Whitney Houston vs. Robin Thicke | Head 2 Head

On the 9^th edition of Head 2 Head (2022), Whitney Houston and Robin Thicke contend for the best rendition of “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).” 

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elcome 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.  On the 9^th edition of head-to-head (2022), Whitney Houston and Robin Thicke contend for the best rendition of “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. Whitney Houston, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”

Waiting to Exhale (Original Soundtrack Album) • Arista • 1995 

“For every win / Someone must fail / But there comes a point when / When we exhale.”  Iconic R&B and pop singer Whitney Houston had an extraordinary run with soundtracks in the 1990s.  One of three key soundtracks she was part of included Waiting to Exhale (1995). The key song is the no. 1 hit, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”, written by the one and only Babyface.  This is Babyface contributing top-notch songwriting and Whitney Houston at her best.

“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” is a quintessential 90s classic.  It perfectly captures the adult contemporary R&B vibes of the time.  Houston sings incredibly, delivering an emotional, expressive performance.  Why does this exhalation need to happen? Heartbreak, of course – it’s a beast! The three verses are incredible (“When you got friends to wish you well / You’ll find a point when / You will exhale”), but it’s that sing-along chorus, with all those “shoops,” that steals the show.  Houston, of course, makes it sound effortless.

“Shoop, shoop, shoop

Shoop be doop shoop shoop

Shoop be doop shoop shoop (shoo shoo shoo huh) …” 

If you had a black soundtrack in the 1990s, you know you’d betta call Whitney Houston – she unleashed straight-up magic.  It’s not surprising that “Exhale (Shoop Shooop)” was a surefire gem that would ultimately win a Grammy.  Notably, Robin Thicke released a cover in 2012.  He’s not the only one to cover this certified classic.

Appears in :

• Whitney Houston, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”: Throwback Vibez No. 17 (2022)

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2. Robin Thicke, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)”

“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” • Star Trak, LLC • 2012 

Few female artists can successfully cover the late, great Whitney Houston.  Furthermore, fewer male artists can even hope to do the once-in-a-lifetime vocalist justice.  If you are male, and you’re going to tackle Whitney, you better have a lit upper register.  The good news is that Robin Thicke possesses those lit upper register pipes. Thicke has one of the better falsetto games – no cap! He showcases beauty, refinement, and skill on his smooth rendition of “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” a gem from the 1995 soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale.  Give Thicke credit – he ‘puts in work’ on this Grammy-winning joint!

Robin Thicke ensures he doesn’t deliver a carbon copy of the Whitney Houston original.  That would be near impossible given the fact alone he’s male and Houston was female.  That said, there are some musical contrasts that separate the two versions too.  Thicke is more poised and restrained, allowing those silky-smooth pipes and that ripe falsetto go to work without heavy lifting.  Furthermore, he’s primarily accompanied by piano, giving the record more of a stripped vibe.  Eventually, there are drums and a hint of organ spicing things up, but it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say Thicke never gets too high.  One of the best moments are the warm harmonized vocals, which affirm the gorgeousness of his instrument.  All in all, he does Houston justice.

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The Verdict  

Whitney Houston or Robin Thicke?  Robin Thicke sounds great on “Exhale (Shoop Shoop, but this is and always will be Whitney Houston’s song.  It’s the tone, expressiveness, the vibe – the whole aesthetic! Only Whitney herself can conjure that up. May she forever rest in peace.

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Whitney Houston vs. Robin Thicke: Head 2 Head No. 9 (2022) [: Arista, Brent Faulkner, Layers, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Star Trak, LLC, Valentin Tikhonov]

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