 "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" was designed as the closing number of "Dreamgirls"' first act.Holliday's performance of the song, in a style owing much to gospel music singing traditions, was regularly staged to thunderous applause; it was hailed as the highlight of the show in several printed reviews of the musical.In his review of "Dreamgirls", "The New York Times" theatre critic Frank Rich referred to Holliday's "And I Am Telling You" as "one of the most powerful theatrical coups to be found in a Broadway musical since Ethel Merman sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" at the end of Act I of """ "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" remains Holliday's signature song.