Jay & Amber, you'll love her "You Make Me Feel Like (A Natural Woman)" ; "Chain Of Fools" and "Spanish Harlem"!!!! Dionne Warwick's original is outstanding, but as usual, Aretha makes "Say A Little Prayer" her own. Its a Burt Bacharach/Hal David song 1966.

Check out Dionne Warwick’s version too! Burt Bacharach wrote it for her! But Aretha’s is fantastic too.

From the New Yorker: Etta James [jazz legend] once recalled listening to Franklin’s version of Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael’s standard “Skylark.” In the second verse, Franklin jumps an octave. “I had to scratch my head and ask myself, How the [F] did that [B] do that? I remember running into Sarah Vaughan [jazz legend], who always intimidated me. Sarah said, ‘Have you heard of this Aretha Franklin girl?’ I said, ‘You heard her do ‘Skylark,’ didn’t you?’ Sarah said, ‘Yes, I did, and I’m never singing that song again.’ ”

Just can't beat Aretha for pure soul. Legend.

The Queen of Soul🔥🔥🔥. Second to none 💯. Going through her catalog is a musical necessity 🎵🎶🎶🎵.

Incredible vocal and she plays the piano on this as well. Hall of Fame talent. No one like her...ever.

If you haven’t heard Ain’t No Way you should definitely check it out, it’s an underrated Aretha song! As an added bonus it also has Whitney Houston’s mother on backing vocals.

I live in Detroit and was lucky to see her in one of her last concerts. I was second row next to Detroit dignitaries. As she walked off the stage, she waved to me and the Detroit dignitary next to me. I thought I can die happy now. She is truly the Queen of Soul.

Jay & Amber! The backup singers are Aretha's younger and older sisters Carolyn & Erma! That's why the song sounds so seamless and natural! Peace & Love!!!

This was originally done by Dionne Warwick in 1967 won Grammy for Best female pop vocal performance. Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David,who wrote a lot of her songs

Aretha has so much talent and POWER in one person it's almost a crime.

My two favorite songs by Aretha are “Natural Woman” and “Until You Come back To Me”. Both are 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The next Aretha song should be Chain of Fools...I absolutely love it.

Aretha has 18 Grammy Awards nominated 44 times. You definitely must explore her catalog. The background vocals on this and most of her songs are done by her sisters.

I really enjoy her collaboration with George Michael. It ended up being up her last #1 hit. It's called; "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me". It's so good.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T and Natural Woman are two of my favorite by Aretha. She is amazing.

Aretha has an extensive catalog of music but my favorite is "Who's Zoomin' Who." I think I love it because she released it in 1985 and it brings back great memories out dancing with friends! 💖

Her " I Never Loved a Man " is kind of the gold standard of soul. Recorded at Muscle Shoals. As authentic as it gets.

Love the Queen of Soul, a title well deserved. "Natural Woman" Palease Powerful voice, was famous but I thought not as much as she should have been received in all communities. Her voice is soulful and sexy. Oh and "Natural Woman was a Carole King song but noone can sing like Aretha, so smooth. If she came out now what a talent, there was so many great bands in those days.

This song means so much to me…I played it often when my husband was going through chemo and radiation…it’s beauty and simplicity was very uplifting during a very hard time. Natural Woman is my second favorite.

Guys, please check out 'Heartbreaker' by Dionne Warwick. A song written by the BEE GEES. And speaking of the Bee Gees, check out 'Rest Your Love on Me'. You'll be absolutely blown away by the sound of this song. It's a completely different sound than any other Bee Gees Song.

As others have mentioned, Dionne Warwick has a great version of this song. My favorite Aretha song is Chain of Fools. BTW, Fanny has a song called "Queen Aretha".

This song was immortalized in a movie you should watch -My Best Friend’s Wedding starring Julia Roberts. Erin Brockovich and Pretty Woman are also highly recommended!

She was truly blessed, and shared her blessing with us.

You MUST do "Amazing Grace" from her live "Amazing Grace" with Rev. James Cleveland. She BLOWS everyone in her era out the water. Janis Joplin.. Dionne Warwick.. Dusty Springfield.. It's a MUST to hear her range😱😱

The structure of this song, with the back-up singers is known as call and response, developed in the Black American community. I just love it.. Also, one of my favorites by Aretha is, "Angel." Would love to see you guys react to it.

When Aretha died here in Detroit in 2018, her funeral was a big deal. Carried live on local and national news channels. Eulogies from many stars and had a procession from the church to cemetery that featured over 100 pink Cadillacs. RIP Lady Re.

Aretha's cover of "I Say A Little Prayer" peaked @ #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the R&B/Soul chart in 1968. The previous year, 1967, Dionne Warwick's original recording of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song, peaked @ #4 Pop and #8 R&B/Soul. Aretha was one of the few artists who could take a major hit recording and add her own spin to it and come up with another hit not too long after the original recording was a hit on the charts. In the late 1960s - early 1970s, Aretha covered hits by The Band ("The Weight"), Elton John ("Border Song"), The Beatles ("Eleanor Rigby"/ "Let It Be"), Simon & Garfunkel ("Bridge Over Trouble Water"), among other titles and charted her own hits.

Until You Come Back To Me (1973) is probably my favorite Aretha song, although I love so many of hers. It's just gorgeous, and Aretha's vocals are soulful but not overwrought. Written by Stevie Wonder.

Aretha Franklin- the Queen of Soul!!! If I come back in another life, I want to sing like Aretha!

This is one of my favorite Aretha songs. When my son was a baby, I used to sing this (usually badly) & dance around with him. My parents introduced me to Motown & I was happy to share that with my boy.

One of the Greatest Singers Ever

The natural call and response sounds so natural because her sister Carolyn was a backup singer on this and many of Aretha's biggest hits including the ones written by Carolyn including "A'int No Way". Their father was a pastor and singer on the radio in Detroit and that is where she found her voice . She is a very under rated musician on the piano

“Until You Come Back To Me” and “Daydreaming” are two Aretha songs that are great!!

Aretha Franklin - Spirit in The Dark - 1971 live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco (with Ray Charles) Rare video. The song was over UNTIL Aretha found RAY CHARLES back stage and she pulled him out to bring a whole new life to that Spirit in The Dark! Aretha was there in the "Hippie Capitol" to see if these kids would be receptive to Soul Music.

RIP Burt & Hal & Aretha (& respect Dionne!) The background vocalists as Greek Chorus!!! 💕💕💕

You would love the performance Aretha gave at the Grammys, filling in for Pavarotti. She sang opera at a moment’s notice and brought the house down. It was an unbelievable performance.

You gotta check out the "Amazing Grace"' documentary. The film, which was lost for decades, captured the live recording of Aretha's gospel album of the same name. Truly epic and moving.

Some of the best songs of the 1960s and early 70s were written by the brilliant duo of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Dionne Warwick, Aretha, Dusty Springfield, and so many others sung their beautiful songs. This is definitely one of them.

Aretha Franklin (as well as Chaka Khan) built the foundation of her fan base when allowed to sing, displaying full range. In the late 70s, producers began to push an era of screaming lyrics (ala "Think"). Real fans took a step back. "Chain Of Fools" has excellent backup as well.

So well said! Aretha is known for a good reason. She is one of the true greats of music! You can't go wrong listening to her; I'll watch you react to any/all of her songs. :)

Pure Aretha Classic! I'd Love to hear more Dionne Warwick... 'Anyone Who Had a Heart' would be my first choice, but also 'Don't Make Me Over'. I was thinking Ms. Warwick sang original of this song, and seems to be confirmed in other comments. Thx for the Review Guys - Have a GREAT Labor Day Weekend! :)

The back up vocalists are The Sweet Inspirations, an American R&B girl group founded by Emily "Cissy" Houston (née Drinkard), mother of Whitney Houston, and sister of Lee Warwick (herself the mother of well-known sisters Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick).

Let me echo the sentiments of those who say you would love her rendition of "You Make Me Feel Like (A Natural Woman." And let me add that the song was written by Carole King. When the Kennedy Center Honors honored Carole King a few years back, they trotted out an aging Aretha Franklin to perform the song, and it simply blew Carole away (along with the rest of us). A timeless classic! And one of those songs that belongs in the American Woman Songbook. So many Aretha songs to hear. I suppose you've probably already done her #1 hit and one of the most iconic R&B anthems of all time, "Respect." But here are a few others. "Think" (she performed it in The Blues Brothers movie, but I would recommend using the original studio version). "Baby I Love You," "The House that Jack Built," "See Saw," "Chain of Fools." She even did a cover of a Beatles song, "Eleanor Rigby." In the '70s, her music took a somewhat milder tone with hits like "Rock Steady," "Day Dreaming" and "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Then in the '80s, her career took a whole different turn when Clive Davis got hold of her and she signed with his label, Arista Records. That's when she had such hits as "Freeway of Love" (a GREAT record!),"Who's Zoomin' Who," and her duet with George Michael (formerly of Wham!) called "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)." But honestly, of all the songs Aretha performed in her illustrious career, the one that puts goosebumps on my arms every time I watch and listen was when she was pressed into action literally at the very last minute and replaced her friend Luciano Pavarotti at the 1998 Grammy Awards show. Pavarotti was scheduled to receive the Living Legend Award, but had to call in sick so he was unable to perform the number he had rehearsed, "Nessun Dorma," with his orchestra. But they had rehearsed it in HIS key, and it was too late to change the arrangement. The key was lower than the one Aretha prefers to sing in. But she was probably the only person in the building who had just performed "Nessun Dorma" two nights earlier at another show. So, against the advice of her handlers, Aretha agreed to take on the challenge and performed in Pavarotti's place that night, essentially saving The Grammy Awards show from disaster. The result was one of the most remarkable moments in music history and one of those legendary performances that once you see it, you will never forget it: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oZljpqx_z9Sdn2Q.html

One of the great live performances of all time is Aretha's tribute to Carole King, at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2016, where she sang King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." And one of the better versions of that performance, where her singing shines through, thanks to the audio balance, is at this link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bMp_ZM54pr6mf2Q.html.

What a voice! Pure class too.

I’ve always preferred Aretha’s version of this song. It reminds me of being in a church Sunday hearing a gospel choir backing her up.

Respect Think Natural Woman Chain of Fools Freeway of Love Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Beautiful singer, with so many hits. Her voice is so soulful and powerful, yet carries all the emotion that captures your heart. Love her. Can't forget her performance at the 2009 Inauguration of Barrack Obama. Her version of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" absolutely blew it out of the water. Glad you both love Aretha too. Buckets of Maple Syrup love from Canada ❤️❤️🇨🇦 🇨🇦

Aretha Franklin has to be one of the most beautiful voices ever recorded. To categorize her singing is impossible.

LOVE her version of this song!! Her voice is phenomenal!!!!

Dionne Warwick - I Say A Little Prayer 1967 - Was 1st and the version that I remember and have. When Dionne appeared on the masked singer, praying hands was a clue. It was written by Hal David (words) and Burt Bacharach (music) and you can hear Burt's signature instrumentation in the original. Notably a trumpet.

Love Aretha. I always used to wonder who it was playing the piano on her songs & I just recently found out it is Aretha! It seems to me that all girls that are daughters of preachers learned how to play piano. At least back in the day that was true. I love her gospel influences in her music.

If you want something different, check out her performance of "Nesun Dorma" from the Grammys. It's a male opera song, and it was supposed to be done by Luciano Pavarotti. He got sick, and Aretha came in to pinch hit at the last minute and KILLED it. She really could do anything.

Great reaction! Aretha is the Queen of Soul! One of my favorites by her is "I Can't Stand the Rain."

Perfect! Aretha gold! This is my favorite of hers.nobody does it better

My favorite female secular music vocalist of all-times in my era followed closely by the late great Phyllis Hyman. Aretha had some awesome gems in her earlier years like... Dr. Feelgood I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You Do Right Woman Do Right Man Ain't No Way Think Call Me Until You Come Back to Me Daydreaming

I love the piano arrangement in this version...little more raw than the DW version..love it

1967 original by Dionne Warwick, written by one of the greats Bert Bacharach and Hal David plus many other great hits such as "What The World needs now", Alfie "and many others. Aretha made it hers with her soulful voice. Should do next "You Make me Feel Like A natural Women" sung by Aretha, written by Carol King a must!!! thank ya'll

Now this song is full of R&B royalty! Aside from Aretha, Queen of Soul, the backing vocals are by a group called the Sweet Inspirations, which I believe at the time included Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston's mama), and Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne Warwick's sister). On some of Aretha's other tracks, she was backed by her own sisters, Erma and Carolyn Franklin.

You would love the documentary Muscle Shoals, which is about the northern Alabama studio(s) where a lot of the greatest music was made. Aretha was one of the singers.

I have total “RESPECT” for Aretha Franklin...❤️🎶

"Ain't No Way," is one of my absolute FAVORITE songs of hers. Y'all won't have a dry eye after listening to it. 🙌🏾❤️ Also you'd love, "Knew You Were Waiting For Me," which is a duet between her and George Michael. Also brilliant and SUCH a feel good song. Love y'all! Thanks for the joy you bring to all. ✨🙏🏽✨

Aretha. My favourite ever female singer. Thank you for playing her.

I remember my Mom, and her sister, my auntie, singing along to this song laughing like little girls as they danced around. My auntie died last year at the age of 73 from diabetes, I miss her, she was so much fun. Great song!!! Great job I am a huge fan of yours! I am on cloud nine right now, my 21 year old daughter who is disabled, they told her that she would never graduate high school just got her diploma!!!!!!!!!!! She did it on her own!!!!!!! As teachers, I thought that you would find joy in that. Her teachers showed up at our door to hug her, and give her the diploma. They were crying so hard as they hugged her goodbye. Thanks!!!!

This took me back to my bedroom as a teenager. It got lots of playtime on the radio. I had it on almost 24/7. She was a legend! "Natural woman" is gold! "RESPECT" is another smash hit.

3:55 This is because Aretha is and will always be a Gospel singer.

Wife here!!!...This song is great...She is TRUE R&B/ROCK ROYALTY!!!

That voice is undeniable…amazing! This is why she’s the Queen! Queen Aretha!!❤️❤️

She did a "Divas" show with Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, and Mariah Carey. I haven't seen it in years but I remember how powerful Aretha's voice was compared to the others

You’re missing out on Dionne Warwick and her Burt Bacharach/Hal David collabs. Dozen great songs at least.

Dana says- Ok guys, I can't help it. Every time I hear this song, I think of the hilarious scene from My Best Friend's Wedding. If you haven't seen this movie gem, please add it to your list. You'll love it.

Very cool version. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard it before. I only remember Dionne Warwick’s classic rendition being on the radio every day when I was little.

This classy, iconic singer also sings a duel with Annie Lennox too that should be checked on.

The Queen of Soul is amazing. 💜

Thanks Jay & Amber...This song was written by the legendary Hal David & Burt Bacharach for Dionne Warwick. Peaking at # 4 in late 1967. Aretha's version peaked at # 10 in the Fall of 1968.

the way she sings, she's indeed the queen of soul! "A Natural Woman"(written by Carole King) "Who's Zoomin' Who?" "Rock Steady" "Something He Can Feel" "Respect" "Call Me" "Chain Of Fools" "Jump To It" "Spanish Harlem" "Think" "Ain't No Way" "Baby, I Love You" "Until You Come Back To Me" "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves"(with Annie Lennox, of Eurythmics) and quite a few more...

Absolute classic. Amber gets it. Amen. Truthful love song.

I like this version but I am partial to the Dionne Warwick version

One of my favorite Dionne Warwick songs. You should listen to her version too. Ranked #4 in '67 Pop and #8 R&B. Radio played it a lot!

Aretha's and George Michael's duet of "Knew You Were Waiting" is awesome and Aretha's 2015 performance...one of her very last public performances... at The Kennedy Center Honors for Carole King is an absolute triumph.

As many other commenters have said, Dionne Warwick's original version is well worth a listen. You could do a whole week of just Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs - one of he greatest writing duos ever (perhaps after Lennon & McCartney!)

Great, great reaction. I’d love to see you react to the live version of “And I Am Telling You” by Jennifer Holiday. So powerful.

I get goose bumps whenever I hear Aretha's voice. Don't Play That Song For Me is a great tune which perfectly portrays her gospel roots, Rock Steady is some of the best funk you'll hear, and her duet with George Michael, I Knew You Were Waiting is perfect soulful pop.

"Save Me" is often overlooked but of course she has a huge catalog.

Love Aretha’s version, that’s why she’s the Queen of soul, Dionne Warwick also did a good version

This is a really good song , but the next one you should react to should be "Chain Of Fools", soulful and funky at the same time. This up-tempo song rocks the house. This album version is fire. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odN7jZinlqqbZ2w.html

Great reaction! Did y’all do Freeway Of Love? It was shot all around Detroit and even though she was never signed on Motown records you can hear everything about The D in that song! The background vocals have a gospel structure to them, it’s got a solid rock beat, she’s just all business from beginning to end!

Queen Re Re,the Musicians & The Back up singers(her sis Carolyn,Cissy Houston & another Lady)-such a FUNKY collaberation!!🤟🏽

Legend!! So talented and cool!!🤘🔥

Good song. Also need to do her duet with Geroge Michael, I knew you were waiting for me. It is fire!

This is my favorite Aretha song! My favorite part is when she keeps repeating “forever” and “together”. Also I’m so glad you mentioned the backup vocals bc I’ve always loved them as well. People don’t talk about them nearly as much as they should.💜

This recording always gives me chills. Her voice is perfect, and the arrangement, backing singers just make it even better.

One of my favorite singers, with an absolutely UNIQUE sound, is often overlooked and I think it's such a shame that she isn't given more credit. Eartha Kitt struggled to establish herself in the early 50s, a singer of fantastic ability (she actually PURRS in her singing) who also happened to be a gorgeous woman of color. She had many great songs. She was also a stunning actress, playing the original Catwoman in the 1966 TV series, Batman, with Adam West and Burt Ward. She was also one of my first TV crushes, along with Nichelle Nichols as Lt Uhura on the original Star Trek. I loved her song, "I wanna be evil" kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iblgZaqWsNu7gWg.html and her famous Christmas song that MULTIPLE female artists have covered, "Santa Baby". kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ptaJequi3d2npZ8.html

YAY!! the queen of soul. If you want to be blown away by her voice check out her performance on the 2015 Kennedy Center awards show, where she sings Natural Woman , Carole King the recipients she is singing to and the camera shows Carole frequently. Aretha was in poor health then and still brought the house down, she walked on stage with her purse and fur coat and basically said , Ok I am gonna put my purse down and show you how its done!!! One of the best live performances ever!!!

One of my all time favorite singers and songs! The backup singers are just brilliant! I believe one was Ms Franklin's sister. Love Aretha!!

Aretha's voice is so clear and beautiful. I've always loved her singing.

Aretha's version is great, but you also should hear Dionne Warwick's terrific original. Each is outstanding in its own way.

Aretha can SANG. But this song really belongs to Dionne Warwick. She's the GOAT on this song. As a reminder, Diana Ross did a classic cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Theme from Mahogany."

She is the Queen of Soul music!!!! And is at the beginnings of Soul music or what people call now R & B!!! So future generations should know where Soul music/R & B came from and Aretha is that beginning......along with Gladys Knight. You guys NEED to go down that Rabbit Hole y'all....hahahaha.....lol.....hahahaha

I absolutely love Dionne Warwick, and bought her vinyl LP as soon as it was released. A truly wonderful songstress!!