Roberta Flack vs. George Michael | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 42^nd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Roberta Flack and George Michael contend for the best rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”  

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 42^nd edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Roberta Flack and 🎙 George Michael contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”

💿 First Take • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1969

“The first time, ever I saw your face / I thought the sun rose in your eyes …” Those memorable lyrics hail from the epic classic, 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. While iconic, 🏆 Grammy-winning musician 🎙 Roberta Flack is renowned for her definitive take, that definitive take is indeed a cover 🤯. Shocking, right? “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” predated the ‘Flack treatment’ by 12 years 🤯.  British singer, songwriter, and playwright 🎼 ✍ Ewan MacColl penned it in 1957, whereas Flack recorded it as the sixth track on her 1969 album, 💿 First Take. So, while MacColl wrote the song, who first released it? That would be Bonnie Dobson in 1961.

“And the first time, ever I kissed your mouth

I felt the earth move in my hands

Like the trembling heart

Of a captive bird.”

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” marked one of six top-10 hits for Roberta Flack. That’s impressive. Even more impressive is the fact that the record spent six weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first of three number one hits. Adding to the accolades, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was certified gold by the RIAA, while parent album, First Take, has been certified platinum 💪. Oh, and how about the Grammys? Flack took home the highly coveted Record of The Year at the 15^th Annual GRAMMY Awards, a ceremony where she’d win two of her four trophies. So, what makes this one of the best records of the 1970s and, honestly, all-time? It’s Flack’s pure performance, which is truly hypnotic and mesmerizing in its quality. More often than not, she takes a calm, cool, and collected approach.  Still, she understands when to dig in more – up the ante.  Beyond impeccable, sophisticated singing, the arrangement and production (🎛 Joel Dorn) are utterly sublime. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” always sounds organic, embracing being non troppo (not too much). It benefits from subtlety, with its piano (🎹 Flack), guitar (🎸 John Pizzarelli), and light, tasteful drumming (🥁 Ray Lucas), string bass (🎙 Ron Carter), and the glorious, glorious, strings 🎻. So much more could be said about the sheer elegance, and stupendous-ness of 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”.  Ultimately, the music speaks for itself, and DEFINITELY speaks volumes.

Appears in 🔻:

• Roberta Flack, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: Covers No. 38 (2023)

2. George Michael, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”

💿 Songs From The Last Century • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited • 📅 1999 

“The first time ever I kissed your mouth / I felt the earth move in my hands…” Aww 🥰.  🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” appears as the fifth track from 💿 Songs From The Last Century, the 1999 covers album by the late, great, 🏆 Grammy-winning pop superstar, 🎙 George Michael.  No doubt that “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is a song from the last century, penned by British singer, songwriter, and playwright 🎼 ✍ Ewan MacColl in 1957 – 42 years before Michael recorded it! One of the most covered songs, with its most famous rendition by 🎙 Roberta Flack, Michael manages to deliver his marvelous interpretation.

Like many renditions of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” simplicity is the key. A poetic yet subtle song, it doesn’t require an ornate backdrop or gospel histrionics vocally.  George Michael impresses with his beautiful tone and a poised, calm, cool, and collected performance.  Simply put, George doesn’t need to do much more than sing naturally – no runs necessary! As far as the supporting backdrop, it begins initially with the standard rhythm section – piano, guitar, bass, and drums.  Providing some additional color is orchestra, but it’s non troppo – maintaining restraint.  An animated vocalist, hearing Michael pull back is refreshing, letting the radiant lyrics, and his special instrument shine bright like a diamond 💎.

Appears in 🔻:

• George Michael, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: Covers No. 41 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

Here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for – It’s decision time! Which coverer of 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” did it best? Was it 🎙 Roberta Flack or the late 😢, great 🎙 George Michael?  Michael shines on his cover, period – great singing and simple but potent production.  However, it is Roberta Flack that earned accolade after accolade, and for good reason. Ultimately, the definitive version belongs to Flack.

Roberta Flack vs. George Michael: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 42 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]