'82 Tonys--Dreamgirls "And I'm Telling You"

[@QuickenedSand]

My introduction to Effie White was Jennifer Hudson, in the feature film. She was great, and showed exceptional anguish in her performance... but Jennifer Holiday's was BEYOND. Simply, beyond anything. Her use of desperation in her version is chilling.

[@fatima1009]

I agree. Jennifer Hudson was wonderful and deserved her oscar. But Jennifer Holiday blows her right out of the water.

[@helloxons]

This is without question, one of the all-time best show stopping performances from any musical in Broadway's history.

[@KimMenier]

I went to this show with a friend when it was new on Broadway. I hate musicals, but Jennifer Holliday blew my mind that night. I almost cried it was so tasty!

[@KBlocker29]

Ooh mercy. I almost threw something at my screen that was so good. Legendary performance.

[@NixxSkii]

Keisha Blocker It is 2am. I am sure my neighbors are like WHAT THE HELL IS HE GOING THROGH over there?"

[@DetroitLives313]

+Keisha Blocker This was the first Broadway song they use to play regularly on the radio back in 1982. Everytime it would come on, I would stop, stand still and listen until it was over. It was and is just that amazing!

[@helloxons]

This is without question, one of the all-time best show stopping performances from any musical in Broadway's history.

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

The way the audience erupts - theatre legends, all - in her last notes just tells you what kind of stupendous performance this is!

[@nikavance9453]

When I first watched Ms Mojo video about the most memorable Tony performances of all time, I thought it's slightly exaggerated to put this in the 1st place. Then I watched it. Man, how wrong I was.

[@rongross309]

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how this song should be done. Period! Absolute Perfection.

[@helloxons]

This is without question, one of the all-time best show stopping performances from any musical in Broadway's history.

[@magicub]

Hudson's version is 10 over 10 but this is 10000000000000000000

[@jp3813]

Hudson's is recorded. This is live.

[@SadiqMJamil]

jp3813 she did perform live

[@jeannienebaker]

No way!!!!! J. Holiday all the way!

[@surferbone82]

To see the song sung in context makes it that much more powerful. And those pipes...whoa.

[@BronxBob]

Simply incredible! She should have been given 2 Tony Awards for this performance.

[@CountryCowboy008]

BronxBob Hahaha or an Emmy Award for Best Actress as this was televised hahaha

[@macduflives]

I saw this back in 1982 (?) ...early 80's back in the day... I was 17/18 yrs old...white middle class kid from the suburbs...visiting my older sister in nyc...she couldn't make it due to work...i went alone on broadway...when i heard this song done my the great jennifer holiday, I literally cried in the audience...my only comfort was that everyone else in the audience was in tears...thank you ms. holiday!

[@JohannaMarie125]

Omg no body will ever sing this song better than Jennifer Holiday

[@shimmeringfairydust3275]

Every time I watch this, I get chills and tears. Holliday not only possesses a superb voice, she’s an incredible actress. Her acting, in particular, is mind blowing. The pain, the anguish in her beautiful voice is just astounding. One of the best performances of any kind, of any era. Stupendous!

[@paulbuschman8318]

Michael Bennet found her singing in a church in the South.....miracle.

[@DaTruEbonyRayne]

It wasn't Michael Bennett that found Jennifer Holliday. It was a friend of Michael that went to her church in Houston, TX and bought her to NY. And then after one audition of singing God Will Take Care Of You, she was hired in the play Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God. After a year of that she signed over to do DreamGirls.

[@ezmparis]

Hi. I am 60, and was there 30 years ago. We were blown away and on our feet. Everyone there got it...it was an amazing experience.

[@sa65cn1]

The BEST of Broadway, acting an singing!!! Holliday sings this like no one else.

[@nicki446]

Even more incredible? She would have only been about 21 here. An unbelievable talent.

[@jiannisDimi]

Best Performance of all singers, of any time, of every dramaturgy, of any expression, of every art, ever. The revelation of the Soul.

[@stevewashington4372]

Wow. Again. Every time I see this clip I'm blown away by the sheer power of these performers. Collectively they knock me out of my seat every time. And of course, Jennifer Holiday is a living Broadway legend. And deservedly so.

[@helloxons]

This is without question, one of the all-time best show stopping performances from any musical in Broadway's history.

[@mspinkytee]

This is one take folks, no cut, no retakes, LIVE! LIVE! LIVE!

[@kd6701]

Geez! That's a song that just cuts straight to your soul. Ms. Holliday set the bar way way waaaaaayyyy high on this. Plenty have tried but you always end up at the original. I grew up listening to this and it'll never get old.

[@zenafaye7183]

I agree. I've heard so many sing this but still no one has even got in the same ballpark of this otherworldly performance (my opinion).

[@DetroitLives313]

The film didn't even come close to being as good as this! Jennifier Holliday was absolutely amazing! She sang this song like it was the Gospel! Whew!!!!!!

[@lonellfletcher]

DetroitLives313 agreed. The film was such a washout. None of the fire and grit and epicness of the stage show. What a waste!!!!

[@brandivosmith]

And this was live... No studio effects, no auto tune, no pro-tools .. Lawd jesus

[@TrulyCreateIt]

It's interesting how a song can make you search for who originally sang it. Today, there was a young lady on stage in a singing show competition. Truly, she did well. She sang every note wonderfully. When I Googled it, the first listing showed Jennifer Hudson performing the song. Truly, she was able to beautifully hold her own with this song, too. HOWEVER, I Remember FIRST hearing it with Jennifer Holiday! When I watched this video today it is evident, that Holiday still sings it best, in my eyes. It also reminds me how Musicals should still be written, to tell the story with action and dialogue...in musical form, not just promote songs themselves. Sing on! Sing on!

[@trtmcr24]

Just imagine, she did this 8 times a week when the show was on Broadway.

[@MrMightyToo]

This part.

[@lizvandervest829]

OMFG...that was the best singing I have ever seen. Jennifer Holliday should be the only one to ever sing this song!! No matter how many times I see her sing this, I always, always get goose bumps. Whenever I need a pick me up - I watch this video. She is amazing!

[@CountryCowboy008]

When she started singing And I'm Telling You, I got goosebumps!

[@rogue0621]

I loved the original Dream Girls,Jennifer Holiday was flawless. Jennifer Hudson was great in the movie but I am a fan of the theatre.

[@helloxons]

This is without question, one of the all-time best show stopping performances from any musical in Broadway's history.

[@manofpan]

Over 28 years later and it can still bring chills to your skin! That's talent!

[@dethbytall]

This is seriously one of the best videos in the history of musical theater... if ever there was a reason to send a video to space, this may be one. The pure emotion in her voice, combined with that delivery is insane. No one, no matter how vocally amicable, will EVER be able to match this performance. Flawless.

[@11spunk11ransom11]

all i want for christmas is to be able to sing like her

[@carlosrosa5063]

That's cute Hope it came true......But if not, follow these two P's to heart..Pray and Practice! Believe me that should work. Stay Encouraged and GOD Bless.

[@ristina.ingram]

That Last Breath of Desperation gets me.....EVERY TIME!!!!!!!

[@tylerwhoitbe]

Crying. This will always be my favorite tony performance.

[@shawnbflannigan]

She is so freaking AWESOME!! Her performance gives me chills every time.

[@leronmorton521]

Jennifer Holliday is so Perfect in this Production 👍👍and deserves all the awards she had received 🤗 fantastic Performance 🤗🤗😀 Luv this Queen 😀

[@BrooklynMadison-bz9cs]

i had the pleasure of seeing the dreamgirls live on broadway. Awesome!!!!!

[@tonihouston4574]

+Michelle Whaley Me too!!!! Nothing like it ...EVER!!!!

[@441ann]

I saw her perform it on Broadway too. Everyone went wild when she was singing. Everyone up on their feet. I always felt sad that she never received the credit for introducing this song.

[@boppob1343]

@@441ann Only time Ive been in a broadway crowd that went nuts like this Tony crowd was when Cynthia Erivo sang Im Here in The Color Purple. Fucking magical.

[@KennethWilliams-rr9dw]

@@boppob1343 That was amazing! Phenomenal!

Greatest Performance Ever Recorded.

[@SuperPaul1203]

This was a moment in time that changed Broadway forever !!!

[@bubblegum11011]

Very well sung!! She sung with ssssooo much passion!!!!

[@EuphoniaPooch]

5:49 he never regained his hearing in that ear.

[@RyanFranklinWilliams]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Lablades1]

This is most definitely the MOST INCREDIBLE performance in the last hundred years, at least. An EPIC outpouring of will and utterly perfect breathing while pouring every emotion into every word sung...Incredibly grateful that there is an audio-visual record of Jennifer Holliday's truly ASTONISHING live rendition of "And I Am Telling You"..No one can do what she did...Amazing, amazing, amazing...

[@patruskan100]

Best ever... Tears falling and my hart is pumping.........

[@MsVictoria360]

I'm speechless. That was AMAZING

[@josienomnomnom]

it boggles my mind how someone can be so talented I got chills Ms. Devine is so brilliant

[@jen8rve]

Wonderful clip, thank you. I was sitting here bawling - so overwhelmingly forceful, passionate and heartbreaking. It doesn't get more real or soulful than this, she's a treasure. Right, like a roaring train. She just broke me into little pieces

[@DarrylsB]

still sends chills up my spine and creates a lump in my throat

[@EWATTY4]

i totally agree. my goodness !!!!!

[@SuperCHERISHED]

I wished I could have witnessed this electrifying performance in person! Ms. Jennnifer Holliday was overflowing with passion and power. I felt the pain her character was protraying. I never can watch this performance without weeping. It would be a gift if this footage could be improved in quality. I want it to be available to everyone. It appears as if this is the only footage of the Tony awards available. Bravo! Bravo to Ms. Holliday!

[@GoddessProductions]

this brought tears to my eyes! ive seen her sing the song before but never this performance... wow!

[@3ereisTi]

daamn girl..chills all over..

[@laarbe]

Greatest song, greatest performance, greatest musical ever. Jennifer Holliday is simply the greatest. She deserved the Tony and the Grammy.

[@clintondavis189]

you can never get tired of great singing

[@lonellfletcher]

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how you make history.

[@NakedNuances]

Vocally, each version has its moments, but no one can perform this song the way Holliday did. This is hers. And I think she has the better vocal performance too! Really, everyone in this clip was so talented and I can only imagine being in that audience seeing this live! What a privilege.

[@hlobisilenhlapho4800]

Wow! She is just wonderful, amazing performance

[@Yella1697]

This is just beautiful

[@therealryanamor]

honestly, with a million amazing versions out there, this is IT- this is the diamond standard

[@malefrmbk]

Who the heck would dislike this...oh people with bad taste in music..

[@salu880]

Wow look at Shirl lee Ralph and Laretta Divine!

[@beaellie9766]

Best Tony performance ever. When emotions are too intense the character sings....this woman SANG!

[@CountryCowboy008]

Dreamgirls is one of the best things that happened to Broadway.

[@MrRuperty]

It has to give a reason that she wons the GRAMMY and everbody try to copy her in every Talentshows ( whats stupid ). The ONE AND ONLY - JENNIFER HOLLIDAY:

[@kastinhoffman4759]

Oh my God. Their performance... And their voices... And... That was just FLAWLESS! Even after seeing it with my own eyes, I still can't believe how someone can be this talented!

[@monikarita2121]

BRAVA!!!!

[@Mshottie6]

How does this only have 3,709,029 views, but freaking "Wrecking Ball" by Miley freaking Cyrus has over 100,000,000 views?

[@biddybooable]

saw this in 1982 when it was the talk of nyc. you simply HAD to see it!

[@justjayinoc]

Oh my God!

[@scrmtrumpet]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but think about this. This is the original cast so this is how it was meant to be performed. Also, the character, Effie, has just lost literally everything in the course of about 10 minutes. The group she was the lead singer of kicked her out when they were supposed to be her friends. Then the man who supposedly loved her turned on her. Of course she's screaming. She's trying so hard to save something, anything she can. It's just pure desperation.

[@beaellie9766]

She lost her friends, her family (brother), EVERYTHING. And she is raging.....in act two, it is revealed what was going on for her and she wins the audience back immediately. Brilliant show.

[@jimstacy1]

Man oh man! I remember this performance more than any other Tony Awards performance! I was blown away then, blown away now.

[@nardo218]

Actual tears at 6:40.

[@thedangerwich5476]

Is that Loretta Devine?

[@MariaFlores-qn8yv]

I'mNotCharlesBarkley SoDon'tBanMe Jennifer Holliday! ;)

[@thedangerwich5476]

Maria Flores no the lady who was talking at the beginning, not the one singing.

[@MariaFlores-qn8yv]

Oh! Ooops! hehehe X)

[@nbkf76n]

Yes that's Lotetta Devine ☺️

[@thedangerwich5476]

Jon Roberts I see

[@yvettescheiman4991]

I watch this about once or twice a year just to feel goosebumps, palpitations and cry. No other single performance except Betty Buckley's "Memory" does this to me. God bless this woman.

[@LegionIvory]

Is that Loretta Divine!?

[@helloxons]

+Legion Ivory ... Yes! That's a younger & thinner Loretta Devine from back in the 1980s. She was one of the original Dreamgirls from the original play.

[@BeerGogglesReviews]

OMG!!! She's no oil painting, but she tells me "I'm staying", I ain't moving a muscle.

[@barrylabarre6752]

This is absolutely fantastic! Any performance that connects you to the performer emotionally like this deserves the highest praise! Bravo!

[@kevinscott1547]

Jennifer Hudson was good but Jennifer Holliday was BETTER!!!

[@tonihouston4574]

+Kevin Scott Without question!

[@kaliqahmuhammad7343]

+Kevin Scott Absolutely;-)

[@Rhondi8]

No way. Holiday owns this.

[@hijaukertas9969]

OMG! is this even real????

[@MrPedroLRodriguez]

Can't handle the amazingness!!!!

[@kingofnamek]

She's wonderful, but... I am thinking about this poor man's ears... she's singing really well, but let's face it: she's loud!

[@NissiBob]

he voice is rediculous

[@angelinema4330]

is that a good thing?

[@NissiBob]

yes

[@felixlockhart9077]

This remains probably the best vocal performance I have ever witness

[@tennisman117]

Nearly 30 years later and it still gives me the chills.

[@lovers4eternity]

How could someone dislike this? Jennifer Holliday is just amazing in this. The way she expresses her pain in her song just gives me the chills. She can do so much with her voice that the singers of today can not. So I ask again...how could someone dislike this?!

[@sg64215]

First time I ever heard of Jennifer Holliday and all I can say is, "That woman's voice is the most amazing voice I have ever heard"! I was just totally blown away, her voice is impeccable and the emotion she conveyed is undeniable! There is no wonder that Jennifer Holliday is a grammy winner!!!!

[@MetuNtr]

I was ten-years-old when this telecast aired and I was a quivering, puddle of a mess in my seat watching it then and thirty years later, I still am.

[@noirstar]

I was there; saw it with my own eyes. And Seriously, it was even better than it appears in this clip. This will NEVER be matched; seriously NEVER. You just have to be her. She's one of a kind. My heart was about to jump out of my chest. Grown folks were crying UNcontrollably and shaking like children. She and the Sound was really THAT good.

[@mlc2005]

Not only is her singling literally OUT OF THIS WORLD, but the emotion she puts into it is incredible. It's like she is singing for every single person who has dealt with heartbreak. Her final note, and the look on her face leave me utterly speechless. Incredible.

[@dtv2031]

The original and the best by far. Not even close.

[@akiame21]

Jesus freakin Christ she is a beast. She literally devoured that song

[@VirgoAsphyxia]

OMG. That voice still gives me chills! Her voice is timeless! That gal be sangin!

[@andymcgann2784]

THE best musical performance in history!!

[@bobbigarber]

This is the only show I have ever seen twice. Each time I got shivers and cried and cried. The audience was on their feet and screaming at the end of her performance. Fantastic!

[@rgse90]

This is by far the greatest single performance I have ever seen and heard. Not just the voice but the expressions that go with the song at the exact time needed. you cannot duplicate this no matter how good you are unless you are Jennifer Holiday. Thank you for the greatest expression of a great voice and great actress. You are one of the greats that people did not appreciate.

[@altrinidad7474]

I showed this video to my wife and tears just fell because she felt where Effie is coming from, but most of all because of jennifer holiday's performance. Just Amazing!

[@tyhonse]

49 years old and my first time seeing this scene.

[@italoman9]

Beyond supernaturally excellent and heartbreaking performance. Still sends chills up my spine. To have performed that every show one after another--electrifying and truly talented!

[@Evan_StJohn]

Oh. My. Dear. Lord. I WAS TRANSPORTED! Flawless, one of the BEST TV performances and the BEST Tony performance EVER!

[@flyfree727]

Just watch and listen.. there are no words to describe this performance!!

[@phxphillip]

I still love this.....saw her live on Broadway......and took my mother and sister and best friend to her show in LA. They all loved the show. WOW that was a long time ago can't believe it's been over 20 years.......seems like yesterday. Damn I'm getting old and don't even know it.

[@leronmorton521]

WHAT A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE BY THE LEGENDARY SONGSTRESS JENNIFER HOLLIDAY 🤗🤗 THANK YOU QUEEN 😀👍👍

[@jonszabo]

There are only a handful of times, in a generation,...or a liftime, when an amazing song is matched with an equally amazing singer....where together.....it's absolutely "MAGICAL"....this is one of those times.

[@seppyq3672]

Look at all those legends! Several have sadly passed.

[@kingfan88]

The legendary Jennifer Holliday brought me here! Thumbs up.