The stage requires powerful voices! Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times Cynthia Erivo defied our expectations with powerhouse performances that we couldn’t be happier to listen to over and over again.
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00:00I wish I could have known the way fate would use me took my life in her hands
00:09Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times Cynthia Erivo
00:14defied our expectations with powerhouse performances that we couldn't be happier
00:18to listen to over and over again.
00:20You look happy to meet me
00:35In 2014, British comedian Harry Hill's The X Factor-inspired musical I Can't Sing
00:40premiered in the West End. It starred Cynthia Erivo as Shanice,
00:44a woman with the perfect backstory for a talent contest but no confidence in her talents.
00:49I can't sing, I can't sing Open my throat and windows start to crack
01:00It's almost laughable that Erivo would play someone who can't sing, because she certainly
01:06can. In fact, she has, to borrow from her companion, the voice of an angel.
01:10I never knew I didn't think I could Thought I made Jerry Halliwell sound good
01:17She not only stuns with her incredible range, but doesn't miss a comedic beat either.
01:22The show may have closed after just six weeks, but it introduced the world to a rising star.
01:27And I'll rise out of this, should God will it I've got something to bring
01:34I can't sing, I can't sing
01:40No wonder the other contestants didn't want Shanice to audition.
01:44Maybe she's better off not entering
01:57Wendy Houston's songs are notoriously tough to tackle,
02:00but Erivo effortlessly makes I Wanna Dance With Somebody her own.
02:04Oh, I wanna dance with somebody I wanna feel the heat with somebody
02:10She doesn't go too hard or too soft, and most importantly,
02:13she doesn't simply try and replicate Houston's sound.
02:17Every note shows off her incredible talent,
02:19and you can tell she and her band are having a blast from start to finish.
02:23Somebody, ooh, somebody, ooh Will hold me in his arms
02:31What makes this number truly special is how she captures the essence of this iconic bop
02:35while making it feel brand new, like we're hearing it for the first time.
02:39It's a fresh, joyful take that celebrates both the original and Erivo's unique artistry.
02:45Oh, I wanna dance with somebody I wanna feel the heat
02:52Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
02:54Number 8. Somewhere with the National Symphony Orchestra
02:57Cynthia Erivo and Friends, a New Year's Eve celebration.
03:01There's a place for us Somewhere a place for us
03:15The thing about Somewhere from West Side Story is that you can sing it pitch perfectly,
03:19but if you don't pour your heart into it, the meaning gets lost.
03:22Thankfully, Cynthia Erivo doesn't have that problem.
03:28Somewhere we'll find a new way of living
03:35She sings from deep within, connecting to the lyrics in a way that feels incredibly personal.
03:40Her voice fills the room like sunshine, with such outstanding control and tone
03:44that it's like she's pulling us into her emotional space.
03:47Hold my hand and I'll take you there
03:54Of course, it goes without saying that the technical side is just phenomenal too.
03:58Listening to her gives us hope that maybe, somewhere, someday,
04:02every word she sings will come true.
04:14Number 7. Imagine, 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
04:19From the moment that first note leaves her mouth, we already have chills.
04:24There's no heaven It's easy if you try
04:33Erivo sang Imagine at the GLAAD Media Awards to honor the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub
04:38shooting.
04:39She starts softly, letting her voice fill the room and wrap around everyone listening.
04:44You, you may say I'm a dreamer
04:54You can feel her belief in every word, as if she's holding everyone affected by this tragedy
04:59and countless others in her heart.
05:01As the song progresses, she builds power,
05:03almost as if she's trying to make her message heard by as many people as possible.
05:07I'm not the only one
05:14It's impossible not to get swept up in the emotion,
05:17especially as photos of those who lost their lives appear with her final note.
05:38Number 6. When You Believe, National Memorial Day Concert
05:42As we've seen, Erivo wears her heart on her sleeve when she sings,
05:46and we have no doubt she touched many people at the 2024 National Memorial Day Concert.
06:02Her renditions of Bridge Over Troubled Water and Requiem for a Soldier could bring tears
06:06to anyone's eyes. However, the goosebumps we got from her take on When You Believe
06:10are something else.
06:23She pays homage to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey,
06:27yet it's clear that this is her interpretation of the song's emotion.
06:36It's hard, it's hard to believe Her crystal clear tone,
06:52extraordinary range, and pure beauty elevate the number to new heights.
06:56Paired with images of strength and resilience,
06:59her performance can uplift listeners and fill them with hope.
07:06Number 5. Ain't No Way, BBC Proms
07:14Aretha Franklin is another of those powerhouse vocalists
07:17many artists might cower away from, but not Erivo.
07:30Her take on Ain't No Way is nothing short of breathtaking.
07:33From the first note, her voice is so emotive that it grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
07:45She infuses the song with such deep emotion, giving a nod to the original while totally
07:50making it her own. You can feel every ounce of passion and nuance in her delivery,
07:55spotlighting her incredible vocals.
08:03Also, her chemistry with her backing singers just makes the whole performance soar even higher.
08:14She also wowed everyone with her magnetic stage presence as she covered Etta James' At Last.
08:33Number 4. Nothing Compares To You, Next At The Kennedy Center
08:42We could rave about Erivo's flawless technique all day.
08:56However, what really makes her special is how she takes a classic like Nothing Compares To You
09:01and breathes so much new life into it that it's almost like we're hearing a brand new song.
09:10Her powerful voice is full of emotion and little details that just grab you.
09:15Plus, she captures the haunting melody in deep lyrics with an authenticity that few can.
09:21She brought that same magic to her cover of Killing Me Softly that night with Joaquina
09:25Calicango too. It left us in awe. Erivo has this incredible gift for transforming
09:31beloved songs into something truly extraordinary.
09:50Number 3. Alfie, 46th Kennedy Center Honors
09:55You know when people describe someone's voice as their instrument?
10:05This is what they mean. Erivo's voice is a finely tuned instrument that can hit
10:09breathtaking notes and convey intense emotions.
10:13Her rich timbre adds so much depth and complexity to every performance.
10:24She flows effortlessly from delicate whispers to powerful crescendos.
10:28So it's no surprise she took on another legendary diva, Dionne Warwick.
10:38You can see Warwick light up just seeing Erivo on that stage.
10:42No pressure, right? Erivo pulls off vocal feats in this song that even some other well-trained
10:47singers might find challenging. Honestly, the Kennedy Center should have given out
10:51a second honor just for this performance.
11:05Number 2. Stand Up, Harriet
11:08Erivo co-wrote and recorded Stand Up for the 2019 biopic Harriet,
11:12where she also played the title role.
11:26This soulful song speaks to standing strong in tough times,
11:30and few can deliver that message quite like Erivo. It was nominated for a Grammy,
11:35Golden Globe, Oscar, NAACP Image Award, and more.
11:45In the music video, it's just her and that phenomenal voice we can't stop gushing about.
11:49But honestly, adding anything else would distract from the raw emotion that flows from her.
11:54The song's ending lyrics pay tribute to Harriet Tubman's final words,
11:58and it's truly moving to see Erivo carry her message forward with such passion.
12:05Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
12:15We couldn't be happier that she was cast as Elphaba,
12:17but she clearly has a little Glinda in her too.
12:35This performance has all the elements, and it's just perfect.
12:52If we could rewrite the stars,
12:54there would be a version of The Greatest Showman starring Erivo. Zendaya would be there too.
13:05You're Not Here, the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
13:13Oh, how we wish we could have been there listening live.
13:25Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand, the National Memorial Day concert.
13:29Anytime she starts singing, she's basically reaching out and touching all who hear her.
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13:59Number 1. I'm Here, 70th Tony Awards.
14:03If you caught Cynthia Erivo as Celie in the 2013 London production or the 2015 Broadway
14:08revival of The Color Purple, then you know just how mind-blowing her performances are.
14:14Those Who Missed It still got a taste of her magic when she sang songs from the show at events like
14:18the MAKERS Conference and Good Morning America.
14:32However, the performance that lives right in the heart of the show is the one that's
14:37most memorable to me.
14:41However, the performance that lives rent-free in our heads is her jaw-dropping rendition of
14:46I'm Here at the 70th Tony Awards. It's just her and a captive audience. She starts off quietly,
14:52creating this amazing tension, and then bursts into a powerful crescendo that fills the beacon
14:57theater.
15:13Seriously, our jaws are still on the floor.
15:16What's your favorite Cynthia Erivo performance? Let us know in the comments below.
15:28Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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