The Queen of Soul Dies

[Big RR]

I just read that Aretha Franklin died today; as she was ill and in hospice, this is not a surprise, but it is a loss to the music community. While I have not always been a fan of the soul/pop genre, her music often seemed different and a lot more, and her version of Natural woman (the first I heard) is a classic. I recall her appearance in the Blues Brothers (she and Ray Charles helped give that film a lot more respectability than many of the sight gags) and loved her performance of Think in it. Mostly, however, I think she is one of those rare singers (Janis Joplin was another) who put everything she had into her music, and I often found myself applauding her performance, even if I didn't care for the song. She will be missed.

Rest in Peace.

[BoSoxGal]

That’s a lovely tribute, Big RR.

[Lord Jim]

she is one of those rare singers (Janis Joplin was another) who put everything she had into her music

If you look up the words "high energy" in the dictionary, you'll see Aretha's picture looking back at you...

(she and Ray Charles helped give that film a lot more respectability than many of the sight gags)

Don't forget the great Cab Calaway's rendition of Minnie The Moocher...

[Big RR]

How could I forget that? Old age creeping up, I guess.

[Sue U]

There are no words.

[Guinevere]

None, except merci.

[Sue U]

One of the things I love about that clip is Carole King's reaction when Aretha actually sits down at the piano and starts playing: she's like a little kid getting the very best present in the world.

[Guinevere]

But if you wanted words, these are quite good:

“America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father’s congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine. Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.

Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and all those moved by her song.”

[RayThom]

Back in high school we called her Urethra Franklin. I was never a big fan but, undeniably, she did have her loyalists.

However, she had her share of "toe tappers" to which I listened to while "huddling with the guys and rating the girls while they danced" at local school canteens and other dance venues.

Influenced by my English cousins, I latched on to the early "British Invasion," and Motown -- with few exception -- became a "sub-genre" for me.

It's always a little sad when a decades old, celebrity, icon, passes.

RIP, Aretha.

[Sue U]

For the record, Aretha was never a Motown artist. I had always associated her with Jerry Wexler and Atlantic Records, which produced her albums during the late 60s and through the 70s at the height of her career, although I learned today that she had been signed with Columbia for six years before that. Although she was raised in Detroit, her style and her backing bands owed far more to Memphis and Muscle Shoals than to Motown.

[Big RR]

According to Wiki, she was also with Arista after Atlantic, and most recently with RCA, but no Berry Gordy labels. I recall hearing once (in one of the many TV shows about her) that Gordy considered, but rejected, her (when she was in her teens) because he didn't like how she sang; sometime after she signed with Columbia. I don't know if she ever recorded with any Motown artists on their albums, but I don't recall anything like that.

[RayThom]

Soul, Pop, Motown -- obviously the distinction was razor thin.

Motown Museum to pay tribute to late Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin
https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/inde ... pay_t.html

[Econoline]

But if you wanted words, these are quite good:

“America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father’s congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine. Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.

“Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and all those moved by her song.”

DAMN.

I miss having an actual human being as POTUS.

[Crackpot]

Sue you are woefully uninformed about the roots of Motown

[Joe Guy]

Did anyone else notice that The Queen of Soul died on the anniversary of the death of the King of Rock & Roll?

[Lord Jim]

You wouldn't just be trying to lay some boogie-woogie on me about that would you Joe?

[Long Run]

The Aretha channel on Pandora has provided the best few hours of music I've heard in quite some time.

[Econoline]

• I have to tell you, the voice of God, if you really want to know, is Aretha Franklin.
  
  —Marianne Faithfull

ETA: Really....can't you envision a Voice, coming from amidst the clouds, smoke, thunder, and lightning of Mount Sinai, saying

• • R-E-S-P-E-C-T
    Find out what it means to me
    R-E-S-P-E-C-T
    Take care, TCB
    Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
    A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
    Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
    A little respect (just a little bit)

[Sue U]

Sue you are woefully uninformed about the roots of Motown

Huh?

[Joe Guy]

You wouldn't just be trying to lay some boogie-woogie on me about that would you Joe?

I haven’t heard that one in years....