Same Script, Different Cast
"Same Script, Different Cast" | |||||||||||||||||||
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Single by Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox | |||||||||||||||||||
from the album Whitney: The Greatest Hits | |||||||||||||||||||
Released |
October 10, 2000 (US) October 25, 2000 (UK) April 7, 2006 (Digital Download Dance Vault Mixes) | ||||||||||||||||||
Format | CD single, Digital Download | ||||||||||||||||||
Recorded | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Genre | R&B, Urban adult contemporary | ||||||||||||||||||
Length | 4:58 | ||||||||||||||||||
Label | Arista | ||||||||||||||||||
Writer(s) | Stacey Daniels, Shae Jones, Shep Crawford, Montell Jordan | ||||||||||||||||||
Producer(s) | "Shep" Crawford | ||||||||||||||||||
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"Same Script, Different Cast" is a song performed as a duet by American and Canadian R&B singers Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox. Released as a single in 2000, the song features Houston playing the former lover of Cox's current boyfriend. Houston warns Cox of his hurtful ways, though Cox refuses to acknowledge it.
The song incorporates a backing track of Ludwig van Beethoven's Für Elise during the intro. The song was released as a radio-only promo single and hence no video was made. It was a minor hit on Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #70 while reaching #14 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Critical reception
Jim Farber of New York Daily News wrote: "There's a nice tête- ... -tête with label mate Deborah Cox on "Same Script, Different Cast" which amounts to a grownup version of Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine"[1] JAM! Music's Jane Stevenson preferred this duet: "Toronto's own Deborah Cox fares better with Houston on Same Script, Different Cast than Enrique Iglesias does on the soppy Could I Have This Kiss Forever (Metro Mix)."[2] USA Today's Steve Jones wrote that this collaboration is "most telling."[3] Billboard called this song a special highlight.[4] The Star-Ledger Newark, NJ wrote: "Same Script, Different Cast" isn't much of a song, but gives Houston and duet partner Deborah Cox an opportunity to engage in some thrilling vocal sparring."[5] Sonic.net editor wrote: "Same Script, Different Cast" features plucked harp strings and piano behind a duet with Deborah Cox, the two singers bemoaning that they chose the same loser for a lover," ; Barnes & Noble called this song my "man done me wrong" pairing. Essence review called this song special gem in which laides trade sassy lines. Vibe Magazine agreed. Orlando Sentinel editor wrote: "Same Script, Different Cast" plays like a conversation in a Broadway musical. In the song, Houston warns her friend that her current boyfriend eventually will break her heart."[6] Reporter. pl agreed when critics claimed that this is one of the most interesting duets in years.[7] The Baltimore Sun panned the song calling it tepid and bloated.[8] Following Houston's death in 2012, Entertainment Weekly published a list of her 25 best songs and ranked "Same Script, Different Cast" at number 24, commenting "If the boy from the Brandy and Monica duet The Boy Is Mine grew up into a cad, burned Whitney, and took up with Deborah Cox."[9]
Track listings
- 12" promo
- A. Same Script, Different Cast (Friburn & Urik Uncover Your Ears Mix) - 10:49
- B1. Same Script, Different Cast (Mel Hammond Beautiful Slang Dub) - 6:41
- B2. Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Radio Edit) - 4:21
- 2x12" promo
- A. Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Vocal Club Mix) - 9:35
- B. Same Script, Different Cast (Joe Smooth Slang Club Mix) - 5:49
- C. Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Goes There Dub) - 11:07
- D. Same Script, Different Cast (Victor Romeo Slang Vocal Mix) - 6:19
- Dance Vault Mixes (Digital Download)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Vocal Club Mix)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Joe Smooth Slang Club Mix)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Goes There Dub)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Victor Romeo Slang Vocal Mix)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Friburn & Urik Cover Your Ears Mix)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Mel Hammond Beautiful Slang Dub)
- Same Script, Different Cast (Jonathan Peters Radio Edit)
(There was also a Thunderpuss mix that never got released for retail, it was a promo only release)
Personnel
- Recording and mixing[10]
- Recorded by Anne Catalino at Enterprise Studios, LA, CA, & Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, FL
- Mixed by Peter Mokran at Enterprise Studios, LA, CA
- Credits[10]
- Written by Stacey Daniels, Shae Jones, Shep Crawford, Montell Jordan
- Produced by "Shep" Crawford
- Tracked by Anne Catalino at The Hit Factory, NY, NY
- Tracked by Jamie Seyberth at Paramount Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
- String arrangements conducted by "Shep" Crawford & Joe Mardin
- Vocal arrangement: Whitney Houston, "Shep" Crawford & Kelly Price
- Guitar: Jay Williams
- All other instruments: "Shep" Crawford
- Background vocals: "Shep" Crawford, Deborah Cox & Shae Jones
Charts
Chart positions
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Year-end charts
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References
- ↑ Daily News. New York http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/whitney-half-wild-latest-album-set-1-part-bad-ballads-1-part-boogie-bliss-article-1.872163. Missing or empty
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(help) - ↑ http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/H/Houston_Whitney/AlbumReviews/2000/05/21/771101.html
- ↑ Jones, Steve (9 May 2000). "Whitney's 'Greatest' lined up in smart order". USA TODAY.
- ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=PA8EAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=whitney%20houston&f=false
- ↑ Lustig, Jay (May 16, 2000). "The greatest hits of all, but the remix is just so-so". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 18 April 2014. (Full review available at Classic-Whitney.com)
- ↑ Galera, Christine (June 30, 2000). "Whitney Houston: The Greatest Hits". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/albums/wtghrev.htm#NME
- ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-05-25/entertainment/0005240312_1_whitney-houston-greatest-hits-wanna-dance
- ↑ Anderson, Kyle; Goldblatt, Henry; Greenblatt, Leah; Rahman, Ray (17 February 2012). "Whitney Houston: Her 25 Best Songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
- 1 2 Whitney: The Greatest Hits album booklet
- ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Whitney Houston.
- ↑ "Whitney Houston – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Whitney Houston.
- ↑ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/1114806