Jennifer Holliday-And I Am Telling You-DREAMGIRLS part 4

What can I say about this number ? It's the show stopper to end all show stoppers. I know one thing, cd,vinal,dvd, certainly not this video, does this song justice. Put very clearly...you just had to be there. Be there for the emotion that Effie was going through leading up to this song....how defiant she was fighting for Curtis....and lastly her denial that it was over(remember she's singing "you're gonna love me"to an empty room after he already left her dressing room...she keeps singing those words for her very survival!).To See Jennifer Holliday sing this, with Tears, sometimes mucus, gushing down her face...you can planley see Jennifer was Effie.It's like there was no acting. It was RAW.Everyone in the audience felt Effies pain at her on level due to Ms. Hollidays high voltage performance,a voice so loud it's shake the Washington Bridge.I remember seeing this early on at the Imperial Theater, and when Effie sang" Im not waking up tomorrow morning...and finding that there's nobody there..." there was an old Broadway saavy lady about 80 years old five rows to my right who stood up at that point and clapped and was crying as if she knew Broadway, and knew that History was being made right now. She was the first to stand...we would all join her midway through the song, and reamain long after the song ended.I'll never forget that lady...or how after the song the lights come on(The end of act 1) and everybody was crying and there'd be loud talking about what they just witnessed.To this day people talk about the "end of act 1...) and that the dress she wore singing And I AM Telling You should be in the Smithsonian. And Jennifer Holliday, have her own Shrine.

[@mickeyjoe22]

The single greatest performance ever to have graced a broadway stage - regardless of colour . It is the most REAL performance with an earth shattering vocal which has not been repeated on the great white way in my opinion , Ms Holliday along with this amazing cast and creative team poured out their souls onto this stage in the most believable performances ever portrayed on a stage ...Incredible ...And this song !! Best Live vocal ever recorded of any type of entertainment...THANK YOU JENNIFER

[@nikkiaktrez]

I. CAN'T. EVEN. I love Jennifer Hudson, but Jennifer Holliday just OWNS this song!

[@dancinonasmoothedge]

nikkiaktrez always

[@denisewalsh6586]

Completely owns this song ..the very original..she didn't do it just for a movie take but performed this song night after night for 2 years unlike j hud who just performed it for the Hollywood movie...b.i.g. difference

[@igotyourback9175]

I have friends and relatives who saw her back then and they all raved about Jennifer Holiday and this performance! They spoke of how her voice shook and vibrated the whole theater and their bodies! People were crying, fainting and shouting. They said that she even had children crying hysterically. It was like something never before seen or felt on stage! They all say that no recording or video footage anywhere comes anywhere close to what it was like seeing and hearing her live back then!

[@mariahwhitneycelinejanetmadona]

fainting?

[@qaistagaaahmad1833]

Jennifer Holliday will never ever be duplicated...😚😍😘

[@ValtronW]

The audience's reactions gave me goosebumps.

[@mungobuh]

I love how you can hear the utter heartbreak in her voice as she sings the final "ME!" This performance may never be matched.

[@denisewalsh6586]

I remember hearing that pause and then meee back on July 1982 and nothing like that since then...so honest raw and unexplainable.

[@denisewalsh6586]

Will never be matched

[@rahzc8054]

I am so glad I saw this in person, I could have watched it forever, Jennifer Holiday made this show.

[@Demismyname]

7:32..."sang girl"... I love it!!!

[@realme606]

can you believe this woman sung like this every night i'm awe struck i love it

[@nycblueyes10024]

YEs. This is amazing. She is amazing. She created "Effie". And she performed it on a Bway schedule.... One of the most astounding feats in Bway history. Without Jennifer holiday, there really would be no Dreamgirls as we know it. With all due respect-- and I do offer respect and love to Ms. Hudson-- Jennifer Holiday created the mold that everyone else has aspired to fill. THank you, Ms. Holiday...! God bless you!

[@Heyjay454]

I saw this the Thursday after she won the Tony. This was THE most thrilling show, the most POWERFUL song I have EVER seen in a show. 4 standing ovations BEFORE the number was over. Seeing the scene that leads up to it gives the song ALL the power...and Jennifer RODE THAT SONG like a pro!!

[@ThosC747]

Even though the quality is worse, I like this performance better than the one she did for the Tonys. I've seen thousands of Broadway shows, literally, and this was the single best performance I've ever seen. When she holds onto the chair to take two steps across the stage, you honestly feel that she's going to collapse. Thank God Michael Bennett didn't fire her, because he wanted to -- or at least he was very frustrated with her. There were other numbers in the show where she shined. Ths ws best

[@remyfacade]

He did fire her. Jenifer Lewis confirmed it.

[@mariahwhitneycelinejanetmadona]

@@remyfacade why?

[@remyfacade]

@@mariahwhitneycelinejanetmadona she was new and didn't have a fear of who he was and what he could do to her career. She wasn't trying to be a Broadway star to her it was just a job. She had no problem speaking her mind about the character and where they were trying to take it. Effie was not the role it was B4 Jennifer took over. She "died" in the first act and if I'm not mistaken "and I am telling you, and I am changing" were not in the show.

[@COSMICCFREQUENCY144]

@@remyfacade once again black women saving everything, had she not spoken her part into existence, they would have never created this Tony award winning number. What else is new

[@denisewalsh6586]

But she credits Michael Bennet or Bennedito in her performances after he died of Aids

[@janicerosen]

I think Jennifer Hudson did more than an admirable job but she had the BIGGEST shoes to fill. With all due respect to Ms Hudson, this song will ALWAYS belong to the incredible Jennifer Holiday. I saw this on Broadway and when she did this number, I thought I would jump out of my skin!!! Along with everyone in the audience, we could NOT contain ourselves and I've never seen a more riotous standing ovation before or since ... She is the original Effie and they don't make them like her anymore.

[@denisewalsh6586]

I agree..J Holliday had to perform this night after night for 2 years like a real pro whereas J Hud just had to do one take for the Hollywood movie .big difference

[@gasparmarino75]

One of the most electrifying performances in the history of Broadway theater...incomparable.

[@denisewalsh6586]

If not the most raw electrifying of all Broadway performances

[@husseindawodu1048]

Mary Wilson said she really cried during this seen the most

[@TerrellAmari]

Really?? Did she say it during an interview?

[@husseindawodu1048]

@@TerrellAmari she said in one of her books

[@beaellie9766]

@@husseindawodu1048 "Dreamgirl - My Life as a Supreme"

[@pokratkanoktanaporn978]

Even with a very blur video record, you can still see and sense a majestic musical moment and a brilliant performance.

[@bob11cav]

this is one of the altime greatest peformances on broadway ..it is legendary!

[@sensationsmag]

Yep - this is the REAL history-making experience, including the audience reaction at the theater, online for the first time. Thank you for posting it! One thing I would love to see again, since you seem to have the full show, is the portion where they are touring from city to city. The three are lined up, step backward, lift their arms, and are in different costumes in a split-second on their return step forward. I remember my jaw dropping when I saw it live, and would love to see it again.

[@SuperHurricane75]

Jennifer Hudson my foot! This woman murdered this entire skit GOOSE BUMPS. I did not get goose bumps from the movie at all. But then again I am a Jennifer Holiday Fanatic.Sorry hudson, or anyone else who attempted to sing this!!!!!! JUST RAW TALENT

[@joyce101]

I TRULY can appreciate your Honesty!!! I'm in total agreement!

[@denisewalsh6586]

You are just being fair..Holliday had a perfomance at 22 night after night in Broadway that was just so raw natural unfiltered and doesn't compare to j HUD singing once for a Hollywood movie..cmon

[@jenene84]

jennifer holliday made this play. if she wasn't in it, no one would care about it today.

[@igotyourback9175]

I have friends and relatives who saw her back then and they all raved about Jennifer Holiday and this performance! They spoke of how her voice shook and vibrated the whole theater and their bodies! People were crying, fainting and shouting. They said that she even had children crying hysterically. It was like something never before seen or felt on stage! You are so right!

[@shaundalove1975]

yes!!! thanks to my mother i was exposed to this, she played this music weekly and thank goodness i grew up in the NYC! Jennifer Holiday is the truth...Jennifer Hudson was smart to study this .....

[@Sox575]

Wow, that was a revelation! All three of the ladies worked it. No wonder "Dreamgirls" was such a BIG hit on Broadway! Thanks Summerholliday44 for posting.

[@timoteosalvacion4943]

Jennifer Holliday owns this song. There are many pretenders but for me she’s the best.

[@CarrieTrapshaw]

i think i just died and came back...breathtaking greatness.

[@Mohnari]

Gives me goosebumps on so many levels..so hard to explain..

[@paulcanaday-elliott9834]

Seeing this in person must have been just beyond thrilling. Amazing. Did people know then that they were witnessing one of the most iconic, legendary Broadway performances ever?

[@KwameSings]

This is Musical Theater History right here... I Love this show.... Thanks for posting this

[@egyptiangawd]

7:32 "sang girl!"

[@Sox575]

That was too fierce! They should have professionally video tapped the musical but nobody would've guessed (at that time) at how big the home video market would become. Thanks for keeping the showdown right before And I'm Telling You, that was great!

[@LATINHANDS65]

They did. Like every Broadway show. At Lincoln Centre Library in NYC.

[@edzonhernandez6210]

Best Actress that my eyes have seen the lady jennifer holliday (amazing) nobody can make this character better than her

[@jonster00]

i love how the audienced clapped through all of the "love love me baby love love me child..." part hahaha

[@beaellie9766]

I saw the show several times (Broadway and the tour) -- I never heard the "love love me baby..." lyrics. It was the visual that mattered: seeing heavy-set Effie in her pink suit, sobbing/crying being wiped away by the three very thin, slick costumed women was shocking and heartbreaking while the audience screamed for "And I'm Telling You" but also being shocked to think that no matter what she said, she WAS going....and, as the act one curtain came down, she was GONE and seemingly easily replaced. It was SHATTERING to witness.

[@anatnominuk]

You're correct Jimmy says "a star is a slave". As in as a performer you are under the control of the studio,manager, etc.... The clearest recording of "It's All Over" is on the 2001 Dreamgirls In Concert CD. Billy Porter plays Jimmy and it's very clear that he says slave.

[@Nues0302]

Wow! No more words have to be said and theOriginalSupreme I couldn't hear Love Love me Baby as well She's just amazing

[@robertperez2262]

I LIVE! My favorite powerhouse ballad to perform in drag … nobody in my area does it because they can’t do it like I do ;-)

[@stanleycoleman]

too bad this was before i was born =(. i would've loved to have been able to see it live.

[@Phyre702]

singin from her damn gut. Amazing!

[@devinguerreri]

love. so much. my mother constantly reminds me she got to see jennifer in the original bway cast.... so freaking jealous lol.

[@datmixedkid2396]

amazing..

[@payingtoplay]

The description you wrote is sublime. I wish I was there.

[@beaellie9766]

Brilliant Act One finale....; now, let's give a shout out to the costume designer ("The pink elephant in the room" is a problem that everyone knows is there but no one wants to acknowledge. ... )

[@joyce101]

I would hope people would have learned from this. Prejudices are what's ruining every thing 😒 😑 😪 😕

[@lydiasdad]

Well, thank goodness that there is a tape of this somewhere and that it is being shared! I saw Jennifer as Effie in Dreamgirls (for the last time she says!!!!???) last summer in Atlanta. Truly, there is nothing that compares to hearing her sing this song IN CHARACTER as she really sings it differently than as a stand-alone song! She received 6 standing ovations before the song was even finished! What a blessing to see it in person!

[@MICHGO1]

MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE AN EXPERIENCE TO SEE THIS LIVE. KEPT PUTTING OFF BUYING TICKETS AND SAW HER REPLACEMENT WHO DIDN'T HAVE WHAT SHE HAD.

[@TheChiliFarmer]

i get to see her reprise her role as effie in atlanta in august! I cant wait!

[@TheOriginalSupreme]

Couldn't even hear "Love Love Me Baby", that's says it all.

[@cherylcyn]

Thank you so much for posting these amazing videos...I've been looking for footage for years. I never got to see the original cast and oh....how I wish I could have!

[@blecaire]

Thanks so much for sharing that!

[@mjtneary]

Thank you for posting....Amazing

[@Raphalou]

AMAZING!!!!!

[@steadpro]

OMG!!! This is such a Jem! Thanx 4 posting

[@devinguerreri]

flawless.

[@MuscleDaddyCMH]

Great to track this down again - thanks!

[@datmixedkid2396]

amazing and gave me chills!!

[@justntime330]

I can't thank you enough for uploading this. This is phenomenal. Thank you for allowing people who missed out on it witness the next best thing to a live performance. This is historic and it's phenomenal.

[@mymixedtape05]

absolutley agree!

[@JoelBrewton]

I wish I could give her more than 5 stars! There aren;t enough stars in the sky to match this song!

[@lf1234]

Post 'em all, baby. POST THEM ALL!!!!!!!

[@lf1234]

he says wake up baby, a star is a slave.

[@BTURNER1961]

That actor ( Ben Harney) stands like a statue, immobile and unflinching for the better part of 3 minutes while he is sung to, screamed at, spat at, clawed, caressed and petted, knowing that nobody will notice he even exists here while Holliday makes theater and youtube history in a once in a generation showstopping performance. And he does night after night after night. Well he won the 1981 Tony for lead actor in a musical and since then - well not much has happened. So go the vagaries of show business.

[@beaellie9766]

Mr. Harney had a successful career, including his Tony winning performance, then (I believe) left the entertainment industry and became a preacher. "...not much has happened..." --- I beg to differ.

[@BTURNER1961]

@@beaellie9766 List his stage and screen credits after this tony performance please

[@denisewalsh6586]

​@@beaellie9766ha! So that's the truth...about him. Thanks for the reality check

[@babydean100]

give it up man!!!

[@summerholliday44]

....Thanx,that's sweet ! ~ I got it all qued up, probably put it out tomorrow.

[@LUBELYAVILLANUEVA]

Omg!

[@jeffkoons001]

OMG YES THE SMITHSONIAN!!!!!

[@summerholliday44]

Breathe,honey.....breathe! (smile....)

[@DegrassiTop40]

Wow...I wish I had been alive back then...

[@DaTruEbonyRayne]

can you inbox the info about that? Like when, where and the dates and how much are the tickets?

[@darkkkonyx]

I wish someone would post some stuff of Fantasia in The Color Purple. PLEASE!

[@jenard20]

i know that now thankx

[@jenard20]

it sho is but on another dreamgirls vid, it was a school production, and i believe its still on here if you want to check it out, but they said wake up baby i'm sorry to slay

[@mirandastone9061]

My goodness

[@Central85]

it's the number after i am changing please where the three ladies are getting togetther for a photo shoot

[@jenard20]

hey do you have lorrells(loretta devine's) solo "Ain't no party" if you do it would mean a lot if you could post it

[@TemujinScott]

didn't know there were small video cameras back then! ..lol

[@summerholliday44]

picture ??

[@Central85]

can u plese post one more picture please

[@summerholliday44]

Your welcome......that's why i put it out. I know what the show(jennifer) did for me~

[@RobPer2011]

Hey it's DEE (Sheryl Lee Ralph) from Moesha, lookin' good as Deena... And Effie... my god... I'm a drag queen myself, and every chance I get I perform And I Am Telling You... It's my favorite! She's my favorite! Go Jennifer Holliday! :-)

[@TheMusicalsFan]

Do you have the whole show?

[@summerholliday44]

she said he sounded like Perry Como (a popular singer of that time, but known for his laidback/whitebread style.....)

[@holderba]

Loretta Devine's skinny ass!!!!! LMAO!!!

[@ActorGeorge94]

When was this recorded

[@bodboron00]

Jessica Sanchez brought us here.

[@LeimertDreamer]

No. She brought YOU here. JENNIFER HOLIDAY brought the rest of us here. Who even is Jessica Sanchez?

[@hsbthree]

I CAN DIE NOW.

[@jeffmontero3405]

Hey Summerholliday44 - I work on a musical documentary series and we are doing an episode featuring Jennifer and I was hoping to talk to you about this clip - is it possible to chat?

[@summerholliday44]

+Jeff Montero yeah sorry it took sooo long but hmu!

[@jenard20]

i'm sorry to slay

[@silenthillmaster755]

@iknowdasright yea i always thought the part at the end when the girls come out is really dumb...

[@jenard20]

okay now i kno it ain't that

[@clevm002]

If anyone gets rid of this video... Its like taking away a bit of history. I know its ilegal to video... however ... With out people videoing ilegaly you can lose some of the best historical moments of the stage. Such as this. If youtube takes this of.. they may as well be sinners!

[@TheChiliFarmer]

the show got cancelled recently :(

[@summerholliday44]

...true that....but why limit her to only black? in Ms. Holliday's case she truley is the queen of Broadway(blk/ wht/yellow/orange......)

[@heyitsablackguy9553]

Look like this was filmed on a pencil!

[@summerholliday44]

gimmie your address and ill see what i can do..............