Aretha Franklin is reported to be on hospice, although I'm hearing that she is alert and enjoying her family and friends. I'd just like to lift up a few videos as a tribute to this Memphis-born musician. Enjoy these offerings from The Queen of Soul while you wish her well.
Respect (1967):
Chain of Fools (1967):
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (1967):
Think (1968):
A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998):
Here she is performing at the White House in 2015:
Wikipedia says she is "the most charted female artist in the [Billboard] chart's history" and that "Franklin has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling musical artists of all time".
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She's certainly a great. My favorite is Think especially the version done in the movie, The Blues Brothers. I'm also fond of Chain of Fools. When I was studying karate, before class I used to practice the T'ai Chi form I had learned. There was a kickbox class before mine and they used music in their class. My Sensei made me perform my T'ai Chi routine to Chain of Fools during a rank advancement test. It became known as Mo' Chi (T'ai Chi done to Motown.) :-D
ReplyDeleteI think Chain of Fools is my favorite. I've never known it used for Tai Chi, but I'm liking that idea :)
DeleteMy local news station just reported she passed away on Thurs.https://www.wcvb.com/article/aretha-franklin-the-queen-of-soul-dead-at-76/22746179
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw that in my FB feed this morning and have updated the post. Such a sad passing :( And on the anniversary of Elvis death....
DeleteThis is incredibly sad, but one nice thing is, she got to see how much she was loved right before she died. I'm sure all the tributes and well wishes didn't go unnoticed, even if she was on hospice care. Thanks for sharing all these songs. I saw someone say she did so much for women's rights with her music.
ReplyDeleteShe was appreciated during her lifetime. That's nice. I remember her performance at the White House and think how proud she must've been :)
DeleteI love Aretha Franklin's'music and it's so sad to hear of her passing! Thanks for sharing the videos, her music is timeless and will inspire generations forever. May she rest in peace! J 😊 x
ReplyDeleteYes, we're losing the music from my entire generation. It's sad :(
Deleteshe was one of the greatest-on the way to the post office this morning I heard she has passed-she will me missed
ReplyDelete"One of the greatest". Yes, she definitely was. :(
DeleteShe had an amazing voice and all of us are a little bit less blessed to have lost her. I hope she is rocking it out wherever she has gone to now.
ReplyDeleteHer voice held up well throughout her career, and even her recent performances have that magic.
DeleteA very private lady who gave you her all when she sang. :)
ReplyDeleteShe was also unafraid of speaking out on some political issues. There are stories, for example, of her offering to bail out Angela Davis back in the day.
DeleteYes! She was very brave politically! It meant so much to her to sing for the first black president. I am so glad she experienced that. :)
DeleteShe was a treasure, that's certain. The singers from my childhood are passing away. I should expect it, I guess, but it always comes as a shock somehow.
DeleteYesterday I was out and about with my friend Sally and we talked about Aretha. Sally said how FAT she was, really, really overweight and that may have contributed to her death. Somehow I thought that sounded like the pot calling the kettle black. However, the last time I saw her, she wasn't that heavy (at least didn't look it to me). She may have been sick by then, though.
ReplyDeleteShe did have issues with her weight, losing and re-gaining weight over the years. She died of pancreatic cancer, though, unrelated to her weight.
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