Elton John vs. Aretha Franklin | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 17^th edition of Head 2 Head (2022), Elton John and Aretha Franklin contend for the best rendition of “Border Song.”

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 17^th edition of head-to-head (2022), Elton John and Aretha Franklin contend for the best rendition of “Border Song”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Elton John, “Border Song”

💿 Elton John • 🏷 Mercury • 📅 1970

Elton John, with the help of his long-time lyricist, Bernie Taupin, is a hit machine.  He’s written and performed numerous songs, all of which are classics.  That said, even some of John’s gems are greatly overshadowed by others.  One truly awesome record that doesn’t get the love of his bigger hits is “Border Song,” which appears on his 1970 self-titled album.  You could say that “Border Song” has received more of its just due after the fact than it did back in the day.

“Holy Moses, I have been removed,” Elton John sings soulfully on the first verse, continuing, “I have seen the specter, he has been there too.” The record has a gospel-tinged rock sound, something that John has done consistently throughout his career.  Arguably, “Border Song” leans even more heavily on the soul side of things, directly borrowing cues from the genre.  It’s a rousing record that features choral vocals, which come directly from the gospel music playbook.  Also, there are strings, which accentuate just about anything! Notably, Aretha Franklin would record a killer rendition as the final song on her 1972 album, Young Gifted and Black (“Border Song (Holy Moses)”). Taron Egerton performed this ‘lesser known’ John classic on the Rocketman soundtrack.

Appears in 🔻:

• 11 Triggering Border, Borderline Songs

2. Aretha Franklin, “Border Song (Holy Moses)”

💿 Young Gifted and Black • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 1972 

Once Aretha Franklin covers your song, it becomes HER song.  Okay, maybe that’s not always the case, but often, when a record falls into the hands of the late, great Queen of Soul, she becomes the definitive performer baby! The biggest and best example where Franklin took the reins is “Respect”. You mean, this was an Otis Redding song originally? Nah, couldn’t be! Once more, on “Border Song (Holy Moses)”, which appears on the utterly sublime Young Gifted and Black, Franklin makes it her own.

Elton John, the original performer, and co-writer alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin, already had a soulful record on his hands.  The harmonic progression alone is epic. That said, he didn’t have that ‘deep soul’ aesthetic that only Aretha Franklin brings to the table.  Vocally, Franklin elevates the spirit of the number, incorporating gospel music cues.  This includes the piano nuances, the use of organ, and the superb, high-flying backing vocals.  Of course, Franklin is always the star, commanding this gem like a C-H-A-M-P from start to finish! She’s able to successfully exhibit poise and ‘letting it rip.’ Had John not recorded it first, you just might’ve assumed the Aretha Franklin version was the original or perhaps, the definitive version.

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Elton John or Aretha Franklin?  Ooh wee – that’s tough! The original by John is fabulous – a terrific record. That said, the deep soul take by Franklin takes the cake, even over Sir Elton! Is it close? Of course, and it’s subjective too, but remember when I said that when Aretha covers a song it becomes hers? “Border Song (Holy Moses)” is a prime example.

Elton John vs. Aretha Franklin: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 17 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Layers, Mercury, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Valentin Tikhonov]