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Aretha Franklin


Born: 1942
Died: 2018 (age 76)
Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Real Name: Aretha Franklin
AKA: The Queen of Soul
Genre: Soul
Years Active: 1957 - 2017
Way of Working: Sang other peoples songs with some exceptions

Essential Releases

Dummy

I Never Loved a
Man... (1967)

Gospel-flavoured soul.

Album Title 2

Lady Soul (1968)

Her peak.

Album Title 3

Amazing Grace (1972)

Live gospel album.



As a high school dropout whose mother died before the age of 10, Aretha Franklin was no stranger to hardship. Raised primarily by her father, who was a Baptist minister, she learned to sing better than, perhaps, any other person in history. Rolling Stone have released two 'Greatest Singers of All Time' lists, both were topped by Franklin.

Aretha infused soul music with her deeply rooted gospel background to propel the genre into the hearts and minds of countless music fans over a career spanning seven decades. Not only did she become an icon of the civil rights movement, she also sold more than 75 million records, putting her on a commercial par with Nirvana and Tupac.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
95

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
35

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
40

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
55

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
65

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
95

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
65

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
60

Singing

i Technical attributes.
100

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
45

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
70

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
55

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
75

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
80

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
55

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
75

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards

Certifications >>>

  • Gold: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) - in USA
  • Gold: Lady Soul (1968) - in USA
  • Gold: Aretha Now (1968) - in USA
  • Gold: Young, Gifted & Black (1972) - in USA
  • Gold: Jump to It (1982) - in USA
  • Who's Zoomin Who' (1985) - Platinum in USA, Canada; Silver in UK
  • Gold: Aretha (1986) - in USA, Canada
  • Gold: A Rose Is Still A Rose (1998) - in USA

Charts >>>

  • I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967): #1 in USA; #2 in Canada
  • Lady Soul (1968): #2 in USA; #2 in Canada
  • Aretha Now (1968): #3 in USA; #2 in Canada

Critics >>>

  • Pitchfork: Lady Soul (1968) - Best Albums of the Sixties: #29
  • Rolling Stone: Lady Soul (1968) - The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020): #75

CRITICISM

  • Well-known to be a diva who would no-show gigs and not pay her bills. Franklin had several feuds with singers such as Patti LaBelle and Dionne Warwick. Franklin claimed Warwick told blatant lies about her and Warwick said Franklin perceived other singers as "threats".

    Although Franklin was a stunning singer, covers and songs written by other people comprised the majority of her releases. Taylor Swift singing an album of Katy Perry covers would be strange today but the prevailing sentiment at Aretha's time was that the singer makes the song. It was common practice for artists to perform "standards", which are established songs with proven popularity.

    While this isn't a true criticism, some people consider it a weak point when separating the great from the truly great.


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