back to the original, but it was Corinne who made it a surprise hit.  For that, she’s victorious.

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Corinne Bailey Rae vs. Ritt Momney: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 23 [📷: Brent Faulkner, Capitol, Columbia, Disruptor, GenderArts from Pixabay, The Musical Hype, Valentin Tikhonov from Pixabay]

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