The Delfonics vs. New Kids On The Block | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 52^nd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), The Delfonics and New Kids On The Block contend for the best rendition of “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).”

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 52^nd edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 The Delfonics and 🎙 New Kids On The Block contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The Delfonics, “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”

💿 The Delfonics • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1970

“I gave my heart / And soul to you, girl / Didn’t I do it, baby / Didn’t I do it, baby.” Oh, the love ❤️ is lit 🔥! Well, at least from the perspective of the man, he gave his best… What is indisputably lit is the legendary Philadelphia soul collective, 🎙 The Delfonics.  The Delfonics scored two top-10 hits during their career including the 🏆 Grammy-winning song at hand, 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”, which reached no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 3 on the R&B songs chart.  This special song was penned by 🎼 ✍ Thom Bell (who also produces) and lead singer, William Hart, both of whom died in 2022. Fittingly, “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” appears as the opening track of The Delfonics’ 1970 album, 💿 The Delfonics. 

There are so many reasons why “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” is mind blowing 🤯. It begins with the lush production, with an orchestral backdrop, exemplifies the Philadelphia soul sound of the 1970s. The warmth of the signature, opening French horn 📯sets the tone of this amorous classic.  Next, what about the vocal chemistry within the collective? The Delfonics sound nothing short of utterly sublime. This includes the lead vocals, which sell the matters of the heart in convincing fashion.

“Ten times or more

Yes, I’ve walked out the door

Get this into your head

There’ll be no more.”

The harmonies during the chorus, the centerpiece, shine particularly bright (“Didn’t I blow your mind this time / Didn’t I”). So much more can be said and spotlighted about 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”.  All told, stellar, relatable songwriting, from the lyrics as well as the melody, harmonic scheme, the vocal performance, and the production make this one of the elite soul classics. Now that is, indeed, mind blowing 🤯.

Appears in 🔻:

• The Delfonics, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time): Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 184 (2023)

2. New Kids On The Block, “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”

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

“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.

Appears in 🔻:

• New Kids On The Block, Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time): Covers No. 51 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Who did it, 🎵 “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time),” best? Was it the original by 🎙 The Delfonics or one of many covers, courtesy of 🎙 New Kids On The Block?  As sweet as the ‘Kids’ sound on a cover that earned a higher peak on the pop charts than the original, “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” will ALWAYS belong to the iconic Philadelphia soul collective. In other words, The Delfonics will NEVER stop blowing our minds 🤯 with this one.

The Delfonics vs. New Kids On The Block: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 52 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Sony Music Entertainment; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]