Joaquina Kalukango - "Let It Burn" (75th Tony Awards Performance)

Joaquina Kalukango's full performance of "Let It Burn" (from "Paradise Square") during the 75th Tony Awards on June 12, 2022. Her final note is 18 seconds long, and the audience's reaction is truly incredible. She took home the award for Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical later that night. Icon.
All video credit goes to CBS.

[@ryebread9299]

Cynthia cheering her on is incredibly powerful.

[@nurse9thward]

Hearing her be like "yes, yes!" while she is holding the note. Amazing! Chills when Erivo stands up and is just telling her "You did that" I love the love!

[@chattanoogastatehealthscie6668]

She said you did that!

[@JudiRadin]

i believe she said you smoked that

[@yourmidnights13]

just when you think she’s barely holding onto that note, she comes through with that power. good god.

[@charlesbeloved7951]

What note? 😆

[@droge410]

As my Mother would say Good God in Heaven phew 😮‍💨

[@beaellie9766]

@@charlesbeloved7951 there are several to choose from.

[@charlesbeloved7951]

@@beaellie9766 She's great but this performance is mediocre at best

[@x.vinniestxr]

@@charlesbeloved7951 bruh

[@bsusak09]

This is what Broadway is missing now. Everyone is having their actors sing as high as they can and have all these crazy vocals but forget that the most moving thing is watching someone going through an existentially emotional moment.

[@OsheyBaddest]

Yessss

[@girlpopfan12]

yessss

[@PimpMyRide01]

Waving Through a Window was perfect because of that

[@msladyday99]

People cant belt out notes like this every night. Sometimes twice a day. Their vocal cords will literally pop.

[@queenfarfar]

Ppl singing and i am telling u do exactly this they sing it perfectly but when u watch jennifer holdidays version u see her breaking down and thats what makes it so beautiful

[@Disturbednum1fan]

Hearing Cynthia in the croud, cheering for her, knowing exactly the mental, physical, and emotional tool a role like this requires.. let alone a 18 second belted final note - with vibrato

[@v-ickydoesart]

She felt that, she really did feel that. That wasn’t lack of talent or skill, that was raw emotion

[@Melissa-tw2gp]

I think nine times out of ten, trained singers like this become “pitchy” on purpose. That’s the beauty of acting and singing coming together. You can’t just be technically perfect, you have to portray a human being experiencing emotion.

[@jdd6958]

You are absolutely correct!

[@neojazzgospel]

Nailed it!! 🔨

[@tferg73]

I keep coming back to this performance. It fills me with such pride. As a black artist seeing another black artist command that stage. To see that crowd spring to their feet with adulation gives me the feels every time. What a powerful, raw, and relevant piece of theatre. Joaquina deserved that Tony.

[@phil3783]

Emotion😢

[@JudiRadin]

i play it everyday. her performance is brilliant

[@ImQuiteGay]

“we were safer separated, but love left us no choice.” wow that’s profound.

[@vkali9245]

this.

[@dannysimion]

Holy moly she was in character deep in this performance. Gah, those tears and the passion and the release of notes one after another until we reach that finale - the notes just kept on blazing. Reminds me of Idina's Defying Gravity. Oh what a a special performance this was from Joaquina! Worthy of her deserving win here at the Tony Awards. You better stand and applaud and ovate this woman. Now I wanna watch the play.

[@LoveOnTheInsidex3]

I think it’s closing or already closed.

[@Chloe_Medical_Dictionary]

it was closed the producer wasn’t making paying the actors and the venue they were holding at

[@notyanorm11]

⁠@@Chloe_Medical_DictionaryI often wonder if the producer ever realized the true gravity of the error of his choices making him aware that he should feel rather foolish for not believing that he had a genuine proverbial goldmine of artistic value in the realm of the performing arts. Broadway was truly robbed of the absolutely remarkable experience that was Paradise Square by the selfish actions of the producer, no doubt about it. I wish I could have had the opportunity to experience this in person, sadly when I was introduced, it had already closed 😢

[@ImQuiteGay]

I think the pitchiness adds to the genuine “natural” feel.

[@dadrienedavis]

That’s what I said! Plus, she’s sang this song a million times and was not pitchy. There’s no telling what could be affecting her voice right now, she may have been under the weather or something. Either way she sang DOWN 👏🏾👏🏾💯

[@notyanorm11]

@@dadrienedavisok, I’m elated that someone said it. The role seems substantially taxing in ways that only musical theater performers can truly understand. And to on top of enduring the overall demands needed to deliver this character, to then have to command such a powerful song in an equally powerful manner is an iconic level of skill that is often overlooked. Respect

[@tyraedmonson9677]

Correct !

[@JayAaron]

She embodied ALL the emotions it took to deliver this song…it translated so well.

[@PinUpGurl]

the way that Cynthia hopped up to applaud her gave me chills to think that she would be the first to cheer you Joaquina truly is a force of nature

[@JudiRadin]

they are best friends

[@justice4all4561]

She held that note and pulled a new one out with the same note. That is pure talent.

[@Soulstonelifelived]

that slow clap with a sly but genuinely proud look on that womans face along with Cynthias "YES! YES!" in the back thats a core memory.

[@JerkyPuck]

This will go down in history as one of the most powerful Tony performances ever.

[@charliedickerson4810]

You can tell, she had something to prove to many people in that audience. This touched her spirit as well as others.

[@rainlandproductions7212]

As someone who has Chromosthesia - I can see sound - this is the most painfully beautiful performance I have ever witnessed. It is so powerful that I actually couldn't see properly the first time I watched it. This is now the 50th time I have watched it and the more I do so the more I realize that this performance can change the world. I wish this could be performed in Congress - it will change the way we experience division and hatred. A voice and a performance that could unite the world.

[@kevinwebb5504]

I'm not a critic, I loved her "pitchy" sound... Do you know how it feels to know you were nominated for an award to sing in front of your peers? And knowing that the show you performed in was closed due to mismanagement of money... Now listen to her again, and see who she's talking to at this moment... Feel her passion and why it means so much to her. And why her peers cheered the way they did. I don't think any of us on this side of the stage should criticize her performance... She won the award... We're listening to her! WELL DONE Ms. Kalukango... Well Done.

[@bagelbenji]

omg that final breath on that note hit me RIGHT in the soul. made me tear up wow the desperation so powerful @2:25

[@vocaleditz9483]

The pitch??

[@Hylianjjong]

Her absolute raw emotion almost taking the note from her but then becoming her greatest strength gets me right in the god Damn feelings

[@heathers5459]

My coworker just introduced me to this song/show - OMG - life changing!!

[@waynephillips5013]

Mere human beings aren't supposed to be able to hold a belt that long with that much raw depth. She is SUPERHUMAN. I can't watch this enough times. This was historic.

[@maewest4192]

Don’t know what she wants to burn; however, her vocals are on 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@blackmaledesigner]

This is powerful. If you don’t think so watch it again. 2:10 The lord blessed her lungs. I’m sure she hit notes that make others shit.

[@gideonlyons3697]

unpopular opiion: a pitchy performance. Very powerful but not accurate singing. I know she can do better.

[@blackmaledesigner]

@@gideonlyons3697 Well!

[@beaellie9766]

....and she hits notes that sound like shit. Listen with your ears.

[@charliedickerson4810]

@@gideonlyons3697 We all know when it comes to performing you can't always be 100% even Whitney Houston has made some pitchy sounds here or there. Especially when passion is behind the song. Who's caring about the note. In Broadway you're always going to have pitchiness it's not about the note but the message.

[@singerdude1992]

@@gideonlyons3697 She's singing at the Emmys while crying as a character. Nerves were there and she was emotional. Hell, crying stimulates a snot reflex and causes your throat to close up.

[@lukeemhanton2591]

❤‍🔥I didn’t know that vocal talent like this existed anymore. Today is the day I begin to support her work.

[@Melensko]

she's off key

[@morriii.]

@@Melensko that doesn’t take away just how powerful this performance is.

[@aaronnewman19]

@@Melenskono she’s not… there were pitchy moments but not due to a lack of vocal ability

[@zakbowles342]

Watch gospel singers. They do this every week 😂

[@Rebbitusin]

He version is sooooo freaking powerful and emotional. 🥹

[@kjag23]

I remember getting up and having to shake out the chills I got when I saw this on Broadway. She did that 8 times a week yall. So sad how this show ended literally only weeks after this performance.

[@Sdot87]

My spirit jumped out & came back in! My God

[@jojoco6737]

Lol I love this comment

[@hsgjkhagljkh]

imperfection expresses the heart better than perfection. She's INCREDIBLE

[@MrJpanese]

Without even watching the musical, in 3 mintues I can feel her journey and her pain. Such a stellar song AND performance.

[@kimareds3083]

Wow. That power and delivery!! The spirit of determination and endurance are soo tangible here. She understood the assignment and ACED IT. Hats off ma'am. My God

[@keithstew3810]

I can watch this over and over again and it never gets old!!! The best live performance I've seen in years!!! Absolutely breathtaking and stunning!!!!! BRAVO!!

[@itswayneorshine]

Life can be a little "pitchy" sometimes. And she sand her heart out about it. It's the power, and the emotion, and the realness for me. I FELT that.10/10 period.

[@aj9268]

Nah this had me bawling. The imperfections just made this so beautiful 😭

[@MjYosh]

The last note 😭😭😭 my tears were flowing

[@Melensko]

The last note was off key.

[@davidbarnes1113]

I saw this musical in June and I’m still having chills from her performance of that amazing song.

[@alicewatson5978]

The point of live performance is it isn't perfect, it isn't tonally corrected, it is raw, it is emotion. it is fucking GOOSEBUMPS!

[@Thewillyan22]

Watching her live on Broadway was an unique experience! ✨

[@tylerpattenden4593]

That line "We were safer separated but love left us no choice" moves me every time. Its about interracial relationships during the civil war and this character is with an Irish man

[@petermessick8828]

There is so much power and passion. The single tear gets me every time I watch it. She deserved that Tony 100%

[@samsunguser3438]

MAJESTIC EMOTING! 👁 popping breath control and the RANGE of her VOICE effectively channeled that Battle cry from the depths of her soul!!!! STANDING OVATION ONLY!!!!

[@damarisalaman]

I literally bawled tears with her watching this performance..not JUST because of her vocals, but also because of what the song/musical meant & stood for, & how it resonates to our story. SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!!! THEN SHE TURNED AROUND & WON THE TONY!!!! And to ALL those with the negative comments about her pitch or her being “off key”, just stop & realize these few things: 1. You CLEARLY don’t know the difficulty in trying to sing while fighting tears 2. She’s in room filled with LITERALLY hundreds of the top broadway performers/LEGENDS & they themselves were left in awe 3. Babes, you 9.5 times out of 10 could NEVER😊

[@Nishamarie1994]

It’s the “yes” at the end from Cynthia Erivo! Yes ma’am you killed this!!! ❤

[@huckleberrymktg]

Holy crikey! Made me cry right along, and hard. I can’t love this enough!🎉

[@nikies1611]

I saw this song live in Chicago and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I still get chills thinking about it!!!

[@ketishadale3433]

The power... The skill... The control... WOW!!!

[@davidwoods659]

I’ve watched this video, perhaps, hundreds of times. And no matter how many times I’ve watched it, I have to watch it again, and again, again , and… Well, you get the point 😆.

[@shawnmulligan2894]

When you have moved Bernadette Peters to tears, you KNOW you're doing something really, really right. I remember seeing this when it was first broadcast and being absolutely staggered at how amazing this performance was.

[@niastaxx9878]

I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING THIS CLIP. IT TRANCENDS !!!!

[@Pandemonioxo]

She was so incredible in jelly’s last jam her voice is just a soaring bird and deep as the oceans ❤

[@jessehohm5835]

This is one of the greatest musical theater performances of all time!!!

[@beaellie9766]

No, it's not. It's a mediocre song and the Tony performance was not her best.

[@elloecan]

@@beaellie9766 this one is so raw, so full of emotion, and powerful. This is definitely one of the best Tony performances in recent memory and really does demonstrate why she deserved that Tony she won. Especially now that we know about all the shit that the cast and crew had to deal with while working for Drabinsky, this performance is a testament to the endurance of the cast and crew. You can see the tears in her eyes and anguish in her voice. This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime performance regardless of your thoughts on the show.

[@beaellie9766]

@@elloecan the offstage drama is not factored into the onstage performance. She has performed this better, elsewhere and during performance. Her Tony performance was not her best.

[@Melensko]

she's literally off key

[@beaellie9766]

@@Melensko THANK YOU!

[@waynewayne5550]

When someone can take a subpar song from an erratic, at times dismal, musical and still make your jaw drop from the power of conviction, that is the mastery of a great performance.

[@davidwoods659]

The power of her voice, and raw emotion. There are no words suitable enough to describe her.

[@halleybejobee]

I never cried like ugly in a long time 😢 Prolly one of the best theatrical performances available on YT right now! Hope this doesn’t get taken down for a while, i feel unworthy seeing legendary performances like this, if this is priced i sure couldn’t afford it. Thanks for sharing! Brb , maybe a couple thousands times more 😮

[@dustinhutcheson3632]

I watch this a million times and every time I get chills and tears well up as though it was the first time - my god this woman is powerful!

[@anndreastembridge367]

So much meaning and power behind that performance. Breathtaking and captivating personal and political commentary. Well done.❤

[@Melensko]

she's off key

[@3HenKiss]

The more i watch this performance the more i feel that every moment is intentional, and it is beautiful and alarming and incredible.

[@christianroldan-johnson3281]

Ok. Someone needs to explain to me how huge her lungs are. I mean. It’s not just the raw emotion but also the technique. She is a STAR!!!

[@dr.100purrscent5]

SHE SANG WHAT SHE SANG!!!! ✊🏾💗🔥

[@juliandstewart5660]

This is powerful one of the best performances I have seen

[@tiffanimurphy24]

I hope all the actors and everyone involved with this show receive their settlement from the show. I am waiting for that Broadway Cast Recording. Now my two cents: I had no context of the show when I watched the Tony Awards, but this performance was beyond powerful that I was crying at the end. Pure, raw emotion. Was Joaquina pitchy, yes, but here’s the thing. This is the show stopping 11’clock number in Act 2. By this time, she would have sung for at least 2 hours, her voice would have been warmed up, and she would have told a story up until this number, so the audience would have known the backstory leading to this moment. Instead, Paradise Square did not perform their medley until the end of the Tonys. Joaquina had been sitting in the audience for maybe 2 hours or so before she had to perform. No chance to really warm up her voice. Just “ready, go time.” And she gave one hell of a Tony winning performance. So unless you can do better on the fly, be my guest. Only positive comments! Joaquina is a phenomenal storyteller and performer! Flawless!

[@stage4aintgotshitonme]

I genuinely came in thinking "Meh, it's okay." like some naive, ignorant, fool, but THAT ENDING!!!!! It gave me the lightning- that moment when the spark of God rushes through your entire nervous system and let's you know you're a piece of something so much greater than any one, and you just glimpsed a microcosm of some grand design. Like being caught beneath an aurora, having an epiphany, or witnessing a miracle. All of that occurred in this note, in those features, and in those eyes. 😍

[@beaellie9766]

Your ears must have stopped working because "THAT ENDING" is frighteningly off-pitch....loud, sure, but not a consistent note.

[@stage4aintgotshitonme]

@@beaellie9766 I never said it was perfect, I said it gave me the lightning. People can- at times- express the most soul through the most imperfect things.

[@beaellie9766]

@@sorchamccarrey I respectfully disagree.

[@LightTruthLove]

You should write creative work. That was a nicely articulated paragraph.

[@stage4aintgotshitonme]

@@LightTruthLove Thank you very much. I can only continue learning and growing, as we all do, to hopefully apply it to an unwritten manuscript or creative Logos, some day.

[@chelseataylor5244]

I wanna be able to sing while crying and eat a performance up like this. I’ll take just a tiny piece of this talent.

[@MADHAUSMARKALLAN]

I missed the Tony's in 2022... I'm blown the f*ck away.

[@williammitchell1804]

Power, skill, talent, and beauty.

[@jean-baptistebarbier-arrib18]

Oh my F..... GOD!!!!!!! I am breathless just listenning to her!!

[@ladze77]

she was definately possessed by the ancestors, i have got chills. ''we were safe seperated'' that got me

[@jpdelacruz8030]

Just wow!

[@Pam_Livinlife]

I cry EVERY TIME I see this performance, talk about getting into your soul..

[@BitchyonceKnowles]

CYNTHIA!!!!!!!!!!! FELT. THAT.

[@keithstew3810]

The talent it takes to be live on stage in front of am audience and be able to captivate everyone through your emotions and beautiful singing to tell a story well you got that spot on!!! You had the audience and myself hanging on every note and expression!!!! Hat's off to you and job well done!

[@DarlingNikki1984529]

Good lord! Teared up! So spectacular

[@allstars4712]

Stunning performance...!!! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@pwthepoet]

Oh my goodness !!! WOW! Outstanding! Gifted not with a voice to speak but kissed with His love a voice to sing🙏🏼

[@fiveart3070]

Simply stunning. Well done girl!

[@Yeahisaiddatshit]

OUTSTANDING!!!!

[@Amanda-Mariee]

How many times have I watched this? Yesssss

[@tierrasworld]

Almost went into tears

[@calllialea]

Damn! Made me tear up

[@heathers5459]

Yep!!!!

[@stephenholmes5362]

What a great, talented and beautiful human being!! God Bless.

[@nathanaelparker430]

One of the best things I’ve ever seen ❤️

[@mikemaser9974]

Oh my God, what a mega talent. Absolutely beautiful & powerful.

[@mspinkytee]

It does not matter much about the pitch in other parts of the song. Those last notes are amazing. It made it all worth it!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!

[@jettyfierce]

THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF EXCELLENCE ✨

[@Melensko]

Yeah. Being off key is amazing.

[@celestemunda7143]

@@Melensko being an actor over a pitch perfect machine is amazing

[@macrent2]

@@Melensko It's not supposed to be "pitch perfect", it's her realizing the downfall of everything that she believed in, built, and the realism that it will be lost, and her own internal agony. This song is not supposed to be pretty.

[@seancollins413]

@@Melensko it adds to the raw emotion of the song

[@mattstevenssbigbearjukebox2066]

CHILLS

[@DiorStarTv]

Wowwwww!! Truly a masterpiece 😊❤

[@naori.1383]

A lot of people in broadway are missing emotion these days, she sounds amazing, but also SO POWERFUL, especially with the message behind this omg

[@mary-ellenbucko4322]

Unforgettable.

[@danielluke433]

I think this is actually the best Tony performance of all time …. No kidding. So moving.

[@charlesbeloved7951]

LOL LOL hilarious

[@beaellie9766]

If that's what you think, then you need to experience a lot of other Tony performances.

[@danielpipersburgh1740]

I agree

[@guzkus1]

@@beaellie9766 What do you think the best is?

[@beaellie9766]

@@guzkus1 Tony Award performances: take a look at Grand Hotel, Dreamgirls, Ragtime....many others that are beautifully performed AND on pitch.

[@mariaukenanda]

I cried with her. Magnificent, magnetic woman and performance.

[@antb419]

Yassss MA’AM!! That last note!😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jennycadot3635]

WOW! Powerful! True and deep talents! 🤩

[@BenirCSG]

Let it burn! Just beautiful!

[@velinabrown2708]

Wow. Just…Wow.

[@Clips172]

HOLY sh---t THAT was powerful!

[@jazminebryant9707]

Why she got me crying!🥺

[@madeiamardonnic6610]

Singing and crying.... I can't talk when I cry. Amazing!

[@CatB1PYT]

Sistah With A Voice!💪🏾🙌🏾🎤⭐️

[@paulovsdasilva]

GOOSEBUMPS

[@juliangines6764]

Man….i love when Broadway singers make these notes seem effortless, but the amount of training she has to do…power. Also…random Bor’dor appearance.

[@fancii]

Someone just walking an honorary Tony out to her for this performance would have been highly appropriate and well deserved.