The world mourns her loss.
Ending this long, tiring first week back in work after my fortnight's break, the death of Aretha Franklin could well have put a damper on the party mood somewhat, were it not for the Queen of Soul's musical legacy - just a few moments listening to that voice, and the world's woes just slip away...
To welcome the weekend in our traditional manner, it is indeed to that voice I turn to get us in a bit of a party mood. In true Aretha style, just when everyone had written her off as a semi-retired diva, back she bounced in 1998 (with a little help from an artist I never rated previously, nor since, Lauren Hill) with a number that (although largely overlooked today) really pushed all the right buttons. I loved this...
Listen dear
I realize that you've been hurt
Deeply, because I've been there
But regardless to who, what, why, when, and where
We are all precious in his sight
And a rose still and always will be a rose
Doo doo doo doo doo doo mmm
Dooby dooby doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo mmm
There was a rose I knew, I met her once or twice before
She was a pretty sweet thing, not the least bit insecure
Then you came with your slick game and played with her youth
Ashamed of the way you lied, played with the truth, hey, hey
Mmm, she never knew what hit her
Steal her honey, then forget her
Now the rose is scorned
She wears her thorns tryin' to forget about you
'Cause a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darlin', you hold the power
Now believe me when I tell you that I've been hurt myself
When he tells you that he loves you and sees nobody else
And now you're so tough tryin' to wear tight clothes and things
Tossin' and flossin', tryin' to fill the void heartbreak brings
Oh..oh..yeah
When she faces the mirror, yeah
She's cryin', you can't hear her
Now the rose is scorned
She wears her thorns tryin' to forget about you
'Cause a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you're still a flower
He can't lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Baby, girl, you hold the power
See a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you're still a flower
He can't lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darlin', you hold the power
Let your life be in the sunshine
Not the darkness of your sorrow
You may see your all today
When you know it'll come tomorrow
Tough to be, but life ain't over
Just because your man is gone
Girl, love yourself enough to know
That without him your life goes on
Without him your life goes on
Without him your life goes on
'Cause a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you're still a flower
He can't lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Baby, girl, you hold the power
See a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you're still a flower
He can't lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Excellent - but, with the assistance of some very clever knob-twiddlers, it became a staple floor-filler in the clubs, too!
Have a good weekend, peeps - and Thank
RIP Aretha Louise Franklin (25th March 1942 – 16th August 2018)
Love that song SO much ! no one else should ever dare to try and sing it.
ReplyDeleteI hope no-one else ever touches it. Jx
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