1996 Atlanta Opening Ceremonies - Jessye Norman - Finale

[allthingsOlympic]

i think this was the worst part of a overall exciting ceremony but this woman has an amazing voice, i used to sing like this till about age 16 when my voice finally started drastically dropping ew

[ian1856]

I swear, Jessye Norman could sing the friggin' phone book and it would bring tears to my eyes. What a glorious artist she is. She elevates everything she does. Heard her live at Carnegie Hall in '76, and I've been hooked ever since.

[bum254]

wtf? it should've been better if backstreet boys performed... lol!!!! atleast.. that is so america!!!! with cheerleaders dancing with the boys! hahaha

[belcunto]

i love her but this is an atrocious song!

[glennherring]

not of fan of this song but it would be a huge hit today in 2010 lol! Sounds a bit too comtemporary for 1996 but that shows how poised and sophisticated she is as a musician.

[wTrevorh]

Absolutely fantastic, Jessye! Not a great song rhythmically, but she made it happen! Brava, girl!

[zairared]

i remember this opening because of jessye performace , i will remember this for ever

[sivertha]

oh I love Diana Ross!

[Allurette71]

AMAZING!!!!!

[omar505]

an absolutely stunning performance by the one and one La Jessye Norman! My favorite opera superstar by far! And if I may respond to the comments about her hair......... its a wig/weave! Jessye has a suitcase full of wigs and weaves ans shes fabulous for it! Truth be told, they all wear wigs and weaves.

[ANNA2007]

Gave me chills!!!!!

[NYCOF]

Jessye's a falcon - a soprano with a "short top", not the bird of prey. Oh, look -- Jessye's got a big gravy stain on her dress too. Oh, look there's another one -- grape jelly donut, methinks

[NYCOF]

I can't get past 11 seconds. Who are those hotties? And so secure in their masculinity too. Higher, faster, stronger - indeed!

[shakaama]

they told me to keep training in fencing and it'd be easy to go to the olympics.

i woulda been crying the entire time lol

[Heraopera]

Pallas Athena of singing! Beautiful woman with a beautiful and skillful singing and interpretation! This have been times...not like all this boring drop-voices

[charice22]

is it just me, or does it sound a bit weird to hear any opera sung in english?

[austinexp]

Where she got the wig at I do not know...I don't know how she held her head up straight. If she would walk down a hallway there would be no need to sweep it after.

[Lflennoy]

lololololololol.....shame on you.....LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[urusaiglass]

this comment made my day!

[Tigerwarhawk]

She always had long hair. That is NOT a wig.

[nichtsleezy]

Excuse me, but I know for a fact that Ms. Norman has Very Short hair!! She has an extensive collection of wigs and weaves!

[waxmanite]

you're a jumpstreet idiot.....

[Babs22h]

yea I dont why she sang that schlock on a shingle of a song but yea she is ms. norman and fabulous ... I dont think that harmony note that someone mentioned below about hitting would really be possible for norman to hold that long. she usual taps high notes then comes down real fast... her voice tends to thin in the super high range.

[nichtsleezy]

I think that she is more of a mezzo than a dramatic soprano!

[Shanniquitie]

she is a dramatic soprano who can sing as a mezzo or contralto if she desires

[kenndogg]

@nichtsleezy i can somewhat agree...its her range that carries her over to dramatic soprano; she is till the bomb tho, lol

[Vassardo]

Awesome :)

[kenndogg]

wow so many haters, lol but i remember watching this as it happened and am sooooo glad i got to see her sing it again...i just wished she woulda hit that higehr note at the end to overpower the music... i did!!!lol

[tvpro75]

I love your comment...the higher note to overpower the music...LMAO!!! What is up Family??? ;-) Peace...

[kenndogg]

@tvpro75 hey fam wuts good?!! i kno whn it got to the end, that next note wuda killed it!!! lol

[tvpro75]

@kenndogg - Sorry I did not reply right away. I feel you and agree with you. You know I sang that "proper" note as well and I am a true baritone. LOL!!! Get back at me. ;-).

[kenndogg]

@tvpro75 sup man, lol i just like to hear this song cuz i remember watchin ths live when it originally aired, lol

[tvpro75]

@kenndogg I remember too. The Olympics always evokes such drama and interest. I love it!!! All that "Pomp and Circumstance." LOL!!!

[minniebeta85]

amazing performance...one of the best singers of this time...i wanna sing like her one day

[musicadei]

and guess what, she still got her check when she was finished :)

[endrizo]

of course she is a professional singer

that´s pretty logical.

[lty2k84]

THe worst song I've ever heard her ever do... It was just so bad. I am embarased for her.

[erin129]

omg that song is atrocious.

that said, Jessye is her usual amazing self. with that voice, she can even get away with making that dreck sound like an actual song. Brava! she really earned her pay here, lol.

[NYCSizzle]

@erin129 From memory of my experience, the ASOC participants also dreaded this piece during rehearsals. The highlight was Jessye at the final dress rehearsal/recording in Symphony Hall and SHE changed everything. Once she was involved, we felt the importance of the song within the context of the event and we sang better, as a result. In fact, the choir was seated in the front rows of the hall and she faced us. Feeling the power of her sound was extraordinary and I will always remember it.

[misaoperasinger]

WONDERFULL JESSY!!!

[misaoperasinger]

OH MY GOD!!!I LOVE JESSY!!!

[3cplantin]

Jessye is amazing, as usual!  The song, however, could have been more original. It was a missed opportunity. Still it was inspiring, and that is what was sought.

[vafjr1087]

Obrigado, julius923! Eu busco esse vídeo desde o ano 2000. Ele é ótimo!

[wotanman]

Love Ms . Norman, but I've made farts more original than this song. Somebody got PAID for this??!!

[5thmonkey]

coooooooool

love the singer ....the monster of the stage

[grupetto]

It's a typical American show, but Jessye Norman is WONDERFUL.

[cryean]

do you have the olympic flag entering the stadium?

[Moonraker0022]

I've watched all that you have for Atlanta. THANKS! i was traveling back from a camp while this was going on, so i missed it. Are there parts not on YOUTUBE yet?

[Sarzuuk]

soooo good

[fashionboy1228]

I was in the 1996 Olympic band and performed both the opening and closing ceromines and watched this magnificent lady rehearse and give a fantatstic performance. AWESOME. If this is good..just imagine it live!

[cashmerequeen]

Thanks a lot for posting that... amazing. Miss Norman is so beautiful.

[Estefania83]

Once again, THANK YOU, julios923!!

Such great memories...

Citius.. faster... Altius.. higher.. Fortius... stronger...

[saltlakecity2002]

Thanks a lot for this!!!!