Whitney Houston vs. James Cleveland | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the special 18^th edition of Head 2 Head (2022), Whitney Houston & James Cleveland contend for the best song that shares the same tune.

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 18^th edition of head-to-head (2022), we do something slightly different than the norm. In an apples and oranges style Head 2 Head (sort of), 🎙 Whitney Houston and 🎙 James Cleveland contend for the best song that share the same tune: 🎵 “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” and 🎵 “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Whitney Houston, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”

💿 Whitney • 🏷 Arista • 🗓 1987

“Remember when we held on in the rain / The night we almost lost it / Once again…” 🎵 “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” ranks among the best 🎙 Whitney Houston songs.  Fittingly, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” was nominated for the 🏆 Grammy for Song of the Year.  Writers 🎼✍ Michael Masser and 🎼✍ Will Jennings gave the iconic R&B singer a surefire gem to work with, beginning with those memorable lyrics from the first verse. 🎙 James Cleveland, 💿 The King of Gospel Music, borrowed the tune for a gospel rendition, 🎵 “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord” – more on that later! “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” appears on Houston’s 1987 sophomore album, 💿 Whitney.

“…We can take the night into tomorrow / Living on feelings / Touching you I feel it all again.” “Didn’t We Have It All” is exceptionally well-produced, sitting in the sweet spot between pop and R&B. The palette of sounds includes colorful keys and soaring strings. Houston is the star of the show, sounding utterly sublime, particularly on the beloved chorus. The production grows robust, Houston gives her all vocally, and honestly, it’s just special. Love fuels the fire, as it does with the best songs!

“Didn’t we almost have it all

When love was all we had worth giving?

The ride with you was worth the fall my friend

Loving you makes life worth the living

Didn’t we almost have it all

The night we hold on ‘til the morning

You know you’ll never love that way again

Didn’t we almost have it all?”

This no. 1 hit is still potent as it approaches 40. A quintessential 1980s ballad that you just don’t make like this anymore.

Appears in 🔻:

• Whitney Houston, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 38 (2022)

2. James Cleveland, “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord”

💿 The King of Gospel Music • 🏷 Malaco • 📅 2021

“Aren’t you glad you know the Lord / In the pardon of your sins / Glad you know Him for yourself / And glad that you let him come in.” Those lyrics appear on the thoughtful, spiritually uplifting 🎙 James Cleveland record, 🎵 “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord”.  Cleveland performed this pop-to-gospel transformation alongside 🎙 The Northern & Southern Choirs of the GMWA.  Notably, this inspiration selection most recently appears on the compilation, 💿 The King of Gospel Music, released in 2021.

Notably, “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord” borrows its melody from 🎙 Whitney Houston’s gem, 🎵 “Didn’t We Almost Have It All. Cleveland mentions during a spoken word portion of the song about “borrowing the tune,” giving Houston props for the message of the song, written by 🎼✍ Michael Masser and 🎼✍ Will Jennings.  The lyrics are few, as excerpted above, but they are potent, giving God props for being merciful, omnipotent, and, of course, The Great I Am. Cleveland and choir sing exceptionally riding this borrowed tune marvelously.  They make you feel the meaning of this song.

Appears in 🔻:

• James Cleveland, “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord”: Sunday Refresh 🙏 17 (2022)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 Whitney Houston or 🎙 James Cleveland?  I love the James Cleveland transformation of 🎵 “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” into 🎵 “Aren’t You Glad You Know the Lord”. It yields a beautiful song and a thoughtful, uplifting message.  That said, there is no way and now how I’m denying 🎙 Whitney Houston the prize for one of the greatest, most beloved songs in her catalog. “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” is utterly sublime, as Cleveland admits himself. It’s always ranked among my favorites by the late icon.

Whitney Houston vs. James Cleveland: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 18 (2022) [📷: Arista, Brent Faulkner, Layers, Malaco, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Valentin Tikhonov]