President Obama credits legendary rhythm and blues singer Aretha Franklin with being one of the country’s most influential singers, as part of an expansive profile of the R&B singer in next week’s edition of The New Yorker.
“Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and roll — the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope,” Obama said of his admiration of Franklin in an email to writer David Remnick. “American history wells up when Aretha sings.”
Franklin sang “My Country, Tis of Thee” at Obama’s first presidential inauguration in 2009.
Obama compared one of Franklin’s most powerful performances to that of another prominent artist, both of who, he said, capture “the fullness of the American experience.”
“That’s why, when she sits down at a piano and sings ‘A Natural Woman,’ she can move me to tears — the same way that Ray Charles’ version of ‘America the Beautiful’ will always be in my view the most patriotic piece of music ever performed — because it captures the fullness of the American experience, the view from the bottom as well as the top, the good and the bad, and the possibility of synthesis, reconciliation, transcendence.”
Obama said Franklin’s influence is about as far-reaching as you can get in the history of American music.
“You can hear Aretha’s influence across the landscape of American music, no matter the genre,” Obama said. “What other artist had that kind of impact? [Bob] Dylan. Maybe Stevie [Wonder], Ray Charles. The Beatles and the Stones — but, of course, they’re imports. The jazz giants like [Louis] Armstrong. But it’s a short list.”
“And if I’m stranded on a desert island, and have 10 records to take, I know she’s in the collection,” he continued. “For she’ll remind me of my humanity. What’s essential in all of us. And she just sounds so damn good. Here’s a tip: When you’re DJing a party, open with ‘Rock Steady.'”
Remnick also quoted singer-songwriter Carole King about a Franklin concert she attended at the Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino in Ontario, Canada. King said she happened to be sitting next to the Obamas, and at one point looked over and saw the president wiping away a tear.
“The cool cat wept!” King said. “I loved that.”
