UPDATE: Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul died on the 16th of August, 2018.
Aretha Franklin is the undisputed Queen of Soul. The seventy-six year old music maven is globally recognized as a living legend. Her unique sound has sold millions of records and earned her lasting recognition.
Aretha has had a hugely successful music career that has spanned decades. She is however most famous for re-making the iconic Dionne Warwick song, I Say A Little Prayer.
This version of the iconic song has spawned tons of covers and has been sampled in films, series and by other musicians. In February 1987, UK music weekly New Musical Express published its critics’ top 150 singles of all time, with Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer” ranked at No. 1.
This morning, it was reported that she is gravely ill and is surrounded by friends and family. It has been revealed that she has been battling cancer for the past eight years. This has led to a massive out-pour of love, support and prayers from colleagues and fans alike;
I Say a Little Prayer for Aretha Franklin 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ktIeJEOVp2
— Claire Underwood (@ParisPasRose) August 13, 2018
We are praying for the iconic Queen of Soul the inimitable Aretha Franklin #PrayersForAretha pic.twitter.com/juOmgw8RQ2
— Jared Sawyer Jr. (@JaredSawyerJr) August 13, 2018
C'mon, Miss 'Retha, don't leave us yet.
This madness WILL be over.
Stay with us.
#Aretha
#ArethaFranklinpic.twitter.com/PW1gpflgtw— Bonnie Greer (@Bonn1eGreer) August 13, 2018
I'm definitely saying a little prayer for the incomparable Ms. Aretha Franklin this morning. Her legacy is unmatched and I hope she knows how celebrated she is as a woman, vocalist, pianist, and our Queen of Soul.
— Jasemine Leshaun (@JasemineLeshaun) August 13, 2018
Dear Universe: We will happily trade you Donald Trump if you let us keep Aretha Franklin.
— MyMindMisgives (@caseyst) August 13, 2018
For you youngsters, did you know #ArethaFranklin once stepped in for Pavarotti… and sang Nessun Dorma? Wow 😮 Yes, that’s how remarkable Ms. Franklin was!
Nessun Dorma , Turandot, Aretha Franklin, New York 1998 https://t.co/qOEQka28MR via @YouTube
— Russ (@BlkPoliticSport) August 13, 2018
I know Aretha Franklin is not immortal but I need her to be.
— Julie S. Lalonde (@JulieSLalonde) August 13, 2018
And Aretha refused to admit she’s been battling cancer. She lost all 3 of her siblings to that horrible disease, so I can understand why.
— Ms. O (@Fabulousity201) August 13, 2018
Aretha Franklin is the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is truly The Queen, y’all.
If we lose the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, I'm going to need every awards ceremony: Grammys, Billboard, Oscars, VMAs, AMAs, BET Awards to start getting their tributes ready and done right ASAP.
Some of y'all tried it with Prince, but I will boycott y'all if you ruin hers.
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 13, 2018
Another famous song of Aretha’s is Respect. The song has served as a feminist anthem for decades. It is also a cover of the song Respect by American recording artist Otis Redding, released in 1965.
It is easily recognized as one of the best songs of the R&B era, earning her two Grammy Awards in 1968 for “Best Rhythm & Blues Recording” and “Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female“, and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987.
Furthermore, in 2002, the Library of Congress honored Aretha’s version by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It is number five on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time“. It has also been included in the list of “Songs of the Century“, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Let’s all say a prayer for Aretha Franklin.
My prayers are with Aretha Franklin & her family during this difficult time 🙏🏾 LOOK BELOW @ what I tweeted at the top of the year we MUST CELEBRATE the Living Legends while they are here to see it. So many have given us decades of Timeless music…❤️ https://t.co/VVacLxcMSI
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 13, 2018
How does this make you feel? Let us know in the comments.
Ndewoo!
