After watching the movie "Dreamgirls", I got curious...

[Matsubara]

...and I found this on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czftJYMoRv4



Jennifer Hudson was excellent in the movie.

But this 1982 performance by Jennifer Holliday is breathtaking.

I'm not even really into musical theatre, but this made my hair stand on end and eyes water.

Enjoy.

[begin_within]

1. Jennifer Holliday is a GREAT singer - her name should be a household word

[Matsubara]

2. I've been pretty much an agnostic all my life...

...but brilliant singers like this honestly give me hope of a hereafter. That a human being could channel so much emotion and pain through the instrument of voice is a miracle.



The most amazing thing is - She was TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD at the time of this performance!

That must have been a LONG 22 years!

[begin_within]

3. I think some people are just born with passion and you either have it or you don't.

Jennfer Hudson is only 26 herself.

[LynneSin]

4. I found watching "Dreamgirls" the movie a waste of 2+ hours of my life

Although I did get a 15minute power nap in the middle of it.

I saw the original Dream Girls with Jennifer Holliday. I think Ms. Hudson is going to end up a 1-hit Oscar winner like so many Best Supporting Actresses before her. She has talent but I didn't necessarily think she was that talented of an actress. I would have voted for that girl in "Little Miss Sunshine"

[Matsubara]

7. Sorry you felt that way. I thought Hudson was wonderful.

It took some real courage to step into that role knowing how completely Holliday had owned it. And she pretty much held her own.

I won't say she quite equalled Holliday at her peak, but I liked her acting and her singing.

In fact I liked the whole movie and was even impressed by Eddie Murphy.

[TZ]

9. Really?

I loved the movie and was disappointed that it wasn't even nominated for Best Picture. For someone who has never done anything like this before her performance was outstanding. And since good musicals aren't often made into movies she probably won't win another Oscar but I could see her doing well on Broadway....

[LynneSin]

12. Broadway would be Jennifer's best bet

Don't get me wrong - I thought Hudson did a great job, but I just wasn't as impressed. If anything, I though Beyonce did a much better job starting as the naive girl and migrating into the superstar by the end. I was very suprised at how well she did.

[lost-in-nj]

5. Talk about Shock and Awe.....

That was fantastic...

WOW
yeah I teared up to....
ok maybe more than "tear up"

:hi:

thanks for that.....

I know there is a video flying around of the 2 Jennifer's singing together at the
BET awards....



lost

[Beaverhausen]

13. The two of them singing it TOGETHER!!! I got chills just reading that

ooh- gotta go find that!

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

6. Jennifer Holiday made that song HERS!!!

I love hearing "And I Am Telling You" in its entirty. Ms. Holiday makes you feel every emotion that she is experiencing as she pours her whole heart and soul into the song.

[snacker]

10. It gave me goosebumps listening to her sing that song. n/t

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

11. Depending on the state you are in

at the time you hear it, you could be in tears.

[bigwillq]

8. I think it was overrated

It was ok but not as good as I thought it would be. Miss Hudson was good enough but not as good as Miss Holliday. It's hard to compare the two but Holliday just knocked that song out of the park. Miss Hudson won an Oscar for singing and I don't agree with that. There were three performances, the two from Babel and Cate Blanchet that were far better than Hudson from the supporting actress category.