A Healthier Aretha is Back!

CBS recently interviewed Aretha Franklin on May 8, 2011. She just released her 52^nd album! This ten minuet piece with Aretha gives a brief summary of her past and her most recent performances and shows. We get to see her at her home in Detroit and the church where it all started. Although her songs are about passion and love, during the interview Aretha puts up walls when asked about her current love life in addition to shying away to the grief in her life. However, one thing is for sure, Aretha will always remain the Queen of Soul!

Cultural and Historical Value

The 60’s were a turning point for women. Some women were breaking free of the domestic, motherly gender role of the 50’s, while others remained contained within these expectations. There was still this image of what a woman should be – a conservative, soft-spoken caregiver. After the Summer of Love, it was obvious that women were definitely capable and equal to men. The hippy movement proved that it WAS possible for women and men to exist as equals rather than a woman being under the control of her husband. However, in the real world, women were still expected to be wives and mothers. They were there to have children, and care for their family. Aretha showed the world just how strong a woman could be. She faced the problem many objectified women in the 60's faced - an abusive relationship. She was repeatedly beaten and used by her husband, Ted White. However, Aretha rose above the abuse. She showed women everywhere that they didn't have to fall victim to their partners. With the release of "Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You" women were given a role model - an exemplary model of a woman who overcame degradation and abuse from her husband. The 60’s was a time when women began to speak their minds, act how they wanted to act, and strive to become whatever they wanted to be. Aretha Franklin oozes power, self-confidence, and pride. She is a true diva, with courage and strength - she showed the world what it meant to be a black woman, and earned the respect of everyone in the country.

“Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You” strengthened and revolutionized the African American genre of music that valued gospel roots and projected a strong, proud image of the black woman. During a time when African Americans were finally beginning to be regarded as human beings, Aretha showed the world how valuable, strong, and successful a black woman could be in the world. She made all of America dance. Aretha’s amazing vocals, paired together with the rich, soulful songs presented by Jerry Wexler and Atlantic Records, made “Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” a cultural revolution for African American music. African Americans always possessed soul. However, there was something special about Aretha that brought this black pride to a new level – sharing it with all of America. As her songs hit the top of the charts, her music became something all of America enjoyed. White people who formerly considered African Americans to be inferior, found themselves dancing to the catchy, soulful “Respect”. It was undeniable that Aretha’s music was magical. Even those who opposed integration and equality had to admit that Aretha was a musical genius. She rose to the top not by conforming to typical popular music, but by using her African American roots, highlighting her cultural pride, and flaunting her amazing talents. Her songs all have strong African American influence - some full of gospel soul, others covers of classics by Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. “A Change Is Gonna Come” was originally a song written about changing racist America. Together, Aretha and Atlantic Records chose this civil rights song, and made it a popular tune that all of America sang along with. Although Aretha tweaked it to convey her own personal journey, it remains a song that represents black pride, and strength to overcome prejudice in America. The fact that this song topped the charts and became a part of pop culture represents the revolutionary change that Aretha brought to America.

I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You)

You're a no good heart breaker
You're a liar and you're a cheat
And I don't know why
I let you do these things to me
My friends keep telling me
That you ain't no good
But oh, they don't know
That I'd leave you if I could

I guess I'm uptight
And I'm stuck like glue
Cause I ain't never
I ain't never, I ain't never, no, no (loved a man)
(The way that I, I love you)

Some time ago I thought
You had run out of fools
But I was so wrong
You got one that you'll never lose
The way you treat me is a shame
How could ya hurt me so bad
Baby, you know that I'm the best thing
That you ever had
Kiss me once again

Don'cha never, never say that we we're through
Cause I ain't never
Never, Never, no, no (loved a man)
(The way that I, I love you)

I can't sleep at night
And I can't even fight
I guess I'll never be free
Since you got, your hooks, in me

Whoa, oh, oh
Yeah! Yeah!
I ain't never loved a man
I ain't never loved a man, baby
Ain't never had a man hurt me so bad

No
Well this is what I'm gonna do about it

"Never Loved A Man The Way That I Love You" Song Analysis

The title album track “Never Loved a Man The Way That I Love You” was originally written for a Motown pop cover band. However, Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records knew Aretha could transform it into a deep, emotional ode. Wexler chose this song for her, along with many others on the album, knowing that she could live up to each and every song – delivering emotion and soul into each song in a different way. In contrast to other songs on the album such as “REPECT”, “Never Loved A Man The Way That I Love You” is deeply moving and has a feeling of sadness surrounding it. However, Aretha’s strong voice assures the listener that she won’t let this pain overtake her. She is strong, despite her struggles. Organs, horns, and Aretha’s church piano surge and create a harmonious background for her powerful vocals. The song has a heavy blues influence. The swinging tune reminds me of Ray Charles’ deep, soulful blues. Throughout the song, Aretha’s emotions become stronger and stronger. They begin to explode through her words, surge up simultaneously with the background music, creating a musical flood of emotions that makes the listener feel the bursting feeling behind the words. At this time in her life, Aretha was brimming with emotion. She was in the process of freeing herself from her husband, Ted White’s control. She was breaking out into a new fabulous career; she was a promising talent. She knew White would only hold her back. He was reeking havock on her personal and professional life – trying to destroy her blooming career. But Aretha wouldn’t let him hold her down. She knew she had a promising future, and she wouldn’t let an abusive man constrain her soul.

She exceeded all expectations for “Never Loved a Man The Way That I Love You”. She interpreted the song in her own way, applying it to her own relationship and allowing her emotions to flow freely through the music. She gives the audience a perfect blend of deep, dark blues and jazzy revival soul music. The whole song contains a certain clarity of words and emotion, which enlightens us to Aretha’s pain, but also her strength. Her range is impeccable, impacting the audience to feel her struggle. These overpowering emotions and her flawless voice make “Never Loved a Man The Way I That I Love You” a timeless, transcendental ode.

Aretha Franklin, April 2011 issue of Elle Magazine.

Aretha Franklin was featured in the April 2011 issue of Elle, an issue dedicated to "Gold Dust Women". "From the new-wave vocal powerhouses to indie-minded breakouts to enduring legends who still rock our world, ELLE honors the women in music sounding off in 2011" (Elle)

In the interview, Aretha stated, “I am going to rock this [size] 16. Sixteen probably sounds large to girls who wear 10s and 12s, but I love it, because it looks good on me.”

She remains a confident, strong woman who represents soul, and defines what it means to be a diva. In this spread, she only proves she hasn't lost her spunk.

Getting Personal with Aretha

In the years preceding the album, "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You", Franklin endured extreme hardship in her personal and professional life. She married Ted White in 1966, and he worked as her manager and director. He helped her produce jazz albums, but he never allowed Aretha to live up to her full potential. There were countless stories of Ted White publically and privately abusing Aretha. Friends and family were constantly professing their worry for Aretha’s wellbeing. White wrecked her career, ruining her relationship with Columbia records with his incontrollable temper. It seemed Aretha’s career might never be salvaged. However, in 1966, Jerry Wexler from Atlantic Records saw something remarkable in Aretha. He picked out songs for her to record, and helped her produce songs of her own. Ted White continued to reek havoc on these new opportunities Aretha was being presented with. He feared losing control of her, but Wexler helped Aretha through this, and allowed her to obtain her true potential. On the inside of the CD, a picture of Aretha with big, fabulous hair, and a visage covered in make-up that doesn’t quite mask a battered face. A bruise beneath her right eye, and a swollen lip, could easily be overlooked. Like the album itself, Aretha both covers up her pain but lets it peek out beneath the surface. At points in the album, she unleashes her hardship, singing painfully beautiful odes that release the suffering she experienced for years. 2 years after the album was released, she mustered up the courage to break it off with Ted White, the abusive husband who held her back for so long.

Here, Aretha Franklin sings one of her most famous and successful blues songs of all time - "Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)". This song was released as a single in 1967, and became the title of her album which contained many other soulful songs. However, this song is unique because it hit number one on the pop charts, although it is somewhat of a slow, jazzy, blues song.