- 5 months ago
Imitation is the highest form of flattery! Join us as we count down the most incredible vocal doppelgängers who can sound eerily like famous singers. From spot-on Freddie Mercury impressions to perfect Whitney Houston high notes, these talented performers will make you do a double-take with their uncanny vocal abilities!
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 amazing singer
00:09impressions of other singers. For this list, we'll be looking at the most impressive times
00:17that a performer impersonated another musical artist. Did we forget another incredible moment
00:23that a singer mimicked another? Let us know in the comments below. Number 20. Alicia Keys as Adele.
00:31Joining Jimmy Fallon for a game of Wheel of Musical Impressions, Alicia Keys is more than
00:36ready to light up the stage with her talents. Ladies first. Okay. This episode includes her
00:46surprisingly great impression of Adele. Tasked with singing the alphabet, the singer matches the
00:51British artist's unique register. A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Fallon watches in awe as his guest nails the
01:02assignment. With a dramatic finish, Keys is an absolute professional throughout the segment.
01:08This is likely the best voice she does in the entire game, even beating her impressive take
01:12on Janis Joplin doing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Number 19. Taylor Swift as Shakira. For this SNL
01:25sketch, the writers crafted a star-studded soundtrack for a fake movie. The animated adventure welcomes
01:31many high-profile artists, such as Randy Newman and Shakira. Taylor Swift plays the latter with complete
01:38dedication, wearing an appropriate wig and costume to make it believable.
01:44Her impression highlights the vocalist's unique and breathy delivery. She also utilizes some
01:50memorable choreography, using her hands to help sell the impersonation. Swift is clearly having a
01:56blast for this skit, and really captures the spirit of the Colombian singer.
02:00Her final flourishes might be more comical than precise, but she's still the consummate performer
02:08all the way through. Number 18. Chris Martin as Neil Young. Unless you're a hardcore Coldplay fan,
02:20you might not know the origins of the song Yellow.
02:23Singer Chris Martin sat down with Howard Stern to explain the composition process.
02:33The song originated partly as an impression of Neil Young, as demonstrated by the artist's
02:38interpretation. It's much more accurate than expected, with a folksy quality that's Young's
02:43vocal signature. Transitioning from the impression to his natural voice, Martin proves himself to be
02:53even more outrageously talented than we thought. It's a short and sweet surprise that makes for an
02:59endearing story for a timeless hit. Number 17. David Bowie as Mick Jagger. In this interview on
03:10The Parkinson Show, David Bowie sat down for a chat about his influences and history with music.
03:16This includes a story about seeing the Rolling Stones in his younger days, and an anecdote about
03:21Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones are opening up for him. It's the first time I ever saw him.
03:26Bowie goes into Jagger's voice as he talks about the legend telling off an angry spectator.
03:30Some guy yells out, get your hair cut. And Mick says, and I'll never forget these words.
03:37What, I look like you?
03:42With comic timing and an eerily accurate impression, the talk show guest completely
03:48transforms into The Stones' front man. The five-word impersonation has more power than some
03:53full-length specials. Along with some great storytelling, this segment showcases the star
03:59man's one-of-a-kind charisma.
04:01I thought, oh my God, this is the future of music.
04:04Number 16, Kelly Clarkson as Alanis Morissette.
04:09On the game show, That's My Jam, Kelly Clarkson goes up against Ariana Grande in a round of
04:15mixtape medley.
04:16All right, all right.
04:19They work their way through pop diva legends before reaching Alanis Morissette. Grande is hard
04:25to match with her voice, but Clarkson finds a way to stand out with an incredible impersonation.
04:30Performing You Oughta Know, the singer taps into the raw intensity of Morissette's vocals.
04:40The Since You've Been Gone singer matches the original artist in terms of sheer quality
04:44and performance ability. It also works as an effective cover of the 90s rock classic.
04:50Number 15, Luke Bryan as Elvis. After discussing Las Vegas residencies, the Ellen DeGeneres show
05:02guest host Katy Perry finds a perfect segue to let country star Luke Bryan geek out on Elvis Presley.
05:09Just, I was a kid, like, in my room listening to Elvis live from Las Vegas. That was, like,
05:15one of my primary records.
05:17He shares his childhood love for the king of rock and roll before finding a point to do a vocal impression.
05:22When no one else can understand me.
05:27Many people have an impersonation of Presley, but few have the expertise to truly belt out one of his
05:32tunes this well. Bryan steals the show without even having to stand up. He brings the house down
05:39with a mix of his own country influences, giving the performance a personal touch.
05:43That's the wonder, doodle-oo. The wonder of you.
05:49Number 14, Justin Timberlake as Robin Gibb. For this recurring SNL sketch, Justin Timberlake
05:56partners up with Jimmy Fallon for the Barry Gibb talk show.
06:00This week's election, Robin, did you vote?
06:04No.
06:05No, you didn't vote?
06:06No, I didn't.
06:07The former plays Robin Gibb as the sidekick to Fallon's Barry.
06:10While not the lead performer in the skit, Timberlake still steals the show with some
06:15falsettos at key points.
06:17How about we sing the next guest's name?
06:21Cruz Bustamante
06:23Talking about Cruz Bustamante
06:28It's also extremely hard for the pop singer to keep a straight face.
06:33Having to deal with his scene partner's anger, the artist harmonizes and giggles throughout this
06:38hilarious premise. He's returned to perform this impression several times over the years.
06:43Each and every time, the star rises to the occasion in his absurd take on the disco legend.
06:57Number 13, Merle Haggard as Johnny Cash.
07:00There have been many who've dipped their voices to try to mimic the man in black,
07:06but country legend Merle Haggard might have them all beat.
07:09Why don't you do Johnny for me?
07:11You're going to catch you, kill me.
07:13Long before Fallon's Wheel of Musical Impressions was a thing,
07:16Haggard entertained the Glen Campbell good time hour with a rapid onslaught of vocal parodies,
07:23including Buck Owens and Marty Robbins.
07:25But Haggard's magnum opus from this TV appearance is certainly his imitation of Johnny Cash.
07:31We got married in a fever.
07:35Holiday in a popcorn.
07:38Not only does he nail Cash's baritone sound,
07:42he stiffens his shoulders and flails his wrist across the guitar, body, and neck,
07:47embodying The Undertaker's signature mannerisms.
07:50It's a jovially loving lampoon of Johnny who makes a surprise appearance at the end of the routine.
07:56Were it not for the height difference, you might almost get the two confused.
08:01Look out, Jacksonville.
08:05Number 12, Miley Cyrus as Justin Bieber.
08:08Willing to make fun of herself and her fellow pop stars,
08:12Miley Cyrus plays Justin Bieber in the SNL sketch The Miley Cyrus Show.
08:16Hey, Justin!
08:17It's a Miley, it's a cool show.
08:20Really?
08:21The singer's look is complete with a vintage Bieber haircut and some classic late 2000s wardrobe.
08:27Sitting opposite Vanessa Bayer's impression,
08:29Cyrus works extremely well playing off a crazy version of herself.
08:33Justin Bieber, where do you get all of those cool moves?
08:37You know, I brought my swagger coach.
08:42She also makes the impersonation of the baby singer seem effortless,
08:46with a few well-timed looks.
08:48At the end of the skit, everyone sings the show's theme song in one final moment for the Party in the USA performer to be a good sport.
08:56So I guess that's pretty cool.
08:59Number 11, Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder.
09:03Known as a multi-talented artist, comedian Eddie Murphy also has a singing career.
09:08I don't want to spy all the time, but all the time.
09:14His uncanny ability to hit the right notes informs this particular sketch.
09:19His impression of Stevie Wonder ranks among his best,
09:22capturing the icon's soulful tone for hits like Ebony and Ivory.
09:26He also throws in an appropriate costume and accurate body movements.
09:41Murphy's unstoppable energy elevates this impersonation beyond a one-off joke.
09:46Using his own ability to sing,
09:48the comic can channel the music legend in a transcendent performance.
09:52It's also this kind of talent that arguably saved Saturday Night Live in the uncertain 1980s.
10:00Just living in perfect harmony.
10:03We're talking salt and pepper.
10:05Number 10, Adam Levine as multiple singers.
10:09We've really tried to narrow down which specific impression we think each singer was phenomenal at.
10:14But when you're as talented as Maroon 5's lead singer, that's a hard choice to make.
10:19Appearing on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,
10:21Adam Levine gave us a spot-on rendition of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes as Frank Sinatra.
10:28Head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
10:33His impression of Michael Jackson singing the Sesame Street theme song
10:37showcased his impressive range and also had us rolling.
10:41Wanna tell me how to get, how to get through Sesame Street?
10:46And it's his killer Eddie Vedder impression doing The Muffin Man that left us clutching our sides.
10:53You know the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man, the Muffin Man.
11:00Number 9, Camilla Cabello as Ellie Goulding.
11:04Don't get us wrong, pretty much all of the women from Fifth Harmony could have made it on our list.
11:08Lauren Harregui's Adele, Normani Corday's Rihanna, and Dina Jane's Leona Lewis impressions
11:14are stunning examples of just how talented these ladies are.
11:18But it's the Grammy-nominated Cabello, now a solo artist,
11:21who made it on our list with her impression of Goulding's unique voice singing, Outside.
11:26Show you what it feels like, now I'm on the outside.
11:31Although she's now known for collaborations with artists like Pitbull and Shawn Mendes,
11:36what we're really craving right now is a collaboration with Cabello
11:39and the English singer-songwriter herself.
11:41We did everything right, now I'm on the outside.
11:46Yeah!
11:48Number 8, Jamie Foxx as John Legend.
11:50Yeah, we know that this actor and singer's portrayal of musician Ray Charles in 2004's Ray was so good
11:57that it earned Foxx the Academy Award for Best Actor.
12:00But that's not the only impression he does well.
12:03His appearance on Fallon's show showed us much more of the award winner's repertoire,
12:08most comically his Mick Jagger strut and his portrayal of Jennifer Hudson
12:11singing about her poor meatball on top of a pile of spaghetti.
12:14All covered with cheese
12:17But we were actually blown away by his take on John Legend singing the Toys R Us jingle.
12:25Now we know who Hollywood will call if they ever produce a Legend biopic.
12:28I couldn't be a Toys R Us kid.
12:35I couldn't be a Toys R Us.
12:47Number 7, Nicki Minaj as Fiancé.
12:50Rarely do we see an attempt to impersonate the Queen Bee herself.
12:54But on this hilarious episode of Saturday Night Live,
12:57the Trinidadian-born voice behind hits like Starships, Super Bass, and Anaconda did the impossible.
13:03I'm sorry I had to give birth out here, where all the animals live.
13:09Opposite Kate McKinnon's dead-on impersonation of Justin Bieber in a hip-hop-style sketch of the Nativity scene,
13:15Minaj nailed Beyoncé's mannerisms and singing voice,
13:18treating audiences to some none-too-subtle references to some of Beyoncé's hit songs.
13:23This moment is about my baby boy.
13:27Behold.
13:29He woke up like this!
13:30We're not sure if Minaj really had to work to nail this impression, or if she just woke up like that.
13:36One day he'll turn water into wine, and we'll all be drunk in love!
13:46Number 6, Celine Dion as Sia.
13:49This Canadian singer's career spans four decades,
13:53and with a name that's recognized around the world,
13:55it's kind of awesome to see that the superstar has a real sense of humor.
13:59Hush, lady, baby, don't say a word.
14:04Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
14:08On Fallon's Wheel of Musical Impressions,
14:10Dion let loose with some goofy impressions of Cher,
14:13Michael Jackson, and Rihanna.
14:15But she actually made us sit up and take notice with her final impression of Sia.
14:19We're not sure if it's the stuffed animal or her bangs that did it for us,
14:40but it's not difficult to recognize Sia's fiercely unique vocal style
14:44from Dion's energetic delivery.
14:46Number 5, Nicole Scherzinger as Britney Spears.
14:51Best known for her time with the Pussycat Dolls,
14:54Nicole Scherzinger wowed audiences with her incredible impressions on Good Morning America.
15:04There's simply no denying that her Judy Garland and Steve Perry impressions were to die for.
15:09But the hosts and audiences of GMA really went wild
15:12for Scherzinger's dead-on rendition of Britney Spears singing her ABCs.
15:18ABC's.
15:18Britney!
15:20That's Britney Spears.
15:22While the other impressions had been a little difficult
15:24for hosts Michael Strahan and Sarah Haynes to figure out,
15:28the Spears impression took mere seconds to guess.
15:31Who knew the alphabet could be so sensational?
15:33And then I'll pay a QRS-D for a day.
15:40Number 4, Alessia Cara as Billie Eilish.
15:44This Canadian Grammy Award winner has made huge waves since she hit the scene in 2015,
15:49but who knew she was such a talented impersonator?
15:52Her impression of Alanis Morissette singing Hush Little Baby?
15:56Uncanny.
15:56Papa's gonna buy you, I'm a kingbird.
16:01Her impersonation of Lorde singing Baba Black Sheep?
16:04Inspired.
16:05Baba Black Sheep, pop you in the wool.
16:08Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
16:11And her impression of Ariana Grande singing Skidamarink?
16:14Holy cow!
16:15Skidamarink, skidamarink, skidamarink, skidamarink, skidamarink, skidamarink, oh.
16:19She's now appeared on this entertaining Tonight Show game multiple times,
16:23but we'd argue that her spot-on impersonation of Billie Eilish singing Pop Goes the Weasel
16:27has been the highlight.
16:29Found the movies, monkey chased the weasel, monkey thought was all in fun, pop goes the weasel.
16:37Close your eyes, and it's as if Eilish decided to rewrite the words to her own song.
16:41Pop goes the weasel.
16:45It's no surprise that Jackson is one of the most imitated musicians in history,
16:58but it's hard to believe that anyone could capture the king of pop better than Bruno Mars,
17:02who impersonated the music icon during one particularly legendary episode of Saturday Night Live.
17:07During the performance, Bruno absolutely killed it with covers of Billie Jean,
17:18Smooth Criminal, and Man in the Mirror.
17:23Of course, we can't forget to mention Mars' other famous impression
17:30of the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley, which he's been doing since he was a kid.
17:35Born through a party at the can of jam
17:37Prisoners at that game of fair
17:40The band was open and the jump began to sing
17:42Okay, okay, so we've already showcased a singer with an awesome Britney Spears impression,
17:51but leave it to this best-selling artist,
17:54who's also been featured on Rolling Stone's list of 100 greatest singers of all time,
17:58to up the ante.
17:59The best part of waking up is Folgers in your car
18:07Appearing on Musical Wheel of Impressions,
18:11she made us laugh as Cher singing the Folgers' coffee jingle,
18:14and as Shakira performing the Golden Globes theme.
18:17This little piggy went to the mile again
18:22But hearing her rendition of Spears singing This Little Piggy was pure gold,
18:28and got a standing ovation from The Tonight Show host.
18:31Went way, way all the way home
18:34Here's hoping she comes back for a rematch.
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18:561. Ariana Grande as Multiple Artists
18:59Ariana seems to possess the Midas touch when it comes to impressions,
19:04because every impression that this multi-platinum artist attempts is pure gold.
19:08There were nights when the wind was so cold
19:12She made jaws drop with her impressions of Celine Dion,
19:16Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, and Shakira on Saturday Night Live.
19:25It doesn't stop there, though.
19:29When she appeared on Musical Wheel of Impressions,
19:31she absolutely killed additional impressions,
19:34including that of Christina Aguilera.
19:36And if that's not enough,
19:50a young grande can be found on YouTube
19:52nailing impressions like that of Ariel
19:54from the 1989 film The Little Mermaid.
19:57Do you agree with our picks?
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