All hail to the Queen of Soul on her 69th birthday. Yes, Aretha Franklin is one year older, and, thankfully, in better health, as she is soon to be touring. Next to Ray Charles, perhaps no one in soul music was so successful in translating the fervor of gospel music into the more commercially palatable rhythm and blues. Of course, when you’re father is a revered (C.L. Franklin) perhaps you have a leg up on the competition. Franklin’s voice is inspiring and oft-imitated, but not equaled. But it’s not just the voice — she is a great interpreter, who can make a song her own (the best example being how she revamped Otis Redding’s “Respect” — you top Otis, you must be a queen), a fabulous pianist, and had adapted to other fields, including opera. So let’s honor Aretha by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
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