Post by Jonel on Jun 25, 2003 12:40:41 GMT -5
A magical Aretha night at Chastain
By SONIA MURRAY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 06/25/03
After Tuesday night's performance, the question no longer was "Will this be the last Aretha Franklin tour?" but "Why would it be?"
Forty-seven years after she made her first album, the 61-year-old is still in stellar voice.
And she clearly enjoys sharing it with audiences.
This reverent, capacity crowd didn't hesitate to applaud when she opened her near 90-minute set with "It Won't Be Long", an early single that probably wouldn't make a four-CD compilation of Franklin's greatest hits.
Then again, the first line seemed like just the right opening for the incredibly spirited show: "Baby, here I am."
Though she has occasionally worn ensembles that detract from her wonderfully pliable mezzo soprano, Franklin appeared as classic as her catalog Tuesday night, in a white floor-length gown with a turqoise wrap.
By song No. 2, the singer-songwriter-musician was in instantly familiar territory, covering "Try A Little Tenderness."
"Pump it up!" she implored after the song. "Party where you at if you feel the spirit!"
It was hard not to, even though Franklin often roared decibels above her surprisingly small-sounding orchestra.
During ballads such as "Call Me" and "Angel," however, that mattered little. As long as she could hit the high notes with the same ease as when she had Mariah challenging her on "VH1 Divas" (which she did), and could kick up a gospel fervor comparable to what she conjured as a teenager in her father's church (which she also did), she was magical.
Surprise vocalist Dennis Edwards of the Temptations couldn't even outmatch the Queen of Soul in powerbelting.
If there was anything to find exception with, it was the extra-curricular activities happening to Franklin's left and right. To call what her unneccessary dancers were doing "interpretive" -- particularly during "Natural Woman" -- would be giving it too much credit. During the anthem of generations, a woman in tennis gear walked out and stood. To Franklin's left someone posed as a ballerina.
And as she wrapped up the song, another woman came out in an all white wedding dress - veil and all.
There were way more interesting funky chickens and Temptation walks going on in the audience during "Rock Steady" and "Respect" than there were "dances" on stage.
www.ajc.com/living/content/living/0603/24aretha.html
By SONIA MURRAY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 06/25/03
After Tuesday night's performance, the question no longer was "Will this be the last Aretha Franklin tour?" but "Why would it be?"
Forty-seven years after she made her first album, the 61-year-old is still in stellar voice.
And she clearly enjoys sharing it with audiences.
This reverent, capacity crowd didn't hesitate to applaud when she opened her near 90-minute set with "It Won't Be Long", an early single that probably wouldn't make a four-CD compilation of Franklin's greatest hits.
Then again, the first line seemed like just the right opening for the incredibly spirited show: "Baby, here I am."
Though she has occasionally worn ensembles that detract from her wonderfully pliable mezzo soprano, Franklin appeared as classic as her catalog Tuesday night, in a white floor-length gown with a turqoise wrap.
By song No. 2, the singer-songwriter-musician was in instantly familiar territory, covering "Try A Little Tenderness."
"Pump it up!" she implored after the song. "Party where you at if you feel the spirit!"
It was hard not to, even though Franklin often roared decibels above her surprisingly small-sounding orchestra.
During ballads such as "Call Me" and "Angel," however, that mattered little. As long as she could hit the high notes with the same ease as when she had Mariah challenging her on "VH1 Divas" (which she did), and could kick up a gospel fervor comparable to what she conjured as a teenager in her father's church (which she also did), she was magical.
Surprise vocalist Dennis Edwards of the Temptations couldn't even outmatch the Queen of Soul in powerbelting.
If there was anything to find exception with, it was the extra-curricular activities happening to Franklin's left and right. To call what her unneccessary dancers were doing "interpretive" -- particularly during "Natural Woman" -- would be giving it too much credit. During the anthem of generations, a woman in tennis gear walked out and stood. To Franklin's left someone posed as a ballerina.
And as she wrapped up the song, another woman came out in an all white wedding dress - veil and all.
There were way more interesting funky chickens and Temptation walks going on in the audience during "Rock Steady" and "Respect" than there were "dances" on stage.
www.ajc.com/living/content/living/0603/24aretha.html
