Posted on 02/09/2017 12:47:07 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The Queen of Soul is hanging up her crown. Aretha Franklin revealed in a new interview that she plans to retire this year after she releases her upcoming, as-yet-untitled album. See what she had to say in the video above!
Speaking to Detroit TV station WDIV Local 4 on Tuesday, February 7, the 74-year-old “Respect” singer opened up about her decision to wrap up her inimitable career, which began in January 1961 when she released her debut record, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo.
“I must tell you, I am retiring this year,” Franklin – who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 — told WDIV.
At least for the moment, though, the music icon is excited to treat fans to new music, produced by pal Stevie Wonder, when she drops her next album this September.
“I’m exuberant about it,” the Detroit resident said of her 42nd studio album, which she will record at her home in the Motor City. “I can’t wait to get in the studio and, of course, several of the songs are going to be produced by Stevie and of course there’s only one Stevie, right?”
According to the 18-time Grammy winner, she feels ready to retire because she couldn't be more content with all that she's accomplished as one of the world's most celebrated entertainers.
"I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from and where it is now," she told WDIV. "I'll be pretty much satisfied, but I'm not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn't be good either."
The powerhouse vocalist's most recent album, Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998, was released in 2012. She will kick off a six-city tour in Poughkeepsie, New York, on March 12.Although she may never tour or record again after 2017, Franklin is still open to participating in "some select things, maybe once a month, for six months out of the year."
Last time I saw/heard her sing was in the movie Blue Brothers and that was on my granddad’s VHS player.
Thank God I won’t have to listen to her awful screaming! Never could stand her verbal attacks on the eardrum.
I never thought I would say it but good riddance
Thanks Aretha for a fine musical career. You done good.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Just sing the #@$#@$ song. Don't need to hit every note in your range on every syllable.
The girls who sang America the Beautiful before the Super Bowl did that. I had to change the channel it was so obnoxious.
That singing style is indeed annoying. I think Aretha may have started that ball rolling. Whitney Houston made it even more of “a thing” and today Adele, Rhianna, Pink and many others (and EVERYONE on “American Idol”) does it way too much. It’s terribly self-indulgent.
a few years ago Aretha said she wanted Halle Berry to play her in a biopic. But there is no one for the role other than Jennifer Hudson.
Side note, there is an interview or documentary somewhere, maybe you tube, on Sam Cookie, who was smooth and a ;ladies man, till a woman shot him. Aretha toured with Sam as a long singer and she had relations with him during the tour. Also, in the doc she describes musical beds on ene of their hotel stops.
Finally! Her actual retirement is at least 15 years overdue.
She said she would retire before, and then got too jealous of Beyonce being called ‘The Queen of Soul’, with Areatha stating that the title would forever belong to her, and nobody else.
I’ve heard a tape of that last Star Spangled Banner she did at a football game earlier this year. I didn’t know it was Areatha till later. At first, I thought I was hearing a slightly drunk elderly black man singing in front of a big mirror in an empty bar someplace in Louisiana. I could tell whoever was singing who knew how to improvise, but the delivery was garbled, uneven and unprofessional. Her performance lasted for quite a few minutes longer than the teams had expected.
She waited too long,her voice is a shadow of its former self.
I was listening a radio show about the old Motown stars.
When they did a bit on Aretha one old timer said that the biggest impediment to Aretha Franklin’s career was....Aretha Franklin. Said she was her own worst enemy.
He gave some examples but I’ve forgotten what they were.
I have heard she was a real diva, demanding and thought her feces had no odor. I am someone who loves her music and doesn’t like her. She was serious when she said Berry should play her. I wonder what berry thought?
I've been told I have a face for radio and a voice for print. I hate to say it but they are right.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Wasn’t it Aretha who ordered her (black) bodyguards to attack a young (white) man at the DFW airport because he was standing too close to her limo, and then, because it was found out he had a drink on the plane was expelled from West Point, thus destroying his life?
If so, I propose she be ripped to small pieces and fed to an orange alligator.
She was not a Motown star. She was an Atlantic Records star. a technicality.
She was good.
Didn’t like her 5 minute long National anthem on Thanksgiving in Detroit lions game.
I agree
I heard it. Over four minutes long, couldn’t understand the words and very self-indulgent. If she would have done it in her old style it would have been good.
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