With reports surfacing this week that she is experiencing serious health complications, I see no better time than the present to pay homage to the Queen, Aretha Franklin. Hence, this week’s From The Vault features the icon belting out one of her signatures tunes – ‘A Natural Woman’. Alongside Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Carol King (the song’s writer), Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain, Franklin created a legendary moment in television at Vh1’s ‘Divas Live’ in 1998.
There is absolutely no question that Franklin is the most influential artist of the last 50 years. Every singer to emerge in the industry after her arrival has been inspired by her voice, either directly or indirectly. From Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston to Mariah to Beyonce to Lady GaGa, there isn’t a single artist who can deny her influence on their music.
Moreover, Franklin personifies the very meaning of the word ‘diva’. She is more than just an act with a few hits – she is a woman who has changed the game, establishing a legacy that will live on for generations.
Thus, that filth that Vh1 aired last weekend – ‘Vh1 Divas: Salute The Troops’ – should be viewed as an insult to her and all of the other singers who previously appeared on the show. Still, I digress. Long live the Queen!
I couldn’t agree more!
NOW THESE ARE THE DIVA; not dat katy perry,minaj nonsense
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!! GOD IS BY YOUR SIDE ARETHA
DIVAS*
Poor gals got slayed by The Queen! There’s only one Aretha.
Godreatha shut them ALL down. Bless Celine for trying… Not.
Aretha and the others should feel blessed to be on the same stage and in the presence of the Queen of all Music – MARIAH CAREY!
BEST SELLING FEMALE ARTIST OF ALL TIME
BEST SINGER IN THE WORLD EVER
MARIAH CAREY
True divas all of them on their own right!!!! Yes the show was prepared to let Aretha be the most shining among all, but that´s ok cos she is worth it and the elder one so she is who influenced the rest. I suppose no nowadays-models-fans are going to visit this post today…
the best!
@CHIMER dead lmfao.. aretha YASSS SHOW THEM WHO THE DON DIVA IS…. WHEN U CONTRAST THIS AND SALUTE THE TROOPS ITS ALMOST LAUGHABLE
THE QUEEN OF SOUL! THE MOST GIANT VOICE. BOW!
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Are you sure? I don’t see how Lady Gaga got influenced by Aretha.
But I can say that Aretha literally KILLED all those ladies on that stage. Poor Mariah…..putting Mariah next to Aretha is like putting a cat next to a lion. And everyone else are like kittens.
So much talent on that stage right there! It’s a shame that hardly any singers these days have anywhere near that talent…
These are the real Divas.
Heri Stiltson, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj move it to the left.
The only good one on that show last week Sugerland.
That lead singer can sing her ass off and sung Miscarried Baby out of the water when they sung “Think”.
I like Celine Dion but it is like trying so hard to make it seem like she has ‘soul’.
Trent if u were going to pay homage to Aretha Franklin you should’ve put a performance of her by herself, but just like you that you need to include MC into every little post.
Mariah was the only one with the sense to back down, Celine on the other hand just wanted to make a fool of herself…again.
@The Kiddz
That is exactly what I was thinking. She was trying way to hard. If Mariah wanted to she could’ve to everyone to shame (excluding Ms Franklin of course).
I mean what was Celine trying to prove?
So much talent on that one stage is crazy.
Celine Dion<3
mariah looked a bit like beyonce back then. i love mimi but damn she shows too much skin atimes
AND THEY ARE ALL FULLY CLOTHED AS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE TALENT TO BACK IT UP. NOT LIKE THESE STRIPPERS THAT WE HAVE TO ENDURE ON A DAILY BASIS.
Celine did her thang…
What i like about Aretha is the same thing i love about Fantasia. Them two in a duet would make my day.
This era was clearly when Mariah got divorced, got s***, got urban and got new boobs
@MissImpartial
THAT IS JUST THE INDUSTRY PERIOD NOWADAYS. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF U HAVE TALENT OR NOT THESE FEMEALES HAVE TO RESORT TO SELLING S**. EVEN MARIAH HAS TAKEN THAT ROAD.
UNLESS U ARE A COUNTRY ARTIST OR ALICIA KEYS(WHO HAS A VERY STRONG FAN BASE) SHOWING A LITTLE SKIN IS A MUST.
I AGREE. SALUTE THE TROOPS WAS SOME STRAIGHT BS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eaqos_4smo
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT….ARETHA AND MARIAH
Mariah had her chance and it seems like Celine was dying for an opportunity at the end…she looked real desperate. Poor Celine…lol
Uhhhh most influential ARTIST of the past 50 years. I don’t think so. She’s definitely the most influential vocalist, but not artist. More influential than the Beatles, Elvis, Rolling Stones, MJ, or even Madonna? I don’t think so. I think you’re getting vocals and artistry mixed up.
You couldn’t help, but to include a performance of Aretha that INCLUDED Mariah. You are seriously ridiculous *smh*
Amazing……pure nostalgia and the best Divas show….. they should have another one with the same artists!
Btw, Céline was just goofy Céline….. plus the fact that Aretha “stole” Céline’s lines…that’s why they did a “screaming battle”…(so she didn’t have to prove anything, just the fact that she wouldn’t let Aretha get away with it that easily lol) 🙂
@ TheKiddz:
LMAO, that’s Celine for you, always showing off and thinking she’s the best (well, she is ONE of the best, but a little humility wouldn’t hurt).
And as for Trent, first of all, you guys should have been paying attention to Aretha way earlier than this. This just screams last-minute thought. I bet that if there were no news on her, you would’ve posted simply because Mariah is in it. You can’t fool me.
Second, it’s more accurate to say that Aretha is ONE of the most influential artists of the past half century. But not THE most. Apparently y’all ain’t heard of a band called The Beatles? Pathetic excuses for Englishmen y’all are.
As for Lady Gaga being influenced by Aretha, I only hope that you meant indirectly, since Gaga is inspired by Freddie Mercury, and Freddie looked up to Aretha, being that she was the inspiration for the song “Somebody To Love”.
Aretha Whitney and Mariah r my top 3 female singers
I’m glad Trent including the rest of the ladies, because had he posted the duet with Mariah and Aretha performing Chain Of Fools, the trolls/haters would have been out in full force dogging Mariah out and saying how Aretha owned/slayed her and s***.
That performance was cool, but Mariah was only one that held her own against the Queen.
@True Blue
AMEN! Aretha more influential than the f****** Beatles? PUH-LEASE. Trent always seems to only think about Mariah, as Aretha is probably the most influential artist on her, but not other artists obviously. Madonna, the Beatles, Queen, and even MJ have had more influence on Lady Gaga compared to Aretha.
yessssssssss this is a real diva show! not that bs in 2009/2010
@Perry
U say ‘even MJ” like his influence wasn’t just as big or bigger than any of those other artist u named.
I remember when that show first aired on TV, I was 14 and I bought the CD as soon it came out. I still play it!
Today’s singers have nothing on Aretha, vintage Mariah, Celine, Gloria etc.
IMO , the last great Diva show that aired bar this one, was the show that feautured Whitney, Tina, Cher and Brandy. Come on VH1, sort it out!
Aretha Franklin may not be the biggest influence in pop music(but is one of the biggest), she is indeed the biggest influential figure in the R&B/Soul world.
Anyways U shoud’ve posted this performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2EeTuRSNbc&feature=related
@Michael Jackson Lover
You are 100% correct!! Glam rockers like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and “pop theater” artists like Madonna have had a much bigger influence on Gaga than Michael Jackson. That’s not to say he hasn’t influenced her though. He’s influenced everyone. She’s a much different type of artist than MJ.
Mariah looks like a w****
BOTH CELINE AND MARIAH HAVE PERFECTED THEIR VOCAL ABILITY AND MASTERED THE ART OF SINGING SO YA’LL SOUND A FOOL TAKING ABOUT THESE 2 ARTISTS TRYNA DO ANYTHING NEXT TO ARETHA….
I WILL GIVE MISS FRANKLYN HER PROPS BUT SHE IS NOWHERE NEAR AS TALENTED AS CELINE OR MARIAH…
CELINE JUST MAKES SINGING LOOK SO EFFORTLESS AND SHE MAKES NO SPORT WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF HER INSTRUMENT
WISH ARETHA THE BEST OF HEALTH
PS: I DO AGREE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SOLO PERFORMANCE
“I WILL GIVE MISS FRANKLYN HER PROPS BUT SHE IS NOWHERE NEAR AS TALENTED AS CELINE OR MARIAH…”
*DEAD*@ you saying Celine is more talented than Aretha. You’re too funny.
Celine and the other divas talked about this “singing fest” between Aretha and Celine. They joked about it because Aretha went on to sing Celine’s lines, hence the little “fest” but it was all for fun. They all joked about it… Celine has always said how much she admires Aretha. But if there’s one diva who can outsing Aretha, it’s Celine. Not always better, but she sure can hit those notes LIVE and without any gimmics. She’s the real deal, just like Aretha. Wish they would have done a duet together…
Aretha is good singer but i really wouldnt call her the queen….Tina turner is the queen!!! look at record sales…aretha hasnt sold that much!!!..although she is a true talent!!!….Celine dion is down to earth …but u cant say she cant sing…cause as a live performer she can certainly hit those notes! Also celine dion records sales are far beyond mariahs and arethas….u never see aretha ,mariah doin countless worldtours ! celine dion is the 2nd highest grossin tour performer behind madonna!!..Mariah always sounds better on her autotune studio albums, as alive act…she doesnt sound like wat she does on her albums…..good for celine for havin the confidence to laugh at herself!!,she knows she has nothin to prove!!!,she can laugh at herself and she is well Loved worldwide!!! she maybe aint cool but she talented….she has a strong voice!!!….check out the you tube video with all the divas singin DIVA its at the end of the show….its hilarious to see mariah sing off with aretha and then celine and aretha go at it full on….its really funny!!
What Aretha and Mariah created on the stage when they sung Chain of Fools was UNPRECEDENTED.It was epic a moment in the history of music as when Aretha spun Nessun Dorma into a mainstream masterpiece right before the world.
The musicianship displayed by the queen was well received by The Supreme Songbird and they both scorched the stage with their playful yet esoteric display of melisma.It was truly a spectacle to behold.
As for this performance,it was a MESS. Aretha loses any sense of manners and Celine Dion loses her discretion otherwise WHY WOULD THAT WOMAN EXPOSE HER COMPLETE LACK OF MUSICIANSHIP SO GLARINGLY ??
For all of these young people on here, Mariah was the best thing in the 90’s, as Whitney was for the 80’s; because no one has heard such a beautiful voice in a long time and those octaves helped. Not knocking Celine, but powerful voices weren’t that impressive nor rare since Mariah. Now Ms. Franklin was extremely unique and in a class by herself. She had some MAJOR pipes which blew people away when she was only a kid. A powerful voice is just a small part of it. SOUL is a major part of it. Ms. Franklin had POWER, SOUL, RIFFS THAT WILL KNOCK YOU DOWN. My father played a tape from her church when she was 12 years old. I have not heard a 12 year old sing with so much passion, and not sound like a child. NOW THAT IS A TRUE DIVA! Celine sounded like she was at an Aretha Franklin Karaoke Party and she did her best.