yvgeni

August 16th, 2018 at 10:26 AM ^

Hey Nineteen
That's Aretha Franklin
She don't remember
The Queen of Soul
It's hard times befallen
The sole survivors
She thinks I'm crazy
But I'm just growing old

 

This will now become more relevant every year.  RIP GOAT

PopeLando

August 16th, 2018 at 10:39 AM ^

They look like Hasidic diamond merchants!

What they want to eat?

The tall one wants...white toast, dry, nuttin' on it.

Elwood...

An' t'otha one wants fo whole fried chickens an' a coke!

...

When I was a kid, her scenes in Blues Brothers and Blues Brothers 2000 were actually my least favorite. As I grew up, I realized how wrong I'd been.

Matt Guitar Murphy got himself a keeper, that's for sure.

Section 1.8

August 16th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^

Yes, she was a gifted singer but also a tremendously skilled musician.

Here she is, accompanying herself on piano and organ on one of her great hits from the Muscle Shoals recording days, on "Do Right Woman".

Of course they had one of the greatest studio sesson keyboard men in history right there in Spooner Oldham.  But Aretha could play with anybody on her own.

 

 

GRBluefan

August 16th, 2018 at 10:47 AM ^

I grew up in the West Bloomfield / Bloomfield Hills area, near where Aretha lived (at the time, at least).  I was a shift manager at one of the local Blockbuster Video stores in the mid 90s, and Aretha would pop in every once in a while (same with Bob Seger).  Very nice lady.

She also used our high school choir (the old Bloomfield Hills Andover) as backup singers for a number of local concerns around the same time.  I wasn't in the choir, but heard nothing but nice things.

Blue in Paradise

August 16th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^

Listening to this song brought a tear to my eye - sad day for those of us native Detroiters.

Everyone knows that Aretha had a big voice and bigger personality - not as many people know that she had bigger cajones than 99.9% of men.  She had to face down some seriously stupid and backwards people and always did it with grace and, yes, Respect.

Always love this woman...RIP

trueblueintexas

August 16th, 2018 at 10:53 AM ^

Truly one of the immediately recognizable voices and a tremendous person from what I have seen and read. 

Her voice has carried me off to happier, calmer, and more thoughtful places many a time.

Thank you to the Queen of Soul...keep on getting your R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Prince Lover

August 16th, 2018 at 11:22 AM ^

Very sad day....

A co worker and I would always argue the better voice, Aretha or Whitney.

While I admit, Whitney was good, but there was no one better....

RIP 

 

PS- fuck cancer!

LDNfan

August 16th, 2018 at 11:33 AM ^

When it comes to soul its Aretha hands down..and that not a knock on Whitney but Aretha earned her title as the Queen, much like the Godfather of Soul, JB. Both timeless, one of a kind talents. 

Her voice and presence was like honey molasses on a plate of hot grits, corn bread and collards. Doesn't get better....

Luckey1083

August 16th, 2018 at 12:16 PM ^

What a loss for those of us who grew up on soul music.  My musical memories are listening to old school blues and metal on the record player with my old man downstairs in our basement.  Very masculine, very much my old man's style.  I can remember anytime listening to music with my mom and it was always mo-town: Aretha, The Supremes, Tina Turner, Pattie LaBelle,  Diana Ross, Janis Joplin (not really mo-town but my mom LOVED her).  Showed me at a young age that femininity and pride were great as well.  Funny how music helps to shape us from the earliest age, up until we are gone.  RIP Aretha, one of the most talented and influential musicians ever!  There's no Beyonce, Whitney, Diana Ross, Taylor Swift; any of these successful women without a strong woman like Aretha coming in, shattering stereotypes and paving the way for their success.

jamesjosephharbaugh

August 16th, 2018 at 12:26 PM ^

loved this woman's voice, songs, the whole thing.

every time this happens it makes me a little sad we didn't get around to these tributes before they passed.

Spunky

August 16th, 2018 at 1:05 PM ^

Sad day, and rainy in Michigan. 

My grandmother, Lucy, was an amazing mezzo-soprano and she loved Aretha Franklin. Because she listened to her albums so often, our entire family couldn't help but like Aretha, too. And my mom captivatingly sang "Mary Don't You Weep" at church the day after granny's funeral.   

Anyway, the Bentley Historical Library has a lot of interesting C.L. Franklin papers, letters from Aretha and MLK, pictures, etc.