Tyrone Davis vs. Alicia Keys | Head 2 Head

In the 31^st edition of Head 2 Head (2023), Tyrone Davis (“In the Mood”) and Alicia Keys (“LALA (Unlocked)”) contend for the best record. 

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head , we pit at least two musicians against each other, 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 31^st edition of head 2 head (2023), a special edition, Tyrone Davis and Alicia Keys contend for the best record between Davis’ “In the Mood”, and Keys’ “LALA (Unlocked)”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Tyrone Davis, “In the Mood”

In the Mood with Tyrone Davis • Columbia • 1979

There is just one question to ask: Are you In the Mood with Tyrone Davis??? Tyrone Davis is best known for his top-five Billboard Hot 100 hit, “Turn Back The Hands of Time” – one of the premiere soul joints of all-time .  Even beyond his ace in the hole, as well as another gem, “Can I Change My Mind”, Mr. Davis would impress once more near the end of the 1970s with “In the Mood”. While “In The Mood” wouldn’t impact the pop charts, it did earn a top-10 showing on the R&B charts.  Notably, this slick record has been sampled many times, including prominently in Alicia Keys’ 2021 song, “LALA (Unlocked)” from KEYS.  

So, what makes “In the Mood” an awesome throwback vibe? First and foremost, it’s those soulful pipes of Tyrone Davis.  That man right there could S-A-N-G! Furthermore, the vibes on this particular song are sexy! Is there any doubt of Davis’ intentions? “Come here, baby / Girl, I wanna make sweet love to you, oh-oh,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “Just like ice cream / And honey, my love is gonna make you melt.” WOO! Of course, the centerpiece is the chorus, which definitely puts you in the mood: “Ooh-hoo / Are you in the mood, baby? / Hoo-hoo / Are you in the mood, yeah / Hoo baby.” Throw in those “la-la-la(s)” that Keys borrowed for her song, and “In the Mood” is L-I-T !

Appears in :

• Tyrone Davis, In the Mood: Throwback Vibez 107 (2023) 

2. Alicia Keys, “LALA (Unlocked)”

Alicia Keys • KEYS • RCA • 2021

“Light the incense (Incense), not to mention (Mention) / Skin like whiskey (Whiskey) / She’s cold like on the rocks (Rocks) / La, la-la, la, la-la, la, la.” “LALA (Unlocked)” marked a departure of sorts for Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, Alicia Keys. That said, R&B sounds far different now compared to when Keys was her most lucrative in the early aughts. I say that to say, it makes sense why she’d switch things up a bit. Within the context of her eighth studio album, KEYS, the single, featuring Swae Lee, the record represented one of the better moments. Fueling the fire of “LALA (Unlocked)” is a the Tyrone Davis classic, “In the Mood”, which is sampled prominently . Keys produced this soulful joint alongside Mike WiLL Made-It.

Arguably, Swae Lee steals the show with his mellow vibes in both the chorus and first verse. The melodic rapper, who is one half of Rae Sremmurd, he fits the chill, laidback aesthetic. Sure, the autotuned, syrupy vocals won’t tickle everyone’s fancy, but it’s a V-I-B-E for sure. Keys deserves credit too, never over singing and retaining the mellowness in her portion of the chorus (“Light the incense, lose the tension, feel like heaven / Lust mixed with a vodka / La, la-la, la, la-la, la, la / Feelings get lost in the lala”) as well as the second verse. “LALA (Unlocked)”, ultimately is a solid repurposing of “In the Mood”.  Still, without Davis fueling the fire, given the fact that so many elements are used – melody, riffs, and some lyrics – would “LALA (Unlocked)” stand on its own sans Tyrone?

The Verdict

So, it comes down to the moment of truth! Is the winner Tyrone Davis with his underrated, late 70s gem, “In the Mood”, or does the crown belong to the more contemporary “LALA (Unlocked)” by Alicia Keys featuring   Swae Lee which samples and essentially, repurposes “In the Mood”?  Neither record had chart success on the pop charts, so, the Billboard Hot 100 doesn’t play a role whatsoever in this final verdict.  Surprisingly, “LALA” didn’t even chart on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs which speaks to how commercially unsuccessful it was, particularly compared to Keys’ many hits of the past.  As for Davis, “In the Mood” was a  top 10 R&B hit, peaking at no. 6.  Ultimately, the winner of this Head 2 Head should come as no surprise – It’s the oldie, Tyrone Davis’ “In the Mood”, which fueled Keys’ fire, that wins hands down.  It’s the better song, reminding us of just how glorious 1970s soul was.

Tyrone Davis vs. Alicia Keys: Head 2 Head No. 31 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Columbia, RCA; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]