The Current's listeners remember Aretha Franklin
August 16, 2018
As we remember Aretha Franklin, we asked you to share your favorite memories, stories and songs of the late Queen of Soul.
Here is a selection of those submissions so far:
Linda Nelson, Minneiska, Minn.
We taught "Respect" to our nieces when they were little girls. We all sang backup and danced. The record was on repeat 25 times in a row as we drove them home one time. That song still ties us all together 20 years later.
Tim Roesler, Wayzata, Minn.
I was a big Carole King fan; loved the whole Tapestry album. When Aretha covered "Natural Woman," however, it was like modern day mic drop. I thought, "What just happened? How do you take a song that was great, performed by its composer perfectly, and yet make it even better? Have Aretha cover it." It was a stunning and wonderful surprise to a crossover music community. Just stunning.
Carolyn S., Lakeville, Minn.
At the 1998 Grammy Awards, Aretha Franklin stepped in last minute to sing "Nessun Dorma" because Luciano Pavarotti was too ill to perform. She had little time to prepare, but she killed the performance. Still gives me chills whenever I hear that version of the song.
Gary Miller, St. Paul, Minn.
My wife and I saw Aretha in 2004 right after Ray Charles passed away. That night she sat down at the piano and performed "Georgia." It was heartfelt and unforgettable.
Alayne House, Duluth, Minn.
"One Step Ahead" is my most recent favorite song. It was part of the soundtrack from "Moolight." It is such a lovely ballads and in the placement of the movie it is so appropriate; so smooth and intoxicating. Lucky for us her songs will live on as she leaves us.
Heidi Jensen, St. Paul, Minn.
A few years back, rumors began that Aretha had cancer and was never going to tour again. I was heartbroken. I had never had the opportunity to experience Aretha live. Later, miraculously she was afforded a remission, a miracle she gave full credit and thanks for to God. I was blessed to experience Aretha in person two times, both at very small venues. She completely owned every ounce of space in each venue. She was amazing! Thank you, Aretha, for sharing your gifts (among them strength, independence, music, and passion) with me and with the world.
Wendy Lutter, St. Paul, Minn.
Aretha Franklin has always been in my top 10. In college, my roommate and I lip synced to "Natural Woman" in hairbrushes. I took my daughter to see her at the Minnesota State Fair a few years ago. Her voice still sounded amazing. She got more and more into it as the night went on, playing many encores. The crowd went crazy. She wouldn't get off the stage and they started the fireworks behind her and she just kept belting it out. I appreciate her being one of the originals to empower women. She will be greatly missed.
Deb Cannon, Rochester, Minn.
It was 1980, I was 11 and my parents took me to see The Blues Brothers movie. There's a reason people reference The Blues Brothers movie even today. The amount of musical talent in one film was staggering: James Brown, Chaka Khan, John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, but then there was Aretha. When she came on screen at her diner, Mom let a little gasp slip. I knew Aretha was important, but didn't know how important. Aretha had so much PRESENCE on the screen. Then she sang "Think." I was blown away. There was passion and fire in her voice. At that point, I wanted Aretha's character, Mrs. Murphy, to win. I wanted Jake and Elwood to walk away without Blue Lou and Matt "Guitar" Murphy. I wanted them to lose so Mrs. Murphy could be victorious because in my eyes, Aretha Franklin could do no wrong. She was a shining star that we did not deserve, but were lucky to have.
Steve Clark, New Brighton, Minn.
Back in the day, we used to take an annual winter bus trip to ski at Lutsen. One year someone brought Aretha's Greatest Hits. We danced and partied most of the weekend to her tunes. Her name was shortened to 'Retha by someone in our bunch and it stuck. "Put on some Retha" was heard often that weekend and on many of the following years' ski trips. RIP 'Retha.
Brinsley Davis, Minneapolis
As a middle-schooler in the '90s, I took over my family's copy of "30 Greatest Hits" by Aretha Franklin, the two-disc set with the orange cover. It was the most amazing music I had ever heard. I memorized every song. The arrangements were inventive, her singing so emotional, she transformed songs I knew from other artists and made them sound like the the only way they should ever be sung. That album still amazes me.
Nan Becker, Menomonie, Wis.
In the late '60s, my family moved to Northern California. I was approaching adolescence and was starting to develop my own musical interests. Aretha was a revelation to me. She sang with a passionate fury about love, loss, faith and being feminine that redefined for me what becoming a woman was all about in changing times. She could be a link in a chain of fools, yet she demanded to be heard as an individual. Respect, in all its permutations, was a right instead of an indulgence. She was my hero, my mentor. She was my voice.
Mary-Margaret Zindren, St. Paul, Minn.
A few years ago, I was part of a pilgrimage to Selma for the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. In preparation for that trip, my mostly White church and a mostly Black church got together to explore questions of race and to build community. At one of those sessions, the facilitator — with very little intro — played what I thought was the definitive version of "Nessun Dorma," the operatic aria, sung by Luciano Pavoratti. Then he played Aretha Franklin's version. It blew me away. It was the same song, but artistically interpreted in a completely different way. It is now my favorite version and brings me back to that extraordinary shared experience, which is really what music is meant to do, right?
Sally Patrick, via Facebook
We took many camping trips in our Ford van with our three daughters and the Rottweiler. Aretha was always one of the cassettes we played and sang along to. We have many vinyl and CDs also. She is the best of the best. I got to see her once, at Grand Casino in Hinckley. It was outdoors, and windy. She was cold and not happy until they brought her full-length fur. But she sang like it was Carnegie Hall.
Sue Tripiano, via Facebook
Thanks for playing Aretha Franklin's music this morning. Love the purse story from the Windsor casino, across the river from Detroit. I grew up about six blocks down from the Franklins in Detroit and went to Rev. Franklin's tent church in the summer.
Sean W. Henry, via Facebook
As college-freshmen dorm rats at the University of Minnesota in 1986-87, my friends and I would meet almost daily at the Big 10 after classes, and part of the ritual was to play "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" on the jukebox.
Anne Stohr, St. Louis Park, Minn.
I first fell hard in fan-stricken love with the feminine pulchritude and sheer revelry of Aretha as a young teenager in the late Sixties. A friend from school (Jean Marie) and I would listen to Aretha's 45 RPM recordings of "Natural Woman," "Respect," and "The House That Jack Built" with joy-drenched transport from our tumultuous lives and times during the Vietnam draft. Aretha, you shone your magnificent light into the dark corners of our apprehensions. When we feared the loss of our menfolk to the menacing manacle of the draft, your courage, beauty, authoritative style and dignity ruled us into an awakened conviction of life as women of personal value. We realized there was no purpose for fear, but a great purpose in embracing the dignity of who we were and would be. Tearful tributes and much joy that this great lady has gone enlighten her eternal home!
Garrett Lanzy, Woodbury, Minn.
I probably first heard Aretha's music before I was born (1962 in Detroit). For everyone who has lived in Detroit, she was always ""one of us." I'll be heading there next weekend; with any luck, I'll be able to attend a memorial in her honor. May her music continue to inspire humanity for generations to come.
Katrina Jo-Anne Fowler, Oamaru, New Zealand
She was an inspiration to so many people. Women and girls of all nationalities. I'm tearing up thinking about her and the encouragement and strength her powerful voice and lyrics embodied. She was loved and loving. A force of good and instrument of God. I loved you, strong, humble, faithful woman.
Mark Kramer, Minneapolis
While traveling with my young son, we often listened to music. Once I gave him a choice of listening to Aretha Franklin or Vivaldi. His response: "Reefa, no Valdi!"
Mary Jefferson, Louisville, Ky.
Prolific, prodigy with a voice that seeps into parts of your soul you never knew even existed … that's Aretha, no last name needed. And, like our Purple Yoda, Prince, the memories and music are everlasting. Now the queen has put her burdens down to finally rest in peace … and that, to me, is the beauty of her "going up yonder."
Want to share your memories, too? Send us your tributes to Aretha Franklin.