Um yeah, so this is about to happen…
As a part of his 20th anniversary project, Rodney Jerkins has confirmed he’s enlisting a few of today’s biggest artists to cover his biggest hits; he’s eyeing Ariana Grande and Jessie J to remake his first mega hit, Brandy and Monica’s 1998 hit “The Boy Is Mine.” You read that correctly.
In an interview released this morning (Nov. 11) with Hits Daily Double, Jerkins (who produced hits for Michael and Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, J.Lo, and more), explained, “Next year [2015] is my 20-year anniversary and I’m doing a very special project. Some originals as well as reimagined hits. So for example, I’ll do the “The Boy Is Mine” with Ariana and Jessie J.”
If you don’t remember the magic that was “The Boy Is Mine,” peep it below:
Not only that, Jerkins has also confirmed that Sam Smith will cover Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right It’s Okay.”
“Sam told me was the song that made him want to sing,” Jerkins revealed. “When I asked him if he’d be a part of this project he was like, ‘No one else can do that song but me!’ Sam’s the truth. He has a great heart and he’s genuine. His music speaks for who he is. This is a project I’m really looking forward to.”
Sure, Grande and Jessie are hot right now: they’re both great singers and they collaboratedd on one of this summer’s biggest hits “Bang Bang," but can you imagine a remake of "The Boy Is Mine” with their voices? What about Sam Smith doing Whitney? (which he’s done before with an acoustic version of “How Will I Know”) Overall, I’m skeptical if the magic can be recaptured, but we’ll just have to wait and find out.
Sound off! How do you think these remakes will sound?