Aretha Franklin ha fallecido este jueves en Detroit. Tenía 76 años. Con ella se ha ido la Reina del Soul y una de las voces más importantes de la historia de la música negra y de la música popular. Para siempre quedarán canciones como ‘Say a Little Prayer’, ‘Respect’ o ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ que siguen siendo escuchadas y versionadas a día de hoy.
La diversidad de los artistas a los que Franklin ha influido, o que simplemente la reconocen como una de las cantantes más importantes de la historia, se percibe en la diversidad de artistas que hoy la están recordando en las redes sociales. Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, su colaborador Clive Davis, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ariana Grande (que comparte una imagen de ella con Franklin), Chance the Rapper, Azealia Banks, Jake Shears, Florence + the Machine, Will Butler de Arcade Fire, Britney Spears y Liam Gallagher son algunos de los artistas procedentes de varias generaciones que han lamentado la pérdida de Franklin.
Por supuesto, los mensajes también están siendo diversos. Especialmente bonito ha sido el de Mariah Carey, quien ha escrito que el “poder de la voz de Franklin en la música y los derechos civiles abrió una puerta para mí y muchos otros”. Carey apunta: “Fuiste mi mayor inspiración, mi mentora y mi amiga. Me enseñaste que podía cantar las canciones que quería cantar y traer a Dios conmigo. Atesoro todos los momentos que pasé en tu presencia”. Por su parte, Brian Wilson se ha mostrado “apenado” por la marcha de Franklin y ha recordado que en los 60 solía escuchar a la cantante, una de las “más grandes y emotivas vocalistas”. Missy Elliott ha querido celebrar a Franklin compartiendo un vídeo de una actuación de la artista en ‘Soul Train’, escribiendo que se la imagina todavía “moviendo almas” en el cielo.
Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018
What a life. What a legacy!
So much love, respect and gratitude.
R.I.P. @ArethaFranklin https://t.co/400K1U5IHI— Carole King (@Carole_King) August 16, 2018
I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. (1/2)
— Clive Davis (@CliveDavis) August 16, 2018
Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness. (2/2)
— Clive Davis (@CliveDavis) August 16, 2018
I’m very sad to hear about Aretha Franklin passing. She was one of the greatest and most emotional singers. I used to love listening to her in the sixties but her music is timeless. Love & Mercy to Aretha’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/fFVKyjxIXT
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) August 16, 2018
Rest easy #ARETHAFRANKLIN I imagine u in heaven performing & still making people souls move🙌🏾 this was my aunt favorite record #RockSteady you will always be the Queen of Soul you been that before many of us were born! Thank you for giving us LEGENDARY TIMELESS music 🙏🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/bEueBCLGJ9
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) August 16, 2018
I’m sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit Aretha Franklin.
— Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) August 16, 2018
Aretha was such a timeless inspiration to me and so many others, the ultimate queen, thank you for the gift of your voice, music and unshakeable soul 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/me3FXBY4WZ
— Christina Aguilera (@xtina) August 16, 2018
The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up, I say a little prayer for you
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 16, 2018
RIP Aretha Franklin what a voice x
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) August 16, 2018
Aretha was the greatest of all time. Played 3 songs in a row at my set in Berlin night before last…her music will live forever.
— win butler (@DJWindows98) August 16, 2018
Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I've ever known. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #Aretha
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 16, 2018
This is the face of a young man who couldn't believe he was actually singing with the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Thank you, Ms. Franklin for blessing us with your incomparable gift. Honored to have shared the stage with you even for a moment. Always bowing down to you. #QueenofSoul pic.twitter.com/4bZVAWcqeS
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) August 16, 2018
The world lost an incredibly talented woman today. Rest In Peace, @ArethaFranklin… your legacy and music will forever inspire us and future generations 💛 pic.twitter.com/me6FiFo1lM
— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) August 16, 2018