At 75, the Detroit legend proved in spring 2017 that she was still “The Queen of Soul” with renditions of “Respect,” “Chain of Fools” and “Baby I Love You.” Here’s the review from her last Grand Rapids appearance.
Soul Icon: Aretha Franklin performing on stage Thursday night. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Legendary Detroit soul singer Aretha Franklin passed away Thursday (Aug. 16) after a long illness. She was 76. Last April, in one of her final public performances, Franklin regaled Grand Rapids fans at a long-awaited, rescheduled concert at DeVos Performance Hall, just two months after announcing she was planning to retire. Despite her health issues, Franklin proved her soulful mettle for a nostalgic crowd. In honor of this influential Michigan icon, we’re revisiting the Local Spins review of her Grand Rapids show.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
There were moments during Aretha Franklin’s April 2017 concert at Grand Rapids’ DeVos Performance Hall when it was easy to imagine a 25-year-old Aretha electrifying a raucous crowd with her then-fresh and fervid renditions of “Respect,” “Baby I Love You” and “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.”
At 75, Franklin still oozed that unparalleled, gospel-fueled and soulful vocal flare five decades later, something that her fans — old and young — seemed to appreciate with a zeal that matched that of their cherished Michigan soul icon.
So it was only apropos that Franklin, clad in a glittery blue dress, would kick off the much-anticipated concert with 1987’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” especially since the delayed show was rescheduled from October.
‘Day Dreaming’: Franklin played some fan favorites as well as a cover of Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep.’ (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The Grand Rapids audience responded with a rousing standing ovation, something that would be repeated frequently throughout the hour-and-25-minute concert that recapped a handful of highlights from the Queen of Soul’s superstar career.
“OK, love you right back,” Franklin gushed.
It was a night that blended nostalgia with passion for Detroit-bred soul and gospel music sung by a legend who might not have the stamina and full-throttled power of her youth but who can still belt it out in audience-pleasing fashion and who still possesses that extraordinary and distinctive soulfulness that only Aretha exudes.
Backed by her own accomplished band and an ensemble of local musicians (including Bill Vits, Robert Mulligan, Laurie Sears, Ed Clifford, Wright McCargar, Gary McCourry, Paul Brewer among others), Franklin — and her fans — seemed most comfortable with the set’s most familiar classics, including “Chain of Fools,” “Freeway of Love” and, of course, “Respect.”
But when she sat at the grand piano midway through the concert to show off her keyboard chops on “A Brand New Me” followed by an inspiring gospel interlude, it recalled the sort of spine-tingling aura that Franklin must have first inspired many years ago.
Sure, the singer — who’s weathered a variety of well-publicized health issues over the years — took breaks and intermissions while her band played on, but this is a performer who still genuinely adores seeing a room full of fans raising the roof to her music.
“It looks like you came to have a good time,” Franklin quipped in one of many nods to her Grand Rapids fans. “We appreciate you so much.”
The feeling was mutual.
PHOTO GALLERY: Aretha Franklin at DeVos Performance Hall
Photos by Anthony Norkus
Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC
