I did not watch the Oscars a couple weeks back. Which means I missed hearing the incomparable Cynthia Erivo b.1987_38ya, transform a, sorry to say it, mediocre song into what might be the greatest performance in the 97 hear history of that event. Clearly, I haven’t seen them all but it is hard for me to imagine anyone matching the mastery on display in that moment.

Ariana Grande does a wonderful job on Over the Rainbow, despite the modern popular singer trend of sliding all over a note like it’s not quite good enough without embellishment.

Enjoy it here: