It’s hard to say why Eddie Murphy’s singing career was such a consistent disaster, since he is not only a force of personality, but, as several of his movie roles attest, an excellent singer. Why this particular song, despite being his only real hit, is so despised, however, is obvious. Murphy’s singing works best when he’s being raucous, as in his rendition of “I’m a Believer” at the end of Shrek, or his numbers in Dreamgirls. Here, he is attempting Lionel Richie-esque Eighties Soft Rock, which not only completely wastes his massive personality, but does not flatter his voice, reducing it to a thin attempt at a falsetto.
Verdict: Bad
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