I had no idea Aretha Franklin could play the piano!

Aretha was a killer on the piano, OP. Her belting at 3:20 mark is so powerful and resonant here. My favorite part of the performance. Although her voice had certainly taken some toll in her advanced years and it was very evident from her White House performance for "Women of Soul", I was genuinely taken back with how strong her voice was in this KCH's performance. She brought the house down.

^^ I mean "genuinely taken aback..."

She was an excellent pianist.

R1, now I really know what "Soul" music means.

At the 1:40 mark, she starts singing the second verse of the song, and her voice is so deep and soulful, and you can 100% get a sense of her gospel singing roots. It really made me so emotional, listening to her.

I must have heard this song over 100 times, but I really FELT this version of the song.

Those people in the hall were very lucky to hear this performance in person. No wonder they were on their feet at the end.

Who's the Muppet with the rainbow tie?

I mentioned this in another Aretha thread, OP. I never saw her live, but wish she had played piano more frequently during her career. She did it only occasionally during her concerts later on.

Franklin was a child prodigy. She was a self-taught pianist from a very early age. She learned by reproducing on piano what she heard on record.

Well in all fairness OP...

She had a great feel for what worked for a song. Her early Atlantic studio albums that were recorded in Muscle Shoals were very much inspired by what she did on the piano. The rhythm section, the overall musical arrangements. They had the songs but how they turned out was worked out by Aretha on the piano, the musicians and also the backup singers.

Btw, the back up singers in OP's video are Luther Vandross' old posse. Those singers have a sound that is out of this world.

When she takes off her fur coat🙆‍♂️.... it's just everything. 😂

I knew a chicken who could play the piano

but then my roommates ate it.

[quote] Btw, the back up singers in OP's video are Luther Vandross' old posse.

That's so cool, R9!

You can see how happy they were to be singing with Aretha.

Anyone know the asian guy behind the Obamas?

He looks familiar to me, but I can't remember where I saw him before.

Here she is practicing in private to sing 'Nessun Dorma'.

I am a big fan of Obama brings me to this question. What memories of soul singing would Obama have? He was born to a white mother whose mate did not marry or stay with her. Obama and his mother spent his elementary and private high scool years in Hawaii. His maternal grandparents, who helped to raise him along with his Mother were white. I lived in Mercer Island WA and local word is thar Obama's Mom came by to visit a friend with whom she attended the local schools prior to moving to Hawaii with her parents.

He's their waiter R13.

[quote] What memories of soul singing would Obama have? He was born to a white mother whose mate did not marry or stay with her. Obama and his mother spent his elementary and private high scool years in Hawaii. His maternal grandparents, who helped to raise him along with his Mother were white

If you're referring to the title of the youtube video "Watch Aretha Franklin make President Obama emotional," then what does your post at R15 have to do with that?

Just because he has a white mother and white grandparents, does that mean he's not allowed to get emotional when she sings?

Carol Kane is white. George Lucas is white. Hell, even the asian guy behind the Obamas, was tearing up and getting emotional.

Her performance has nothing to do with race. It has to do with how Aretha's music makes you feel.

So what exactly is your point, R15?

Some 40 years earlier, her voice sounded so different.

I actually prefer her older voice.

R14 you and I were thinking the same thing.

Watching this Kennedy Center Honors performance, reminded me of what she did at the 1998 Grammy's with "Nessun Dorma," when she had to step in for Pavarotti at the last minute.

When I first heard that, I was like, "What???!!!!"

But when Aretha was done singing, I was sold. I didn't think she could pull it off, but she did.

This is one of my favorite performances.

Carol King wrote the music, not the lyrics, so it was fitting for her to honor the song by playing it. You can see it in Carol's face, the emotion she felt when Aretha sits down.

Knowing this is at the end of her remarkable career, and the way she could command the audience, it gives me goosebumps every time I watch it.

A bookend to this, young Aretha in an early television appearance.

Pure youthful talent and hard work, shining.

Funny enough, this is one my favorite songs that she performed. (Even though it was a duo)

Anyone know what this was all about?

It seems like a special event, but I'm not sure what it is.

Way before my time.

[quote] Absolutely lovely

Shut up, OP. This is a troll thread. OP wants this to be another racist thread.

Another white guy who thinks he's cool because he likes a black person. I bet some of your best friends are minorities.

Jesus R25, take the praise for Aretha away and make it about race.

R24/R25 is a psycho.

Ignore it.

Her covers of other people's songs were epic. Here she is performing Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water, while accompanying herself on the piano.

I always loved her confidence.

I always liked her version of Say a Little Prayer but found her voice overall to be strident and shrill. She certainly has a load of admirers and a hell of a successful career.

That's a terrible shade of lipstick on Michelle.

I remember seeing her in concert for a free show in coney Island back about 10 years ago or so. In the middle of the show she sat down the piano and played Bridge Over Trouble Water and Moody's Mood for Love. She turned the place into a combination church and jazz club.

R31 = Melania.

*Ahem*

Aretha doing If I Had A Hammer.

I love the jazzy gospel feel she brings to it.

Another key detail of her Aretha-ness -- when she puts her purse on the piano immediately before performing.

That's the cash she demands in advance for performing.

OP must not know Aretha's work if he didn't know she could play piano. Don't Play That Song - Live in the UK at the Cliff Richard Show is one of her more famous international apperances.

Yeah - R38 - I don't know how anyone remotely familiar with Aretha Franklin could not know she played the piano.

That's like saying - hey, Eric Clapton plays the guitar! Phil Collins plays the drums!

I will never forgive Obama and Michelle for not showing up at Aretha's funeral. Bill and Hillary were there and they also attended John McCain's funeral which was at the same day.

R37, you know it!

To OP, just in case you were too young to have seen this when it aired, enjoy

Not playing piano here, but Aretha in the70s was super cool, almost sexy. I LOVE this performance.

Aretha and her sister were not only talented musicians but accomplished music producers. The diva part came later

Here's Aretha singing the gospel song Precious Lord. She was 14 years old at the time, yet she already possessed her recognizable extraordinary voice. According to one of the commentators, she also accompanying herself on the piano.

Added bonus for those raised in the church: At 1:06, a woman starts "getting the spirit" (shouting in religious ecstacy) over how Aretha was singing. That's how stimulating Aretha's voice was. As some church people say, "she had the anointing" (a gifted voice that only God could've given her).

[quote] What memories of soul singing would Obama have?

Records and radio...like a lot of people. Soul isn't some underground thing that is kept hidden and only allowed to be heard by black people in hidden locations.

Aretha's piano style was different from Nina Simone's who was classically trained. Nina's fingers were part of the show. Wait until she gets into it and the camera focus on her hands. As good as any concert pianist.

[quote] Another key detail of her Aretha-ness -- when she puts her purse on the piano immediately before performing.

I was wondering about that, R36!

What's with the purse? Who brings a purse when they're going to perform on stage??

Lol.

R37 wasn't kidding, R48! From a terrific 2016 piece on her:

"On the counter in front of her, next to her makeup mirror and hairbrush, were small stacks of hundred-dollar bills. She collects on the spot or she does not sing. The cash goes into her handbag, and the handbag either stays with her security team or goes out onstage and resides, within eyeshot, on the piano. 'It’s the era she grew up in — she saw so many people, like Ray Charles and B. B. King, get ripped off,' a close friend, the television host and author Tavis Smiley, told me. 'There is the sense in her very often that people are out to harm you. And she won’t have it. You are not going to disrespect her.'"

drinking again

Hudson plays the piano...

Oh lord, R49.

I thought it was a joke!

Funny that she left her purse on the piano in op's video. The guy who took over on piano after she walked on stage, could have stolen her cash!!!

I can understand that, OP. You're used to pop stars that can barely sing, let alone read music or play an instrument. Things were very different back then.

R53, I beg your pardon

I wouldn't categorize her performance at the Kennedy Center as just being lovely but rather as soulful, inspiring and very personal. Thats the mark of a truly gifted performer. Obviously Carole King agreed. I was never that big a fan of her voice but I can't deny her talent or her ability to bring down the house.

I am sure it is lovely and touching, but I can't watch the video @R14. In that still she looks like my giant Maine Coon in his last days, ravaged by lymphoma.

Miss Aretha was one of a kind.

She played keyboards for a lot of Live at Fillmore West (a Rhodes here, I think). One of the greatest live albums ever. She made Bread sound soulful.

R57 Fuck. This is too good. Will have to check out the whole album now. Thanks for the recommendation.

R23, that was a live album of a concert she gave while her father preached, which was supposed to be turned into a documentary by Sydney Pollack, until Aretha put the kibosh on it for many years. I believe some form of the film was released a year or two ago. When I listen to the live album (“Amazing Grace”) it brings tears to my eyes, her voice is so powerful (Virgin MARY!). I’m crazy about Live at the Fillmore West too.

David Ritz’s biography of her (“Respect”) is excellent and explains the many complications of Aretha in a way that finally made sense to me. A proud, anxious, haunted, loyal, loving, hurt-many-times genius.

Here’s a younger Aretha playing piano on Dr. Feelgood, which she also wrote.

R23 : This was recorded over two nights in 1972 at a Los Angeles church for Aretha’s live, gospel album “Amazing Grace.” It eventually became the best selling gospel album of all time, iirc. The singing and production is epic. My mother was actually in the audience of the church during the first night. I was about two years old at the time and watched by a babysitter at home.

The video was recorded for a concert film and documentary around the album — directed by Sydney Pollack — that was supposed to be released around the same time as the album. It was held up forever — almost 50 years — and only released after Aretha’s death several years ago.

If you’re an Aretha fan, you’ll love the album even if you’re not a gospel fan. Her arrangements on “Mary Don’t You Weep””Old Landmark” and “You’ve Got a Friend” become among the gold standards in the industry.

The film of Amazing Grace is streaming now on Hulu. I can't remember why Aretha wouldn't allow it to be released at the time, but it's well worth watching for anyone who's curious.

Thanks, R60!

Yes, Aretha always insisted on a percentage of her pay upfront in cash.

This thread is bittersweet. Is the era of great, larger-than-life singers/artists is truly over? Was browsing YouTube for current hits from the likes of Lizzo, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Normani and they all leave me cold. Maybe I'm just getting old.

I think younger artists don't have the personality, nor the depth, to be terribly interesting R64.

They're all just boring clones. Same old, same old shit in a different package.

These great singers of old had character, charisma, HUGE personalities that were based on interesting life experiences, AND actual talent.

Fuck, she knew what she was doing

Well, I had no idea she could fly!

Some good playing here

That is so good, r60.

[quote] I will never forgive Obama and Michelle for not showing up at Aretha's funeral

I just ran across a video interview that Aretha did with The Wall Street Journal Live.

At the 4:30 mark the interviewer asks her about election day, and Barack Obama. He said, "You've been a big supporter of his, and even sang at his Inauguration. How do you think he has done so far?"

And she replied, "It's not for me to say." And she didn't really say anything else.

What the hell??

Is there some bad blood between them?

It's interesting, because she gives her opinion on other singers like Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and Adele. But when asked about Nicki Minaj, she likewise gave a "no comment."

Her lack of a response on both Obama and Nicki Minaj, is very telling.

SPY Magazine once reported that she brought out a repairman to her Detroit mansion to see what was wrong with her Steinway, and he discovered that what he assumed was years' worth of orange Cheetos dust between the keys was gumming them up.

Arethas producer Jerry Wexler:

It’s always been my belief that when a singer plays an instrument, you should let them play it on the record, even if the singer is not a virtuoso, because they’re bringing another element to the recording that is uniquely themselves. In Aretha’s case, there was no compromise in quality. She was a brilliant pianist, a combination of Mildred Falls, Mahalia Jackson’s accompanist — and Thelonious Monk. In other words, Aretha brought a touch of jazz to her gospel piano. And it was all instinctual. I don’t think she had any classical training. She just put it together. It was part of her genius. No one could copy her. How could they? She’s all alone in her greatness.

What I find almost endearing in a stomach churning way, is the oiks on youtube wot (sic) have trained musicians (instrumentalists, vocalists, &c.) listening to rock and roll stars, and reacting to the style in wh. they perform. I.E. Ian Anderson's flute playing. It just goes to show that formal music training isn't the short cut to riches..

Miss Franklin was so talented. Her 1980 album, eponymously titled, is brilliant.

I think the 3:10 mark in OP's video where Aretha sheds her coat is the original "Mink Drop"

I thinks it's wonderful that the Kennedy Center Honors has 'created' some phenomenal performances to honor the awardees. This Aretha performance will live on as has Heart's version of "Stairway to Heaven". It's more than just a match of singer with song --- the reverence and love to the honoree comes through on video.

Bill Clinton did a speech at Aretha's funeral, which was funny and touching at the same time. He went to see her at Elton John's AIDS Benefit concert, months before she died and when she heard Bill Clinton was in the audience she invited him backstage greeting him with 'How are you doing baby?'

I'm so boggled by her relationship with our two former presidents, R75.

People automatically assume that she would have a relationship with Obama, because he's part black. But clearly in the video at R70, she doesn't like him. In fact, when the interviewer asks her if she has "spoken to" him, she flat out says "No."

But then your story at R75, portrays a close relationship with Clinton.

I think in Aretha's case, it's all about warmth and authenticity.

I don't think that Obama has either of those qualities. He's somewhat cold and aloof.

Whereas, Clinton has always exuded those qualities, which is probably why Aretha likes him better.

Aretha would have liked that Bill flirted with her (which I’m sure he did, he did with women, men, babies, pets, rocks, etc), and probably didn’t like that Barack treated her with politeness, as an older lady.

Obama is a social climber.

Barack Obama is the Meghan Markle of politics.

R77 So true...the best way to deal with most older women is to flatter and flirt with them...they don't want to remember how old they are.

And Aretha was an OLD lady

r76 is one of those people that think all black people are friends because they're black. I read a book from an Obama staffer. He said Barack is aloof and would rather chill at home with his family. Michelle, on the other hand, is outgoing, throws in a hug when you stretch out your hand to shake hers and is the kind of person that takes a bite of a burger off your plate. He also said all the Obamas' close friends are basically Michelle's friends. Has few to none independently. It's racist to expect Barack and Aretha to personally connect just because they're both black.

Michelle hung with the Sesame Street gang

R82 so the Obamas are the exact opposite of the Clintons…Bill and Michelle should get together.

Aretha Franklin had no trouble speaking her mind.

According to Fantasia Barrino, she got a big dose of Franklin’s sometimes-sassy personality upon their first meeting some 11 years ago.

“I was able to sing for her when they were honoring her [at a 2007 tribute concert] at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, which is actually where I won ‘American Idol,’” Barrino, 34, told Billboard recently. “I was stupid nervous because I was the little girl that was listening to Aretha. My first cassette was Aretha Franklin.”

After performing her tribute, Barrino was introduced to Franklin.

“She walked around the room gracefully, as Aretha would do – very smooth,” Barrino remembered. “She shook hands, gave people one or two words and kept it moving.”

Franklin’s mood suddenly shifted when she reached Barrino. “She finally gets to me, and she looks at me – I’m still crying. And she said, ‘You can sing – but I’m the bitch around here.’ I’m thinking, ‘Wait a minute! That’s not what I was ready for!’ But she was serious.”

Barrino replied to the unusual exchange, “Yes, ma’am.”

“And I understood exactly what she was saying because she was that in my life, for me,” the Grammy winner explained. “There will never, ever be another Aretha Franklin. That’s what she was letting me know: ‘You’re good, but always know, I’m the head chick.’”

I have to laugh at how often the word "respect" gets tossed around, when talking about Aretha Franklin.

As much as she demanded respect from others, she certainly didn't seem to give a lot of it.

And honestly? What kind of selfish bitch doesn't leave a will or trust for her kids (one of them is special needs), ESPECIALLY when she's sitting on an $80,000,000 estate?

That's just fucked up.

[quote] Aretha Franklin Left No Will or Trust Behind, Four Sons to Split Her $80M Estate

Aretha Franklin died with a reported net worth of $80 million… but left no will behind… which is surprising considering her long battle with various health ailments and a timeless music library. Franklin died August 16 at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the singer died “intestate” — meaning she had no will at the time of death. Although she was ill for several years and has a special needs son who requires financial and other forms of support for the rest of his life — having a will was low on the priority list, the outlet noted. According to Michigan law, Franklin’s 4 kids will share equally in her estate, which celebritynetworth.com claims is estimated to be around $80 million.

Kenneth Silver, a shareholder at Hertz Schram law firm in Michigan, speculates to PEOPLE that the hitmaker left behind a number of assets. “I would expect that she has a house, probably a financial account of some kind — a brokerage account, stocks, bond, cash. She probably has investments of a wide variety — perhaps in real estate ventures, other businesses that she may own or have an interest in.”

He also noted, “[She may have] copyrights to her songs, perhaps publishing rights to her material, perhaps the material of other artists. And I’m sure she has probably a pretty valuable collection of personal property, things like Grammys, gold records, memorabilia from Motown years and onward.”

Meanwhile, Shaheen Imami, a shareholder at Prince Law Firm in Michigan, told the publication: “If she had an estate plan, you’ll first look to the estate plan,” he says. “If she did have a plan, it would consist of a will and a trust. And then they divvy up the money in a number of different ways among various beneficiaries.”

Adding, “Now, there are often people who are marginalized or cut out — maybe they’re family members, maybe they’re friends, maybe they’re anybody who might feel that ‘Well, I deserve a share of her estate.’ There could be litigation even if she had an estate plan in place.”

He further speculated: “My expectation is that as much will be done behind closed doors as possible,” Silver says. “It is the objective of the survivors of any deceased, whether it be Aretha Franklin or John Smith, to handle affairs as simply and quickly as you can. If you can avoid court proceedings, you want to avoid court proceedings. Sometimes you just can’t do that… In my experience, the larger the estate, the more public the figure, the greater the likelihood that there is going to be an issue.”

Putting her purse on top of the piano... what a classic!

R15 You must be a dumb ass bitch. You do realize some of Motowns biggest acts were adorned by white audiences. They could not havr achieved such popularity without them. I'm not just talking about the Jackson 5 and Diana Ross. The temptations, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, teenage Stevie Wonder had big hit songs and were popular with white audiences though not massive stars like Diana and the Jackson's. Does that help you understand things better.

My childhood friend, was a big Motown fan. He said most performers fasted before a big performance, but not Aretha! She stuffed herself with carbs, big mounds of mac and cheese!