Lenny Kravitz vs. Ariel Posen | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 12^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Lenny Kravitz and Ariel Posen contend for the best rendition of “Sistamamalover.” 

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 12^th  edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Lenny Kravitz and 🎙 Ariel Posen contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Sistamamalover”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Lenny Kravitz, “Sistamamalover”

💿 Baptism • 🏷 Virgin • 🗓 2004

“You are my everything / My sistamamalover / You give me everything / I have no need to borrow.” According to 🎙 Lenny Kravitz, this woman is EVERYTHING… she’s the sugar honey iced tea! I mean, it is saying a lot if someone can be a sister, mama, and lover all in one.  That’s the case on 🎵 “Sistamamalover”, an underrated, funky gem on Kravitz’s 2004 album, 💿 Baptism.  Critics weren’t high on the album, though Baptism earned Kravitz a top 20 album on the Billboard 200 and gold certification.

Focusing on “Sistamamalover,” Lenny Kravitz brings the heat. He sings expressively, talks up this girl who is something fierce, and gives her every ounce of credit.  “With you it never gets boring,” he sings at one point, adding, “Because you always get me high.” Woo – smoking 💨!  The dedication he serves up is lit 🔥 too: “I’ll never go with another / Because baby you are so fly.”  Besides the simple, direct lyricism, another selling point is the sound – the production.  The bass line is fat and soulful.  The drum groove is infectious.  The guitars bite.  Basically, the ferocity (in the most musical and most positive way/connotation possible) is real. It’s a shame more people didn’t talk about this funky lil rockin’ vibe 🤘!

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:

• Lenny Kravitz, “Sistamamalover”: FIERCE Pop + Rock 🔥🤘 14 (2023)

2. Ariel Posen, “Sistermamalover (Live)”

🎵 “Sistermamalover (Live)” • 🗓 2021

“I’ve gone from talking to walking / You touch me deep down inside.” Ooh la la! In August 2021, guitarist and vocalist  🎙 Ariel Posen recorded a rad cover of the nearly two-decade old song, 🎵 “Sistamamalover” 🤘 (he calls it “Sistermamalover”).  In Posen’s hands, “Sistamamalover” opts for less BPMs than the original.  The slackened pace is a win, finding Ariel bringing his own originality.  How so? Well, the signature chordal, rhythm guitar riffs get a bit more spice, differentiating it instantly.  The core of “Sistermamalover” remains, particularly the riffs during the chorus section, but Posen doesn’t merely play it straight.

Vocally, Posen has a different voice than Kravitz, so naturally, as he sings, it hits different.  Notably, he opts to be more playful than overt, which ends up being successful.  You know what might even been more successful than his vocals? His electrifying guitar solo.  The distorted effects and his superb rhythmic cues make it #WINNING, period.  In an age where few people are revisiting 🎵 “Sistermamalover (Live)”, one of the best songs from Kravitz’s 💿 Baptism, Posen does a bang up job covering it.

via GIPHY

Appears in 🔻:

• Ariel Posen, “Sistermamalover”: Covers No. 13 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

🎙 Lenny Kravitz or 🎙 Ariel Posen? Posen definitely rocks out on 🎵 “Sistermamalover (Live)”. His guitar solo is EPIC.  Still, when it all comes down to it, Lenny Kravitz is the man – PERIOD. The voice, the swagger, the rock star aesthetic… It’s giving Lenny, all told!

via GIPHY

Lenny Kravitz vs. Ariel Posen: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 12 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Ariel Posen, Virgin; Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, andresilva5, talha khalil, Valentin Tikhonov via Pixabay; Nick Wang on Unsplash]