She is a U.S. treasure. At the time of this performance she was battling pancreatic cancer. She still gave 110% and her voice was amazing. I’ve been waiting for someone to react to this. Thank you so much Harri. ❤️
Carole King lost her mind because she HAD NO IDEA that Aretha Franklin was going to be singing her song! That's why her emotions overtook her. I have to say that when I see this performance now it still brings me to tears It fills my heart exactly the same way as it did the first time I saw it. It feels almost as if I can't breathe because I'm so happy. I was also a very big fan of Carole King growing up. This was song that pretty much defined her and was one of my favorites. I really can't tell you how many times I played this song in my life. It also gets to me when I see President Obama wiping a tear from his eye. I also love watching Michelle Obama rocking back and forth to this music and enjoying herself so much. That part of Aretha's performance and how it affected the entire audience was absolutely magical. The tear from President Obama's eye didn't just affect me because of the fact this touched him so much in his heart. I've actually worked on a grassroots level in projects with President Obama. At the end it went to him and involved him passing laws in this country through Amnesty International. I'm in international prisoner and human rights advocate for 38 years. I voted for President Obama, YES~TWICE! I truly can't express to you in words how much I miss him being in the White House, and his family. I am however happy that Joe Biden is now our President. I really don't want to get into politics here but I'm only bringing it up because President Obama is in this video. Every time I see him and michelle, and sometimes that children with them at a performance in the Kennedy Center. It just really affects me and automatically makes me cry to see them enjoying themselves. It's just very nice and a really beautiful thing to finally be able to see them all be able to relax in public and enjoy something. 😉❤️😎
Ditto on that! The Obama years represented hope and forward thinking. Then a hateful miscreant unraveled it in four short years and here we are 😢 I miss President Obama soooo much! 🌺✌️
I had the privilege to see Ms. Franklin in concert at a casino in Atlantic City during the later part of her career. After the first few songs, people began to leave their seats to dance in the aisles and at the foot of the stage. I looked at my date and said “I’ve got to go up there.” He just smiled and nodded. I wiggled my way up to the stage and stood directly beneath her. To this day, I’m proud to say that drops of her sweat fell on me like dew from the gods. Peace to all
A must watch...Aretha Franklin sang this at The Kennedy Honors ..They were honoring Carol King who wrote the song.... Aretha of course made it a number one hit...Aretha surprised her being there. Best Live Performance by Miss Franklin 👏 brought tears to my eyes,seeing Miss King overwhelmed 😢
One of the greatest live performances, yet still that was the Queen Of Soul, she was always excellent! She showed us all that she was Aretha Franklin and she still had it! Also showed why she is missed and why we love her so much! Rest On In Eternal Heaven Aretha Franklin, we are so grateful and blessed that you shared your talents with the world! Legendary! 💐💐💐💐💐🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🎤🎤🎤🎹🎹🎹
Carol King’s Tapestry album was one of the first albums I ever had; asked my father to buy it for me, and he did ❤️. Aretha Franklin made this song her own and then some 😊
I live in the Detroit area. I made a pilgrimage to her grave last summer. It’s fit for a queen❤️ Aretha was definitely a queen. Rest in Eternal peace beautiful lady. She will not be forgotten 🌹
Carole knew that Aretha did not play piano in public. That is why she lost it when she sat at the piano. The song was written by Carole and her husband for Aretha and the first time she heard the song was with Carole playing the piano and singing it to her.
This entire tribute was wonderful, but Aretha was definitely the highlight. I love these tributes and another great one was Adam Lambert singing "Believe" at the Cher tribute. Unlike most of the people who sing the song as performed, he put his own spin on it and made Cher cry. I mentioned Muscle Shoals studio on another reaction and it's the place where she really found her sound, many years ago. You need to watch the documentary, not as a reaction, but for your own education of the early days of so many performers and bands.
One of the most stunning live segments I've ever seen. I loved it when she dropped her coat to go full steam ahead. Style, talent, grace and mega legend. Aretha was the one!
Aretha showed everyone how it is done. You did better than I did holding it together. Still miss The Queen of Soul now and may she rest in eternal peace 🙏
Thank you Harri 💗 Aretha could bring you to tears with so many of her songs, what was so so very special was Aretha singing a song written by Carole King honouring Ms King 🎶☮️🥰🇨🇦
OMG, sir! This was FABULOUS! Ms. Carole King is one of the greatest American songwriters of all time, & there just simply aren't enough superlatives to describe Ms. Aretha Franklin. Suggested reactions, if you haven't already done so: "Help Me, I Think I'm Falling", by Ms. King; "R-E-S-P-E-C-T", by Ms. Franklin; & "Stairway To Heaven", performed by Heart at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin. It made Jimmy Page & Robert Plant cry. Interesting coincidence - the "Queen of Soul", Ms. Franklin, & the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", Mr. Elvis Presley, both died on the same date - August 16. But as we all know, there're no such things as coincidences... Thank you, sir, for this AWESOME reaction!
I was going to be cool too. I didn't even make it out of the first phrase. She was just so special. I think most people forget what great piano player she was. She was amazing still clear voiced and strong.
Perhaps the greatest performance ever given in a long history of fine performances at the Kennedy Center. She not only knocked it out of the ballpark, she knocked it out of the district.
No one, no one has ever delivered a song better than the one and only Aretha Franklin! I love classic rock, I love the story tellers, I love so many types of music. But I could only listen to one genre it would be Motown. And the best-Ms. Aretha !! I once had a coworker tell me I was to white to listen to Aretha. Look at this audience! Everyone appreciated and loved her. Music should not have boundaries. It’s a gift for all!
So beautiful!!! Only one Aretha. The Queen. And to see the joy in Carole King's face as she sings her song. So emotional. Sensational performance. Great reaction. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Great reaction, Harri! Your comments matched the enormity of Aretha's performance from many points of view. Thank you for giving your reaction to this outstanding version of "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman".
Presidents rarely stand at the ceremony so to get a cray standing ovation was bananas. Also she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer and she still emptied the tank and left it all on the stage. Amazeballs! 🎶🎼🎵❤️❤️
Wow! Words can't express how good this made me feel. Thanks to both the requester and you, Harri. Exquisite! (Might I add, Harri, you've got a pretty good job, my friend!)
Harri - I don't know if you're very familiar with The Kennedy Center Honors shows -- but they are mind blowing (all on RU-vid) and highly recommended. There's about 15 minute segments per artist, and other renowned artists sing or perform their songs in tribute. Some fun ones -- the rest of Carol King, Billy Joel, Sting, AL GREEN baby... so many more.
You have just hit the mother lode of singers with Aretha Franklin (Queen Of Soul). This lady started out singing gospel music, then R&B, but could do many genres. She had so many hits especially in the 60's-70's including "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "Respect", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Chain of Fools", "Think", "I Say A Little Prayer" etc.
Carole King wrote the song for Aretha Franklin. This sounded just like the song Aretha sang, but with a few flourishes. But this was the original arrangement that AF sang complete with the background singers and the strings. King sang her more tamped down version later on Tapestry. Listen to it again; this was definitely AF's version.
The one and only Aretha. This was an unbelievable performance. Love these ladies and their music. You can hear the church influence in Aretha’s singing. Thank you Harri for this video. 👏👏❤️
1967 saw Atlantic Records release singles "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)", "Respect", "Baby I Love You", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" AND "Chain Of Fools". WOW what a sequence 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 If you haven't found this video on YT yet, see Aretha sing "Don't Play That Song" live in 1970 on the Cliff Richard Show ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EtTn5aLXZZg.html Of course, Carole King did a great version of "Never Loved A Man" too. Here's her BBC Concert version from 1971 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UOCHEmbCDr8.html For completeness here's a link to Ben E. King's original of "Don't Play That Song" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dsK-chch7dQ.html All good stuff
Harri, Aretha's "Until You Come Back To Me" is a wonderful Stevie Wonder written song. I think you'll love it!!! edit- It seemed Carole was suprised that Aretha played piano! Who knew?
Of course she knew Aretha played piano. She was one of the best gospel pianists of her time. It was a surprise that she chose to play it for a 1 song appearance. After all she came on stage in a fur and carrying her purse. They probably expected her to just stand and sing.
You should react to Carole King singing Natural Woman you should also react to the 2005 Grammy Awards honoring Janis Joplin Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone sing 2 of Joplin's songs and they knock it dead
Aretha's performance was outstanding - and after an evening of amazing tributes to the wonderful talent of Carole King. Here are all the performances from that evening: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Zz-8RZIQxaw.html
Very few of the public was aware of Aretha's cancer battle of this time, maybe that is why the tears and reactions were so . BESIDE just the thrill of her being there.. Being from the Detroit area, I LOVE HER PURSE. There is a story behind that, many performers were ripped off by promoters. Ms Franklin had been know to get the $$ up front, and if it wasn't there neither was she for the show.