Whitney Houston vs. Gabriel Henrique | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 48^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Whitney Houston and Gabriel Henrique contend for the best rendition of “Run To You.”  

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 48^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Whitney Houston and 🎙 Gabriel Henrique contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Run To You”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Whitney Houston, “Run To You” 

💿 The Bodyguard • 🏷 Arista • 📅 1992 

“I know that when you look at me / There’s so much that you just don’t see.” True, you truly cannot judge a book 📕 by its cover.  There are so many things that are invisible to the eyes.  The late, great 🏆 Grammy-winning icon 🎙 Whitney Houston adds in the in the first verse of  💿 The Bodyguard standout, 🎵 “Run To You”, “Can’t you see the hurt in me? / I feel so all alone.” Ah, those layers that aren’t seen. So, what’s the answer? How is this quandary solved? Well, in the chorus, the crème de la crème of this gorgeous, underrated ballad penned by 🎼 ✍ Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, Houston asserts, expressively:    

“I wanna run to you 

I wanna run to you 

Won’t you hold me in your arms  

And keep me safe from harm? 

I wanna run to you 

But if I come to you 

Tell me, will you stay 

Or will you run away?”  

Love, love, love! “Run To You,” the fourth single from The Bodyguard soundtrack is a love song.

Sadly, “Run To You” was not one of Houston’s biggest hits 🤯.  It did reach the top-40, though merely peaked at no. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Even so, in 2019, the RIAA certified the single gold – not too shabby!  As always, Whitney’s voice is utterly sublime – expressive, nuanced, refined, sophisticated, and most of all, celestial. Backed by production courtesy of 🎛 David Foster, she is on autopilot. “I need you here / I need you here to wipe away my tears / To kiss away my fears.” Sigh. An artist the caliber of Whitney Houston is only once in a lifetime. Even on a lesser gem like 🎵 “Run To You”, she shows why she’s considered a musical icon.

Appears in 🔻:  

• Whitney Houston, Run To You: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 161 (2023)
• 11 Songs That RUN 🏃 Hella Fast (2023)

2. Gabriel Henrique, “Run To You”

🎵 “Run To You” • 🗓 2022/2023

Tackling a 🎙 Whitney Houston song is an arduous task, PERIOD.  Very few are successful at covering the late icon.  The good news for 27-year-old Brazilian singer 🎙 Gabriel Henrique is he is fully capable to cover a song by one of the greatest voices of all time. On 🎵 “Run To You”, Henrique takes this fab classic, tailor made for Houston, and literally runs 🏃 with it.

The big takeaway from the Gabriel Henrique rendition of “Run To You” is the fact that he makes the song his own.  Yes, a legend recorded it first, but the things Gabriel does with his voice are impressive.  His musicianship is top-notch.   His tone is stunning – utterly sublime.  His technical performance, regarding the original melody, is flawless.  Even though he is ornate, he first establishes the tune, preserving the sanctity of the melody, which is awesome.

But, let’s move onto the dessert – those ornate moments! He amplifies “Run To You” with agile runs, epic falsetto, and whistle tones that are nearly unbelievable, particularly that B-flat 🤯 (in the version recorded in the car).  Furthermore, his pitch is impeccable, particularly on the most challenging moments.  Many folks could never even attempt to give 🎵 “Run To You” is just due post-Whitney.  Gabriel Henrique isn’t just anyone – he’s an anointed, special, special vocalist.

Appears in 🔻:

• Gabriel Henrique, Run To You: Covers No. 46 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

Is it even possible for 🎙 Whitney Houston to lose a head 2 head with any other vocalist? It seems far-fetched, particularly when Houston was at her best.  Her original recording of 🎵 “Run To You” is spot on.  That said, 🎙 Gabriel Henrique wows with his own authenticity, gorgeous tone, and perhaps most impressively, his range 🤯. So, is it giving another 🎙 Whitney Houston victory or does the young, talented 🎙 Gabriel Henrique edge an icon.  Ugh, this one is tough. Whitney Houston is a once in a lifetime musician – second place doesn’t feel right! Still, Gabriel Henrique is something special. Whitney wins, but it’s a narrow win!

Whitney Houston vs. Gabriel Henrique: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 48 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Arista, Gabriel Henrique; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]