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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