The Four Tops vs. Whitney Houston | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 47^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), The Four Tops and Whitney Houston contend for the best rendition of “I Believe in You and Me.”  

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 47^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 The Four Tops and 🎙 Whitney Houston contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “I Believe in You and Me”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The Four Tops, “I Believe in You and Me”

💿 One More Mountain • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 1982

“I believe in you, and me / I believe that we will be / In love eternally / As far as I can see.” 🎙 The Four Tops originally recorded 🎵 “I Believe in You and Me”.  The ballad appears as the fourth track on the collective’s 1982 album, 💿 One More Mountain.  It was written by 🎼 ✍ David Wolfert and Sandy Linzer, with Wolfert also producing the record.  By this time, the iconic collective were well past their prime, with their most lucrative period occurring in the 1960s and early 1970s.  Still, they earned a hit prior to “I Believe in You and Me” in 1981 with 🎵 “When She Was My Girl” which reached no. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I Believe in You and Me” wouldn’t even dent the pop charts, unfortunately, settling for a meh no. 40 peak on the R&B songs chart. Even with a lack of commercial success, there are lots of reasons the original “I Believe in You and Me” is awesome.

The songwriting is lovely, period.  The melodies are tuneful.  Furthermore, the vocals (lead by the late, great 🎙 Levi Stubbs) are electrifying, superbly bringing those melodies to life.  The backdrop, initially piano 🎹, expanding to include rhythm section and strings, is gorgeous as well, fueling ⛽️ the fire 🔥 of The Four Tops.  Honestly, listening to how sophisticated this record is, it is surprising that the collective didn’t gain more traction with this song.  Ultimately, 🎵 “I Believe in You and Me” is a late gem from The Four Tops that’s worth revisiting four decades later.

Appears in 🔻:

• The Four Tops, I Believe in You and Me: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 167 (2023)

2. Whitney Houston, “I Believe in You and Me”

💿 The Preacher’s Wife • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1996

🎵 “I Believe in You and Me” marks one of the highlights from 💿 The Preacher’s Wife (Original Soundtrack album).  Released in 1996, the iconic 🎙 Whitney Houston remained in her best voice, tearing up her soundtrack era! While “I Believe in You and Me” was tailor made for Houston’s expressive, nuanced, and powerhouse pipes, it was ultimately a 🎙 The Four Tops COVER 🤯 🤯 🤯! The Four Tops version wasn’t a pop success, but Whitney changed that!

“I Believe in You and Me” earned Whitney Houston another top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 4 in 1997.  Furthermore, the single was certified platinum – DEFINITELY a big deal.  Adding to the accolades, Houston was nominated for two 🏆 Grammys – Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, specifically for “I Believe in You and Me,” and Best R&B Album for The Preacher’s Wife.  The voice is a huge reason why “I Believe in You and Me” is so epic.  Houston shows poise and, also, ups the ante, rising to the occasion.  Her melismatic moments are breathtaking – truly awe inspiring.  The source material, by Linzer and Wolfert, is well-penned instrumentally (tuneful) and lyrically (memorable).  The dedication is lit 🔥 to say the least:

“I will never leave your side

I will never hurt your pride

When all the chips are down, ha

I will always be around

Just to be right where you are

My love, oh, you know I love you, boy.”

Yes, yes, yes, girl! Nothing more needs to be said. 🎵 “I Believe in You and Me” = another iconic Whitney Houston moment.

Appears in 🔻:

• Whitney Houston, I Believe in You and Me: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 5 (2023)
• 11 MORE Excellent Songs You’ll Totally Believe In (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

So, here’s the big moment! Who did 🎵 “I Believe in You and Me” better? Was it the underrated, 1982 original by 🎙 The Four Tops or the top 5 pop cover by 🎙 Whitney Houston?  Levi Stubbs and company shined on the original – it just didn’t get the attention it deserved.  However, the definitive version of the record belongs to Whitney Houston, hands down.  Once she took it, it clearly belonged to her. Enough said!

The Four Tops vs. Whitney Houston : Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 47 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Geffen; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]