After one listen to Aretha Franklin’s newest album (Aretha Franklin
Sings the Great Diva Classics) you realize why she’s the Queen. Actually maybe
you won’t if this is your first introduction to her. If you know Aretha from her 60s and 70s hits
than you know, what I know, and the world knows. Aretha Franklin is the Queen
of Soul and she does whatever she wants. You can hear her confidence in each
song. You feel that she left a piece of her Soul and it sticks with you.
Many people have stated that Aretha Franklin sounds old now.
Well, my friends at the age of 72, Aretha Franklin is old. I don’t care in what
profession she was in (if she wasn't in music), she would be considered old. It makes this collection of
10 classics even more special. Aretha Franklin is doing what God made her to
do. She’s singing her heart out and stirring souls. From her jazzy riffs to her
Gospel squalls. This is not a legend simply working but a legend working it!
Only Aretha Franklin would have enough heart and voice to
even attempt 10 songs that were already huge hits for other artists. All are
signature songs for other artists. Can you imagine Rihanna, Taylor Swift or even
Beyonce doing something so out there? Both “I’m Every Woman” and “Nothing
Compares 2 U” have already been huge hits for two other artists. I love the nod
to Whitney she tossed while starting the song with the Whitney arrangement and
then throwing in her own signature song “Respect".
The stand out track is “Nothing Compares 2 U” The Prince
written Sinead O’Connor megahit. What
Aretha and producer Andrea 2000 came up with was legendary in itself. They went
big band and it is the most organic soulful song on the entire album. The
blaring horns and the kickass piano is just amazing!
This is easily Aretha’s best albums since 1998’s “A Rose Is
Still A Rose”. As the title said: Aretha still sits on her throne.
Other interesting readings: Aretha's classic reading of "Teach Me Tonight" which returned her back to her Columbia years where she recorded an entire album dedicated to one of her favorite singers; Dinah Washington, "No One" shows off her one of a kind riffs and runs. "I Will Survive" and "Midnight Train to Georgia just shows you she will always do a song her way which is breaking all the rules and creating something new.
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