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From: arethafan2006
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  • When she put on that flamingo fur coat I just couldn't anymore.

  • Aretha is SHADY as heck lol!

  • Man she did Mavis Staple perfect!!

  • wow thats wussup

  • good job or poke at her peers (in a good way and honor)

  • At times you are much like bigbeatlesfan09. Sad!!

  • Love the video but those last comments shows just how far we need to go. Those comments were horrible and have no place here.

  • Aretha is the Ace #1 Boss Diva and naturally Aretha can impersonate Diana, Gladys and Mavis but they will NEVER EVER be able to impersonate Arethas INCREDIBLY UNIQUE SUPERIOR SOUND!! Aretha sounded like all three and had to lower her voice to sound these fellow Divas!! Arethas famous for singing artist songs and sounding better and if Aretha had sang Gladys's song the Aretha way, Aretha would sing CIRCES AROUND GLADYS because Aretha doing it the Gladys way sounds better than Gladys ever did!!

  • @mostick313 dumb niggers on welfare most of them have 8 kids no education over weight and thy all look like sound and act like monkeys worthless they kill and fight and have there pants down like someone want to see there ass with shit stans all over them and a disgrace to America now that got that dumb nigger in our white house fuck those niggers I HATE NIGGERS sounds worst than your friend 1990soulman cat screams stupid monkeys

  • Hey, U FUCKFACE!! The only niggas I know are the ones who RAN A TRAIN on your HO HOPPIN ASS ROTTEN TOOTHED MAMMY!! Whites who Respect Blacks are Wonderful but Its the Shit Eating, White Racist, Redneck, KKK, Trailor Park Trash Shitheads like you that would seriously be GETTING YO ASS WOOPED BE ME!! Shit Stains? Thats what your CRACKHEAD ASS MAMMYS DIRTY DRAWS LOOK LIKE! U just a STIFF ASS WHITE BOY, No Finesse!! Ask yo Lady! She'll choose a Black Man Over U while U Suck A D**K, U TRICK!

  • Hey, U Fart Smellin' Son Of A BITCH. There are more Whites on Welfare in Numbers and Percentage! The Dummys are you Tobacco Spittin' Hillbilly KKK ASS PAPPY and your HUNCHBACK, UGLY, FUGLY AND TOOTHLESS ASS MAMMY for creating A SHIT SNIFFER LIKE U!! And speaking of Monkeys, its those Wierdo White Boys like U thats ALWAYS TRYING TO GET F**KED BY A DAMN MONKEY! Im Laughing at your STIFF RACIST IGNORANT ASS!! I would WOOP UP ON YO ASS, MAKE U MY BITCH AND HAVE YO ASS SELLING ASS ON THE STREET

  • @mostick313 How dare you think you have any power monkey nigger ever since you niggers got loose from them chains we had you in your running wild like bunch an animals which you or worlds a bigger place all you niggers do is scream play ball and ave babies for us to take care of dumb nigger and I ain't nobodies bitch but your my bitch get on your knees nigga and suck my dick thats what your good for nigger

  • Hey U FUCKFACE!! I got the power alright to BEAT YO ASS DOWN in the streets U STIFF ASS whiteboy!! And stop using my language U CUM SWALLOWING ASS ILITERATE!! I SAID THAT I'II MAKE U MY BITCH after I get done WOOPIN' YO RAW WET CHICKEN SMELLIN' ASS!! Black people are the most BEAUTIFUL and BRILLIANT PEOPLE! Recognize! And STOP spewing out your PREJUDICE on Arethas video just because youre a WIERDO and a STIFF ASS WHITE BOY with a SHRIVELED UP WET NOODLE and NUM NUTS! YO MONKEY ASS MAMMY!

  • @bigbeatlesfan09 If you are successful then it is on the backs of slaves you should attribute your wealth or success. Do not call people niggers and monkeys and all that foolishness. Do some research and find out the great contributions of African Americans, and if someone is in such low standing in your eyes you should try to figure out a way to help them that is if you are in a position to talk.

  • I'm glad I've learned how to watch these video's. This was a very funny to see Aretha singing like Mavis. What makes this extra amusing is, they are the best of friends.

  • She nailed Mavis....kinda scary how good that was.

  • There's a video of gladys singing respect and she did just as good as aretha. So lets not go there. Aretha may be the queen, and i'll give her that in talent and in legacy. But Gladys def was the runner up and was giving ree a run for her money in the late 60's and early 70's. Patti is no where near close to the success of those two.

  • Patti has had a 2nd class career compared to Aretha if u are basing it on accolades&record sales.But Patti has 1st class vocals, 1st class talent, 1st class style,and has endured, along with Aretha, and still cannot be beat as a live entertainer even in her late 60's. U can't take away what God gave Patti& that is vocal talent (loudnes come with the pkg) that has not been matched. Watch Patti live on this site and you have to give her, her props.She's a 1st class vocal legend,along with Aretha.

  • empress,u sad ass pretender u,that ametuer hour contest that gladys won when she was 5 is her biggest honor and gladys was never queen or this silly ass empress silliness! let me educate your big head empress, Aretha was singing and playing piano at 2,#1 TEENAGE GOSPEL SINGER, ENTERED SECULAR MUSIC AS THE "GREAT ARETHA FRANKLIN AT 18,CROWNED QUEEN OF THE BLUES IN 62, CROWNED QUEEN OD SOUL IN 63,BEST JAZZ SINGER OF 63,GREATEST GOSPEL ALBUM OF ALL TIMES ect. empress,Aretha slam dunked on gladys!!!

  • empress,u got the brains of a damn skeketon and need to get your ears checked! Queen Aretha sounded just like gladys's and it was easy do do because gladys voice is very basic,bland,predictable and easy to imitate compared to Aretha's unpredictable voice,100# Soul Artistry,flavor and the way Aretha takes all our asses to church! Aretha's voice is a billion times richer than gladys;s deep,hoarse,husky,manly ass voice! and Aretha been kickin gladys's ass for over 50yrs hail to the Queen! recognize

  • You're an idiot. That is all.

  • after hearing aretha sing gladys's,mavis's and diana's material, it is clear that aretha is the better singer of them all put together. just plain better than mavis,outmesmerized and outclassed diana and had more quickness,more vocal range,more rhythmatic adlibs and more soul artistry than gladys!! there is no way in hell that gladys,diana or mavis could ever sound like aretha and they better be glad that aretha didnt sing their songs the "aretha way", because they would be in serious trouble!!

  • patti is truly spectacular, but aretha is a spectacular omnipotent iconic godess indeed. truly the queen out this mother! aretha could have done patti very easily because patti's screechiness and holding one note forever is very predictable and easy to imitate. and just being loud, which patti does is not soul. aretha's voice is totally unpredictable and can work that voice like a musical instrument and patti lacks aretha's technical vocal abilities. obama picked aretha, not patti you see!

  • back in the early 60's/70's, when they all began, aretha beat the hell our of gladys, mavis, diana, and especially patti. while queen aretha was setting world records at grammys winning best female RB for 9 yrs in a row, patti was catching hell trying to get a label. aretha, 20 grammys more than any female, patti,1 grammy. thats an ass whoopin. patti was not popular enough for aretha to do.  but aretha, the master of all sound could easily do patti but patti could never sound like aretha.

  • Aretha can't come close to doing Empress Gladys because her voice is not full enough. Gladys voice is so roomy and the richest in contemporary music.

  • you's a damn lie! Queen Aretha just did gladys and sounded just like her but gladys SHO CANT DO aretha! gladys lacks Arethas power,range,quickness,passion,­inturpretive skills,intensity and arethas soul artistry out this mother!! thats why aretha is the undisputed queen of soul, u iliterate! and it is not [ aretha and empress gladys] you asshole,its QUEEN ARETHA and then its gladys u pathetic ass pretender u! Aretha,being Queen is KNOWN WORLDWIDE,no one knows of this empress foolishness grow up!

  • Her voice isn't rich enough to do Gladys, and she sounded nothing like Gladys.

  • wow, get a life already

  • Empress Gladys began singing at 4, was the 1st original American Idol @ 7,and @ 9 (1953), was part of the Pips, later, Gladys Knight & the Pips, until they disbanded in1989. 1st Gold, 1961, Every Beat of Heart Gold throughout the 60's., 70's, 80's and the 90's as a solo artist.

  • Original American Idol, i think not. Aretha her musically career at age 2 and by age three she was playing the piano like a seasoned pro. Aretha became the most famous teen gospel singer in the country. There was alot of promise that others saw in Aretha even at the tender age as a little girl.

  • At 7 years old, Gladys won the Ted Mack National Amateur Hour contest. This preceded Star Search, American idol and the rest of the various shows. She is the original American Idol!!

  • aretha, you are simply the greatest singer i have ever heard and this performance is so unbelievably mindblowing. you sounded just like mavis, gladys and diana. that would not be hard for aretha, the queen of soul, gospel, blues, jazz, opera, big band ect. to do because gladys's, diana's and mavis's voice are rather basic and bland in comparison to aretha's rare god like voice. aretha is far more passionate. now, can they sing like aretha? hell damn no. aretha has 100% pure soul artistry.

  • This was fun. Aretha had a sense of humor back then. Today she's a crank. I wasn't impressed with the Gladys piece. Aretha's voice was too trumpet-like back then to imitate Gladys's French horn tone. The Ross piece was dead on but wasn't Aretha lucky that Diana had a song that was basically spoken. I'm not sure she could have imitated Diana's singing voice with its smooth, cultured timber and sophisticated interpretation of lyrics. Ross isn't loud but she sure is great.

  • That is bullshit. Aretha is not a crank and if you have ever been to any of her concerts you would see that Aretha is a very funny person and a great sense of humor. She is very down to earth. And Aretha in her prime had a very smooth like tone. Listen to her sing I'm Your Speed. Diana is good but she has nothing on Aretha;s interpretation. Aretha isn't just loud. She is an interpreter and is a brilliant musical genius.

  • Actually, I didn't mean it exactly the way it read. I agree with you that Aretha is not just a bellowing gospel type. I do think her voice has wonderful tone and is very subtle and smooth ("Somewhere"). Aretha and Diana, I believe, share certain musical qualities that their closest peers--Gladys, Patti, e.g.--simply never had. These qualities include an understanding of melody and lyrics, curiosity about many different styles of music and skill singing them. Re plays piano; D is a great showman.

  • Mavis Staple was pissed off at her for doing this.

    Gladys Knight probably thought it was amusing to hear Arethas' rendition of her song... but that's about it.

    ------------------------------­--------------------

    I didn't care for all that... Ohh MHH ouH uuh Mhuooo, mo ouy ouuuh -

  • Her voice was too high for a Gladys impression. The Mavis and Diana Ross were excellent, but she should have left Gladys alone.

  • LMAO gimmie a shoe so i can hit Areatha. Why She aint "TRY" to do Pattie

  • This was in 1977 Patti hadn't made a name for herself yet.

  • RIGHT!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOL!!! I'm laughin cuz they tried to be smart...trust Aunt Ree was hittin patti krazy ass notes b4 it became her signature "style"

  • no1 has ever tried to mimmic a patti note its too hard and challenging and you'll look stupid.. so it was best not to do it

  • go somewhere, is patti in this video?

  • No you go some where and mind ya fuckin business if you gun' try to start an argument with me.. I'm not with that

  • this video is my business. aint nobody arguing with you, im letting you know whats up, i like patti, but u dont need to be bringing that damn patti bullshit ova here. becuz the greatest singer, is singing right now.

  • See look at you tryna start an argument Lolol you gun' say "the greatest singer is singing right now" Knowing that statement can cause a big as argument back n forth on in this comment section.. You tryna start an argument ITS CLEAR AS DAY.. GET A FUCKIN LIFE DAMNNNN.. you can't leave somebody alone for once..

  • ME, u do wanna that had 2 bring patti up. SO SINCE PATTI IS SO GREAT, MOVE THE FUCK ON AND MAKE THOSE DAMN COMMENTS ON A PATTI VIDEO, WHERE SHES ACTUAL RELEVANT.

  • I'm not the 1 who brought Patti STUPID are you blind its right above who brung Patti DUMB ASS..but you coming at me because you just wanna argue and have noooooooo Liiiiiiife

  • Oh I stand corrected ur right. I did not see. That srry. But let that no life shit go. Becuz I have a very very good life. And if I have no life then u don't either since u responding 2 me. And I've seen some of ur comments. So don't talk about starting arguments. Motherfucker b4 I shut u down. Oops I did.

  • You didn't shut nothing down Lol... its a reason my name is shhutidown5... how you gun' shut something down that been shut you down form the start and made you look well you know lOlol

  • Look obviously this is gonna go on and on. But unlike u I actually do have a life. And have 2 get ready 2 go 2 da club. So bye and fuck u lol.

  • Aretha has Mama Mavis all day!!!!!!!!!

  • so diss video is showing THE QUEEN HATIN ON singers she said or close friends n she likes umm get a life people anyways i like this concert o want 2 see more i wish it was release on dvd

  • Hey this is amazing!

  • This is spectacular!

  • go Re Re great Mavis!

  • i think someone as professional as aretha wouldnt publicly display her dislike for someone...that's just not her...she's having fun. and whenever you do a parody...you exaggerate something one is known for. and i think her mavis was funny....i mean if she wouldnt have said mavis...we still would have got it....so LAY OFF HER! geeze you youtubers dont enjoy anything you just look for videos and wait for someone to do something wrong....like vultures the lot of you!

  • I think she was paying tribute to the tthree most popular divas of the time with her. The Staple Singers were really big then, so was Gladys Knight and Diana. SHe was displaying her respect and humor.

  • They're arguing over a 30 year old clip. : s Aretha's just having a little fun here. Besides, by '77, R&B STOOD for 'real boring' according to the charts and Disco was happenin. All the songs she's singing here are a few years old. Clearly, in '77, If Aretha wanted to show off, she could've done so with ease in her own style (even on a pips' song). She's just payin homage. She once did MJ's 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' in concert. ...Nothing sacred except for the tremendous gift.

  • Comicalk, no one's arguing, i think we're just stating our opinions of her renditions. I question her motives especially after reading her autobiography where she states and reiterates her lack of fondness for Mavis and her vocal abilities and Gladys as well. So, when i see this clip, i go "oh now i can see how she displays her feelings for Mavis and Gladys. I don't know if her feelings for them are justified or not, i'm merely stating the obvious, her dislike for them shows on the clip.

  • how is this clip showing dislike? if anything. it shows she likes them.

  • umm i dnt see her doing anything i think she did a good job shes paying homage to them & trust me if rere had 2 hate r had sumthing 2 say she would like she did 4 natalie n i must say i like & sum what dislike the ad-lips

  • She the greatest but she embarrassed herself on this one. It's obvious that she is hating because Gladys Knight did not sing "oh ya"ll" that many times in that song. Moreover, Mavis has a deep voice but she is always clearly understood. I didn't understand a word Areatha was singing in the respect yourself song. Point blank, it was a parody and she did a terrible job.

  • Her voice just isn't full enough to do justice to Gladys' Midnight Train!

  • Aretha is famous for having the most powerful voice of all females out this joint thats why Aretha is the Undisputed Queen of Soul you liar. if gladys tried to do what Aretha does vocally, gladys's voice would strain,squeel,crack and crumble right before your very eyes you nut because gladys is deeeeep and looooow!! mrmusi, you ass,gladys's voice is not fuller than Arethas. gladys voice is hoarse,deep and husky like a damn man you biscuit head! Aretha has the most full voice ever fool! recognize

  • @darish3512 why would Aretha need to hate on any of these women? When this was made, she was THE R&B singer of her generation.

  • Forgive more my ignorance but I have to know is she really showing admiration for these women or is she making a parody of them?

  • her and mavis staples are best friends. She is show admiration for them.

  • No Trackstar2000, Mavis and Aretha aren't best friends at all, if they are in fact friends. This is according to Aretha. I don't think she considers Mavis as a friend, perhaps a fellow singing artist would be a better description.

  • Im not arguing with you, but aretha said it herself in her 1987 one lord one faith one baptism. They are good friends. Gosh

  • Really? I don't know if something changed between 1987 and 1995 when her autobiography came out.

    Anyway, who knows... let's just move on!!

  • Let me say i love Arethea as an artist. She is in a league of her own, however Mavis is a great singer who has contributed to soul music as well. I question Arethea' s motives here.After reading her book, i got the impression that she's not a fan of Mavis's.According to her, Mavis and her father called her with erroneous information when her dad was shot, misinforming her that her dad was dead.She also stated that Mavis has "a very heavy voice" with condenscension.

  • no, she said she had a very heavy voice because mavis was louder than she was on arethas gospel record. and thats true, yea aretha has a higher voice but a heavier voice can at times overpower that. like with a man and a woman singing. of course the woman might be hitting higher notes, but the bass in the mans voice can at times be louder.

  • The Queen yall!

  • You haters need to return to where you came from....Underneath a rock!

  • GONE HEAD RE RE

  • This is music not pro wrestling...

  • Why these comparisions? Aretha is a great singer just like Gladys and Mavis. Aretha at her best is just Aretha. Stop using her as a benchmark and listen to her music.....

  • All the comparisons are because people don't wanna give credit where credit is due!!

  • I just love LadySoul, but her Midnight Train really demonstrates how rich and full Gladys' voice is.

  • Aretha, you're too much! What a diva! And of course I belive your denials that you turned down mavis's microphone during Oh Happy Day even more now! Ah, you've made my day!

  • Wait hold up Aretha never denied that she turned down Mavis' mike. She came str8 out and said she did that because she wasn't about to be outsung on her own song.

  • I'm sure even with equal volume of microphone Aretha was not about to be outsing by Mavis.

    I Mean she is Aretha FRANKLIN, maybe in her middle of her range she was not as powerful cause Mavis has a very strong voice but on high register she sure killed Mavis.

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  • She wasn't trying to SOUND like the women she honored simpleton. She was imitating their STYLE. Aretha called it "impersonations" you called it bad parody. The problem with you is you know nothing of the culture of the people and the music and it shows. You get hung on up semantics because you are an illiterate pompous imbecile. No one sounds "like Mavis" except for Mavis. Try looking up the Four Tops and Temps video when they sang each other's songs! A fine example of great ARTISTS. U? Stfk up!

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  • Sorry shitface you're still not getting it. Now run along, take your meds and pull your head out of your ass. BTW: Idiots like you need to go get a f*ckg life. You have no talent, nothing positive to offer other than your baseline imbecilic comments. You are an insult to Ms. Franklin and the fine ladies she paid homage to. There is no cure for STUPIDITY and you have a very bad case of it. Once again your OLD dried up behind needs to listen and learn. Time on the planet doesn't = common sense.

  • you know guys watch this vid on how patti paid tribute aretha and said: aretha out of all the songs youve recorded i love them all but i really love is aint no way! and said aretha darling i love you and you are my hero! the person who post this is out of his mind.. patti loved aretha from the start and you are making this up what would patti say??

  • Her "Gladys" SUCKS

  • i AGREE THA GLADYS WASN'T THAT GOOD

  • her gladys wasnt' all that great...but you still gotta love aretha...i dont think she was trying to hurt anyone. everyone else is clearly trying to put that on her....of course she can be rude sometimes....who said she was perfect though?

  • Last time I saw something like that, it had a harpoon in it.

  • this is fantastic, she is badddd!!!! lady she can do it all i love aretha..

  • Lot's of artist did this in the 70's, it was just entertainment. She would also do Della Reese. Dionne Warwick, and Betty Wright also did impressions in their shows. ALL HAIL TO THE QUEEN!

  • I read a lot of the post here and I don't understand why people are getting upset about a clip from the 70's. Plus the fact the people making the comments are haters.  Aretha was and is the undisputed Queen of Soul and diserves the respect and props she has gotten, she has the 17 grammy awards and 77 hits on the hot 100's to prove it, can Patti LaBelle say the same. I think not. Patti is great, but she isn't, she wasn't and she ain't never gonna be what Aretha Franklin is.

  • I agree, nobody beside Patti stupid ass fan put her in the same category as Aretha Franklin.

    I mean Aretha's songs are classic all over the world..!The only song I knew of pattie was Moulin Rouge thanks to the 2001 version!

  • You must be stupid!! Where have you been to not have ever heard of Patti?

  • Sorry for every non-amercian personn, Pattie Labelle is totally unknown.

    Of course I know her thanks to YOUTUBE, not thanks to her career.....

  • So not true I am not American and I know her!!

  • I KNOW

  • Aretha is the Queen of Soul....got it? ok

  • without the redundant analysis/comparison, can i just say that this was GREAT to watch and extremeley entertaining. No Hater can change that. Where's the paradox here. This was a great, entertaining performance. Some act like Aretha said "I'm going to be Gladys Knight'

  • That's what you call deference

  • I love these tributes that the Queen does, she showing respect for their talent. I often wondered what she thought of her childhood neighboor Diana Ross. Aretha may be the Queen of Soul, but Diana is the Supreme Goddess of Pop and so when Aretha did her immatation of The Boss, she put on a robe. Ree Ree is letting everyone know that Diana brought glamour to soul music and you should never try and immitate her without bringing that to the table.

  • This is spectacular!

  • Aretha is really good at these impersonations/impressions. She sounds exactly like Mavis and Gladys........................­OneLove

  • I love Aretha's music. She was always a very talented singer and writer! All of the females of R&B contributed something in their own way. Diana changed the way African-American women were preceived. Tina made it acceptable for women to sing Rock. Gladys helped set the foundation for Soul. Patti helped rescue R&B when it was nearly wiped out in the 80s (the decade Motown and the Philadelphia Sound fell). All of them are great but this is Aretha's page so let's talk about Aretha.

  • kurt, i geuss you're right. but how can you talk about soul music and not mention the high priestess of song, Patti Labelle, or the empress of soul gladys,etc... they are all on the same, super-singer talent level along with chaka and a few others.oh, and she can't touch gladys on midnight train although she sounds remarkably close.

  • I agree StillWill2. Patti, Gladys, Chaka, Diana, Tina:women you can call by first name only and people know who you're speaking of BUT we want to enjoy them without comparing them. Aretha should not have done an imitation. People at her show paid to see her. Doing imitation automatically creates comparison. This was a good performance but bad choice on her part.

  • I would like to say, as a guy that can remember Aretha, Diana, and Gladys at their heyday, I have to say all of you are whacked. Each of these ladies had their day at different times so I don't remember there ever being any competition between them. For the record, Gladys had her first hit long before Diana and Aretha. She helped open the door for soul singers especially females who really had a tough time being accepted as soul artist.

  • this is a nice a great impression,aretha can sing anything,i wish people would realize that their is one queen of soul that is aretha,but gladys,chaka khan,mavis staple,patti labelle,natalie cole,and diana have are great too!! they all are our ladies of soul music,but aretha is the dominant queen

  • I LOVE IT, WHAT A DIVA

  • Aretha's voice has changed due to smoking. When you grow up singing, shouting, squalling, gospel music--your vocal chords become strong and tolerant. I've been playing piano for gospel singers since 1967, so my comment is based on what I've seen happen with singers. Regardless, Aretha is and will always be the "undisputed" queen of soul. I suspect she will reign for at least another 200 years before another singer dare challenge her title.

  • Aretha's impact on music was so profound, that today she and possibly Streisand are the barometers for judging all great singers. This despite the fact that Diana crossed over and became the most successful pop hitmaking singer of her generation. I don't think anyone has ever said Diana set the standard for great singers. I guess this all goes back to the roaring twenties dueling divas, when Bessie Smith down to earth blues style and Ethel Waters sophisticated pop devided fans.

  • Aretha is the Queen of Soul because nowhere could touch her her making power. 20 number one R&B classics. I loved seeing her do these imitations although she shouldn't have tried Gladys. Would like to see more of her doing Diana. It really is a tribute Aretha gave them by daring to do them. And just think at one time or another she had serious run ends with them all. Long Live the Queen!

  • I'd like Patti, Gladys, or Diana try and impersonate ARETHA!! LOL! Great video thanx for posting! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN OF SOUL!! MW

  • patti imitates no one; she is the High Priestess of song [new york times] and any song she sings is no imitation, she makes it her own; she is the ultimate diva. and everybody knows that.

  • Patti intimates Aretha when she sings Aretha songs..I heard Patti singing "Sparkle" and it was clear she was trying to sing most of the song they way Aretha sang it..some of the runs and vocal riffs where how Aretha did them...

  • you people and these aretha/patti comparisons. 'if this, 'if that'-- WoW. how about this- aretha and patti joined atlantic around the same. if she was as great as an aretha, wexler could've found somethin to do with her. believe that. i'd define 'greatness', for you but the 500 character limit.... the end.

  • It was meant to be entertaining which it certainly was.She didn't always sound like the original artist but she certainly had the styles down. I didn't think she did so good with Gladys because Gladys has a different timbre to her voice. Its like listening to a trumpet solo that was originally written for a clarinet. Same song but different mood. Not bad, just different.

  • To think she didn't get along with these ladies

  • Aretha does Mavis great...she was pretty good with Gladys to in the beginning of the song....actually she good on all to a point.LOL

  • Aretha,Gladys,Patti,Mavis,Dian­na, are all excellent performers each with their own unique styles and personalities,so there is no need to for comparisons.

  • Aretha shits on Patti.

  • This seems kinda mean - "mocking" these other singers. I wouldn't call it an "homage" at all. But I still like Aretha though. She wouldn't have impersonated Patti because this was probably during the early 70s before Patti found large scale success. She wasn't hot back then. Her Mavis Staples was dead on. The Gladys Knight wasn't good though.

  • I will say that Aretha's impression of Diana is the most amusing. I would say their individual styles are almost the antithesis of each other.

  • These ladies...Gladyis, Patti and Aretha don't have to compete with each other. God gave them each ample talents. These ladies and their GOd given talents are to be treasured.

  • She definately can NOT do Gladys.

  • I have to say that i love patti and aretha.and in all fairness u cant compare them.its not the power thing but aretha and patti both have unique voices.i dont think its fair to either artist to compare them.that goes for all artists

  • but you know...this is what makes aretha ARETHA...her voice is so diverse...patti can have that high voice and scream her way to be seen, but aretha's voice has more passion and can fit in many different ways..she can imitate others..i'd like to see patti try to imitate others-oops..she really can't because she can sing only one way..which isn't bad, but it goes to show her voice isn't as diverse as the queen...aretha can balance her vocals very well..she is a master of interpretations...

  • I agree with you to some extent as far as Patti's somewhat limited approach to a song, but you're wrong to say that Aretha's voice has more passion. Both bring great passion to what they sing...both women have endured real sadness in their personal lives which certainly colors the emotion they put into any song they sing. And who cares if one can imitate someone else?! The concert goers came to the show to see Aretha, not Mavis, Gladys, or Diana.

  • I like Aretha but if you think the "concert" goers didn't flock to see Gladys and Diana,then you are extremely ill-informed. Also, she was good doing Mavis, but wasn't even close when singing Gladys' song.

  • Oh no, I'm sorry you misunderstood me. My point here was at this concert, the spectators were there to see Aretha, not the people she was imitating. Of course I know concert goers went out see Gladys and especially Diana. And you're right, Aretha wasn't very good at imitating Gladys :)

  • Everyone here should know that Aretha is good but she is not the best. The best is Patti Labelle and we all know it.

  • true dat!!!

  • Unforetuneatey Miss Patti is a brilliant singer and entertainer, but she has only had two big hits. In the words of the Queen herself, All the Kings Horses and All the Kings Men... couldn't get Miss Patti another hit again. I am a fan of both but don't try and put them in the same league.

  • You have several comments on here so, i am unsure which was directed to me. I will reply to this one. In the days when Aretha was making hit after hit, she had no one to compete against her. When she began to be challenge her hit became smaller. I too listened to her because in those days there was no one else to listen too. She was labeled the Queen of soul because there were no princesses to detrone he.

  • There was a lot of REAL talent during the days when Aretha started making million selling records,so to say there was no one to compete with her is not true.Aretha had the talent to rise to the top..

  • aretha doinga comedic senup, not trying to be an impersonator, and by the way, she has sung circles around every one of her peers for her entire career, just read what they have to say about her

  • Aretha sings circles around everyone, except perhaps Ella, and only b/c they are so vocally divergent. but the imitation wasn't supposed to be like an impersonator, just a comic send-up of those ladies' singing styles and it was fun and funny. thank you and goodnight

  • In my humble opinion - when in her prime I think Aretha could've sang anyone off the stage. She could sing absolutely ANYTHING better than it's original - elevate it unimaginable new heights!

  • Thank you for the post. The Queen reigns forever. The King CL Franklin and the Original Queen Barbara Franklin made a wonderous sing for all to enjoy God rest their soul. Aretha is the best damn singer in the entire world all others are new comer. Chaka and Patti are alumni of Aretha University the rest Whitney, Fanatasia, Sade need the yellow school bus "singing school under construction" kindergarten. Chaka and Patti can hang with Queen Aretha "Princesses.

    Love New Jersey

  • No... Patti's been singing as long as Aretha and they are about the same age. She isn't from Aretha University. Chaka did learn much of what she knows watching Aretha, aswell as Patti. The rest of them are younger versions of these artists and Gladys Knight, another soul queen. Patti is a colleeague, not an apprentice!!!

  • Patti will blow Aretha out of the water. When Aretha was younger about 25 years ago she could probably hang with Patti. If you notice anyone can do Aretha, but the don't dare attempt Ms. Patti. I liked Aretha's Sprakle album but that is about it for me.

  • my family thinks aretha can beat patti and i say patti will blow all those ladies away in a heartbeat.Patti ain't no joke for real!!!

  • Aretha's career has shown that Patti in not in the running..I won't even add singers like Dionne Warwick among others who have had far steller careers than Patti. So no matter how loud Patti gets she still will have a 2nd class career..

  • she's making fun of her colleagues, especially diana ross: she's impersonating them, but it would have been totally impossible for them to impersonate Aretha: they weren't good enough for that! she is setting the standard on their own territory! It's what Ella did fot jazz!

  • Diana Ross can't impersonate her, but I bet Gladys Knight can. I love Aretha, but she SUCKED on that Gladys Knight impersonation.

  • she really did this!! in my book this is the order of top females ever! ARETHA,GLADYS,CHAKA KHAN,PATTI LABELLE,CHAKA KHAN,NATALIE COLE, well u know that MISS ROSS IS IN A LEAUGE BY HERSELF,but she does put on a good show,so that might put her up the ladder a little better!!

  • Nice language potty mouth.

  • Ohmy gosh, I know when and Mavis are friends but she has her down! Right on Ree!

  • Y'all r sum passionate mofos,I'm going to accept this little piece of magic in the manner that it was given, freely and with love

  • Patti Sucks Shit

  • nice language potty mouth

  • Hey all Aretha ,Gladys,Patti.Bettye Lavette,Jenifer Holliday ,Stephanie Mills,Randy Crawford,Chaka,,Bonnie Tyler,Mavis Staples,Ruby Turner,Tina Turner,Martha Wash so many more all are fantastic and have their uniqe style and voice we are blessed be able to enjoy teir music.Thanks all you Divas love you all

  • Elkie Brooks can stand up to most female singers. If not all female singers

  • You stupid son-of-a-bitch. How dare you. She is paying omage to them. All of them did the Chitlin circut at one time. You can KISS MY ASS and GO TO HELL!

  • Damn! She DOES sound like Mavis Staples!

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  • It would have been better is she just covered the songs as herself instead of trying to imitate. All the mmm hmmm ooh yeah is used sparingly and quite well by Gladys. Diana as a vocalist is a greatly misunderstood anomaly. She is not a favorite of mine but she is a FIRST RATE VOCALIST!!!

  • ARETHA FRANKLIN IS THE QUEEN OF SOUL! I am amazed at the aforementioned comments. Please seek education and some respect. Seek to know your heritage, you will find yourself , " free your mind and the rest will follow" The struggle continues!

  • Glasdys wa always a far better singer than Aretha. She had a stronger mor epowerful voice. But, unfortunately Gladys Knight always lived in Aretha's shadow.

  • Gladys was the lead singer of a group: Aretha was a soloist and she was tagged the Queen of Soul by white America. We took much pride in Reese's moniker but knew we had many Queens, among them, the world-renown and most highly-regarded, Gladys Knight who takes a back seat to noone. (Aretha can't imitate Gladys at all.)

  • That's rediculous to say white America gave Aretha the title Queen of Soul, when in actuality that term was coined for her by a black dj named pervis spann of chicago back in the early sixties, long before the World black and white knew what the term meant. Aretha is the alpha/omega the first Ambassador of Soul Music, so show some RESPECT.

  • Slow your roll, Foreverlarge. Although Purvis Spann of WVON claims credit for the term "Queen of Soul," I only meant it resonated with white America, and for them, Aretha was the voice, the only voice. But WE, BLACK AMERICA,was well aware of MS.LABELLE and less commercially successful BLACK QUEENS OF SOUL. I adore Aretha, and that mezzo-soprano she unleashed on the world. I appreciate her cultural, political and HISTORICAL significance.

  • Patti is not in Aretha's league with respect to the foregoing; but talent wise, Patti's all that!!!!

  • Comoseleva, I wasn't trying to insult anyone. Whoever loves all the great soulful divas, are ok in my book. What is interesting about Aretha is that when Spann gave her that title, Soul music, was not a popular term, and neither was Aretha herself. Etta James and Mary Wells dominated the early sixties hits. Aretha gospel tinged music was a slow burn, but when it hit it explosed and led the soul revolution in music. White America embraced her not vice versa, because she did compromise her talent.

  • True dat the early sixties didn't belong to Aretha. Was a commercial flop with Columbia Records(too white and watered down). Signed with Atlantic in 66 or 67, and 'till about '73, produced hit after hit. "Respect" became an anthem for white feminists. She hit #1 with George Michael, "Knew You Were Waiting," but never again had the continued success of the late 60's and early 70's. Lady Soul was soul to white America, and she has their Grammies as a testament.

  • But personally, I find Gladys' voice to be intrinsically more soulful than Franklin's and anyone for that matter. But I am partial to Dorothy Moore, Millie Jackson, those deeper voices.

  • What I find sad about Aretha's career is that her voice has been damaged, from years of shouting I guess. I find it hard to even listen to her today. Thank God we have those classic session from old to listen to forever. Ironically all the other divas like Patti, Tina, Gladys and Diana all seem to have kept their voices in tact as they aged. Don't understand how Aretha lost her voice. I don't think it was smoking because a lot of singers smoke. Dionne smoked yet she kept her voice.

  • i respect the fact that retha still takes voice lessons; her voice is as intact as any; they all have diminished somewhat due to age. ree's biggest enemy voicewise is her weight. i say this truthfully, as you know, i am a labelle fan, although i love them all.

  • i agree with what you say about aretha. I love her as a vocalist, even though I think she's kind of a rude person.

    (also)from fan to fan, i'd like to let you know that I saw patti live one week ago and her voice has IN NO WAY diminished. i expected it to have...but she's just as powerful as she was back in the 80s. no joke.