Slate Magazine reposted this
Chart columnist, pop critic – host of Hit Parade podcast, writer of "Why Is This Song No. 1?"
Find out what it means to me: In this very fraught month, my new Hit Parade episode is all about the natural woman, the legend, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Sure, she had that regal title. But Franklin didn’t just want to be worshipped—she wanted hits. And she got them, on her terms. In the ’60s, when showtunes and standards didn’t work, Aretha switched to gritty R&B and gospel harmonies—and started topping the charts. In the ’70s, when she recorded a live album in a church, it became her all-time bestseller. In the ’80s, when the MTV era changed the game, she did New Wave synthpop her way and scaled the charts again. In the ’90s, she tried house, hip-hop and New Jack Swing, scoring hits deep into her fifties. How did Franklin become a Queen, one hit at a time? In these dark times, if you need some life-giving soul and maybe a little prayer, join me as I explain how Aretha became an icon with self-respect, amazing grace and a deeper love. 💒🎙️👸🏾 LINK: https://lnkd.in/eUZTK5rV
