The 2025 Grammy Awards were star-studded with tributes to the late and great music producer Quincy Jones. Janelle Monae channeled Michael Jackson’s Quincy-era in her explosive live set; Stevie Wonder paid respect to his late friend, performing jazz classic “Bluesette” and the Quincy-produced charity single, “We Are The World.”
But when musical theatre queen, Cynthia Erivo, took to the stage for a magnetic rendition of “Fly Me To The Moon” with jazz musician Herbie Hancock, the moment left the internet completely spellbound.
Quincy might be best remembered as being the iconic Jacko producer and composer of film scores from “The Italian Job” to “The Color Purple.” However, young pop nerds will be stunned to discover that years before any of those legendary career highlights unfolded, Quincy was already mingling with the stars, collabing with Frank Sinatra on one of his own greatest hits — “Fly Me To The Moon.”
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Quincy’s tempo-boosting tricks, amongst other new quirks in the tune’s arrangement, made Sinatra’s cover the standout classic it remains today. So, when Cynthia and Herbie pulled this track out of the bag for their Grammys tribute, their deep-cut song choice was bound to be a moment to remember. The performance has already amassed over one million YouTube views across various uploads in a matter of weeks!
There’s no explaining the pure magic streaming through this viral clip as Cynthia embodies jazz goddess energy, trailing around Herbie’s grand piano like a golden-age movie star and serving the song effortlessly. Despite the countless covers of this tune that exist, Cynthia and Herbie still manage to muster up a brand new feeling and an entirely new sound that laces the sparkling wistfulness of a jazz ballad with the bold and brave tones of big-band hits.
Popstar pianist John Legend, renowned for his own piano ballad, “All of Me,” watches from the Grammys audience absolutely enchanted, tears welling in his eyes as Cynthia lays her glittered melodies over Herbie’s captivating dissonance and supernatural runs. And as the tune plays out without a single flaw, it soon becomes impossible to fathom the dexterity running through Herbie’s fingers; 84 years old and still putting the rest of the world to shame.
If you somehow weren’t convinced of Cynthia’s obscene musical talents from her lead role in last year’s “Wicked” film, her crystalline voice at this year’s Grammys is destined to cement her name in Arts history. Glossy tones, pitch-perfect, traversing the most breathtaking jazz scales; how legendary is it to see black British women hold audiences speechless on the world stage? This South Londoner deserves all our respect.
Quincy Jones’s unparalleled impact on the music world was celebrated beautifully at the 2025 Grammy Awards. From Janelle Monae’s homage to Stevie Wonder’s tribute and Cynthia Erivo’s breathtaking performance with Herbie Hancock, the evening was a testament to his lasting legacy. With a career stretching from Sinatra to Jackson, Quincy’s genius remains unmatched. For deeper insights into his incredible journey and collaborations, explore the links below.