Aretha Franklin - You Light Up My Life

[nameisistasue]

Luv this lady

[JRobbySh]

She kind of buries the music.

[brondo1012]

I LOVE THIS!!!!!

[TheBronkobilly]

Hmmmm ok I love Aretha , really i do and she has a way of delivering music in that special Aretha way , lets face it folks shes one of the best ever!!!!! but in my opinion she does this well no doupt about it but heres the but ive heard lots of people try a version of this but Debbie boons version is the best by far ... Not being negative just my opinion ....

[Tarage1]

This is exactly what I was looking for!!!!

[08fullmetalalchemist]

Debbie and Whitney didn't bore me. They sang the song with emotion. But no one but Aretha can sing it from not just the heart but from the depths of her soul!

[eheister2006]

this is good

[MrOneDr]

smooth, I love it.

[michiel7]

I think that Aretha Franklin is even a better singer than Madonna! Or Britney Spears. Was she in The Pointer Sisters?

[Ariegiggles]

26 people are living in the DARK.

[arlenemh64]

wow, this is what you call making a song your own! wonderful.

[911insidejo8]

@arlenemh64 ...well leave it to the immensely gifted Aretha Franklin to make something of this bucket of sap.

Funny thing is Patti Smith's version isn't too bad either (and who would have thought!)

[davnkatz]

@arlenemh64 Thanx so much. I have often suggested singers - especially girls - to give a song their individual twist in order to OWN the song rather than just trying to copy - usually rather poorly - someone else's style.

[backgame]

lol....I rest my case

[pacs8311]

My response to you jabuluv is that Aretha is NOT lazy in this song! I am detecting a raggedness in her voice but remember that in those days singers were expected to sing in a 2nd hand smoke environment. Also, a good singer isn't 'listening' to him/herself singing--The sound system and the crowd and so forth force you to FEEL vibrations and pressure as you focus sound to your head, chest, and for very good singers like Franklin, Streisand, Sinatra and others even your belly & back!

[arethafan2006]

I have blocked Jazzboluv. i dont care about people not liking the video or her delivery but there is a way to do everything.

[Ariegiggles]

@arethafan2006 *claps* Exactly, say it with CLASS.

[arethafan2006]

@Jazzboluv This was not even called for. Aretha has done nothing to you and for you to call her these names is just wrong. I hope you are under the age of 16 because if not you need to be ashamed of yourself.

[backgame]

After listening again, it's clear, once again, that Aretha is simply amazing.....BUT....I MUCH prefer other versions of this song. She takes it to another level that I'd rather not be on though. It's all a matter of taste.

As for mostick313's ridiculous rant, well....it speaks for itself. Pay it no mind.

[mostick313]

Yo Silly BISCUITHEADED ASS would prefer Debbies Boring Ass version and the Place where the "Royal Queen, Miss Aretha Franklin takes it is on a level that is far beyond where your PEANUT BRAIN CAN COMPREHEND! U speak of taste? when U clearly have BAD TASTE! I guess when Uve been drinking PANTHER PISS for so long, U dont need no DAMN FRESH CLEAN WATER because U love Debbies version, Uve got BAD TASTE and U been drinking Panther Piss so much that FRESH WATER hurts your Dirty Ass System! FoolAss

[mostick313]

@backgame And your Damn Right Right, My commentary speaks for itself. Thats called the Damn Truth! Me Ridiculous? Thats a stage in life that yo Silly Ass will GROW OUT OF! Looks to me like yo ridiculous ass ought to be over there at that FUNERAL of a website of Debbie Boone instead of serving as Slimy Laptop VIRUS on Arethas Stellar Stellar Webpage U Asshole! Pay me no mind? And What? Listen to RETARDED ASS? If u cant feel Arethas True Passion and Genius, then yo ass is a CORPSE!! U see

[rommyisme]

Her voice is rich, soulful and heartfelt which those two kinda lack either of the characteristics. That does not mean they are shit tho. Whitney does not have this rich voice but her interpretation in anything is gospel similar to aretha. Debbie, well, Debbie is 80s Britney...so don't even compare pop singer with this queen.

[911insidejo8]

I cannot for the life of me get how that crappy Debbie Boone version became the hit it did while Franklin, a billion times better a singer, couldn't score a hit during this period if her life depended on it. Crazy thing is Patti Smith's (of all people!) version of this I think is probably the best one and Smith is in no way a conventionally good singer.

There are greater tragedies I suppose but Boone holding the airwaves hostage with this garbage over Franklin (or Smith) is sad enough for me

[backgame]

well, it sounds poor to me...Aretha or not, it's just not good (imho)

[backgame]

wow....this version just doesn't do it for me. In fact, it seems as if the orchestra was playing a different part of the song at one point early on while she was trying to catch up. I'm not feelin' this version.

[islezeus]

@backgame it's a technique called back phrasing where one INTENTIONALLY sings behind or ahead of the music

[rommyisme]

@islezeus Billie holiday invented it. Without billie, there is no pop music. Aretha took this on and with her rich voice, she accelerated the technique and made it the best. Without these two, the world is full of early music like ragtime or some music sung like ginger roger. Not that those are not fantastic...they are just really lack of soul. They sang true to the melody and timing...so precise that there is no space for inventive singing.

[Jazzboluv]

@backgame I AGREE. I think Aretha messed up the song by taking it away from its original melody and scatting it too much it showed her arogance as a singer showing no respect for the song and its original melody. Awfull version

[mostick313]

Hell Damn No, Im not kidding yo Silly Ass!! Arethas the Ace#1 Boss Bad Ass Diva and sang the hell out of this song in the Epic way that "One Hit Wonders" like Debbie and Rimes would NEVER EVER be able to do!! Youre the Crazy Ass One and a Gatdamn Mental Patient!! You Gatdamn Right Arethas version sounded nothing like Debbies!! Thats called Arethas Phenominal INTERPRETIVE SKILLS which allows her to create something fresh and new you ASS HOLE! Debbies Dry Mouthed No Singing Ass? Recognize!!

[Jazzboluv]

@mostick313 she didnt creat nothing all she did was disrespect the song ripped it to shreds threw it on the floor and spat on it

[mostick313]

U, who have no Soul, No Passion who loves that DRY MOUTHED NO SINGING ASS Debbie have answered your own Gatdamn Question!! U Damn Skippy MISS Aretha TORE this song to SHREDS and STUMPED it till it was as FLAT AS A PANCAKE!! What the FUCK do you expect Aretha, "The Greatest Gatdamn Singer Ever" to do? Sing like Debbies BORING ASS when Arethas the most Unique, Superior and Phenominal Diva who INTERPRETS every song 100% DIFFERENTLY than all singers!! To be irreplacable, one must be different!!

[Jazzboluv]

@mostick313 is it so hard for you to believe that even aretha can be lazy with a song? just because micheal jordan is a great basket bal player is it hard for you to believe that at times he can play terribly for various reasons? you are like a child believing in the greatness of his parents and that they are like gods and can make no mistakes. believe it or not Arethas shit does stink lmao

[mostick313]

Dont tell me what the hell is hard for me, thats my GATDAMN JOB! You deal with your own Damn Hardships and Arethas "shit" as you so DISRESPECTFYLLY put it smell like ICE CREAM compared to Debbies No Singing Ass! Debbies arms are way too short to box with God and thats just who Aretha is to her just like your Weak Ass Arms are way too short to box with God and thats just who I, the Mostick313 is to yo Weak Talking Ass!! Aretha gave us all PURE MAGIC here and youve LOST YO RABBIT ASS MIND!!!!

[TheQueenAretha]

@citatio22 Thats because it is Aretha's version, she isn't trying to sound like Debby.

[rellenoz]

If you ever want to learn how to make a song your own, study this song.

[kicotam]

super

[somethingj]

just 1 word.....Brilliant!!!!

[iknowdasright]

She sounds like Green Dookey...

Steam, Stink n All.

[difthong]

@iknowdasright: I know I shouldn't laught at that but damn -- Green Dookey? Is that what you gonna say? lol :D

[gugenheim84]

Few artists live to see themselves become an icon and legend in their professions,....Aretha achieved it.

[islezeus]

boy these stars needed a stylist back in the 70s

[mcworld999]

better than debby boone.

[mostick313]

THIS IS  SO GATDAMN GOOD!!!!!!! Aretha, you are simply #1!! Aretha Baby, your voice is soulmagnificant and mesmerizing beautiful beyond HUMAN UNDERSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Thanks Thanks for posting this mindblowing experience that you can ONLY get from the Undisputed Queen of Shonuff Soul Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Addilina]

ES IST DIE WAHRHEIT DJIEPEN ! ! !

[Addilina]

ES IST DIE WAHRHEIT  DJIEPEN , , ,

[brondo1012]

i love the ending!!!

[mostick313]

aretha, so beautiful and your voice is the most beautiful sound i have ever heard and the greatest. so much soul, so confident, the vocal ability to hit all these high notes with so much rhythm, soul and real flavor, and all these combinations of notes of all types so well executed. aretha, you sang the hell out of that song. so passionate, so damn elegant. 100% pure soul. aretha is so damn good, she even knows she is the best. aretha should give whitney and debbie some singing lessons.

[mostick313]

i simply cannot stop watching this unbelievable, mindblowing and passionate performance of epic proportion by the miss aretha, the undisputed queen of soul/gospel/blues/jazz/opera/b­ig band ect. and thats a damn fact! aretha is a genius. its a mind blowing experience for me. aretha owned every inch of this song. no one inturprets a song quite as good as miss re re. debbie and whitney bored the hell out of me. so damn elementary but queen aretha mesmerized me. soul artistry at its best.

[islezeus]

@mostick313 whatever

[kristlkrost]

@mostick313 I'm with you...love love looooovee this

[futureindirector21]

its all off beat!! i hate this!

[islezeus]

@futureindirector21 look-up a musical term called "back phrasing" bitch

[jerry0362]

Everytime I hear her sing this songs it sends chills down my spine, she made it her own and it just make you say "Take it on home Mama"

[JLBrisbane]

Aretha just has this gift to make you feel what she's singing..like her father C.L.Franklin said she is just a stone singer...She's one of a Million in this era of music...the new singers need to take notes and lesson from this woman....please don't compare the new singers to the old,the old singers are the reason the new singers can sing today,the old singers went through segregation,and racism..as you can see only the strong survived

[JLBrisbane]

i've heard many sang this song and Aretha has put her known signature on this sound...i'm a Christian and secular music never made me cry until i heard this version...like its been said before you never know where she'll take you with a song and she can sing your song and make it sound like she was the original singer of the song....Aretha still has her voice look up the recorded of the 2009 inauguaration...she don't sing hard because she has proved herself in gospel and secular music 20+grammy

[54spiritedwill54]

A song beautifully done by Aretha like usually.

[gee3dee]

i love this version of you light up my life, but the arangement such as wat shes wearing is alittle poor....BUT I LOVE U ARETHA....AHHH! U LIGHT UP MY LIFE ARETHA!

[gee3dee]

I LOVE HOW UNIQUE ARETHA'S VERSION OF THIS SONG IS

and btw could somebody please tell me wat "ree" means?

[fontenayperi]

ree is the short form of Aretha (A-REE-THA)

[gee3dee]

ohhh! i see thanks

lol

[oneloveatatime]

I love this thanks for posting

[ctrlaltde]

i think she forgot the words...

[yimheretoday]

wow she lost the clarity in tone that's displayed in this clip, her voice is still good, but not like this. age sucks.

[uoyebutbackwords]

Ok. Here's the deal... The Debbie version blew me away. This version was unique, because you never know where Aretha will go with any song. and she sang it her own way. I love it both ways. Real singers singing. That's what we have, regardless.

[AvlDao]

Im glad this is such a different arrangement and delivery of what is an usually bloated 1977 waltzy tune. Thanks Aretha for doing it 'fresh'.

[ncast54]

Debbie Boone 1977. Arethea, she looks like just weight 1/2 ton instead of the 2 tons she weights now

[whitneyvic]

Whitney rocks all the way!

[smokelean]

whitney's has too much embroidery for my taste. aretha's is very aretha and fine. debby and casey's are still the best

[stevie586]

I love Aretha but cannot stand this arrangement. I also, unlike many, love Whitney's version of this song. Although the old Whitney could have done much better, I love what she's done with it. I do not like this at all...sorry Aretha.

[pannoni1]

Why do people hate the "La Diva" era Ree so much? It's a sleeper phase in her carrer!

[stevie586]

Ummm...I just said, I love Aretha!

[wrs7836]

I loved Debby Boone, but Whitney has a terrific version. Aretha has a fantastic voice but probably should not have sange this

[QueenMaryAretha]

so beautiful & i guess LOT GON' GET MORE MAD CAUSE ARETHA # 1 GREATEST SINGER ACCORDING TO ROLLINGSTONE & MORE PERPLE AS WELL & PEOPLE MAY HATE EVEN MORE WHEN 15 TO 20 YEARS PASS & THEY SAYIN THE SAME THING ABOUT MARY

[ladyalproductions]

LOL....Why is it that people get so angry about another person's opinion. We all can't like everything the same. Come on relax.

[ladyalproductions]

Aretha is singing this song like it's the National Anthem. Debbie Boone sound better.

[monrayday]

i wish it was the national anthem, i dont know what u are talking about cuz this perfect

[ladyalproductions]

We all like our own style of music. No harm done. I love aretha's singing very much. I just like the original it's my choice. anything wrong with that. calm down sweetie.

[ZebFAN08]

I don't think he was getting roused up....

[ladyalproductions]

Now why you wanna give me a thumbs down. I like aretha. Love and Hugs to ya.

[freeman1]

Sang RE!!!!!!!!!

[wildcherry111]

yeah your right i like the original song better i dont think she can make this song work without out singing it the way its supposed to be, not her style of music and she tried to make it her style

[freeman1]

I Love It!!!!

[drewmansj]

I'm a traditionalist. Why tinker with the perfection of Debby Boone's version? This is so scattered and has terrible flow. I also can't stand this "American Idol" style to singing which is why I never watch the show. Too many people ruin their songs instead of just singing them. They have to add all kinds of stupid little touches which destroy a great song. This is a classic example. Love Aretha but can't stand this version. Yuk!

[lovemike69]

thanks for the post!!!! NOBODY does it better.

Hail the Queen of Soul !!!

[TalaldAnnaba]

Aretha oversings a lot, sometimes it works, other times it is a complete disaster, in this song it was a catastrophy

[ladyalproductions]

You are so right. We all have different taste in music and this songs just wasn't one she should have song. Why do some people get so angry when you dont agree with their taste in music. I think they need a hug. LOL

[timboytx]

Some singers stick to the melody like it's a ball and chain. Aretha uses melody as a launching pad, a place to start on her flight of sincere, soulful expression. When the singer is as great as Aretha, it works beautifully.

[missfire13]

if its too much soul for ur taste what did u watch it for?..that is the most ignorant thing ive ever heard!..stick to miss boone..and dont go chasing waterfalls..my god...

[branchwater7]

when aretha sings she isn't just singing a song. she becomes the music even before she opens her mouth to utter the first note. she defies categories. aretha is the voice of god.

[RiseD2007]

pentru cel care mi-a luminat zilele si noptile, mereu cu dragoste

[Jackie771]

I don't like the way she retards each cue...It's too much soul for my taste. But I have to say that she sings very emotionally. She's got her own style, that's for sure.

[trollymay]

wow she was trippin with that skarf on she should have been superimposed onto a hot air balloon..so regal

[SoulSir]

A song beautifully done by Aretha like usually.

[taddyd1]

Thank you ARETHAFAN2006. THE SOUND IS FUCKED ON THIS BUT I LOVE IT!!!! I REMEMBER MY FAMILY HAD JUST SPONSORED A CUBAN REFUGEE IN OUR HOME WHEN THIS WAS BROADCAST. HE WAS WITH DRAWN AND SPOKE ONLY SPANISH, BUT HE HEARD THIS, AND WAS TRANSFIXED AND SMILED FOR THE FIRST TIME. (HE WAS STRAIGHT TOO). WE WERE ALL MESMERIZED AND BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THE MIGHTY QUEEN. NEVER THOUGHT I SEE THIS AGAIN! MUCHAS GRACIAS!

[brandon195270]

areatha cannot do this song justice... she sounds like shit!!!

[wolfmei5ter]

Who sang the electro punk version in the mid eighties? I'm not talking Patti Smith here. Any ideas?

[xorachiieox]

good on you mateyy....whitney is better then her

[xorachiieox]

you must be deaf dearyyy

[xorachiieox]

no offence but u obvi cant have any taste if u think this poop is better the whitneys

[direfranchement]

"Poop"? Yes it's better than Whitney's if you're talking about the version from "Just Whitney". Houston was in mediocre voice at best for that entire album, Aretha is in great voice here, and even better yet, she's sober! I was excited about hearing Whitney's rendition until it started coming through the speakers and I fell asleep.

[taddyd1]

thank you. Nippy was just copyin REE again, like she did with The Greatest Love of All, with which Aretha closed her show for a couple yrs (but never released).

[taddyd1]

go listen to your American idol shit , this is too grown-up and deep for you. The sound quality on this is way fucked up, but if you have even a tiny clue about what great singing is, you'll erase all that bubbblegum crap you saved, and listen to this a 110 times without a break!!

[jimjeffjeanine]

The thing that amkes this very simple song work is to have it sung simply; straightfoward, with no frills. This fails. Manynof Aretha's covers are overblown and fail becuase of it. She got lost.

[tikkunsoulam]

It's called interpreting a song as opposed to duplicating it.......Now if aretha had sung the song first and someone else covered it would be the other way around. That;s why shes singing it and your watching her (duh)

[jimjeffjeanine]

I know exactly what interpreting a song is. This happens to be one that her flourishes don't enhance the song, in my opinion.I'm watching it because I am an Aretha fan also.

[monrayday]

well actually many of arethas covers are successful, few have failed

[transhurray]

Likewise MariahCarey has her very own RnB "VeryMariahCareyStyles" and i Love this Aretha "Very Aretha Style" rendition,

they are all great,also i like this background orchestration music with oldies textures.yes its retro 1979.

amen to all good singers gospel with RnB

[taddyd1]

Aretha is one of the few singers who does not cover. She transforms. Few have been more successful with re-doing standards than her! Check the charts and the Grammy Record Book. This is her soulful and magical take on a simple pretty song, now it's an aria. No covers with Re. She leaves those to Karen Carpenter or Marylyn McCoo.

[TheQueenAretha]

I disagree Aretha did alot of covers back in the day. And 90% of the time, her cover would be better then the original artist or just as amazing.

[babylee69]

i think she made it work afterall

[yrurke]

DIVA

[2222Joselito22222]

Nice, even if Whitney Houston's version is the definitive one.

[taddyd1]

JOKE

[bigdaddy31093]

if you people dont have anything good to say about this video dont look at it.

[tikkunsoulam]

I agree.......haters

[royalsoulness]

Aretha's voice is on point but this song just does not work for her. Basically, "you light up my life" sucks period, regardless who attempts to 'cover it'. As much as I love Ree, she should have left this one alone.

[goodchessactor]

Check out Simply Red's cover....

[bigdaddy31093]

One of her best performances

[xorachiieox]

omg does she hell lyk to see you sing better then that ha!whitneys version is way better then that pile of shit^^^^

[xorachiieox]

yeah i think whitney is better i mean come on

[bigdaddy31093]

what does she got on aretha except she sounds like a crackhead when she sings.

[Professorblu]

i think Whitney's version was just ok...

[nippy22]

I really do love Whitney's version better because you call hear the words and follow the arrangement. Aretha is a Diva and we love her much...

[xorachiieox]

and dont u dare call me a bitch

[xorachiieox]

shes nt a crack hed nemore u looser

and whitney has a beta voice den dat!!!

[bigdaddy31093]

how can you even compare aretha to whitney.Whitney has high octave voice, while areta has a more soulful voice.

[xorachiieox]

this sucks i think whitneys is way better she drags on to much^^^^

[totorrey]

Bitch please, that dried out crack head wishes she could sing like this.

[mwhitbre]

I really never liked this song until I heard Aretha sing it - this woman could sing the phonebook and get you hooked. There's only one queen and she is it.

[tubeeorrnottubee]

LOLOL LoVe this response! ..LOL, "..sing the phonebook", ROLMBO.. Ohhh mann, but it's sO TRUE though! GREAT way of putting it! I can't top that, only say a big "DITTO!" ;D

[1408alan]

No one can give a song more soul than the fabulous Aretha. Tearjerking!!

[paulotomaso]

tear it up girl. does anyone really like 'you lght up my life"? terrible song. but aretha can still make it a great musical moment. and ree looks good with the long hair, go head.

[jigganikkanj]

aretha was doing aretha..she does not try to be like anyone...and yes, aretha has put on weight, but they praise aretha way more then they will ever praise patti..patti wishes she had the accolades aretha has..aretha does not have to sell another record, sing another note, grace another stage...patti, after all of this time, is still trying to shine..lol

[Lusti7]

She sings heavenly!!! I'm Patti's #1 fan, but I see how Aretha became the Queen of soul. To Stillwill2, (Queen of tasteless jokes) Find peoples beauty in there talent not their looks...I am beautiful, but I won't look this way forever (BUT: it's MY beauty inside that will never fade; inner beauty transcends even death)

[marly56]

aretha sang in churh before she sang popular music, she sings like an angel. for all of you haters out there i find it sort of sad that you are blind to the beauty of life and those who have it.

[dion8]

shes doing too many vocal tricks for this song she sounds good though, like whitneys version better

[louisianathunder]

Whitney Houston's version of this song is better. I'm sure if Aretha did a studio cover of this, the magic would be there.

[dalahy]

who the hell is that? that is not aretha franklin!!!

[jigganikkanj]

oooohhh yes it is....

[alyamber]

Um, yeah it is.

[ShangoJamal]

That is the same outfit that Willona Woods wore on the episode of GOOD TIMES when Penny gets abused by her Mom. Remember? Thelma was the sword swallower at the Kissing Booth, J.J. was the atsronaut and Willona was the Fortune Teller. Am I Worng???

[shonuff2good]

The quality and the dynamics of her voice are astounding, she has total control over her voice and at the same time spontaneous...what a remarkable gift!

[shaneteen8]

It's bad... there's too much "style" in it. I felt like I'm watching a prayer/healing show .

[chriscarlos]

Something about her voice that carries this song. The ending sounds "Vegasy" but before that she "gets it done".

[PattiHolte]

I wanna say this is Aretha at 37! In her prime.

[christinacarp]

This song expresses so much feeling and Aretha exudes so much passion in her performance! Christina

[jonahmoses]

* Aretha is the best of ALL ALL times.

There are great singers everywhere...Yet Aretha stands out!

[misswham]

not crazy about this arrangement. boring most of the song

[jigganikkanj]

....Im just don't know another singer who has such grace, a better texture in voice, and just that utter sincerity...she is incomparable....This proves that Aretha can sing anything, ANYTHING and make it sound soooo good...and even though her voice has declined in recent years, she is still an institution..there is so much history in her voice that one just couldn't deny her the crown..

[jigganikkanj]

i mean, every time i hear her sing, it is like she takes you on a journey, and you are literally stuck to the screen....this performance of Debbie Boon's classic is just...in a word...incomparable...she took this song with utter sincerity and arranged it in such a way that you would forget that Debbie Boon(no shade, but whoever the hell she is) sung it

[jigganikkanj]

....and she still is....sure..there are other singers who may sing higher, or who make good music, and there are probably other singers that would sing circles, but trust and believe there are very few who could ever phrase a song or have that perfect vocal arrangement better or whose voice is more diverse than aretha franklin...

[jigganikkanj]

i can stop buying rc_realitycheck's dvds..they cost an arm and a leg...anyways...i juss love to hear her sing...to me, in her prime, Aretha is the greatest voice i have ever heard in recorded sound

[jigganikkanj]

wow....aretha's voice was super perfect right here..she seems like she can hit any note almost in recorded sound...i love the way she set this song up...her voice is elastic...this is definitely one of my favorite videos to see...and i tell you guys..i'm so happy that they put these videos of aretha up here...

[taddyd1]

THE original broadcast of this sounded much better and in person she absolutely murdered it. She was gonna release as a single (like Bridge Over ..follow up a huge smash with the Ree re do). She opened the 1st Dick Clark Night Time Variety Show with it and layed a big egg that night. She was carried out like Cleopatra on a portable throne thing, by some big fine Black Studs, and I think she got distacted and blew the song. So much for releasing it as a single. It never has been released.

[BLACKADAM]

nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!