Make it real — compared to what?

I loved the song “Compared to What” (whose history here and here I am only recently learning) when I first heard Al Jarreau’s version:

But last weekend, via the public radio show “American Routes,” I heard a version that was terrific, that was slowed down compared to Jarreau’s version, and that drew my attention more to the startling, poetic lyrics. I learned from the “American Routes” playlist that it was Roberta Flack’s version:

Here’s another great-sounding version: