The original is unbeatable, JHoliday brings so much emotion to that song. Amber and JHud are wonderful too!! Tituss, Von and Johnny were Amazing, it's hard to sing that song and they slay

For the whole song, it is now and always will be Jennifer Holliday. But for the climax I thought Amber, Jennifer and Cynthia killed it. I also thought Von's version was super fun.

Melanie Amaro, never heard of her. But she slayed.

Amber just destroys everyone with her version of this song. I mean, holy hell, she makes it look effortless even though is sounds next to impossible, that's insane

NOBODY BE ACKNOWLEDGING MARISHA SHE SLAYED

Of course Jennifer Holiday, but close second is Amber Riley. Then Titus...he did amazing!

Top 5 (in no particular order): Jennifer Holiday, Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo, Amber Riley, and Melanie Amaro!

Some of these were being so extra 😂😂

1st: Jennifer Holiday (She owns the rights to those notes) 2nd: Jennifer Hudson (She owns her version and still collects royalty checks) 3rd: Cynthia Erivo (Very Great rendition; no more, no less)

Amber Riley and Jennifer Hudson give me goose bumps every time

the guy who goes " y e s " when Nicole is singing is me in every situation.

I still remember the first time I listened Tituss singing: it was this song and it was such a breathtaking moment

5:11 HIT IT, GIRL

This song should end at the top of a singer’s rage. I like seeing a singer work for the notes, not riffing past them (in this instance). It’s an old Gospel music trick to put everything in a slightly too high key.

Jennifer Holiday: How to win the Tony 101 Jessica: Little lacking on the last belt but not bad. Lillias: The added swing in there is a nice touch before the final belt. Titus: Honey don't sit down to do it. Marisha: The belt and the emotion just wow. Regine: Little weak on the belt. Jake: Good at such a young age. Von: Of key but for his range not bad. Nicole: Good at that hold out. Malanie: Amateur but not bad at all. Sarah: A bit too soft for this song. Bianca: Wow she's belting at a young age like that. Alex: INcredible hold out but off-key. Cynthia: The holdout just wow. Johnny: Not bad for out of his range. Sarah Ikuman: Got the gold buzzer for a reason I can see her in a west end production if she keeps this up. Amber: THe powerful belting just makes it. Jennifer Hudson: How to win the oscar 101.

Von Smith, whoever you are...That was hilariously awesome but based on these performances: 1)Jennifer 2)Melanie 3)Amber There's just no comparing the original but there's a lady from Xfactor slaying this with Nicole (can't spell her name) From the Pussycat dolls. 😂

Amber Riley then Melanie Amaro, my favorite x factor winner

My choices haven't changed from the OTHER "Who Did It Better?" DREAMGIRLS video, except for one addition: MARISHA WALLACE. I have no idea who she is, but I sure as hell need to know more!

wish they had Roz Ryan doing this. She played Effie longer than anyone. She was big voiced and her last riff was 1 1/2 to 2 minutes every night. You never heard the Dreams at all when they come out to close the First Act, she was so loud and the audience did not stop till curtain came down.

1. Jennifer Holiday 2. Melanie Amaro 3. Amber Riley

Again, Holliday, Hudson, and Riley.

Why y’all sleeping on Marisha

Amber and the Jennies!!!!!!!

Jennifer Hudson, Johnny Manuel, and Amber are my favs

Mister Golightly I want to say thank you for not “dead naming” Jake Zyrus. I’m really proud of his transition and even though I fell in love with the music of who they were before they transitioned I will always have a huge respect for him.

White and 95 pounds. Ain't gonna even TRY this song! 😂😂😂😂😂

My top three! 1. Jennifer Holiday 2. Marisha Wallace 3. Melanie Amaro

I will always love the Jennifers and Cynthia's version of this, but I will always respect Sarah Ikumu considering she was 15 when that was recorded Also that Melanie girl..she was just brilliant!

Let’s talk about Marisha???? Absolutely killed it!!!

Von Smith was just playing and being extra as hell, but he was KILLING it at the same time 😂 he’s probably the best man to cover it!

JENNIFER HOLIDAY is the only one that can truly pull off this song she has the most heart

anyone who stands there just belting and looking pretty is doing a disservice to this song, the only one who to this day moves me with her interpretation and truly convinces me that she's lost EVERYTHING And refuses to admit it it's JENNIFER HOLIDAY, jennifer hudson was the 2nd best..her interpretation won her an oscar after all..and bianca ryan still gives me goosebumps to this day for the same reason, the rest are..meaningless, they are singing without meaning and true passion.

marisha wallace, ma’am I’d like my wig back pls

Yeah. This song is SO about the emotion brought and less about the notes. What a hard song to perform! Maryah brought me here! So glad to have found your channel!!! WHO IS THIS MELANIE GIRL!? SHE SMASHED!!!!!

Amber Riley, Jennifer Hudson and Holliday are my favorite

If that's not sung in the original version, it doesn't sound right

Holy moly that child on the show was amazing

There’s no beating Jennifer Holliday!

I sang this at the school I went to before U.A. for the talent show, and they loved... MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

CYNTHIA ERIVO JUST AMAZES ME EVEVYTIME

Cynthia Erivo’s voice was just😍😍😍

It takes young lungs, God gifted talent, passion and a willingness to be absorbed by your character by relating to it in a deep way. Otherwise "refund please!"

Marisha Wallace is the best right after Jennifer Holiday MW. Has the emotion, the power, and musical theatre technique to sing that song in the right way. Amazing!

1:15 me trying to sing

Holiday is and will forever be the queen and the blue print!

Oh, wait a MINUTE, honey! Miss Melanie Amaro brought that TRUE soul!!! Good job, Mami!!!

Melanie Amaro if you don't know her look her up one of the best voices of the past 20 years

Ok, I'm giving this to Tituss Burgess, only cause he drew out the love cause he was telling so

I feel like Marsha is probably the closest we have to Holiday from what I’ve seen

6:38 its brad the piano player lol

Jennifer Holiday. Jessica Sanchez. Tituss Burgess. Jennifer Hudson. Amber Riley. Whitney Houston. Von Smith. Lillian White.

Okay so I would die for every person on this list

Princess, I haven't watched those shows over the last few years. Gonna look for the video!!!!! 😃

JHud slaysssss

Omigod, AMBER!!!!

I know I'm hella late lmao but Holliday makes me feel genuinely moved. Is she the best in technique? No. But I feel the pain of the song. Technique doesn't make people feel the song as much as emotion imo

I love this!!!! Jennifer Hudson is the one I know best, so she wins.

Jennifers are my top but after them it's sarah ikumu,melanie amaro and amber. The others was forcing it because it was not natural for them.

Hudson,holiday,riley,amaro,newell and von smith just cos

My Vocal Chords Hurt After Watching... 😬

Alex Newell's first "love" could work as a fire alarm

I can FEEL Jennifer holiday reaching out for ANYTHING! I FEEL SO MUCH OF HER DESPERATION ITS NOT REAL

What's that old saying, "there's nothing like the original". Sorry ladies and gents this is and ALWAYS will be Jennifer Holiday's song. So everyone else just take a back seat sit, watch and be AMAZED!!!

Von Smith is EVERYTHING!

Thank You for your hard-work and dedication.

Melanie Amaro HOLY SHIT

Holliday. She did that luve. MAGIC!

Jennifer Hudson is so good!!!

Cynthia Erivo is unbelievable

Okay, now I wanna see a copy of the sheet music because 50%+ of these singers seem like they wouldn't know what to do with the song if it weren't for Holliday. That aside, NONE of these singers seemed to have the life experience and the pain required to sing it (except Jennifer) and most of them seemed to be like, "Hey, look at me. I can WAIL these notes." Holliday rules and always will.

Only the two Jennifer can only give a justice for this song.

@ Miss Lilias White and many others: Oh no baby what is you doin'?

nobody: me during this video: *chills*

What were some of these people doing... im crying😂😂😭

Amber Riley. Fight me

My favorites of the climax are Amber, J. Holliday, J. Hudson, Melanie, and the beautifully underrated Regine Velasquez.

Having never seen the play...Ikumu hands down but of the first group this chord done by Amber Riley was altogether accurately best. Every word must be understood and then emotionally appreciated!

3:16 isn't that Charice??

It's not so much about just the climax of the song, it's everything that leads up to it. Can't really just judge it on the climax, especially a song as challenging as this one.

I’d like to take a moment to appreciate Regine Velasquez for a moment. Singing was great but I want that outfit so much, she looks *stunning* in it.

Amber Amber Amber AMBER!!!!

Lillias White, such a beautiful voice and an amazing performance.👍🌹💜🦋

Jennifer Holliday, duh❤️

Queen Lillias and Amber snatched my WIG

the first one had me dead😂😂😂😂😂

Wow three people from glee😂

I can't believe I'm actually about to watch this one but, go ahead, try to convince me that someone might have done it better than Holliday. I'll write a follow-up if you do.

I think Jennifer Holiday of course, Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley and Sarah Ikumu

HIT IT GIRL

Johnny killed it to and it was hard

1:15 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

3:10 jake zyrus is charice's name after he started transitioning

Jennifer Holiday is amazing tho!!!!!

This wasnt j-hud’s best or amber’s best but they still did well. I loved Cynthia’s performance

Melanie Amaro Killed this!!!!

This is more so the ending than the climax

Every person that started with J slayed

Jennifer Holiday and Marisha Wallace

Sarah Ikumu

As others have said it's not the best version of Jennifer Holliday. I'm sure that most viewing this are familiar with the J.Hud version and the Dream girls film and imagine the rest are covers but she was still in nappies (diapers) when Holliday 1st sang it, so it's in their subconscious that J.Hud is the real version. There's no right or wrong it's all subjective to what our ears like. For me nothing even comes close to the Holliday version. The only version of the song I like better though is by the Empress Gladys as it's her own version and not trying to emulate Holliday's version. You could compare Gladys's version with Whitney's but Whitney can't hold a candle to Gladys in my opinion. I'd have liked to have heard an attempt by Aretha but I guess she knew her limits, smart move. I do like Whitney's voice but not her records, she was born in the wrong era, I'd loved her to have been around in the early 60s mixing it with the other Motown ladies, when real song writers were still around.