After Turner Sports utilized two versions of “One Shining Moment” last year, CBS is going to use the classic Luther Vandross version for the 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament. Such a decision is likely going to result in a lot of college basketball fans breathing a sigh of relief.
In an interview with TMZ, “One Shining Moment” songwriter David Barrett revealed that Vandross’ version is going to be used after the nets are cut down in this year’s National Championship game.
This comes after TBS had originally named Ne-Yo to do “One Shining Moment” in 2016. After that decision received backlash, TBS decided to compromise and move Ne-Yo’s version to the Team Stream broadcasts and use Vandross’ version on the traditional TBS broadcast. Now that the title game is on CBS this year, it’s Vandross all the way.
Vandross’ version is the longest tenured version of “One Shining Moment” having been played from 2003 to 2009 and then from 2011 to now. Barrett actually recorded the first version of the song that was on CBS. Teddy Pendergrass and Jennifer Hudson, along with Ne-Yo have also recorded versions.
But before we even got to hear the great Vandross version, Barrett revealed that Eminem was actually considered by CBS executives to record a version. Barrett was against Eminem performing the song because he said, and rightly so, that “One Shining Moment” is a difficult song to sing and in order for it to be sung well, needs a singer with a large range. No offense to Eminem, he’s a great rapper, singer and performer, but his singing range is pretty limited. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and they got Vandross instead. And we’ll be hearing him once again in 2017.
[TMZ]
