This performance is so amazing, I say the more the merrier

Amazing! Bringing the house down

I heard this story from Mr. Neighbor's wife:

Mr. Neighbor, a musician, had played in a band that traveled with the Queen of Soul for many years. A couple of years ago Mr. Neighbor had a stroke that left him fairly debilitated, and he is unable to work.

Aretha, knowing of his condition, had a short tour planned for late this year. Aretha called Mr. Neighbor and asked him if he was ready to go back on the road, and that she would love for him to be a part of it. He told her that he was so sorry, but he wouldn't be able to make the trip, but wished her well and a good tour.

Mrs. Neighbor told me that after the call, Mr. Neighbor broke down in tears...not that he had disappointed the Queen; but, that he was so taken with her kindness in remembering him that way.

Just sayin ...

I thought it was in somewhat poor taste myself, esp. given the obvious liberal connotations of an event such as that ...

But I also try to remember she's of a different era, brought up in an environment very different from that of today. Pretty good chance that 'Furs' = 'Success' in the world she grew up in.

I can forgive people of a certain age and above for wearing furs I guess is what I'm saying. I don't LIKE IT, but I can look past it.

But it still sends the wrong message, IMHO

and Obama wasn't the only one brushing away tears. I did too. I was nearly hyperventilating. OMG hers was a performance for the ages!!!

She was in awe. I always thought it was Aretha's song, didn't realize that it was Carol King's.

in her own right. No one thought she had the talent to be a recording artist.

A travesty that she's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Forgive the shouting, but, really, SHE'S NOT??????

in 1990.

They were in there very early on, back in the days it was created ...

Sadly, the brilliance of Tapesty notwithstanding, I'm not sure her musical accomplishments as a 'performer' quite meet the criteria for HoF induction, but she was a shoo-in as part of the Goffin/King songwriting team.

Her main songwriting partner was Barry Manilow, pre-Tapestry, but that wasn't meantioned in the show and wasn't obvious in the biographies. If not Carole King, then who am I thinking of?

But, yes, she was a top songwriter behind many hits, long before anyone (outside of the industry) knew her name.

he became known.

but I really was thinking it was Carole King. I'm not sure what brought me to that impression.

who passed away in 2014.

Carol did the music and Gerry did the Lyrics.

King & Goffin wrote:

Will You Love Me Tomorrow The Shirelles
Some Kind of Wonderful The Drifters
Don't Ever Change The Crickets
He Knows I Love Him Too Much The Paris Sisters
Chains The Cookies
The Loco-Motion Little Eva
Go Away Little Girl Steve Lawrence
Up on the Roof The Drifters
Hey Girl Freddie Scott
One Fine Day The Chiffons
I Can't Hear You No More Betty Everett
I'm into Something Good Earl-Jean
He's In Town The Tokens
Is This What I Get For Loving You The Ronettes
Don't Bring Me Down The Animals
So Much Love Ben E. King
Goin' Back Dusty Springfield
I Can't Make It Alone P.J. Proby
Yours Until Tomorrow Dee Dee Warwick
Pleasant Valley Sunday The Monkees
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Aretha Franklin
I Wasn't Born to Follow The Byrds
That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-de-Ho) Leslie Uggams

They've been covered by The Beatles, Diana Ross, George Benson, Tom Petty et. al.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_with_lyrics_by_Gerry_Goffin#Hits.2C_charted_songs_and_notable_album_tracks_by_Goffin_and_King

Add the Tapestry album (It's Too Late, You've Got a Friend, I Feel the Earth Move), later work (Jazzman, Nightingale), collaborations & tours with Mary J. Blige & James Taylor and you've got a monumentally influential career in rock & roll history.

from her response, I think she would agree that Aretha Franklin legitamately owns the delivery. She absolutely loved hearing Aretha's performance.

to see Aretha sit down and accompany herself on the piano. It was a great performance.

The purse probably threw her a little, too.

She seemed to be in awe and absolutely gleeful. Her response was a really nice display of appreciation of another person's delivery of her song.

because, IMO, Adele is this generation's Aretha.

Not remotely in the same league

I don't care what anyone says, NOBODY is in a class above Janelle.

She is a straight up, MJ & Prince-level badass.

Although still great to listen to, she's only at about 70% of what she used to be.

That doesn't change my opinion

I had not heard her perform this before, and it brought tears to my eyes. So beautiful.

She is in a class by herself, and she has so much to be proud of that her talent has held through all these years.

What a performer.

Sam

I wonder if some of the younger DU'ers are hearing her for the first time? What do you think?

Sam

the new 50. Divas like Aretha, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight are all still performing, and only getting better.

I've got to check out more of these other pieces. She was one of the stars of my years growing up, now I see I've been missing a lot of beauty. This is what the world needs, more of the great spirits to inspire to do better.

verboten ("the Devil's music&quot , my older siblings had a hidden collection for when my parents were out of the house. As you can imagine, Aretha was a household favorite. When Aretha came out with her gospel album, we could finally listen to her with the full approval of both parents. Her voice still brings back memories of when we were all at home and the folks were still alive & healthy. It's funny how much impact a certain piece/collection of music can have on one's life.

I learned of it years later, reading a list of best gospel albums.

If you're ever in Detroit, find her original church and attend a service. Some of the most amazing music you will ever hear.

music down to my toes. The Clark Sisters, The Winans, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and too many to name. I don't think there's any music genre that I don't like, except for maybe Metal & Punk. I'd have to be hauled out of Detroit on a stretcher if I got to visit Aretha's family church.

Aretha learned much from this great lady, and took it to the next level. I idolize & adore them both.

Mahalia Jackson's version is so beautiful. I'm looking up more gospel music on youtube. Thanks for sharing!

I might be listening to it everyday, but I stepped down here to listen to this performance again, and all I can say is that I hope Aretha Franklin lives forever. So, so talented a woman.

Sam

How do I find that or download this?

I feel blessed to have heard Ms. Franklin for most of my life, and I hope I have many, many more years to enjoy her special voice.

Aretha does that to me.

What a powerhouse performance!

Thank you for posting!

as she always is.

Thank you so much for posting this, I loved every second.

Not many people can still sing when they get older. I know I've lost my voice and she's a lot older than I am. That was really beautiful!

The voice, especially the singing voice, is one of those things that you use it or lose it.

That was magnificent! And the reactions were priceless too, including our Prez and First Lady.

Big K&R for the Queen of Soul!!!!!

Won't get any argument over this one, she is the best blues singer in the world imo.

B.B. King is known as a blues singer and guitar player, Aretha is known as an R&B singer, and the queen of soul. She has done some blues numbers, but would not be considered as such, as most of her career is not about the blues.

B.B. is not the king of soul singing. Marvin Gaye, perhaps Al Green, there are many greater contenders for that title.

I think it'd be pretty fair to name JB as the King of Soul ...

The other possible candidates to me would be:
Marvin
Otis
Smokey
Stevie
Isaac
Solomon
Al (Green)
Ray (Charles)
Sam (Cooke)
Barry (White)


But I can't really say I'd personally put any of them CLEARLY above JB.

As you said though, BB is most definitely a Blues musician.

which to me is far more important than the "Godfather of Soul" title.

He created a whole new genre that is now a classic style.

I stand by my statement 100%. Chuck Berry is the king of R&B...imo...

But pure rock 'n roll.

He is not considered an R&B act.

I don't know what it is about this whacky country. We have so many flaws. Yet we've given birth to Aretha Franklin, whose voice is recognized around the world and brings grownups to tears. And so many artists who freely share the joys and sorrows of life via the universal language of music.

Thanks for sharing this mv. Happy new year to you and your loved ones.

gentleman sitting behind Carole both teared up. Aretha can bring me to tears without even trying hard.

My mom was a musician & she'd cry at most any gorgeous music. Guys like me too!

I do like the backing vocals and arrangement a bit better on the original, but it lacks the visceral power of what she did on the stage at the Kennedy Center. The original is a great song. The performance last night was a magical, life-affirming moment.

Even ABC carried it on the news tonight

Every time I think she can't possibly do better than the last one she sang she goes and proves me wrong again. And somehow she still makes it look as easy for her as breathing. Never, not one single time, have I ever listened to her sing and not almost immediately gotten those thrilling tingly chills up and down my spine.

Thanks for posting.

I am STUNNED. Phew.

For when my download limit resets.

I am 57 years old, good Lord willing, I have maybe another 30 years on this planet of ours. I hope and pray, that Democrats will dominate the White House for the rest of my life, it may happen although it probably won't (thanks to Citizens United), I know this, other than Jimmy Carter, we will never again see another man or woman with the soul of Barack Obama. I am not just talking Motown soul, I am talking soul. God Bless Barack Obama.

Or did I already miss it?