The Dixie Cups vs. Bette Midler | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 34^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), The Dixie Cups and Bette Midler contend for the best rendition of “Chapel of Love.”

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 34^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 The Dixie Cups and 🎙 Bette Midler contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Chapel of Love”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The Dixie Cups, “Chapel of Love”

💿 Chapel of Love • 🏷 Sun Label Group, LLC • 🗓 1964 

“Goin’ to the chapel / And we’re gonna get married.” Aww 🥰 how sweet, 🎙 The Dixie Cups. When is the wedding 💍 💒? The collective continues singing on their 1964 classic, 🎵 “Chapel of Love”: “Gee, I really love you / And we’re gonna get married / Goin’ to the chapel of love.”  The Dixie Cups own the definitive version of “Chapel of Love” – the ‘original’ heard by the world.  However, the actual original recording arrived in 1963 courtesy of 🎙 Darlene Love 🤯.  The Dixie Cups made this  🎼 ✍ Jeff Barry / Ellie Greenwich / Phil Spector-penned cut a hit, peaking at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 👍.   

What makes “Chapel of Love” a classic? Well, the vocals and vocal arrangement are a major selling point.  The Dixie Cups sound terrific when singing in unison as well as when they break into the harmonies.  The most memorable section of the song is the chorus, excerpted above.  Notably, there is an innocence about this record that is idiomatic of vintage music from the 1950s and 60s.  Furthermore, “Chapel of Love” is a prime example of the sound of soul music in the 60s: the horn arrangement and the articulated riffs, the rhythm section, including drums, the pronounced bass line, and the use of vibraphone.  Furthermore, the melody is incredibly memorable, particularly in the chorus.  Regarding the songwriting, “Chapel of Love” is tongue in cheek – again, there’s a sense of innocence that contemporary music eschews. “Today’s the day we’ll say, ‘I do,’” The Dixie Cups sing in the first verse, adding, “And we’ll never be lonely anymore.” Sigh, if only love were as simple as the ladies make out to be here (“Bells will ring, the sun will shine, whoa / I’ll be his and he’ll be mine”).  Simply put, they don’t make soul joints like 🎵 “Chapel of Love” anymore.   

Appears in 🔻:  

• The Dixie Cups, Chapel Of Love: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 110 (2023)

2. Bette Midler, “Chapel of Love”

💿 The Divine Miss M • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1972

💿 The Divine Miss M can do no wrong! 🎙 Bette Midler has had a terrific career, oozingin talent with her acting skills and her voice being truly exceptional.  In 1972, she released the platinum certified LP, which was nominated for the 🏆 Grammy for Album Of The Year at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards. While she lost the most prestigious award, she won Best New Artist, notably beating the likes of 🎙 Barry White. Focusing on the song at hand, Midler covers the no. 1 hit famously covered by 🎙 The Dixie Cups, 🎵 “Chapel of Love”.  With her electrifying pipes and big personality, you can be your dollar that The Divine Miss M slays!

From the jump, Bette is assertive, channeling the 60s soul style with ease.  The style of “Chapel of Love” is one that is bubbly, cutesy, and tongue in cheek.  Midler leans in and is rewarded for doing so, selling the matrimony vibes superbly. “Bells will ring, and the sun is gonna shine,” she sings exuberantly in the second verse, continuing, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m gonna be his, he’s gonna be mine.”  Midler’s backing vocals do their job awesomely too, channeling their inner Dixie Cups with those terrific, soulful harmonies.  The harmonies pop most during the chorus, the centerpiece. The production bears many similarities to the original. Still, it’s been updated, differentiating it from the 60s. From a lead vocal perspective, Midler incorporates more ad-libs, taking more artistic license if you will. Also, the ending is strikingly different, with Bette playfully commenting, “That is the pits ending to a really terrific song!” A man responds: “That is the worst ending I’ve ever heard!” The ending is a surprise, but that’s part of what makes 🎵 “Chapel of Love” special in the hands of – wait for it – The Divine Miss M.

Appears in 🔻:

• Bette Midler, Chapel of Love: Covers No. 32 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

Ah – it’s time for the verdict peeps! Does this “Chapel of Love” belong definitively to 🎙 The Dixie Cups, or, did The Divine Miss M, 🎙 Bette Midler, make up some serious ground on her cover?  It should go without saying that both versions are awesome. Also, as much as Bette criticizes the ending of her rendition, it’s pretty sweet, all told.  Still, in Midler’s hands, “Friends / Chapel of Love” settled for no. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The Dixie Cups secured that no. 1 spot – their sole top-10 pop hit.  So, ladies and gentlemen, brides and grooms, the winner of this hard-fought, Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ battle is The Dixie Cups!!!

The Dixie Cups vs. Bette Midler: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 34 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Sun Label Group, LLC; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]