Aretha Franklin "Nessun Dorma" Liveᴴᴰ (Grammy Awards) 

My chills keep coming every time I listen to this unforgettable rendition. My she Rest In Peace.

Thank you so much for the translations. I love Nessun Dorma and have listened to the world's greatest tenors sing it. For years I wanted to know what that gorgeous song was saying in English.

Man thank you for this , never new the lyrics

Absolutely Brilliant needs nothing more.. Superb in the film with Bryan Cranstone Upside Sto

Nessun dorma means nobody sleeps or nobody sleep.

Still gives me chills

I wholeheartedly agree bro. Aretha was in every sense the queen of soul, regal and in a class as a vocalist on a level no one can ever ever attain. Her legacy is majestic. Rest in peace Aretha 👑🌹Much RESPECT

She was🙏🏾❤🙏🏾true one of God's children...miss her...May she R.I.P.🙏🏾❤💋💯🎈⚘

Just to be able and know the lyrics added to what you said…amazeballs

She was a Natural talent lady, God Given🙏🏾🎈⚘❤we miss her. May she R.I.P.

😂😂😂😂 facts

DEAD 🪦

Do they ever!

She Was Amazing To Fill In For Pavarotti At Last Minute When He Was Sick And Aretha Was Totally ❤❤Magnificant..

Oh wow! I bet you won't ever forget this moment. Simply amazing! There are no words.

I am reduced to a ball of tears every time I watch this video, I can't imagine how special it was to see it live....

How long was the fanfare? It seems the crowd was going crazy

How lucky you was!!❤❤❤❤

👏🏿 🎉❤❤😊❤❤❤🌹🌹🦋💕💫💥✨️✨️🌹🔥🔥😊🔥🔥🥳🌹

⚾️

@@Eddemnity I can hear this emoji.

​@@tom_something 😆

@Maynard Runkle rude

@Maynard Runkle oh well,yes

@Maynard Runkle its original of Aretha the natural woman no fuzz, no artificielle just her

This was hideous. Rancid tone. An abomination.

@@bradhuskers sthu

She did sing gospel for sure l, but she was the queen of SOUL music

Still, she swelled her voice to a rousing crescendo just as Pavarotti would've

@@bibbiana4Lyfe with all respect not at all, as Pavarotti sings it in one breath and she took 6 for it.

@@YTAliasJoeCool So? She was a soul/gospel singer, not a trained opera singer.

She did train opera.

The key change thing is the one part I dont buy, Because changing key is the easiest thing ever, you do it blindfolded, its not like you are changing the melody, or changing the EXPECTED chords. For example if something is originally in the key of A maj then for example the first two chords you might play are B, and E, if you switch to the key of C maj, then your first two chords you play adjusting for the key change would be D and G. It could be any chords, im just giving arbitrary chords to show how when you know a chord in a key, you also know the corresponding chord for diffrent keys. There isnt a musician on that stage what wouldnt be able to change to a diffrent key in literally the blink of an eye. So the fact it was played in the orignal key, can only mean Aretha wanted it played in that key, maybe to prove a point or show she could do it. But the narrative that they didnt have time to change keys is just flat out false, which then makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the story is, like did she really get 15 mins heads up and no rehersals, I very very very much doubt it. notice she sang half the song in english and half in italian, it would take more than 15 mins just to learn the italian versian, let alone translate half in english and then try figure out the best phrasing to suit the english words because the phrasing for italian words will be completely diffrent. For example, you sing the word Car in Italian its Macchina, in englsh its obviously prounced car, those are two complety diffrent words to sing and phrase, you dont just get up on stage and try fit english words over a melody designed for Italian words etc etc. I could point out a million other things that would indicate this story is just total nonsense, but i think ive more than proved my point already, Aretha was amazing and a one off ledgend, one of the greatest ever performers/musicians you really dont need to make up stories to prove her greatness.

Amen.

Fun fact. A low voiced tenor is a contradiction in terms.

@@atourdeforce She had performed the song 2 days earlier at a different event. So she already knew the song. She had NOT rehearsed with this orchestra or choir. Don’t over think it.

Uh no. I don't think it's possible to say any one person is "simply the greatest singer" of this time or another. Don't get excited.

Marilyn Mills thats like saying classical piano is harder then jazz, IT IS NOT! They are two different beautiful genres of music. I might add that jazz can translate into classical but not vice versa. Hip hop can translate into ballet but not vice versa!

I was living in Atlanta and watching the Grammys with 2 friends. We had no idea what was coming. When Aretha finished singing, we all turned, looked at each other in shock, then stood up clapping and cheering. The people in the apartment next door started beating on the walls because we were so loud. True story. Never forgot it. Glad I can experience the performance again any time I want to.

Sherard They definitely can translate both ways lol.

I think the Maestro wanted people to hear her, He had caught her singing it a few days before the Grammy Awards. A very soulful performance. He may have felt inadequate. She was the Queen of Soul. She was singing from the heart at that performance. She changed "mouth" to "heart," too.

@@pmjhns That's a strange thing to do. Also, there is no way Pavarotti felt inadequate singing this song. He was famous for it. I honestly think he was giving his voice a much needed rest. Singing is athleticism. One must take care not to break the instrument.

Thanks to the Maestro for giving us the opportunity to hear it. I believe he wanted the world to hear what he heard at the luncheon for the Grammys.

@@pmjhns yeah he wasn't sick at all, he was Staning out backstage

Opera soul.

New term to go down in history "Opera Soul"!! You, my friend are a genius!

I wouldn't say she invented it, she just sounded amazing in the genre, but I would give the credit of the invention of soul opera to Jackie Wilson tbh.

There''s an alternative background story. Some say that Parovotti decided that singing at the Grammy was beneath his 'stature' and simply decided to quit. Thus, giving the stage to Aretha, who actually knew the song. I hope Pavorotti felt regret for being such a jerk.

THE QUEEN!!!!!!

Made me cry

❤

I was watching the Grammys that night and to have watched this magical moment in musical history made me cry as well….she was and will always be to me, The Queen of Music!

You said it best 👏🏾

Her voice was very elastic.

@Dioioegod haha. Thanks for the laugh.

@Dioioegod haha at my age twerking is out of the question. The rest of your comment makes no sense to me. Firstly, I wasn’t born in the “USA” I came to the U S in the 1970’s from Roma, Italy. I learned a lot of things from my friends in Jamaica, Queens NY including the LOVE of MS ARETHA FRANKLIN. As for the McDonald empire what does that even mean? Are you talking about the burgers or the president? NEITHER of which I endorse.

@Dioioegod howdee, thanks for your response. To answer your question, I am 100 % Italian. Roman to be exact as both my parents are from the same town in Rome, called “ Veroli “ it’s in the Lazio region of Rome. I used to be so jealous of the kids who could say they were Irish, German some French for good measure. I always felt I was very boring just being Italian and not even mixed Italian just plain Roman. I grew up in the Italian culture at home, very strict, you could imagine the rumors going around like my father and brother had shot guns from being in “ the family “ bc of this I NEVER got asked out on dates not that I was allowed to go anyway. Lol. So now I’ve forgotten the point of our conversation. Lol. Stay Well. P.S. I make you honorary Italian. I love London, never been but studied English Literature for six years at Uni. Taught it in High School.

@@treehugger2397 You both seem like very wise and kind people. I enjoyed reading through this thread :)

BRAVA INDEED!

Beautiful just beautiful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

She had to go SO low (that it gives one goosebumps) in part because she took the song on 15 minutes notice and sang it with a band/choir prepared for Pavarotti, a deep-voiced tenor - who had to bow out sick at the last moment. This is HIS natural key, not Aretha's. She's just the best there ever was imo.

The low notes!!!!!💯💯💯

She went from Soprano to Baritone real quick 🔥

Agree 💯

Of ALl Time

Bravo!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

Longevity is what makes an entertainer great.

Concordo com você.

Stop reaching. Even Aretha herself admitted the best of all time was Whitney❤

Me too!!!🥹🥹🥹

I continue to watch every chance I get. It puts joy in my heart.

I have to listen to it every few days lol. And I find myself trying (obviously failing! Ha!) to hum it when I’m doing the washing up ❤

Only ONE...

I thought of the return of Christ. Maybe she got a revelation. Very spiritual. My friend sensed it too.

Exactly what I thought when I heard that. Sounds and feels like the welcoming to heaven.

Exactly what I thought.... That last note reached the heavens.

And never will there be another

CELINE, WAS A SATANIC WORSHIPPER OF EVIL, HIGH LEVEL AND CHILD DOER AND WAS EXECUTED AFTER *US NAVY JAG TRIBUNAL* FOR CRIMES TO HUMANITY.. CRIMES TO HUMANITY TRAFFICKING CHILDREN HAS A PRESIDENTAL EXECUTIVE ORDER OF DEATH.. 90 % OF THE CELEBRITIES ARE EXECUTED, FACT! FULL INFO WILL BE RELEASED SOON. WWG1WGA!

NOT SURE, BUT I THINK A. FRANKLIN TOO..

Exactly! Lol, they're never clear when their octaves get too high.

I don’t care about her pronunciation or phrasing. The notes that she hit just made me get chills and made my heart soar. I have watched this video too many times to count. I love Queen Aretha! We all miss her!

However, Aretha was classically trained in opera as well. This wasn’t her first rodeo.

She did it Aretha Frankin's way. Wow. I love how she milked the applause with that fake exit left and then right. Oldest trick in the book.

No one ever had a problem when Nat King Cole sang in French or Italian, and his pronunciation was awful. 😆

Butcher Puccini? Yes, she certainly did. What an abortion

Yes, yes, yes, of course!!

Yes, one thousand times Yes

Yes, I cried because this was so damn bad.

@@mmjhcb as if you could do better than her lol

💕

OKAYYYYY ‼️ ‼️ ‼️ I'M HOLLIN..

When I hear this song I realize how much we’ve lost. Brings tears to my eyes🥺. RIP to Queen Franklin and King Pavarotti💐

Wonderful description.

yeah!

Natural and soulful.

Bravo, madame. Une magnifique interprétation. Merci.

Fairlight CMI bk they’re not, they’re an embellishment for those who want to embellish. It can be used for some who are masking inability but for a serial note holders and belters like Aretha, Stevie, Luther, Patti, Whitney etc. runs are just additional tricks because for some a bunch of sustained notes gets boring after a while. We wanna hear some tricks.

She made it her own. It was masterful. There will only ever be one Aretha.

3:40 that run and riff was amazing, I killed the replay

Pavarotti had nothing to do with it (except for backing out).

Not true. She had time to prepare.

@@perfischer1033 You can't become an opera singer overnight. So, how much time did she have?

@@icaruscrane8846 Didn't Sting say in his intro that she had just sung it 2 days before?

She had time to rehearse. It’s just a made up myth to hype up even further situation that she has only 15 minutes to prepare. Think about it. Pavarotti didn’t just step out suddenly. He gave notice much earlier than that.

I remember seeing this on the Grammy broadcast that night and being totally spellbound & blown away... . a delightful surprize !

I too was spellbound by this performance...but she is The Queen 👑💯❤️

I think it is in her rare case the fact she was not trained in opera that makes this magnificent. She made it her own and the emotion and power of her style is just well words are so lacking as to how amazing this performance truly is.

@@historiclift27 when she went for those bass notes, it gave me chills !

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Thanks AF

Just tidied up my face there. She was a force to do that to us, to translate emotion so naturally.

I just watched this because of the Genius movie , and yes I'm crying now, not really sure why but I'm overwhelmed with emotions

This songs make me cry too. 1:38 especially... don't know why but it's very moving

Yup, I sure did

Amazing pair of lungs for sure.

So lucky! Glad you had opportunity to see this magical performance

I did too. I did her makeup for this performance. ❤️💕I saw Pavarotti rehearse it that afternoon and that’s when he said he wasn’t going to perform. He sent her a dozen arrangements of a dozen roses the next day.

@@lalabeauty You did a good job. She looked great.

Wow ! Had to be amazing.

YOU ARE BLESSED

Right?! Their emotions alone😯and then her performance😌brought me to tears😭❤

They, like everyone else, were reminded that giants walked this Earth. They were also moved by Aretha's willingness to help out a friend.

@@azy63 The most hideous and pitiful interpretation in music history.

@@bradhuskers yes you are pitful

@@vickiwinn909 Dear? If you think this hideous tone and interpretation was good, it is YOU who is pitiful.

🔥.

FACTS.

Even more so today. Music in the 21st century should be ashamed, especially this decade. So pathetic how humanity has descended largely because of poor music.

I guess I can set all my geese free, I got my own bumps now...

I was thinking more like nausea.

KATHERINE THOMPSON!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! AMEN. OPERA WENT TO CHURCH!!! NIGHT!

@Maynard Runkle can you do better

Didn't Aretha sing this song? WOW!!! BEAUTIFUL....❤❤❤ it..

You obviously know zero about opera, as her tone here was hideous.

@@bradhuskers well then get on video and show us how it's done, since you seem to be the expert and must have the talent to surpass it to critique it with such disdain

@@vanessagras Here's the thing. It doesn't take a lot to differentiate between beautiful tone and hideous tone. Unless you're being dishonest of course.

@@bradhuskers it's not about dishonesty...it's just an absence of tone focus when watching a soul goddess like aretha franklin take on an iconic operatic song knowing she's not trained for that genre and knowing she won't have the tone but still appreciating the effort and the bigger picture of her taking a piece of that genre and blending it with a completely different, and somehow making it work and seem fresh...all in a last minute effort to fill in for her friend...that no one else couldve pulled off in such a way...bad tone or not....if youre stuck on the tone, then i appreciate ypur ability to notice it....but im sorry you missed the bigger picture...cause as a whole...even with bad tone....this was soulfully perfect...and amazing. And i hope you were able to get that from it as well

@@vanessagras I appreciate your myopic comments. But I haven't missed a thing. I'm an objective observer of music. You on the other hand, cannot be objective because of your myopia. You call this performance pure perfection because you are an aretha apologist. Guess what dear? EVERY artist has had missteps and clunkers. If you fail to understand that reality, then you are indeed, myopic. I've already discussed Aretha's brilliant back catalog of recordings. But because I'm objective and honest, I can factually point out the good, the bad and the ugly. You however, cannot.

Yes Lord Yes Lord Hallelujah

Thank you God & Jesus for the gift of Aretha.

Smoking? I've never seen photos of her smoking

​@@bibbiana4Lyfe she spoke openly about it being a bad habit for her. She quit in the 90s.

​@bbvivertube look at her earlier days in the beginning of her career in the 60's when she was in the studio she was definitely smoking

In my house they dropped dead from the sheer shock of this horrible rendition.

@@mmjhcb Well, it is a fact, established by scientists and all, that a small percentage of humans lack the capacity to be moved by music. Perhaps in your house they can try the visual arts.

@@petervankan1 Even someone as smugly dense as you might be embarrassed if you knew to whom you were addressing your pathetic comment. I will make $$$$ from it, though, so thanks. Too bad Aretha never recorded "Norma" for you. 😂🤣😎😂🤣😎😂🤣😎😂🤣😎

@@petervankan1period

Yes. And there will never be another like her. Aretha will always reign as the Queen of Soul.

Facts...nothing else needs 2 b said.

Imagine if you were in the front row while she was singing,wow!!!! 😍

2023 🔥

2023

@@Eddemnity Back to watch it again 2023!

@Umohowet Yelayu I agree with your comment. Sounds like a music teacher. Are you??

I totally agree. what's more, it was a non-rehearsal, last minute performance.

I think your description of her genius in this performance is spot on.

Preachhhhh!

THANK YOU TO Umohowet Yelayu FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL & ELOQUENT POSTING. NOBODY SAID IT BETTER. NO OTHER WORDS ARE NECESSARY TO DESCRIBE & APPLAUD ARETHA'S UNFORGETTABLE RENDITION.

She doesn't une any opera style on here... anyway she did very well

Go back and listen to 3:44 to 3:46 where she actually breaks the note!!! .. Absolute epitome of soul stirring. Divine! Her absolute pinnacle status solidified queen of soul

Non avrei potuto dirlo meglio!

Like someone said oh here that she’s not Pavarotti but she made it her own

If you can write an opera in effing German, you can write one in anything. Mozart proved that one.

Meeeee

Almost as good as Aretha

Me too

She can’t hold a candle to Retha

BIG ME

it’s an amazing rendition 😭🙏

Yes!!!

You liked her rendition of it? I like things that Aretha Franklin typically sings. She doesn’t have an operatic voice; this isn’t the right kind of music for that voice. I didn’t care for this performance at all.

Me too. I’m watching it again tearing up ❤

I just love Pavarotti's version but I truly adore Aretha's because she changed it and made it hers that night just like Marvin Gaye made the national anthem his. Real musical artistry! All three,great legends!

I got teary the first time I watched this and I still get chills. There will never be another Aretha.

👑

You too. I am moving back and forth from Pavarotti's version and hers. Check out the comments on the Warner page. Italy is watching. Our prayers are with them during this pandemic and to you my fellow Americans we can get through this. We will win!

This is the perfection of the imperfection. When I listen to a classic singer, all sound very similar. This is quite different. This makes difference

LMFAO Her vocals here are pure garbage.

@@bradhuskers you deaf ?

@@kovin-ashleychetty5159 No. But if you think this was good, you are deaf and blind.

@@kovin-ashleychetty5159 Her tone was hideous. It was embarrassing to her. Why can't people be honest?

Looks like you left wing types are pathological liars as well. Her tone was hideous. And that's being 100% honest

Beautiful

By fucking up a beautiful song, there are songs that can be sang with different interpretation. However, there are songs that are meant to be untouched. This song has be sang by the best singers in the world and nobody changed the song. She should have at least learned the words. Only musically uneducated people would like this mess!

@@sariahpiacentini9274 little late to the party. Lets see you top her then..?

@@robertrobinson3533 I am not a singer. This popped up on my feed because I play opera to my grandson. Is there an expiration date on RU-vid? Like I said, I am not a singer, I know what do well and what I don't. If she couldn't sing opera, or didn't know the words, she should have passed. She destroyed the song. I will not argue with someone who knows nothing about classical music. BYE

@@sariahpiacentini9274 buahahaaaa. I literally listen to Opera everyday. First she was asked and stated that she was nervous. Second, i will destroy you in the xlassical opera category. Settle down Karen. Third, no need to tell me you're not a singer twice let alone at all. AS I SAID, if the QUEEN butchered it, YOU go and do. Better job then, otherwise, stay-out-of-this-lane are you're more than likely to get run over on it.

SO accurate, thank you.....She is SO missed...in paradise

Puccini died long before Aretha was even born. LOL WTF are you even talking about? You also obviously don't know what this piece of music is supposed to sound like. Aretha cannot sing it.

ssssarah rightttttt!!! Goosebumps!!!

Right!! every time i listen, that part gets me

Yes! Goto the moment between 3:44 and 3:46 . and then back again from 3:20 to 3:46. Soul cracking divine. I came back lookin just to tell u cuz i went back to your 3:41 and absolutely agree.. And then stumbled upon 3:44-3:46..! Listen closely you will be moved.

Oh yes

Yes! Yes! Yes!! I showed this snippet to my boyfriend, and I was just like listen to that... do you hear it? It’s one of the purest sounds I’ve ever heard. You could hear her soul. It shook me. Just that note she hits. I think he thought I was crazy. She hits a sweet spot to say the least.

Not a big deal, but Franklin died the year before Norman. So, it would've been two gospel singers welcoming a legendary opera singer into the choir. Have a safe and wonderful summer. :)

@@TheStockwell Thank You!

You killed Jessie Norman about 21 years ealier lol!

Yes Lord Hallelujah. Glory to the Almighty God. We sing to thee my King we thank you we Glorify you. You alone are WORTHY to be Praised. Blessed the Spiritually trained heart n mind especially the ears. To know GOD was all in this performance. From Aretha to the band choir. God was All in the details. Hallelujah. Amen

I don't understand why they'd criticize her. She was a big-voiced soul singer and actually sang this piece beautifully with 15 minutes' notice, and I'm sure if she had time to practice with the orchestra, it would've been even better.

It was a glorious performance indeed. And I bet she made the orchestra happy. It is not everytime they can perform a piece as unique as this.

She ruined the song with her hideous tone.

@@bradhuskers you obviously don’t understand classical or gospel music.

@@bradhuskers I couldn’t even make it through the damn thing

Literally keep rewinding that part back❤️

She ain't better than Whitney. I don't care what she sings. Imagine Whitney singing it in 1990. Js

Aside from Aretha only Elvis might have pulled this off. I can’t think of any other none opera gospel singer that would have pulled this off at a moments notice.

I would love to see gaga sing this I think that would be amazing and she would nail it

Well said!

Yes this song lifts me and makes me reflect too

Her tone was hideous. Absolute crap. Your low IQ is showing.

@@bradhuskers I’m studying music in college and I’m no way was her tone crap I trust my professors that are doctors way more than some internet troll!

@@zacharyrodriguez964 I've studied music longer than you've been alive and you wouldn't know good tone from a hole in the ground, you troll.

Your IQ is low.

@@zacharyrodriguez964 LMFAO Her tone was hideous here. But your low IQ prevents you from understanding that.