One of the most talented singers in the history of music, Aretha Franklin, passed away last week, and her talent and influence cannot be denied, even in the spheres of rock music.
Everyone's been posting up their favorite tracks, usually her cameo in the movie "The Blues Brothers" where she performed her hit song "Think". Ehhhhh....
"A Change Is Gonna Come" is originally a song by Sam Cooke, written after an incident at a motel in Louisiana where Cooke was denied a motel room due to the color of his skin. He rightfully made a fuss about it, and was arrested by the cops at another lodge up the road.
Sam Cooked was murdered 3 years before Aretha Franklin recorded her version, and by changing around some phrasing, she turns it into a eulogy, using his song to ensure that the fight will continue.
One thing I never appreciated about Aretha until I copped most of this article for research is that she sound so natural when she sings. Like, not "talk singing", but singing in a conversational range. Yet, for a tone reserved for clarity and intimacy, she can still belt out every note. And IT JUST. KEEPS. BUILDING. AS. THE. SONG. GOES. ON.
It feels like, she's putting a hand on the listeners shoulder, singing a lullaby as they start to cry themselves to sleep, and saying "It's going to be OK. Change IS coming."
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