https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45172883

Best wishes to a star in trouble, the quality of her voice is without measure.

I was ready for this when it was announced she had pancreatic cancer. People do not recover from that. She has a long and successful career. As much as I love her classics, her cover of Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" is fantastic.

"The Blue's Brothers? Sheeeet they still you owe you money fooool!" Woman is total legend!

Hey guys,
All the best wishes from Downunder to a true music icon.
Aretha's duet with George Michael, 'I Knew You Were Waiting For Me' is set to be he theme song for my next huge life milestone.
I heard a rumour that Aretha had recorded 'recently' a new album of duets for release later this year.... Anyone know anything about it?
Best wishes, Aretha,
Bunumuring

It's a matter of time, unfortunately. The Queen of Soul won't be around forever.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

scbriml wrote:

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

P.E.R.F.E.C.T. response.

And I agree.

Tugg

Aretha Franklin has passed away after her battle with Pancreatic cancer. RIP to a great woman.

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Public ... 20811.html

casinterest wrote:

Aretha Franklin has passed away after her battle with Pancreatic cancer. RIP to a great woman.

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Public ... 20811.html

Just saw the news pop up. Cheers to a legend!

A sad loss.

Oh nooo.... R.I.P. Aretha Franklin :'(

The heavens bow today with Respect to the goddess Aretha Franklin !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

She made a couple of good records, but I don't get the amount of praise being heaped on her. A lot of her stuff seems to sound the same, and she specialises in screeching with little melody. Nina Simone and (even) Dusty Springfield were much more powerful singers. Still, RIP. She made her mark.

We are all different, thank goodness, and we don't all like the same things. As you say she made her mark. I really enjoyed her voice and her style. That choir upstairs is getting bigger each year.

This couldn't have happened to Beyonce or Cardi B instead? Ugh, RIP to a legend.

Braybuddy wrote:

She made a couple of good records, but I don't get the amount of praise being heaped on her. A lot of her stuff seems to sound the same, and she specialises in screeching with little melody. Nina Simone and (even) Dusty Springfield were much more powerful singers. Still, RIP. She made her mark.

I'm inclined to agree with you, as I don't find that style of call and response, and vocal exercises on top of background singers singing the actual lyrics, particularly enjoyable. Ms. Franklin, like Whitney Houston (ever heard her mother sing gospel?...that's definitely not for everybody) and many others, was brought up in a black gospel tradition of singing. If you're not familiar with it it sounds odd.

Whatever style she chose to sing it, she had a naturally gifted voice.

Lady Soul was one of my favorites. Pure talent, one of the greatest voices and class all the way. God Speed.

Many a night while building my home in 1966-67, I listened to her singing "Respect" The painters used to work after hours and those two wacky guys did a routine to the music while painting. Quite a singer.

Interestingly, SiriusXM's Watercolors is playing a few of her songs in honor of her, even though she wasn't a smooth jazz artist.

Braybuddy wrote:

She made a couple of good records, but I don't get the amount of praise being heaped on her. A lot of her stuff seems to sound the same, and she specialises in screeching with little melody. Nina Simone and (even) Dusty Springfield were much more powerful singers. Still, RIP. She made her mark.

You don’t get it because it’s an authentic sampling of things true ‘Americana’ ... it’s not for everyone to get. And some people outright hate things related to ‘America’...and that’s okay too.

America’s most widespread export for more than a century is Jazz music. Although Aretha was more of a soulful crooner (a brilliantly talented one at that) there are roots there that can be traced to jazz itself. By greatest export I mean there isn’t a nation on earth that has zero jazz fans and those who respect and appreciate those with music skills, instruments or voice or both.

Aretha was a unique brand, nothing seen since and doubtful ever to be seen/heard again.

BN747

BN747 wrote:

You don’t get it because it’s an authentic sampling of things true ‘Americana’ ... it’s not for everyone to get. And some people outright hate things related to ‘America’...and that’s okay too.

America’s most widespread export for more than a century is Jazz music. Although Aretha was more of a soulful crooner (a brilliantly talented one at that) there are roots there that can be traced to jazz itself. By greatest export I mean there isn’t a nation on earth that has zero jazz fans and those who respect and appreciate those with music skills, instruments or voice or both.

Aretha was a unique brand, nothing seen since and doubtful ever to be seen/heard again.

BN747

You're reading too much into my post. It has nothing to do with America and everything to do with her voice. I get it that she could sing, and I even bought a couple of her records in the 60s and 70s. "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Don't Play That Song" are two I remember, but that was probably more for the songs, and the arrangement, than her singing. I love jazz, or at least some jazz; not pushed on gospel, but I respect it and do recognise it as a powerful music genre and huge influence on popular music over the years. I'm just a bit suspect when I hear EVERYONE (not a dissenting voice so far, although I do realise people don't like to speak ill of the recently deceased) wax lyrical about the "Queen of Soul". I would dispute that. For me the real Queen of Soul, and jazz, was Nina Simone. I'd listen to 100 of her records in one sitting, but I'd be bored after three of Aretha's.

Braybuddy wrote:

BN747 wrote:

You don’t get it because it’s an authentic sampling of things true ‘Americana’ ... it’s not for everyone to get. And some people outright hate things related to ‘America’...and that’s okay too.

America’s most widespread export for more than a century is Jazz music. Although Aretha was more of a soulful crooner (a brilliantly talented one at that) there are roots there that can be traced to jazz itself. By greatest export I mean there isn’t a nation on earth that has zero jazz fans and those who respect and appreciate those with music skills, instruments or voice or both.

Aretha was a unique brand, nothing seen since and doubtful ever to be seen/heard again.

BN747

You're reading too much into my post. It has nothing to do with America and everything to do with her voice. I get it that she could sing, and I even bought a couple of her records in the 60s and 70s. "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Don't Play That Song" are two I remember, but that was probably more for the songs, and the arrangement, than her singing. I love jazz, or at least some jazz; not pushed on gospel, but I respect it and do recognise it as a powerful music genre and huge influence on popular music over the years. I'm just a bit suspect when I hear EVERYONE (not a dissenting voice so far, although I do realise people don't like to speak ill of the recently deceased) wax lyrical about the "Queen of Soul". I would dispute that. For me the real Queen of Soul, and jazz, was Nina Simone. I'd listen to 100 of her records in one sitting, but I'd be bored after three of Aretha's.

Fair enough, but understand I’m not criticizing your stance, I’m just pointing out it’s an ‘American thing’
I don’t think Aretha’s talents are worldwide at all nowhere near the chord that Michael Jackson achieved. Aretha’s connection to black Americans is quite different from the connection that many white Americans experience...but her cross over appeal is solid. However, there are indeed many white Americans who unquestionably feel her voicing of the black quest in American life in the same way they hear it in the voice/music of Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Luther Vandross or Teddy Pendergrass...

People outside the ‘target Audience’..get these singers this crossover appeal. But Aretha is difinite ‘you had to be there’ kinda thing at the height of her career, and if you were there at the time and didn’t catch on..well, it just doesn’t strike you in the way it did with millions it did. Everyone likes different things (music wise) we you to start a thread dedicated to the passing of say Stevie Ray Vaughn, I wouldn’t get it...because it’s something rather meaningless to me personally, but I would not come to your post/thread to say ‘I don’t get why people are fawning over him’...just something that never clicked with me, like Aretha did not with you.

BN747

Braybuddy wrote:

BN747 wrote:

You don’t get it because it’s an authentic sampling of things true ‘Americana’ ... it’s not for everyone to get. And some people outright hate things related to ‘America’...and that’s okay too.

America’s most widespread export for more than a century is Jazz music. Although Aretha was more of a soulful crooner (a brilliantly talented one at that) there are roots there that can be traced to jazz itself. By greatest export I mean there isn’t a nation on earth that has zero jazz fans and those who respect and appreciate those with music skills, instruments or voice or both.

Aretha was a unique brand, nothing seen since and doubtful ever to be seen/heard again.

BN747

You're reading too much into my post. It has nothing to do with America and everything to do with her voice. I get it that she could sing, and I even bought a couple of her records in the 60s and 70s. "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Don't Play That Song" are two I remember, but that was probably more for the songs, and the arrangement, than her singing. I love jazz, or at least some jazz; not pushed on gospel, but I respect it and do recognise it as a powerful music genre and huge influence on popular music over the years. I'm just a bit suspect when I hear EVERYONE (not a dissenting voice so far, although I do realise people don't like to speak ill of the recently deceased) wax lyrical about the "Queen of Soul". I would dispute that. For me the real Queen of Soul, and jazz, was Nina Simone. I'd listen to 100 of her records in one sitting, but I'd be bored after three of Aretha's.

Fair enough, but understand I’m not criticizing your stance, I’m just pointing out it’s an ‘American thing’
I don’t think Aretha’s talents are worldwide at all nowhere near the chord that Michael Jackson achieved. Aretha’s connection to black Americans is quite different from the connection that many white Americans experience...but her cross over appeal is solid. However, there are indeed many white Americans who unquestionably feel her voicing of the black quest in American life in the same way they hear it in the voice/music of Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Luther Vandross or Teddy Pendergrass...

People outside the ‘target Audience’..get these singers this crossover appeal. But Aretha is difinite ‘you had to be there’ kinda thing at the height of her career, and if you were there at the time and didn’t catch on..well, it just doesn’t strike you in the way it did with millions it did. Everyone likes different things (music wise) we you to start a thread dedicated to the passing of say Stevie Ray Vaughn, I wouldn’t get it...because it’s something rather meaningless to me personally, but I would not come to your post/thread to say ‘I don’t get why people are fawning over him’...just something that never clicked with me, like Aretha did not with you.

On aside note...I’m floored that A.ner member NIKV69 is an Aretha fan...I never saw that coming.

BN747

BN747 wrote:

People outside the ‘target Audience’..get these singers this crossover appeal. But Aretha is difinite ‘you had to be there’ kinda thing at the height of her career, and if you were there at the time and didn’t catch on..well, it just doesn’t strike you in the way it did with millions it did. Everyone likes different things (music wise) we you to start a thread dedicated to the passing of say Stevie Ray Vaughn, I wouldn’t get it...because it’s something rather meaningless to me personally, but I would not come to your post/thread to say ‘I don’t get why people are fawning over him’...just something that never clicked with me, like Aretha did not with you.
BN747

But isn't that what these threads are for? They would be pretty boring if we all had the same opinion. I'm just a little bit cynical when practically everybody suddenly seems to be a fan of someone who has died, particularly when they're not mainstream. Funny how you never heard these same people talking about these artists when they were alive, nor do you ever hear them humming their tunes, or even playing any of their albums.

RIP one of the greats now gone. A great talent and never forgot where she came from.

OA260 wrote:

RIP one of the greats

Out of curioisity, how many of her records have you bought?

Braybuddy wrote:

She made a couple of good records, but I don't get the amount of praise being heaped on her. A lot of her stuff seems to sound the same, and she specialises in screeching with little melody. Nina Simone and (even) Dusty Springfield were much more powerful singers. Still, RIP. She made her mark.

Hey Braybuddy - I have to agree with you on Dusty Springfield. God that woman had a voice. She was taken from us way too soon.

Braybuddy wrote:

BN747 wrote:

People outside the ‘target Audience’..get these singers this crossover appeal. But Aretha is difinite ‘you had to be there’ kinda thing at the height of her career, and if you were there at the time and didn’t catch on..well, it just doesn’t strike you in the way it did with millions it did. Everyone likes different things (music wise) we you to start a thread dedicated to the passing of say Stevie Ray Vaughn, I wouldn’t get it...because it’s something rather meaningless to me personally, but I would not come to your post/thread to say ‘I don’t get why people are fawning over him’...just something that never clicked with me, like Aretha did not with you.
BN747

But isn't that what these threads are for? They would be pretty boring if we all had the same opinion. I'm just a little bit cynical when practically everybody suddenly seems to be a fan of someone who has died, particularly when they're not mainstream. Funny how you never heard these same people talking about these artists when they were alive, nor do you ever hear them humming their tunes, or even playing any of their albums.

Well, not sure what to do with that, I mean my experiences do not match yours at all. Aretha is certainly household mainstream in America. And people are always talking about her, not like talking about Kardashian nonsense .. it’s a generationl thing, like I said above - you were there OR you weren’t.

You asked ‘isn’t that’s what these threads are about? ...discussion.

Yes they are.

And this one is a tribute to her.

You found a way to interject ‘what’s all the brouhaha over Aretha Franklin’ and proceeded to question peoples comments and adorations with that approach. So basically, you decided to toss a firebomb into the crowd and challenge everyone e’s stance. Responded and you took offense and said I was reading too much into your reply and now saying you’re participating within the thread’s intended purpose.

You fire bombed it with your opening approach and then get defensive over something you are out of the loop over. It would be best to abstain vs messing up the flow when everyone is showering well deserved accolades over a person who did nothing but good in her professional and private life-she was by no means whatsoever a controversial figure like say ‘Ted Nugent’...now imagine that future Obit thread here on A.net, you can bet your ass when that thread shows up and if everyone starts singing Ted Bugent praises (like her for Aretha) then counti on me being here firebombing that cheering crowd because he deserves to be thrashed about when he dies...good music or bad, he is a douchebag now and will be a rotting smelly one when he died.

See the difference?

BN747

Braybuddy wrote:

OA260 wrote:

RIP one of the greats

Out of curioisity, how many of her records have you bought?

Who has bought any records at all over the past years? I pay 9.99 a month not to worry about stuff like that. I don't care if old people like you consider people like me second grade fans. I love Aretha's music and I have had and have plenty of her music in my playlists over the years.

Does it even matter I'd you listen/listened to her music? Surely we can all give praise when it comes to such an iconic artist. Her influence reaches beyond her own music.

I hardly listened to her music at all. I onluh know of one song of hers. The obvious one. But I also understand her contribution to music.

Her impact on music will live on.

Braybuddy wrote:

OA260 wrote:

RIP one of the greats

Out of curioisity, how many of her records have you bought?

No records but around 11-12 of her CD's. My Sister actually has vinyl records of hers. It is however irrelevant what you buy or how many CDs/records you have. Most people I know have switched to digital downloads. Im going that way myself. I dont have the space anymore to keep lots of things. I have 5 boxes of records and CDs in the garage which will have to find a home.

BN747 wrote:

Well, not sure what to do with that, I mean my experiences do not match yours at all. Aretha is certainly household mainstream in America. And people are always talking about her, not like talking about Kardashian nonsense .. it’s a generationl thing, like I said above - you were there OR you weren’t.

You asked ‘isn’t that’s what these threads are about? ...discussion.

Yes they are.

And this one is a tribute to her.

You found a way to interject ‘what’s all the brouhaha over Aretha Franklin’ and proceeded to question peoples comments and adorations with that approach. So basically, you decided to toss a firebomb into the crowd and challenge everyone e’s stance. Responded and you took offense and said I was reading too much into your reply and now saying you’re participating within the thread’s intended purpose.

You fire bombed it with your opening approach and then get defensive over something you are out of the loop over. It would be best to abstain vs messing up the flow when everyone is showering well deserved accolades over a person who did nothing but good in her professional and private life-she was by no means whatsoever a controversial figure like say ‘Ted Nugent’...now imagine that future Obit thread here on A.net, you can bet your ass when that thread shows up and if everyone starts singing Ted Bugent praises (like her for Aretha) then counti on me being here firebombing that cheering crowd because he deserves to be thrashed about when he dies...good music or bad, he is a douchebag now and will be a rotting smelly one when he died.

See the difference?

BN747

Again you're reading far too much into my posts and taking offence when none was intended. It's pretty much a given that anything posted online will invite counter opinions, so we just have to live with that. I'm just extremely sceptical about the praise heaped on artists who have just died. Life-long fans spring up overnight and suddenly their back-catalogue races to the top of the charts. The people buying their stuff are the same people who wouldn't have touched it beforehand. Remember the "Good career move" quote when Elvis Presley died? I just don't get it: you either like someone or you don't, whether they are dead or alive.

aviationaware wrote:

Who has bought any records at all over the past years? I pay 9.99 a month not to worry about stuff like that. I don't care if old people like you consider people like me second grade fans. I love Aretha's music and I have had and have plenty of her music in my playlists over the years.

Well, vinyl is making a comeback big time, and anyone over 30 will have bought albums in various formats over the years. I'm delighted that you're a fan, but do you really believe there were all these closet Aretha fans out there? EVERYONE is suddenly a lifelong admirer and buyer of her music, despite her career being pretty patchy over the last 40 years. If you look at her discography, she has never had a number one album in the US charts, but she did have three top three albums back in 1967-68:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Fr ... iscography
So forgive me if I'm extremely sceptical about so many people buying her records over the years. Funny, as I'm typing this, "Respect" has just come on the radio. Good song, and a classic of its genre, even if I never actually got around to buying it.

OA260 wrote:

No records but around 11-12 of her CD's.

Well good for you. I hope you keep them well away from all those Eurovision records . . .

trpmb6 wrote:

Does it even matter I'd you listen/listened to her music? Surely we can all give praise when it comes to such an iconic artist. Her influence reaches beyond her own music.

I hardly listened to her music at all. I onluh know of one song of hers. The obvious one. But I also understand her contribution to music.

Her impact on music will live on.

For sure, and well said!

Braybuddy wrote:

OA260 wrote:

No records but around 11-12 of her CD's.

Well good for you. I hope you keep them well away from all those Eurovision records . . .

Those went to the charity shop. Not many of those in my vast varied music collection anyway

OA260 wrote:

Braybuddy wrote:

OA260 wrote:

No records but around 11-12 of her CD's.

Well good for you. I hope you keep them well away from all those Eurovision records . . .

Those went to the charity shop. Not many of those in my vast varied music collection anyway

Instead of just saying 11-12 (unspecified) CDs, I'd be much more interested in learning how you came to her music first, and why you liked her enough to buy all those CDs, also what ones you thought were her best, why you liked them and what ones were her duds (every artist has those ), as a true fan would. I liked her, didn't love her, but do recognise her contribution to music. Of her and her contemporaries, I much preferred Dionne Warwick and TIna Turner, and for sure Nina Simone. So my memories of Aretha are pretty sketchy. "I Say a Little Prayer" stands out, as, apart from being an absolute classic, it reminds me of when I first started working back in October 1968. I didn't like her enough to buy any albums, but the next single of hers that I bought, "Don't Play That Song", was in the summer of '70, and that was more for the song (one of the best intros ever, and probably my favourite track). The last record of hers that I bought was "Spanish Harlem", around 1971 I think, but I don't really know why as I was never particularly mad about it. Probably just an impulse buy. I liked "Who's Zooming Who" when she made a comeback in the 80s, but never liked it enough to buy it. I wasn't mad about her duets with the Eurythmics or George Michael, though I do believe they were both using each other, the former trying to revive a flagging career and the latter two bathing in the glory of a soul legend.

So, I'd love to hear your personal memories of the soul legend. . . .

Braybuddy wrote:

BN747 wrote:

Well, not sure what to do with that, I mean my experiences do not match yours at all. Aretha is certainly household mainstream in America. And people are always talking about her, not like talking about Kardashian nonsense .. it’s a generationl thing, like I said above - you were there OR you weren’t.

You asked ‘isn’t that’s what these threads are about? ...discussion.

Yes they are.

And this one is a tribute to her.

You found a way to interject ‘what’s all the brouhaha over Aretha Franklin’ and proceeded to question peoples comments and adorations with that approach. So basically, you decided to toss a firebomb into the crowd and challenge everyone e’s stance. Responded and you took offense and said I was reading too much into your reply and now saying you’re participating within the thread’s intended purpose.

You fire bombed it with your opening approach and then get defensive over something you are out of the loop over. It would be best to abstain vs messing up the flow when everyone is showering well deserved accolades over a person who did nothing but good in her professional and private life-she was by no means whatsoever a controversial figure like say ‘Ted Nugent’...now imagine that future Obit thread here on A.net, you can bet your ass when that thread shows up and if everyone starts singing Ted Bugent praises (like her for Aretha) then counti on me being here firebombing that cheering crowd because he deserves to be thrashed about when he dies...good music or bad, he is a douchebag now and will be a rotting smelly one when he died.

See the difference?

BN747

Again you're reading far too much into my posts and taking offence when none was intended. It's pretty much a given that anything posted online will invite counter opinions, so we just have to live with that. I'm just extremely sceptical about the praise heaped on artists who have just died. Life-long fans spring up overnight and suddenly their back-catalogue races to the top of the charts. The people buying their stuff are the same people who wouldn't have touched it beforehand. Remember the "Good career move" quote when Elvis Presley died? I just don't get it: you either like someone or you don't, whether they are dead or alive.

Again, not reading much into anything you’re stating at all, the problem is your perspective about what we are discussing is one where are of the belief that everyone processes their music intake in the same manner m as you do. Fact is people come to sounds/music/music genres/musical styles in many different ways, at many times throughout their life’s. Their taste change, their taste evolve, their taste even gets more sophisticated or even expanded across linear spectrums...how people come across what they like and when they like and differently than YOU do. That applies to many other things as well. Pretty sad that you find that difficult to grasp. - no offense-

BN747

BN747 wrote:

Again, not reading much into anything you’re stating at all, the problem is your perspective about what we are discussing is one where are of the belief that everyone processes their music intake in the same manner m as you do. Fact is people come to sounds/music/music genres/musical styles in many different ways, at many times throughout their life’s. Their taste change, their taste evolve, their taste even gets more sophisticated or even expanded across linear spectrums...how people come across what they like and when they like and differently than YOU do. That applies to many other things as well. Pretty sad that you find that difficult to grasp. - no offense-

BN747

I agree with you entirely. Everybody's taste changes, that's a given. What I'm talking about are the instant "lifelong" fans who pop-up when someone has just died, showering them with praise when they never actually bothered with them or bought or downloaded any of their stuff when they were alive. I just don't buy it, and it happens all the time.