Hot or Not: Aretha Franklin Edition

First off: Damn Jennifer Hudson’s murderous, hope-he-rots-in-a-prison, brother-in-law. As much as I love Aretha, this really should have been J. Hud’s moment. She’s from the Chi. She can blow. She would have looked fierce, but my lamentations aside — Aretha Franklin, can we talk?

The hat? The voice? Hawt or not?

The chapeau, while crazy, rhinestone studded, bowtie, hood-church-lady fantastic was a little, um, MUCH and her voice … po’ child … was a tad wrecked. (Too many pre-Inauguration Ho-Hos and Alize?)  It didn’t ruin my inauguration. I still had a ball, but … was it just me or was Re Re having an off day?

daniellebelton

40 responses to “Hot or Not: Aretha Franklin Edition”

  1. Theresa Avatar
    Theresa

    No, you pretty much called it. She was having an absolutely, 100%, no-good bad day.The sight of the hat at least distracted from the sound that was once her voice.

    Reply
  2. Skywalker Avatar
    Skywalker

    It was a bad decision.

    Reply
  3. meme Avatar
    meme

    the hat scared me

    Reply
  4. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    The hat was ghetto fab. Equal parts grey flannel and ridiculous. Having never been a fan of Queen of Soul’s voice when it isn’t being pushed along by a thumping drumbeat, I can’t comment on the singing.

    Reply
  5. Rayna Avatar
    Rayna

    The hat, in all its ostentatious glory, was not nearly as bad as it could’ve been. I was just glad she didn’t go out there in a full-length fur. Goodness knows that she’s been known to wear whatever she damn well pleases…and good on her for it.

    Reply
  6. Shai Avatar
    Shai

    Honestly, compared to what Aretha has worn to many an important event I think I really liked it. It was a nice little amount of showiness and sparkles for a performer without being to gaudy or too boring, I mean she is the Queen ya know? I think she did aright with that hat.

    Reply
  7. Danielle H Avatar
    Danielle H

    Well as my mother said earlier, "At least she is covered up." Especially since she likes her Bomb over Baghdad titties to hang out!

    Reply
  8. Danielle Belton Avatar
    Danielle Belton

    I think Mother Nature ensured that she would have to cover up, ya’ll. It was cold as hell out there.Thank you, Mother Nature!

    Reply
  9. SDG Avatar
    SDG

    That’s Aretha. As far as I’m concerned, she was subdued compared to what she could’ve been.

    Reply
  10. RainaHavock Avatar
    RainaHavock

    I was a little disappointed by Miss Franklin’s performance.

    Reply
  11. Missy Avatar
    Missy

    Whew!!! I thought I was the only person that thought she was off. I wasn’t as off-put by the hat as I was with the singing.

    Reply
  12. SA Avatar
    SA

    My mother loved Aretha today. I left the room so I didn’t have to hear her sing anymore. It was bad. And yes, I hated the hat too.

    Reply
  13. Milonga Avatar
    Milonga

    Miss Franklin’s performance was definitely off- but she still brought soul and presence eccentric hat or not. But you are right Black Snob, JHud would have hit all the right notes and gave the event some sparkle…

    Reply
  14. kishalea Avatar
    kishalea

    Cosign! Damn you William Balfour! JHud would have nailed it and looked fab while doing it. Can’t wait for half time at the super bowl.

    Reply
  15. Gillian Avatar
    Gillian

    Egads people!I had no problem with the hat. Yes, it was bigger than the norm, but not a problem to me.Her voice? I listened to her sing, got emotional, and the waterworks began….

    Reply
  16. QuantumPeach Avatar
    QuantumPeach

    I am just happy that she was fully clothed, ya’ll know how Re Re gets down!

    Reply
  17. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    No way, you guys must be too young to understand. We bow before Ms. Franklin. I don’t know what you all heard, and maybe I didn’t hear it all clearly what with the tears running down my cheek.

    Reply
  18. ali Avatar
    ali

    I am glad I wasn’t the only one who noticed she was having an off day.

    Reply
  19. Danielle H Avatar
    Danielle H

    Yeah she was having a very off day. It seemed like her throat was sore.

    Reply
  20. JayDub Avatar
    JayDub

    ReRe looked terrible(not unusual for her though) and she sounded even worse. How can we complain about how the Ashanti’s and Rhianna’s of the world can’t sing like her with her sounding like that. If she would’ve given up those cigarettes 40 years ago and got some lipo around that neck maybe she would have sounded better. I am not a J-Hud fan. I think she is way too overated as a vocalist. She wasn’t even the best singer when she was on American Idol. I know too many church girls that can kill her singing. Screaming and singing are not the same things. She probably would have sounded better than Aretha did though.

    Reply
  21. Jonezy Avatar
    Jonezy

    Yeah she did his a few funny notes, I was thinking it was the cold that got to her–it got better towards the end…. whatever the case she’s a legend and deserving of singing on this day. Her church lady hat wasn’t so bad–seeing as she grew up in the church–that’s what formal is to her. 😉

    Reply
  22. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    I loved the hat. I was so happy she wasn’t bursting out all over – we need to be thankful. Period.

    Reply
  23. The Angry Independent Avatar
    The Angry Independent

    Aretha Franklin has nothing to prove. I don’t quite understand all the badmouthing of Ms. Franklin… maybe i’m getting old. The woman is in her mid-late 60’s…. started her career 50 years ago. She’s not supposed to be at her peak. With all things considered… she did a fine job. Would she have been as good as a younger singer at their peak?… probably not. But for Obama & Co. that wasn’t the point. Her presence at the swearing-in event was just as much about Obama and the Country honoring her as it was about her honoring him ….in fact… the opportunity was probably more about honoring Ms. Franklin…more about the nation showing its appreciation to her for her collective career…. not for what she was able or not able to do with the song she sung. So from that standpoint… you all are thinking in the wrong context.In terms of what she chose to wear… I thought she looked pretty good. 🙂

    Reply
  24. WIlma Avatar
    WIlma

    She looked okay, I thought the hat was a fun touch, but I’m betting she didn’t have a moment to warm up her vocal chords and with the cold and all that sort of hindered her performance. But still, she’s Aretha. Though, if Obama was going to take one performance only from Clinton’s inauguration it should have been Maya Angelou.

    Reply
  25. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Loved the hat – I expected church lady, and she did not disappoint. Agree that she’s not at her peak, BUT also agree that she had to be the one. One of many teary moments!

    Reply
  26. Roslyn Holcomb Avatar
    Roslyn Holcomb

    I think I read somewhere that Aretha doesn’t allow air conditioning when she sings in some venues. Maybe she’s just not at her best in the cold. I dunno, I think the hat was a hilarious touch of eccentricity from someone who is known to dress crazy on the regular.

    Reply
  27. politicallyincorrect Avatar
    politicallyincorrect

    The hat is nice and appropiate for the occasion.The performance was fine, Re Re on her worst day was better than anyone else at those balls.As much as I love Jhud, she is a tad bit overrated. She has a big voice but lacks control.

    Reply
  28. Sierra Avatar
    Sierra

    The hat could’ve been a lot worse, she tried. It was COLD outside people, it’s not easy to sing pitch perfect in those temperatures, but she still did her thing.

    Reply
  29. greer muldoon Avatar
    greer muldoon

    The crowd – was full of church ladies. With their fur coats, fur hats and gloves. They came by the busload. Aretha was in good company. As for her voice, no it wasn’t on point but she’s been singing for over 50 yrs. cut her some slack and give her some respect. She WAS the correct choice for the Obama generation (they aren’t 20 somethings you know) and for the generations that grew up never believing a Black man could be elected President. I was far more insulted/embarassed that Beyonce sang for their first dance.

    Reply
  30. TM Avatar
    TM

    I suspect that most who are being critical of Aretha fail to appreciate the symbolistic power of her presence, given her personal history. The styling, both vocally and sartorially, was the embodiment of the civil rights movement. Respect the past young folks.Patti Labelle would have been a fine choice, as a voice from the mature generation whose still in decent form. Unfortunately she doesn’t command the same political gravitas.If the goal was a perfect performance, JHud? Sweet young woman, but more It-girl du jour. I’d have put Whitney into a preemptive rehab for 6 weeks prior to the inauguration, then have the secret service escort her directly to the podium.

    Reply
  31. Nona Avatar
    Nona

    She isn’t a young woman anymore so I didn’t expect her to sound like she used to but I think she did a great job. Brought a nice mature nostalgic soulful touch to the proceedings. I’m not really a hat person, but her’s didn’t strike me as inappropriate. I though it kinda went with her generation and culture. It made me happy to see her there and to hear her.

    Reply
  32. ali Avatar
    ali

    I didn’t expect her to sound like the Re I grew up with( I remember when she was on the Ed Sullivan Show) but, she did not sound well. Glady Knight is only two years younger than Re and last time I heard her, she still had her pipes. I agree it was more about symbolism though.

    Reply
  33. BrooklynShoeBabe Avatar
    BrooklynShoeBabe

    I also thought that Aretha Franklin’s voice was off, but it did not take away any joy I was experiencing watching all the pomp and circumstance. I thought her hat was bad-ass. I loved her old black church lady hat. It made that grey ensemble rock. (I also thought Laura Bush’s grey outfit was nice and that Dr. Biden’s grey glenplaid shift dress was hot.)

    Reply
  34. TD1016 Avatar
    TD1016

    Like so many have said, I think we need to give Ms. Franklin the benefit of the doubt. She could have been sick and didn’t want miss this opportunity. People get older and things happen. Chaka Khan definitely doesn’t sound like herself from back in the day. Plus unlike Gladys and Patti, Aretha isn’t performing that much, if at all ,these days. Tina can’t shake and turn like she use to, but are we going to take any credit away from her. The hat and coat… that’s just old school Sunday/Special event wear. Step in to any old school Baptist church and you’ll see the same if not worst.I think Aretha was fine for the Inauguration but I am a little upset with the decision for Beyonce. I though. I thought that was the part JHud was going to do and it seemed like it has been confirmed. From what the radio said though Beyonce’s father kind of bullied them into doing it. Who knows, but I kinda felt like it was a slap to Etta considering she still is alive and performing.

    Reply
  35. The A Avatar
    The A

    Her presence – like Rev Dr Joseph Lowery was a magnificent weaving of the Civil Rights Movement to the Inauguration. Bravo Mr. President! Well played Sir!She looked beautifully and culturally elegantly and age appropriate in her Glorious Crown.It was a nod to the African American Church Traditions and Church Mothershttp://www.amazon.com/Crowns-Portraits-Black-Women-Church/dp/0385500866Yes the voice was a bit shaky So WHAT! Can you even begin to imagine the very personal emotions of the moment considering her history w/ Rev King – her father was a famous Chicago minister that mentored Rev King when she was young. Explanation in her own words here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5542119.eceAll Hail the QUEEN!!!

    Reply
  36. Inspired Avatar
    Inspired

    You guys have way too much time on your hands. Aretha’s performance was phenomenal, bringing many of us to tears. As someone mentioned maybe you all are too young to appreciate the historical importance of her being there and SORRY rihanna, beyonce or j hudson would not have been appropriate choices.From badmouthing the clothes people wore to attacking Aretha I am disgusted by those who chose to cheapen this momentous event with overcritical analysis. Black people – get it together!!!!

    Reply
  37. Flychic1 Avatar
    Flychic1

    I loved the hat…it was cute…lets just be glad she didnt unzip her jacket. Aint no tellin what Re’Re had on under it!!!!

    Reply
  38. THEGOAT Avatar
    THEGOAT

    Aretha Franklin deserves a lot of kudos and respect for her time and years of performing. However, the fact remains that on this most special "day of all days" she completely dropped the ball. People are gving her all kinds of excuses. As someone who has been singing for 60 years she should know what to do and what not to do to achieve a good performance whether it was cold or not. She could have bought a thermos of hot tea or waited to come outside.She killed any sybolism with that bad performance. I was not moved. I was so disappointed. Now that crap is playing on the radio behnd Pres. Obama’s voice and messing up me listening to his speech again. If she were Beyonce, J-Hud, or any other young singer the people on this site would be tearing her to shreds.

    Reply
  39. Luvvie Avatar
    Luvvie

    Y’all KNOW you loved Aunty Re-Re’s church hat at the actual inauguration. Sister O’Dell is somewhere JEALOUS!! That bow was larger than life (and Re-Re’s mammaries). She came church bazaar PROPER!!! hehehe

    Reply
  40. Tonya Avatar
    Tonya

    The A hit it on the head. I loved Aretha being there hat and all. I think it was a perfect fit to a perfect day. She is the Queen of Soul and Michelle is Frist Lady. We rule and reign!

    Reply

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