Without a word of warning
The blues walked in this morning
And circled around my lonely room.

I cannot think of one person who has impacted the modern world more than Aretha Franklin.

I realize this is a bold statement.

I’m not a historian. I’m not even that great at debating.

I’m not a musician or an Aretha expert, even.

So I’d like to explain – via my own story.

My earliest memory of Aretha Franklin is Freeway of Love.

Knew you’d be a vision in white
How’d you get your pants so tight?
Don’t know what you’re doing,
But you must be living right.

I remember seeing the music video and thinking, ok, this song is kinda dumb.

I also remember her in the Blues Brothers – but didn’t really know the magnitude of who she was.

I grew up in a household where Motown was the norm: The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye.

I don’t remember listening to Aretha that frequently, though.

Trouble in mind, I’m blue
But I won’t be blue always,
‘Cause that sun is gonna shine in my back door someday.

But without Aretha, none of those artists would have been who they were.

I strongly believe my childhood exposure to Motown led to my love for R&B, rap and hip hop.

The more I became enamored with Mariah, Toni, Paula, Janet, Lauryn…the more I realized I was missing out on the woman who had shaped them.

I started to explore Aretha’s music.

But where do you start?

So, go ahead with all your sweet talking
Go ahead for all the good it can do
Have yourself a dime’s worth of talking
And then I’m gonna hang right up on you.

There were so many “best of” albums, I had no idea which to choose.

And “best of” albums barely scratched the surface.

It was overwhelming. A journey.

The more I thought I knew, the more I realized I knew so little.

My mind is still blown when I hear one of her songs I (I am still discovering her!) – and it’s a song I already knew because it was sampled by another artist.

Taking you back would be foolish…
Then maybe, oh, maybe I’m a fool.

When I bought a record player, I was again exposed to another dimension: hearing her voice on vinyl.

I realize my story should probably be read backward and it would make more sense chronologically, but this is how I and my generation were exposed to her.

And my pillow will be suprised when i come home with glad eyes. And the mirror on the wall will see that I’m the happiest of them all.

The ultimate feminist & civil rights activist.

From MLK to Obama.

From Seinfeld to Dumb and Dumber and My Best Friend’s Wedding.

From Pavaratti to Adele.

From my grandparents to my parents to me.

She spanned decades.

She was everywhere.

Sad? Put on Aretha.

Wanna dance? Put on Aretha.

Sunday morning? Put on Aretha.

Bored? Aretha.

She was always the answer.

I’m going right on down to the river,
I’m gonna take my easy chair
And if the blues don’t get me,
I’m gonna rock on away from here.

Rest easy, Queen of Soul. I hope you’re rockin on away in that easy chair.