Following the award-winning musical-turned-film Wicked, Cynthia Erivo’s “Replay” hits streaming services, and she stuns us once again.
We’ve heard Cynthia bring us various powerhouse ballads in the past- her vocal training is no small feat! The work that she’s put in is undeniable, and it shows. Her portrayal of Celie Harris in The Color Purple on Broadway awarded her a Tony, a Daytime Emmy, and a Grammy. Her role as Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet, where she lent her vocal talents to the song "Stand Up," was met with critical acclaim and several nominations and awards. Most recently, we have seen Erivo stun audiences to literal tears as she portrayed Elphaba Thropp in the film adaptation of Wicked.
We are looking at a woman who is one O away from being the youngest EGOT winner of all time!
The second the song starts, we’re treated to some beautiful vocals—an acapella background that lifts the first verse off the ground and supports the melody like a pillow of clouds through the piece. There’s something light and airy about the first few measures, and when Cynthia’s voice joins the mix, something shifts.
Throughout this musical journey, we’re treated to a story that many of us—perhaps most—can relate to: the idea of striving so hard that we lose ourselves somewhere inside the struggle.
“I'm the best overachiever there's not anyone like me
And you'd think that was a good thing 'til you're told that's not healthy
You spend every waking hour working hard to write your will
Patiently waiting for validation 'til you're empty and unfulfilled.”
What’s amazing about this song is how easily it draws the listener in. It’s soft and sweet, with echoing whistles and that continued acapella backing. The only non-vocal instruments we hear at any point are a deep, thrumming bass line with a sprinkling of drums and snapping fingers just for flavor.
At the close, we are left with goosebumps as Cynthia graces us with one single line, stripped of all accompanying audio–just her voice, gentle and crystal clear.
"And my mind is like a record setup on auto replay."
As someone with synesthesia, I would personally describe it as a soft lilac with the texture of the most delicate chiffon, and I can’t wait to see what other glimpses of the color spectrum she’s got in store for us. According to Erivo’s Instagram, we have more of these vulnerable pieces of her true artwork headed our way within the coming months.