Jennifer Hudson’s “And I Am Telling You” Performance At The Oscars: Review Revue
Jennifer Hudson returned to the Academy Awards stage last night (February 24) to perform “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” the Dreamgirls song that helped her make the leap from former American Idol contestant to powerhouse diva.
The final note wasn’t even out of Hudson’s mouth before all the butts were out of the seats for her standing ovation. But this was no case of Hollywood blindly celebrating itself, this was a stirring performance worthy of the adulation. We stood firmly in the “it was a revelation” category, saying that “just when we thought we’d seen enough divas belt out this Moment-inducing standard, J-Hud went and made us feel like it was our first time hearing the song.” Let’s see how the rest of the web (including Rihanna and Oprah) reacted.
:: Us Weekly pointed that Hudson has made a habit out of bringing down the house at awards shows, and called the song’s finish “jaw-dropping.”
:: HitFix said Hudson’s spectacle was a reminder “that a movie doesn’t necessarily have to be good in order to yield some timeless performances.”
:: E! felt “it was just as flawless as the first time around,” before wondering, “Can we give her another Oscar? Just ’cause?”
:: Oprah was impressed, too:
.@iamjhud and I am telling you.. You killed on that song. # Oscars2013
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 25, 2013
:: Entertainmentwise called it a “triumphant return,” saying Hudson “amazed” the crowd with her “powerhouse vocals.”
:: CBS News echoed that sentiment, arguing that she “commanded the stage” for a “major standing ovation.”
:: Huffington Post posited it was “one of the most memorable moments of the night,” and to be fair there weren’t too many memorable moments. But still, we’re picking up what they’re putting down.
:: VH1 gushed that Hudson “took it to church,” noting that she “hit each note perfectly” and adding, “it’s safe to say that J. Hud owns this song.”
:: As for Rihanna, she thought J-Hud took it one step beyond church:
— Rihanna (@rihanna) February 25, 2013
Did J-Hud have you seeing God? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.
