Roberta Flack vs. Queen Latifah → Face Off

In the 18^th edition of Face Off (2026), Roberta Flack and Queen Latifah face off for the best rendition of The Impressions’ “Gone Away.”

Ah, let the Face Off begin! The sun has set on Head 2 Head (2021 – 2025), but the musical competition has “only just begun”, Karen Carpenter! In Face Off, musicians compete to determine who delivered the best version of a song. In most cases, the musicians are performing the same song or a remix, rearrangement, or variation of the song.  Each performance will be evaluated for vocal or instrumental performance, production, and so forth. After blurbing about each performance, I will briefly deliberate and deliver a verdict about who wins the Face Off.  Draws and ties are acceptable, but in most cases, one band, group, or musician will get the edge. In the 18^th edition of Face Off (2026), Roberta Flack and Queen Latifah face off for the best rendition of The Impressions’ “Gone Away”. May the best musician win!

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Table of Contents
1. Roberta Flack, “Gone Away”	2. Queen Latifah, “Gone Away”
Deliberation	Verdict

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1. Roberta Flack, “Gone Away”

Chapter Two → Rhino Entertainment Company / Atlantic Recording Corporation → 1970

legendary, Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack (1937 – 2025) sings, and continues, “But you are gone, and I know, I know, I know you’re gone.” “Gone Away” isn’t a Roberta Flack original.  The Impressions recorded it in 1968 on their album, This Is My Country.  Not only did they record it, but Curtis Mayfield (1942 – 1999), Leroy Hutson (b. 1945), both members of the group, and Donny Hathaway (1945 – 1979) composed it. Although it is a cover, Flack, an interpretive genius and a world-class musician, made the song her own. “Gone Away” is the fifth track from her gold-certified 1970 album, Chapter Two. Chapter Two predated Flack’s Grammy nominations and wins… looking at the Recording Academy with a side-eye 👀.

“Gone Away” is intriguing from the get-go.  The composers provide a distinct, elite harmonic progression. Early on, “Gone Away” is merely piano and bass.  The piano accompaniment remains sublime throughout. As the song progresses, drums anchor, while strings add lushness and warmth.  The string arrangement is fire 🔥. Flack’s cover is more daring than the original by The Impressions.  Her vocals are perfect – does she ever break a sweat? No, she doesn’t! “And in concluding my mental displeasure,” she sings in the second verse, and continues, “I found I’ve lost my prize possession.” Word. The chorus is a key moment each time it occurs. 

“You are gone away, I keep telling my mind
You’re not gonna stay
Yet I believe sometimes that I’ve lost you, baby
I’ve lost you, baby, and you are gone.”

Again, word. The bridge (2:50) and its return in the outro (c. 4:00) mark the funkiest sections. Call it what it is: the sugar, honey, and iced tea! During these sections, a future Grammy-winning T.I. banger, “What You Know”, was shaped (via sample).  The music flies high, including epic, soaring strings, sickening guitar riffs, an athletic bass line, and unforgettable “la, la, la(s)” from Flack and background vocals. “Gone Away” is more obscure compared to her greatest hits.  That said, it deserves its flowers!

Appears in:

Roberta Flack: Throwback Vibez No. 103 (2026)

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2. Queen Latifah, “Gone Away”

Trav’lin’ Light → UMG Recordings, Inc. → 2007

Covering a cover can be tough, particularly when you are covering an icon: Roberta Flack 👀.  Grammy-winner Queen Latifah is up to the task, tackling Flack’s superb cover of “Gone Away.” “Gone Away” is the 12^th track on Latifah’s underrated second vocal album, the Grammy-nominated Trav’lin’ Light, released in 2007.  In her hands, “Gone Away” runs nearly six minutes long, more than 30 seconds longer than Flack’s take.

Queen Latifah’s cover adapts the Roberta Flack arrangement, which is a plus. There are tweaks to this divine arrangement, updated for the 2000s. The strings kick ass, while electric guitars deliver a forceful punch during the bridge. Still, the classicism is classic-ing! Queen Latifah delivers a well-rounded vocal performance.  She never forces things, singing with a beautiful, pure tone. She does dig in more during the second chorus, ‘keeping the same energy’ as the arrangement. The bridge is where her bread is buttered, showcasing more grit.  The big difference from Flack’s rendition is the outro. Here, Queen Latifah talk-sings and shows off her personality, and makes “Gone Away” her own.

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Deliberation

Ah, we’ve arrived at the deliberation! To Deliberate is “to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully.” With that definition courtesy of my go-to, Merriam-Webster, briefly break down these two distinct performances with some notes!

1. Roberta Flack, “Gone Away”

2. Queen Latifah, “Gone Away”

→ Roberta Flack uses a different arrangement than The Impressions; the bridge was famously sampled by T.I. → “Gone Away” runs 5:15 in Flack’s hands, more than one-minute-and-a-half longer than The Impressions’ original. → Classy, refined vocals by Roberta Flack; she never sounds as if she breaks a sweat → Roberta Flack packs more of a punch in the most dynamic moments, but still remains true to herself; the arrangement helps to kick “Gone Away” up a notch → Flack’s rendition fades out during the dynamic bridge. → Chapter Two was not nominated for a Grammy – a travesty!

→ Plays true to the arrangement used by Roberta Flack; updated for the 2000s. → “Gone Away” in Queen Latifah’s hands nears six minutes in duration, surpassing the 5:15 mark of Flack. → Near carbon-copy melodic choices by Queen Latifah; she doesn’t stay far away from Flack’s ultra-sophisticated vocal → Queen Latifah does dig in more at the right moments (chorus and bridge), showcasing grit and the excellence of her pipes → She makes “Gone Away” her own during the outro, talk-singing and infusing some personality → Trav’lin’ Light was nominated for the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

 

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Verdict

After much deliberation, yo boi, The Musical Hype has reached a verdict. In the case… I mean, in the Face Off between Roberta Flack and Queen Latifah, Roberta Flack comes out on top! What was the difference? Few can top Roberta Flack, honestly.  Her cover has an edge over the original (The Impressions). Queen Latifah does a ‘bang up’ job – I love it.  But it’s faithful to Flack’s rendition, which is quite different than The Impressions.  Both are must-haves on any soul playlist but give the late, great singer-pianist the edge. And with that said, stay tuned for the next Face Off!

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Roberta Flack vs. Queen Latifah: Face Off No. 18 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic Recording Corporation, Rhino Entertainment Company, UMG Recordings, Inc.; fotografoedsonj ed, Marlon Schmeiski from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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