"Same Script, Different Cast" is a song performed as a

duet A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo s ...

by American and Canadian R&B singers

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

and

Deborah Cox Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before ...

. The song was released as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

on October 10, 2000 by

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainment ...

. 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 Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO59, Bia515) for solo piano, commonly known as "Für Elise" (, ), is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. It was not published during his lifetime, only being discovered (by Ludwig Nohl) 40 yea ...

" 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 number 70 while reaching number 14 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song was also very successful on Hot Dance Club Play, peaking at number 4.

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" 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)." USA Today's Steve Jones wrote that this collaboration is "most telling." Billboard called this song a special highlight. 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." (Full review available a
Classic-Whitney.com
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." Reporter. pl agreed when critics claimed that this is one of the most interesting duets in years. The Baltimore Sun panned the song calling it tepid and bloated. 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."

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 ;2×12" 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)

Personnel

;Recording and mixing *Recorded by Anne Catalino at Enterprise Studios, LA, CA, & Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, FL *Mixed by Peter Mokran at Enterprise Studios, LA, CA ;CreditsWhitney: The Greatest Hits album booklet *Written by Stacey Daniels,

Shae Jones Shae Jones (born July 27, 1978 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American R&B singer. She was discovered in the late 1990s by R&B star Montell Jordan, who liked the fact that her voice did not sound like other voices. After signing with Uptown ...

Shep Crawford Shep Crawford (December 18, 1970) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and gospel musician, songwriter, and record producer best known for Whitney Houston's " Same Script, Different Cast", Deborah Cox's " Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", Ta ...

Montell Jordan Montell Du'Sean Barnett Jordan (born December 3, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Best known for his 1995 single " This Is How We Do It", Jordan was the primary male solo artist on Def Jam's Def Soul imprint until l ...

*Produced by

*Tracked by Anne Catalino at The Hit Factory, NY, NY *Tracked by Jamie Seyberth at Paramount Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA *String arrangements conducted by

& Joe Mardin *Vocal arrangement: Whitney Houston,

& Kelly Price *Guitar: Jay Williams *All other instruments:

*Background vocals:

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

Same Script, Different Cast
at Discogs {{Deborah Cox 2000s ballads 2000 singles Deborah Cox songs Whitney Houston songs Female vocal duets Pop ballads Soul ballads Contemporary R&B ballads Songs written by Shep Crawford 2000 songs Arista Records singles Songs written by Montell Jordan Songs written by Shae Jones Songs about heartache