Since this is a hip hop music publication, I’m not sure how many people reading this actually watch television’s weekly salute to Broadway, otherwise known as Fox’s Glee. If you aren’t a fan then you are missing out on an awesome show with great performances including Amber Riley on their recent Valentine’s Day episode. The resident diva tore up Whitney Houston’s cover of “I Will Always Love You”, matching the late Houston’s rendition note for note.
Some have been fawning over Jennifer Hudson’s “subdued” performance during the Grammy Awards, but I think many people wanted to hear someone bring down the house like Houston used to do. Riley did just that…on Glee…Tuesday night…AFTER the Grammy’s.
http://youtu.be/_kZO6smypHw
Fan’s lit Twitter up praising her performance saying:
“Anyone watching Glee? If so, can we agree that Amber Riley just nailed Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”?, tweeted one fan.
“Amber Riley’s rendition of I will always love you is the best cover I’ve ever heard from glee,” posted another.
The Glee Team had written and planned Riley’s inspired cover long before Houston’s death, but the producers dedicated the episode with a credit at the end reading, “Whitney Houston 1963-2012. We will always love you.”
Riley never made American Idol, which just goes to show how truly clueless that show is, but has since landed squarely on her feet. She is a phenomenal vocalist and pretty good actress too, with her character “Mercedes Jones” frequently stealing scenes right out from under her co-stars. Dare I say it? Riley may even have more clarity and vocal control than Jennifer Hudson. Clive Davis may need to reconsider who he makes his next ingénue.
Enjoy and tell us what you think!
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Riley is not a better singer than jennifer hudson, nor was her performance better. Jennifer’s was a tribute, therefore I felt her pain when she sang, felt the emotional comnecion she had to whitney and the song. Riley’s was a cover , and has had the chance to be edited. What you got from jennifer was raw emotion, she was singing to and for whitney, not you or anyone else. Get real.