I think what set Aretha apart was the timbre of her voice, there's really no one else who sounds like her (without trying). Her voice is smooth and laid back while raspy and almost whiney at the same time. And that rasp and whine aren't as grating as say Fantasia's.

There's such an edge yet can also soar. It's such a great mix. Or was at her peak. It's hard to find anything like it, especially today when it's all about mediocre melisma.

I think it was Gladys Knight who said that Aretha was kinda shady towards her back when they were in their late teens/early twenties, like she's always had a competitive thing with other women.

If I remember correctly, Gladys said that when they were both teenagers and Aretha came down to Atlanta, she went over to Aretha and put her hand out to shake Aretha's, but Aretha just sort of rolled her eyes and walked away.

And again, years later, when they were both famous, Gladys said she and Bubba both went up to Aretha again, and were once again ignored.

This, plus a lot of what I've seen and heard about Aretha have really given me a negative impression of her.

(Until You Come Back to Me that is.)

The third of my favorite Aretha songs:

I should try to find that Amazing Grace album again. It's odd I haven't listened to it in years yet I always have that one part in my head, "We're on our way...we <clap clap> are <clap clap> on <clap clap> our <clap clap> way..."

I'm sorry, but I don't think Aretha can sing Bacharach/David. I know a lot of her fans go on about how versatile her voice is, but I've never really thought so.

She really doesn't have that dignified and polished voice that made Dionne such a hit with those Bacharach/David songs. Aretha's delivery doesn't really suit that kind of music IMO.

I don't think her voice is that versatile, but I do think it suits Say a Little Prayer. She sings very differently from Dionne, much more demanding, while Dionne is more plaintive. It works well both times. I tend to like Aretha's covers of that era because she doesn't sing them anything like the original. I can't stand the lazy covers you often have today.

I can't really imagine her belting out Do You Know the Way to San Jose? though.

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by CarlD2

Ugh, I need to start editing posts instead of hoping I'll type fast enough that they'll be absorbed into my last post. You guys are smart, but sorry if my postings are confusing.

Y&RWorldTurner, yup, that's the story, Gladys told it in her book. Even in the comments section of this video, people say Aretha's being shady and the hug at the end is forced:

I remember on Pop Up video them pointing out that she stole Carole King's solo from her on Divas Live. Carole was supposed to start off Natural Woman (her song!) and Aretha took the first line instead, and turned to Carole and "apologized". Poor Carole tried her best at the chorus but was drowned out (or was her mic cut out?) by the others trying to out-squall one another.

The Amazing Grace album is, well, Amazing. Aretha's mentor and producer of that album, the late Rev. James Cleveland said in a PBS program about her that Amazing Grace did so well because the gospel music listening community was so hungry to hear from such a popular secular artist.

I don't know if this dvd is b.s. but it's been on YouTube for a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6N7EYgfvo8

I've never gotten this woman's appeal. She's good and talented, but there's tons of gospel, soul, and R&B singers who put her ass to shame, IMO. Her legacy is entirely too overrated for my taste.

It has to be taste because Aretha is the Queen.

I'm sorry, but I don't think Aretha can sing Bacharach/David. I know a lot of her fans go on about how versatile her voice is, but I've never really thought so.

She really doesn't have that dignified and polished voice that made Dionne such a hit with those Bacharach/David songs. Aretha's delivery doesn't really suit that kind of music IMO.

I love Dionne, but Aretha leaves Dionne in the dust. Aretha can easily cover a Bacherach/David. Dionne's songs were tailor made for white audiences. Aretha sings country fried soul. How do you compare???

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by MontyB

There are people who are better and have never gotten their dues or are just a fixture on oldies channels, like Freda Payne or Jean Terrell or Mary Wells or Candi Staton, among many others, but when she was at her best the mixture of her voice, attitude, and production were just about unbeatable. It just sort of gets to me. Her gospel album, Amazing Grace, was beautifully produced.

To me this is perfection:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl7o7eZjLC4

It's funny that this song is mentioned in here, while Gladys was also brought up.

A few years ago when Stevie Wonder was presenting an award to Gladys, he said he wrote this song with Gladys in mind and she never got to record it because of scheduling conflicts. She's never sang it either, but I could totally see her singing it.

It has to be taste because Aretha is the Queen.

Yes taste, because I'd take someone like Mahalia Jackson (who was Aretha's idol I believe) over her any day.

I love Dionne, but Aretha leaves Dionne in the dust.

In vocal ability, I would agree. But I also think Aretha has a tendency to over-sing, and while Dionne isn't as powerful a vocalist, she's never tried to overcompensate for it by over-singing.

Aretha can easily cover a Bacherach/David.

I disagree, I think her raspy delivery is too out of touch with that kind of sleek production. Dionne's voice on the other hand was tailor-made for those kinds of songs.

Dionne's songs were tailor made for white audiences. Aretha sings country fried soul. How do you compare???

I don't think they're comparable in the general sense, but I will always associate Dionne with Bacharach/David. She was their protege, and this most of their songs were written with her in mind.

I don't think Aretha does pop songs very well. For example, I think she's totally miscast singing The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f5d0u_ye8Uk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yes taste, because I'd take someone like Mahalia Jackson (who was Aretha's idol I believe) over her any day.

In vocal ability, I would agree. But I also think Aretha has a tendency to over-sing, and while Dionne isn't as powerful a vocalist, she's never tried to overcompensate for it by over-singing.

I disagree, I think her raspy delivery is too out of touch with that kind of sleek production. Dionne's voice on the other hand was tailor-made for those kinds of songs.

I don't think they're comparable in the general sense, but I will always associate Dionne with Bacharach/David. She was their protege, and this most of their songs were written with her in mind.

I don't think Aretha does pop songs very well. For example, I think she's totally miscast singing The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f5d0u_ye8Uk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

.......because she's the QUEEN OF SOUL.

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by MontyB

That's interesting, I didn't know that a. Stevie "I done sung at errybody's funeral" Wonder wrote that, and b. Gladys was his first choice to record it.

Kind of like Whitney Houston's mother Cissy recording this a year before Gladys:

Can't you hear where Whitney got it from? Cissy's also the one hitting those soaring operatic notes in Aretha's "Ain't No Way".

.......because she's the QUEEN OF SOUL.

Aretha's catalog is quite expansive though, she's more than just a soul artist. She sings pop, gospel, contemporary R&B, jazz, etc.

Singers who stretch themselves out like that are bound to be more successful at certain types of songs, and not as good at others.

Aretha's catalog is quite expansive though, she's more than just a soul artist. She sings pop, gospel, contemporary R&B, jazz, etc.

Singers who stretch themselves out like that are bound to be more successful at certain types of songs, and not as good at others.

I know she's much more than a soul artist, but what do I say to someone who says that Aretha tends over sing(I'm still reeling from that one. Patti Labelle oversings). Aretha has cover a many song and have made them better than the original. Say what you will about Aretha, but no one has come close to taking her title.

Edited March 5, 201114 yr by MontyB