Who sings "Downtown" in VISA commercial?

Posted: 5/15/07 at 3:52am

Hey all,

I hope this isn't too off-topic but I figured it might be a Broadway singer. Does anyone know who sings the song "Downtown" for the latest VISA commercial? I dunno how often they play it on TV but I see it sometimes when I watch ABC shows on ABC.com! (BROTHERS & SISTERS baby!)

Her voice is just so emotive and unique she just breathes new life into the song and I can't help but have this giant dumb grin on my face listening to it!

Thanx!

[Crapgame13]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 4:07am

it sounds like Darlene Love

Posted: 5/15/07 at 4:14am

Well I'm back to answer my own question, hahaha. A simple search on YouTube shows that it is Niki Haris, Madonna's back-up singer for almost ALL of her tours and albums. They only recently stopped working together, but Niki's doing alright it would seem!
Updated On: 5/15/07 at 04:14 AM

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 7:10am

Am I the only one who wishes she would try singing at least a little of the original melody instead of putting a bluesy inflection on every single phrase?

"Downtown" has a lovely melody, but you wouldn't know it from watching this commercial.

[Actinggbugg474]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 10:55am

On a related topic ..

I also wonder who sings "Tomorrow" on all the Rooms to Go next-day delivery commercials. While some of them are terrible (most of the guys), some of the girls are actually really good!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 10:56am

Why don't they just use the Petula Clark original version? It's just as great today as it was back in the day.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 11:47am

i have to agree. when the recent "Barefoot In the Park" revival pumped out Petula before the show started, i looked at my friend and started annoyingly mouthing the words. haha

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 12:51pm

I always think about Barefoot when I watch it.

[antonijan]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 1:55pm

I like her interpretation of it :P

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 2:31pm

That's actually Elisabeth Withers-Mendes on the commercial. She's been doing voice over work for a while. It's actually VERY lucrative ask Julia Murney.

Posted: 5/15/07 at 2:59pm

I love her rendition of the song too. I just downloaded it on iTunes (only available as a dance remix) and it's definitely Niki Haris. The vocals are slightly different on that one so check that out too.

[lawyerman]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 3:31pm

thats so funny. ive seen this commercial a few times and im always so impressed by those vocals!!!

nicely done niki harris. i love the riffs.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/15/07 at 3:33pm

"Downtown" belongs to Petula Clark. Always has. Always will.