I'm Here - The Color Purple 

For every plain dark skinned black girl with short, nappy, super thick, coarse hair with full black African features who has been told, " you are not beautiful". I am one. Thank you

How did she do this every night my god

this could (easily) be one of the best vocal performances of all time

And that’s on healthy belting. Period.

We sat in the 3rd row center and she hurled that at us. I couldn't move. It was breathtaking.

Let's keep in mind that this song is at the very end of Act II. This performance comes after singing a whole show, essentially. Pure class and grace. Bravo!

Yikes almost forgot to watch this today.

I was one of the merchandise managers for this show and every time I worked the merch sellers, some of the ushers, and bartenders would all come upstairs and stand in the back of the house and watch her do that number. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!!!

Any Cynthia Erivo performance frustrates me because her tone is so consistent and she looks so relaxed. While singing with every ounce of emotion. Every performance is so natural. Teach me your ways.

The cheer from the audience when she says “I’m beautiful” absolutely melts my heart

This is single handedly my favorite solo performance of anything/anyone ever. Her voice is pure magic.

Can you believe this woman is Playing Elphaba for the Wicked film adaptation? She's gonna SLAY it.

I was here for this performance, and when I tell you the audience was shook I mean SHOOK. I grabbed the hand of the girl next to me and squeezed it - didn't even know her name. We were all there with Celie, and that walk at the end - get it mami!!!

I love the "I just did that" walk at the end

If someone complains about Cynthia being Elphaba in the movie Im gonna send this to them. This performance proves how great of an actress and singer Cynthia really is, just look at the emotions she puts in her performance❤️❤️❤️

When I saw her sing this live it changed my life forever. I was in complete shock... tears, chills, all of it. I will never forget that feeling!

even though I'm not black nor a woman, this song has helped me in my darkest times and her performances inspire me every time I see her

She is one of the best vocalists I've ever heard

It's that quiet, powerful, honest, "I'm beautiful" that really makes this song, really just carries so much emotion, so much of the tone and spirit of this song and this performance.

To be in that audience, would be remarkable. I hope they appreciated what they were witnessing live… Incredible

She squated for that note! Squat sis!

the power and control her voice has is all I want in life

her technical training is so beautiful, especially when she goes from singing in a high faint octave to changing her volume and tone in a matter of seconds with no crack in her voice or pitch problems.

I don’t need a studio version, I’m here everyday

im ugly crying so hard right now

Her voice was in really good shape here. Not that it ever isn't, but she sounds really clean and kills this one. The sing out is beautifully mixed.

Who's on here listening to every version of this song available on repeat after watching the new movie. Fantasia is on another level. Can't wait for Wicked.

I know nothing about this musical or what's going on why am I crying this is a first

"i'm beautiful" aaaaaannnnnnnndddd i'm sobbing

No matter how matter times I watch this, I will sob like a baby every time. Every. Time.

One of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen on Broadway. 8 years later it still gives me chills!

If you weren't appreciating her acting, you sure did when she delivered that beautifully pregnant pause before saying "I'm beautiful". Like, that's the character - years and years of depreciation and devaluing of self brought to an end.

"But most of all, I'm thankful for loving who I really am..." Those words always hit me. I am thankful for being the gay black man that I am.... Love this...

everyday on repeat.....

In the middle of this coronavirus pandemic, I find deep solace in this song and in this performance. THANK YOU. This, folks, is just one of the many reasons WHY WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THE ARTS.

I've literally lost count of how many times I've watched this

Still gives me goosebumps every time I see this performance.

I'm now totally convinced she's gonna be a great Elphaba

Who else is here because of the Wicked casting announcement and they didn't know much about Cynthia and this video has assured Elphaba is in good hands?

WHEN SHE GOES "SINNNGGGGGG OUT" AT THAT TOP NOTE YOU CAN TELL IT'S NOT FULL ON HEAD VOICE BELT AND IT JUST PROVES HOW AMAZING HER VOCAL RANGE IS. LIKE THE PARTS WHEN SHE ISN'T SINGING YOU CAN HEAR A PEN DROP AND HER VOICE ABSOLUTELY FILLS THE ENTIRE ROOM.

"I'm Here......and I'm Beautiful" !! This is a declaration of one's self esteem. You cannot announce this to the world and walk away with your head down. You must "strut" like you meant what you said !!Fabulously delivered Cynthia !!

Anyone else watched this approximately 1427 times? cried every time? 😫😫

This is my absolute favorite rendition of this song! Cynthia?!! WOW! I love her!!

Such a clear voice and I can understand every word. Exceptional vocalist. I saw the play when Fantasia DID this song.

when they clap at I'm beautiful they really don't know what's coming

4:11 when the lighting starts drastically turning more purple when she sings “lovin who I REALLY am...” wowww

Colleen was not kidding. Shook.

cynthia erivo, amber riley, and jessie j are the most underrated singers of our time and that’s a fact. THE EMOTION AND EFFORTLESSNESS IS INSANE.

This is seriously the BEST musical theatre performance I've ever seen, and that is definitely saying something.

Truly Amazing!!! To just be able to open your mouth and do THAT! She is a BLESSING ❤

Everyday, I'm listening to this song and each day I'm ugly crying. Who is with me?

[Celie] I don't need you to love me I don't need you to love I've got- I've got- I've got my sister, I can feel her now She may not be here, but she's still mine I know- I know she still love me Got my children, I can't hold them now They may not be here, but they still mine I hope They know I still love them Got my house, it still keep the cold out Got my chair when my body can't hold out Got my hands doing good like they s'posed to Showing my heart to the folks that I'm close to Got my eyes though they don't see as far now They see more 'bout how things really are now I'm gonna take a breath Gonna hold my head up Gonna put my shoulders back And look you straight in the eye I'm gonna flirt with somebody When they walk by I'm gonna sing out Sing out I believe I have inside of me Everything that I need to live a bountiful life And all the love alive in me I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree And I'm thankful for every day that I'm given Both the easy and hard ones I'm livin' But most of all, I'm thankful for Lovin' who I really am I'm beautiful Yes, I'm beautiful And I'm here

absolutely beautiful.

REACHING FAR ACROSS THESE NEW FRONTIERS

I’ve watched literally millions of performance videos, and seen hundreds of live shows, and this performance cuts through the screen and slaps you right in the face, shoots into your heart like an arrow, it’s like her eyes are looking directly at you. I cannot imagine how earthshaking this was to see live. How could you even breathe during this performance?! She is something truly not of this earth. Gobsmacked.

It’s the walk away after she’s done the performance. She knows she ate 🤩

I absolutely love how she transitions throughout this performance; from scared insecure to a fearless woman. oh!!! and that sing out part - knocks me out

Walking into that theatre just to see a “cheap seat” show and I walked out finding the album on iTunes because I NEEDED TO LISTEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. Cynthia BLEW US ALL AWAY. Everyone near me cried at least once and then everyone gave her a standing ovation after this performance (among others). I felt ashamed to have never heard of “The Color Purple” before then because it became in instant favorite upon first viewing. An absolutely incredible cast and an even more incredible story that everyone should hear once. I. Adore. Her. I can’t wait to see Harriet for Cynthia alone!

Her incredible voice + defying gravity = out of this world !!

I think she's one of the most magnificent singers ever. She has so much emotion and soul into this performance. She certainly has a great spirit, a goddess.

This one makes me sob every time.

Am I the only one who really wants that outfit to come into popular fashion??

Went back to this after George Floyd issue came up. Let us appreciate black people folks! They are beautiful, so as the others. Be kind to everyone.

I was super lucky to see this live. Her performance was so powerful you could have heard a pin drop. Even up in the balcony it was like you were next to her and she was talking to you. I was sobbing, totally unforgettable. Amazing performance and amazing story

"I'm beautiful" = instant tears

I can’t believe people say Fantasia’s version is better. Cynthia had the best version emotion wise, technique wise and just plain the way it sounds. I felt and actually UNDERSTOOD every word because she enunciated every letter. Her voice is crystal clear and beautiful in the way she executes this.

Now, please, imagine this brilliant woman playing Elphaba. I can't even wait.

No singer has ever touched me the way she has done 😯.

She's just a REVELATION. Oh, I am so proud of myself for investing in a ticket to experience this production before it closed! No words for my transformation.

She has one of the most amazing voices that I have ever heard. I can just feel it!

Im 21 and only recently started loving my brown skin. I didn’t grow up around my coloured family, just the white side so no one taught me that it’s beautiful. I’ve only ever heard that I was too dark to fit with the white people in and not dark enough to be with the coloured people. I’m not there yet but songs like these are so important for people who feel or have felt like that.

I am the 4.1 million views on this video. I will never stop.

Holy Jesus shitballs! The note on “im gonna siiiiing out”... hell, even Jennifer Hudson goes to head voice for it. Belting that is just.....fuuuuuuck

Do you have any idea of the lengths I would go to to have her voice. She is a miracle.

After almost 4 years of discovering this performance, I am still left in awe. My heart always feels it ALL.

Cried like a baby when I saw this live. Unbelievable.

She will be an extremely tough act to follow but I'm looking forward to seeing who plays this role on tour.

Please take me back to four years ago when I was working double time to pay to see this show for the second time because I was so MOVED after the first I saw it. Cynthia Erivo is unreal.

I come to this video more than I’m proud to say

She is out of her body during this. Perfection. 😍😭😍😭

She grabbed me threw the phone!! 🙌🏽 When she threw her shoulders back and walked off!!!! Yessss sistah!!

Not only is she an incredible actress! Shes also one of best singers ever! I would rank her amongst the great vocalist that came before her!

Thank you @collenballinger for showing me something I didn’t know I needed

Sis couldn't even believe she did that..her facial at the end said was that me..and the walk off...❤❤❤

I had the honor of seeing Cynthia in The Color Purple on broadway last March. Right as the song began, everyone was in tears!!

There will be no one like her

Her voice is everything 🔥🔥🔥

This woman is amazing, her voice just floats .

Almost forgot to watch this today

Has anyone else seen this maybe 500 times? I'm not joking. Like, I've listened to this more hours than I've slept this month

This will go down in history as one of the greatest musical theatre performances of all time. Not this evening specifically, but Cynthia Erivo telling Celie's story, night after night.

That strut at the end... she knew she just slay y'all wigs

I saw this show 7 times. EVERY performance this was one of the major Times Cynthia has each heart in the audience in the palm of her hand. At every performance she stopped the show with everyone of her songs. Three standing ovations. God, I miss this show. Her and Heather was magical.

i love how the entire audience is just mesmerized by her excellence

the best casting choice in history

i seriously can’t wait for the whole world to see her talent in wicked :’)

This woman’s voice touches my soul

the crying gasp at 2:45 is all of us gods damn I am drowning in a sea of emotion

I'm beautifu;l, yes I'm beautiful, I AM HERE!!!!!! ugh this song makes me cry every damn time!!!!

I got completely exhausted! I cried a river to this rendition.