EDIT: I'm not sure what was going on with the audio clips, but I've fixed them. Sorry for the weird permission pop-ups some of you received, looks like the blog went crazy for a bit.
It's been a rough couple or three weeks for your favorite redheaded blogger. In times like these I turn to the woman I consider to be my sort-of fairy godmother of music, Aretha Franklin. Aretha has been with me through some tough times and she always has good advice through song (and no, it's not just because of "Dr. Feelgood"). Her voice is like a soothing salve to the heartbroken and hurt, and there is no emotion that she hasn't lent that amazing voice to. The Queen's discography reads like a best-of "That's What I Call Gospel/Rock/R&B!" album — which only exists on my iPod.
Unless you've just come from Amish country and my blog was your first stop on the Interwebs, you've at least heard Aretha on the radio. If you weren't fortunate enough to grow up with Aretha as your musical fairy godmother, here's an excerpt of her accomplishments from her Wikipedia entry:
Franklin is one of the most honored artists by the Grammy Awards, with 20 Grammys to date, which include the Living Legend Grammy and the Lifetime Achievement Grammy. She also sang at the presidential inauguration of 44th President of the United States Barack Obama. She has scored a total of 20 #1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, two of which also became #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Respect" (1967) and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, Franklin has scored a total of 45 "Top 40" hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be entered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[3]
And my personal favorite, in what had to be the highlight of George W. Bush's presidency, he awarded Aretha the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Yeah, that's awesome. Her voice was also declared a "natural resource" of her home state of Michigan. Not bad for a preacher's daughter from Detroit. And no, she wasn't on the Motown label. Her first single with Atlantic Records was 1967's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You)" and I thought you might enjoy that performance from her "Lady Soul" television special from 1968. I remember watching the rebroadcast of the special several times starting at the age of 11 and memorizing the hand motions of Aretha's backup singers.
When I thought about what I would write about Aretha Franklin, her greatest hits ran through my head, but I thought it would be an injustice to simply give you clips of "Respect," "Chain of Fools," and "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman." Although those are all some of the best songs in the history of ever, I suspect that some of my readers have never heard some of her other superfantastic songs. The B-side to "I Never Loved a Man" was "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," and it is one of my favorites. Have a listen.
http://kerryfaler.typepad.com/files/09-do-right-woman—do-right-man.m4p
Was I right? How good is that? If you liked that song, go download "Dr. Feelgood" as well. The last line of the song is worth the 99 cents, trust me — I've been singing it in the car like a fool for years.
Before you think Aretha had all of her success in the 60's, must I remind you of her cameo in The Blues Brothers? Maybe this will refresh your memory.
http://www.trilulilu.ro/embed/flash.php?type=video&hash=336ce6c3eae6d6&userid=vilyaarda&src=hi5
I don't have to tell you that's my favorite scene in the movie. The 80's were good to Aretha and she gave us some good times. There were duets with Annie Lennox from the Eurythmics and the song that would top my duet list for karaoke — "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" with George Michael.
http://d.yimg.com/m/up/fop/embedflv/swf/fop.swf
Now, if that isn't the fabulous 80's I don't know what is. Not only have I had my hair cut like Aretha's in that video, I believe I also had the doorknocker earrings and I covet her gold lame skirt. Seriously. And is George just delicious in that? Shut up, he was. The hair, the jacket, the jeans, the voice — love 80's George.
Back to Aretha. By now you know I love this woman and what she has contributed to music, but you should know that she is still influencing today's artists. Last year Fantasia recorded with Aretha and John Legend, but I chose her song "A Rose is Still a Rose" from 1998 with Lauryn Hill on back-up for you to listen to. This song went gold and echoes back to her earlier songs about heartache and relationships, something Aretha is clearly at home singing about. She's had this to say about her music, "If a song's about something I've experienced or that
could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't
lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about." How true.
http://kerryfaler.typepad.com/files/01-a-rose-is-still-a-rose.m4p
So, that's what I love about Aretha Franklin. She is the best. And she also gave the world the best big girl quote ever, "I'm a big woman. I need big hair." I love that woman. Remember earlier in this post when I told you to get "Dr. Feelgood"? I can't think of a better way to end this post than with that song, 'cause good God-a-mighty the man sure makes me feel real good.
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