New Kids On The Block, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) | COVERS

In the 51^st edition of COVERS (2023), New Kids On The Block deliver a compelling rendition of “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” originally performed by The Delfonics.   

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and totally cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers, as opposed to the original/most famous performer.  It is open to both established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 51^st edition of COVERS (2023), 🎙 New Kids On The Block delivers a compelling rendition of 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”, originally performed by 🎙 The Delfonics.

“Didn’t I blow your mind this time / Didn’t I?” Some songs are so beloved, they end up being covered by many. Perhaps one of the most unlikely covers of 🎙 The Delfonics’ 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” comes from the hugely successful boy band, 🎙 New Kids On The Block. The pop collective earned a top-10 hit with the second track from their 1986 debut album, 💿 New Kids On The Block.  The no. 8 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 for their smooth take on “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind Time)” surpassed the pop success of the 🏆 Grammy-winning original. Good looking teen heartthrobs covering a soul classic? For whatever reason, it works.

So, what makes New Kids On The Block’s take on an established gem like “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” successful? The collective stays true to the original, for the most part.  There is no huge transformation to make this a NKOTB song.  You can argue for and against how much you transform a song performed by someone else.  In this case, playing tried-and-true pays off.  The production, courtesy of 🎛 Maurice Starr, is an updated take on the original.  Even though it fits the 1980s more, it still hearkens back to the vintage 70s sound.  As far as the singing, the vocals, in all their smoothness, maintain the sensibilities of the original.  Sure, the teenagers don’t pack the same punch, but they sound sweet. The falsetto, specifically, is potent, particularly within the final minute where the relatively even-keel performance gets a bit more oomph.  While this is an un-risky cover, there’s some bubblegum game served within the final minute – gotta have some schmaltz after all, right?  All told, take one listen to 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” in the hands of New Kids On The Block, and it’s easy to see why it experienced its own fair share of success.

🎙 New Kids On The Block • 💿 New Kids On The Block • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1986

New Kids On The Block, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time): Covers No. 51 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner /The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; cottonbro studio, MART PRODUCTION, Ron Lach from Pexels; Paul Brennan from Pixabay]