The O’Jays vs. Fujii Kaze | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 45^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), The O’Jays and Fujii Kaze contend for the best rendition of “Back Stabbers.”

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 45^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 The O’Jays and 🎙 Fujii Kaze contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Back Stabbers”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The O’Jays, “Back Stabbers”

💿 Back Stabbers • 🏷 Epic • 🗓 1972

“They smilin’ in your face / All the time, they want to take your place / The back stabbers (Back stabbers).” 🎙 The O’Jays are responsible for one of the greatest, most memorable soul records of all time: 🎵 “Back Stabbers”! This minor-key gem appears as the second track on 🎙 Eddie Levert, 🎙 Walter Williams, and 🎙 William Powell’s 1972 album, also titled, 💿 Back Stabbers.  “Back Stabbers” was written by 🎼✍ Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, and Leon Huff.  It was produced by Huff alongside his legendary partner, 🎛 Kenneth Gamble.  Worth noting, 🎵 “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (as originally performed by 🎙 The Temptations) inspires “Back Stabbers.”  WhoSampled lists it as a sample.

Here’s the deal with “Back Stabbers.”  The songwriting, vocals, and the music itself are all equally brilliant.  Thematically, The O’Jays warn the guys to “Beware” because “Somebody’s out to get your lady,” and “It’s a few of your buddies, they sure look shady.” Woo! That leads into the infectious chorus of this chart-topping R&B single excerpted above. Worth noting, “Back Stabbers” peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The vocals are high-flying infused with soul.  You buy what the collective is selling – it’s authentic, particularly on the colorful line, “I wish they’d take some of these knives out my back!” The final piece of the throwback glory is the instrumental, which is simply to die for.  It commences with that dramatic tremolo in the piano. Furthermore, the listener is blessed with that full-fledged, glorious Philly sound, comprised of lush, dramatic strings, punchy horns, a kick-ass drum groove, and of course, guitar and bass, which cook throughout. “Back Stabbers” played second fiddle to The O’Jay’s crowning achievement, 🎵 “Love Train”, but 🎵 “Back Stabbers” still kicks some ass and takes names.

Appears in 🔻:

• The O’Jays, Back Stabbers: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 21 (2023)

2. Fujii Kaze, “Back Stabbers”

💿 HELP EVER HURT COVER • 🏷 Universal Music LLC • 🗓 2020

“What they do!” Indeed, 🎙 Fujii Kaze, indeed! The handsome, talented Japanese 🇯🇵 singer recorded a covers album in 2020 entitled, 💿 HELP EVER HURT COVER.  Notably, the third track from the project is a 1970s beloved soul cut, 🎵 “Back Stabbers”, originally recorded by 🎙 The O’Jays. Where the original is noted for high-flying, soulful vocals and lush arrangement, the Fujii Kaze rendition gets a more stripped take.  Even so, that dramatic piano 🎹 introduction remains intact, and the piano accompaniment overall soundly supports the singer.

Though he has a tough act to follow, Kaze impresses with his vocals.  He channels the soulfulness of the era, commanding from the first note he sings. That dramatic pianistic introduction gasses him up, even sans additional instruments (namely drums 🥁).  His tone is gorgeous, while his ad-libs are sweet too.  Further amplifying this 2020 take are the harmonized background vocals during the chorus (“They smilin’ in your face / All the time they want to take your place / The back stabbers, back stabbers”). Kaze channels his inner The O’Jays sensationally 🤩. Another strength? His accent! The accent adds more charm, truly making his take of 🎵 “Back Stabbers” sound true to self… well, true to Fujii! 

Appears in 🔻:

• Fujii Kaze, Back Stabbers: Covers No. 44 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

Ah, it all comes down to this! Who did it better? Does 🎵 “Back Stabbers” belong to the originators, 🎙 The O’Jays, or the coverer, 🎙 Fujii Kaze?  Give Fujii ample credit for his fabulous rendition BUT, the deliberation is short and sweet on this one.  The O’Jays will forever reign supreme when it comes to 🎵 “Back Stabbers”, PERIOD. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime soul songs, and with Philly soul a thing of the past 😢, the original simply can’t be supplanted.

The O’Jays vs. Fujii Kaze: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 45 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Epic, Universal Music LLC; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]