In the 26th edition of Head ๐ฃ๏ธ 2 Head ๐ฃ๏ธ (2022), Rod Stewart and Dionne Warwick (& friends) contend for the best rendition of โThatโs What Friends Are For.โย
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elcome to Head 2 Head! On Head ๐ฃ๏ธ 2 Head ๐ฃ๏ธ, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.ย Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.ย In the 26th edition of head ๐ฃ๏ธ2 head ๐ฃ๏ธ (2022), ๐ Rod Stewart and ๐ Dionne Warwick contend for the best rendition of ๐ต โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!1. Rod Stewart, โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ
๐ฟ Body Wishes โข ๐ท WEA โข ๐ 1983
Hereโs a truly shocking piece of info. Are you ready for it? Can you handle it? Okay, here it goes! ๐ Rod Stewart ORIGINALLY recorded the ๐ผ โ Burt Bacharach and ๐ผ โ Carole Bayer Sager classic, ๐ต โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ ๐คฏ. Yes, you read correctly.ย โThatโs What Friends Are For,โ in the hands of Stewart, appeared on the 1982 soundtrack for the movie, Night Shift.ย Stewartโs version eventually appeared on the expanded version of his 1983 album, ๐ฟ Body Wishes, with the keyword being eventually.ย In other words, the Stewart rendition, which predated the ๐ Dionne & Friends edition by three years, wasnโt a big deal. ย It didnโt chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
The ๐ Grammy-winner (who didnโt win his sole Grammy for this best work, by the way), sings โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ respectably.ย There is nothing wrong with his rendition โ let me make that crystal clear. His distinct tone and expressiveness shine on this positive pop gem. The production is the 80s to the core with bright synths, electric piano, and โ yes โ that quintessential saxophone solo. ย Melodically, compared to the version Iโm most familiar with by ๐ Dionne Warwick, ๐ Elton John, ๐ Gladys Knight, and ๐ Stevie Wonder,ย there are differences, namely the tune on the chorus.ย Stewart is a bit squarer at the beginning of the chorus, before letting loose.ย Does โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ sound like a soundtrack song in Stewartโs hands? I think so, but again, so much of the comparison point is based on the more familiar, more successful cover that arrived in 1985.
2. Dionne & Friends, โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ
๐ฟ Platinum & Gold Collection โข ๐ท Sony Legacy โข ๐ 2003
Sometimes, the cover version of a song ends up being the definitive version.ย This occurs because the covering musician (1) does a more memorable take or (2) the original isnโt considered to be universal classic.ย As mentioned earlier, ๐ Rod Stewart originally recorded the ๐ผ โ Burt Bacharach and ๐ผ โ Carole Bayer Sager, ๐ต โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ; he does a respectable job, all told.ย That said, no disrespect to Rod, but the best and most successful rendition of the song is performed by ๐ Dionne Warwick, ๐ Elton John, ๐ Gladys Knight, and ๐ Stevie Wonder โ aka ๐ Dionne & Friends.
Dionne & Friends took โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ to no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. Just the addition of Stevie Wonderโs harmonica is enough to declare this ๐ Grammy-winning performance as the definitive take โ Oops! Getting ahead of myself!.ย The record from Warwickโs album, Friends, finds her taking the reins first in the first verse.ย Her voice is easygoing โ pleasant and radiant. Elton John joins her for the final lyric, duetting with her on select lines in the beloved, friendly chorus!
โKeep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That’s what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I’ll be on your side forevermore
Oh, that’s what friends are for.โ
Stevie Wonder arrives in the second verse, showing off incredibly impressive vocals.ย He brings more grit than Dionne and is joined by Elton John in the second half. These two have remarkable chemistry. During the chorus, itโs all Stevie, who sets up an equally powerful chorus by Gladys Knight.ย That rich alto has rarely been matched.ย Finally, John gets his biggest moments, showing off his own soulful, unrivaled vocals on the final chorus, with the return of Dionne and the rest of the friends.ย ย
Appears in ๐ป:
The Verdict ๐จ๐ฟโโ๏ธย
๐ Rod Stewart or ๐ Dionne Warwick and friends?ย This one is a no-brainer โ sorry Rod! Iโm still mind-blown ๐คฏ that ๐ต โThatโs What Friends Are Forโ was Stewartโs song originally! All told, four musical icons โ Warwick, John, Knight, and Wonder โ did it better than one (Rod is an icon, too). Dionne & Friends channel the feel-good nature of this song more authentically by my estimations.
Rod Stewart vs. Dionne Warwick: Head 2 Head ๐ฃ๏ธ No. 26 (2022) [๐ท: Brent Faulkner, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Sony Legacy, Valentin Tikhonov, WEA]