We lost a great lady today, but how lucky we are that she was here in our lifetime. I am doing OK.
She went by two names, but everyone knew her as Aretha. No one, and I mean, no one, could belt songs out like her. Fame is fleeting, but her talent was not. Two, and probably three generations knew and loved her and danced and sang along to her music from the soul.
I found out about her death from my Retired Man, who spends his time each day in front of the TV watching political shows. It drives me CRAZY. Around 10:30 AM, he called out to me about an alert on the news. He said that the station he was watching had gathered together some talking heads to discuss the tweets or the always breaking story of the day, but the moderator interrupted them and said, “Excuse me, we have an important announcement, Aretha Franklin has died.” From then on, politics stopped, and a person of talent and character was the subject. I left for work at noon and they were still playing her music. What an improvement on their daily schedule! I drove to and from work and both ways the station I was listening to (public radio) was playing only Aretha. At home, I turned on the World News and the top story was Aretha. We went out for a quick dinner and came home and found out that the program schedule had changed and instead of some nonsense, there was a program honoring Aretha.
It is all about Aretha today, and so it should be. She upstaged them all. And yes, she made me feel, she made me feel.....
We lost a treasure. Rest In Peace, dear lady, you always had our love and RESPECT. You sang us through the good times and the bad and we are grateful. We were privileged to know your Amazing Grace.
She went by two names, but everyone knew her as Aretha. No one, and I mean, no one, could belt songs out like her. Fame is fleeting, but her talent was not. Two, and probably three generations knew and loved her and danced and sang along to her music from the soul.
I found out about her death from my Retired Man, who spends his time each day in front of the TV watching political shows. It drives me CRAZY. Around 10:30 AM, he called out to me about an alert on the news. He said that the station he was watching had gathered together some talking heads to discuss the tweets or the always breaking story of the day, but the moderator interrupted them and said, “Excuse me, we have an important announcement, Aretha Franklin has died.” From then on, politics stopped, and a person of talent and character was the subject. I left for work at noon and they were still playing her music. What an improvement on their daily schedule! I drove to and from work and both ways the station I was listening to (public radio) was playing only Aretha. At home, I turned on the World News and the top story was Aretha. We went out for a quick dinner and came home and found out that the program schedule had changed and instead of some nonsense, there was a program honoring Aretha.
It is all about Aretha today, and so it should be. She upstaged them all. And yes, she made me feel, she made me feel.....
We lost a treasure. Rest In Peace, dear lady, you always had our love and RESPECT. You sang us through the good times and the bad and we are grateful. We were privileged to know your Amazing Grace.
There are far too few people who are loved and respected by people the world over. Each loss diminishes us, despite our gratitude that they graced the world.
ReplyDeleteSue, Aretha was certainly one of a kind, and her loss is being felt all over this world. She touched many of us with her talents.
DeleteLuckily, with such people, her heritage lives on. I quite expect her songs will be played for generations. RIP.
ReplyDeleteI am sure, Cro, that people will be listening to her fabulous voice for generations to come.
DeleteYou wrote a touching tribute which reflects the way so many of us feel We had the good fortune of seeing her perform in Chicago about 25 years ago. It was incredible. The TV coverage is huge and definitely makes us reflect on the way things are going on in our country right now, and how she worked to overcome these racial indignities.
ReplyDeleteJane
Oh, how fortunate you were, Jane, to have seen her in person. I never had the opportunity, but wish that I had.
DeleteThis is a WONDERFUL tribute to her! Sad sad day for her friends and her family and her fans, who will always remember her and enjoy her music even tho she is gone.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debbie. Her voice may have been silenced, but her music will be around for many years to come.
DeleteYou've written a fine tribute. The music world lost an amazing voice, but we lost a fine human being, too. She could really belt 'em out like nobody's business, but what's more important, she connected with us and made us feel. Made us dance.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your hubby listens to political shows all day. Mine puts FOX news on and leaves it running in the background ALL DAY LONG. He doesn't even have to be in the house... that darned TV is still puking out its vile garbage all day. To me, it's like Chinese water torture. If he isn't in the den, I hit the MUTE button when I pass through the den, and after I do it enough times, he changes the channel to the Game Show Network. (MUCH better background noise.)
Have a super weekend.
My RM watches MSNBC, the other Trump channel, only on the opposite side of the aisle. This 24 hour news cycle is only feeding the beast and killing our brain cells. I had to tip my hat to them for giving up the air time to pay homage to the Queen.
DeleteI only allow Fox on in the house for sports programs. I don’t really watch sports except for our World Champion Eagles, though.
She was important to so many. I would love to have a day free from political pundits and enjoy an Aretha-full day instead. I think I'll work on that.
ReplyDeleteShe was definitely the important story of the day. She touched the hearts and souls of so many people, and contributed so much good to the world.
DeleteA lovely tribute. We how we all loved Aretha. Sad to lose such a wonderful talent. Thank you for your post!
ReplyDeleteAretha certainly had a life well lived.
DeleteThe last several times I saw her, I knew she was singing us home. Good bye, grand woman.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said, Joanne.
DeleteYour post is wonderfully written; I feel the love and respect you have for her and her music and it inspired me to go find some videos. Can you believe that Aretha Franklin was never really on my radar? Although I knew the name, I honestly never knew that she was the one singing some of those better known songs. (I was more of a light rock fan.) In searching for her music, I found an article with links to ten recordings, starting with her first one, done at age 14, and realized that she had a whole other side to her voice as well, using her lower register. What a full, rich, gorgeous voice she had. Here's the link if you are interested, and thank you for inspiring this discovery: https://variety.com/2018/music/news/essential-aretha-10-classic-songs-from-the-queen-of-souls-60-year-career-1202903786/
ReplyDeleteI am glad my post made you look into Aretha’s life, Jenny. She was a very generous soul in many ways, a civil rights activist, and probably the best singer of my generation. I saw on TV that with an hours notice, she subbed for Pavarotti at the Grammy Awards presentation and brought the house down singing his signature Aria. She was a force, and she was deeply loved and respected. She was a favorite of mine and I loved to listen to her sing anything.
DeleteA Beautiful Tribute to a Great Talent! Alas, Elvis and now Dear Aretha passed on my Birthday, it was sorrowful to hear the news... she made me Feel, she made me Feel as well...
ReplyDeleteYes, she did. Her talent was limitless.
DeleteI hope you had a good birthday, Dawn.
Much of her music makes my spine tingle! But my favourite memory of her is of that in the Blues Brothers film.
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE for Bazza’s ridiculous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Aretha, in pink fuzzy slippers, belting out “Freedom, Freedom”, was the greatest small part in a movie. She could do it all.
DeleteThank you for this beautiful tribute to Aretha. There was no one like her. Sad smiling, once again, and also - I'm at a loss for words, so I'm grateful you found yours.
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, Inger. There have been wonderful stories written and said about this lady in the past few days and one can see the impact she had on many people.
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute to a beautiful lady. There was no one like her, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteAretha stood out above them all.
DeleteAretha’s life was well lived and how lucky we were that she shared her blessing with us.
ReplyDeleteLovely tribute to Aretha, and I am glad that the politics of the day were given short shrift.
ReplyDeleteOut Of RESPECT, she became the story of the day. In death, she still had power.
DeleteHere too Aretha was the first topic and her music was played everywhere. If only we could concentrate on people that bring pleasure and colour to our lives rather than brain dead politicians.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. The good never gets the headlines that the bad does.
DeleteI heard about her death as well, she was a strong beautiful woman. :)
ReplyDeleteShe was, Rain, and an inspiration to many.
DeleteThe earth is poorer for the loss of Aretha Franklin. For days I found myself humming her music as I walked around. One of my all-time favorite singers.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to hear all her music being played on the airwaves. I had forgotten some of them.
DeleteThank you for sharing the life of Aretha Franklin. Yes it is a great loss. She left beautiful messages through her music.
ReplyDeleteYes, she did, Munir.
DeleteHer music lives on, so many great tracks.
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute.
All the best Jan
We will be listening to her music for many years to come.
DeleteI was reading this morning that Aretha's funeral is truly a celebration in Detroit. I lived there for many years. It takes something special to bring the city together.
ReplyDeleteShe is having a Celebration of Life like no other. It has been on for hours now and is wonderful. She earned and deserved all of this. She was/is loved.
DeleteOne of the most touching moments was when Aretha sang, "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" at the Kennedy Center, as honoree Carol King looked on. She jumped out of her seat in appreciation of hearing Aretha's powerful rendition of her song. Nobody did it better.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I always loved her rendition of Jumping Jack Flash (sorry Mick!) I know rock and roll heaven is rocking the house with Aretha being part of the heavenly choir. RIP, Aretha! You may be gone, but you'll never be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteDear Arleen, Aretha was a woman who knew herself deep down and trusted her gift and knew that it was there to share with all of us. Listening to her I always felt that she was pouring goodness into me. Her voice was like honey oozing down into my pores.
ReplyDeleteIt's been wonderful to listen to the outpouring of love and respect from all around the world. She was a "celebrity" who respected us all and gave us the best of herself--always.
Thank you for posting the video. Peace.
just stopped in to see if you'd posted anything and to say hi and also thank you for all the nice comments you leave me!! They are appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI am working on a post now and should publish in a few days. Thank you for always stopping by, Debbie.
DeleteWe grew up with the music of Aretha, and while her loss is sad, and she will be missed, I was thrilled to hear her wonderful music again, and to see that she gained lots of new fans. I think she's smiling about that. Hugs and thanks so much for your post! RO
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet compliment my friend on today's post! You are so kind! Hope your weekend is going well!
ReplyDeleteWe did indeed lose a musical treasure in Ms. Franklin. Everything she sang touched me with her heartfelt delivery. Thankfully we can still hear her on You Tube, CDs, MP3s and so on.
ReplyDeleteLiked your comment today at Weaver of Grass. I think she liked it too. Ciao, G.
ReplyDeleteTo be inspiring, i love this article
ReplyDelete