Cynthia Erivo is not as well known as she should be. That’s because it’s almost impossible that she could be. In my experience, every song she performs is instantly the definite and best version of that song.
Three examples to prove the point:
What makes Cynthia Erivo’s versions of songs so definitive? She has an amazing voice, but that’s not all. She also has obviously done her homework on the music and the lyrics, so she can deliver each level of text and subtext. Finally, she comes at her performances more as an actor than as a singer. She commits so completely to the character of the song, and, for me at least, that brings her performances to an otherworldly level.