The world has been mourning the loss of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, since her passing earlier this month, and today many are honoring her life, including fellow GRAMMY winners Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, at her funeral service in Detroit. The iconic GRAMMY winner will be deeply missed, but her memory will live on forever in her amazing body of music. As we pay our "Respect" and celebrate her life, her music and the path she paved for so many after her, which of her classic songs is most dear to your heart?
While it may be hard for you to choose a personal favorite, arguably Franklin's most popular and recognizable song is "Respect" – it has even made a reappearance on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since her passing. The song was originally written and performed by GRAMMY winner Otis Redding. Her version, which she released in 1967 on I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, garnered national attention and gave her the first of many No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts, as well as her first two GRAMMY wins at the 10th GRAMMY Awards. The title track from that album is another one of her soulful classics, in fact, "I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You," "Respect," "Chain Of Fools," "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)" and "Amazing Grace," have all been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame.
But don't forget about "I Say A Little Prayer" and "Think," originally released on Aretha Now in 1968 – upbeat, powerful tracks that showcase Franklin's amazing vocal range. Both singles have been included on countless movie soundtracks over the years, and will surely be in the soundtracks of our lives for years to come.
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Franklin was truly an icon in every sense of the word, with her career spanning decades and earning her many accolades, including a total of 44 GRAMMY nominations and a historic 18 wins, making her one of the most awarded GRAMMY artists of all time. On top of that, she was given the GRAMMY Legend Award in 1991, one of just 15 artists to receive this special honor, and also received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She is truly a star that will shine bright beyond her years on earth.
