My favorite Aretha Franklin songs

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Michael Ochs Archives

CIRCA 1967: The “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait with circa 1967. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Da'Nazjah Dorsey, Student Life Editor

My mom would get us all packed up and ready to go and immediately put on the old school, Motown classics, many of which our generation would not know-at least I wouldn’t expect them to.

The usual ‘top-hits’ lists would never cover the amount of joy or sorrow I am feeling at the passing of the late singer in late Aug. 2018, but I am bittersweet about the music and legacy she has left behind. She will always be there in her songs and voice, she will be missed.

With that fact in mind, I created a playlist that expresses my joy, and happiness, as well as my road trip memories in the form of her top hits among my family.

“Something He Can Feel”-

Evoking my memories of being at a point halfway between home and our next destination. This song is one of great love and passion, something I didn’t exactly understand when I would sway back and forth in my seatbelt. I just liked the sounds of drums, bass, and random scat noises, “shoo-do shoo…”.

“(You make me feel) Like a Natural Woman”-

A song about someone who is the sunshine on your rainy day, the only one or thing that makes you smile and laugh when you’re feeling at your lowest. I have to admit, I still can’t relate to such a powerful song, but it’s a feeling I look forward to the older I get.

“Chain of Fools”-

“Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools”- being a slave in love is dangerous, thinking one way of the current relationship your in that may or may not be healthy and then coming to find out that every foundation and investment you laid in that relationship is crumbling due to lies, can make you pretty angry. That’s what this song is about. Makes you laugh until you’re in the exact same situation, doesn’t it?

“Rock Steady”-

A traditional Soul Train line song, although we’re all too young to know about soul train, you should look it up sometime and create one of your own. A song with a bassline that makes you move, rhythm included or not.

Watching the way people danced to this song, the sway of their hips and the bumps of their thighs with such huge smiles of carefree happiness on the current reality of the cruel world plastered on their faces really spoke to a younger me.

Although many great legendary singers have come out of Memphis, Ms. Franklin will be one of the most remembered as “she’s the queen of all soul. We wouldn’t have any music of that time without her as many of our parents say.