Aretha Franklin

Hugs and Kisses 23: Vampire Weekend Bassist Chris Baio on His Favorite Records

Inauguration Kicks Off

11:50 a.m. Dianne Feinstein has probably never had a reception like this in her life. She welcomes the crowd as we "etch another line in the solid stone of history." Praises the "Non-violent struggles for justice and equality like the one" that led to this "sweet history of this hour" and "turning ... More >>

Hilarious Aretha Franklin Parody

Can anyone just put a mutant bow on their head and wail out "My Country 'Tis of Thee" while ushering in a whole new dawn? No, but soul legend Aretha Franklin did it at the inauguration and managed to astound with her gravitas and her amazing hat. Well, now, Greg Scarnici--whom I know from having d ... More >>

Otis Redding and Marie Queenie Lyons

Soul classics from two greats, one a bit less familiar than the other

Still in Love With Him

Singing the praises of Al Green

Billie in a Bottle

On Xtina's noble but knuckleheaded plea for diva greatness

Queen of Pop

On Xtina's noble but knuckleheaded plea for diva greatness

Consumer Guide

Six of these 12 picks recast known compositions, and only two of the six are in the rock tradition. But I did find one medium-obscure alt band worth writing about. One.

A Little Lite Music

Six of these 12 picks recast known compositions, and only two of the six are in the rock tradition. But I did find one medium-obscure alt band worth writing about. One.

Dusty in Heaven

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

20 Centuries of Hits

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

Reverse Crossover

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

NY Mirror

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

NY Mirror

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

Give the Gift of UniMoth

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

NY Mirror

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

Livin' on a Prayer

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

Scraps of Story

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

Music

Dusty Springfield, 1939­1999

God Goes Goth

50,000 Tears Under the Sea

Familiar and Fabulous

How many queens does it take to fill Radio City Music Hall?

Rousing Constituencies

Old dogs singin' slow songs and fairygodmotherfuckers for discerning dilettantes

Musicology

Prof's soul story subsumes civil rights and black power in gospel vision

Web Radio Picks to Click

Prof's soul story subsumes civil rights and black power in gospel vision

King of Peace: Remembering the Great Civil Rights Leader

Prof's soul story subsumes civil rights and black power in gospel vision

CHANGE DONE COME

Leela James’s Afro-rock could start a revolution

Soul Summit

Here is the bland soul-karaoke record you did not request

Extensions of a Woman

Alicia Keys is still a few albums away from her masterpiece. She'll get there.

NY Mirror

Alicia Keys is still a few albums away from her masterpiece. She'll get there.

Hatbox Hits

Zircons Amid Generics and Bombs

A Gay Bravo Show About Tops?

Remember Greg Scarnici, the white guy who did the hilarious Aretha Franklin homage which I posted on this blog after the inauguration? No? Well, now he's done a parody of Top Chef as if it were a gay Bravo show called Top Top!

Live: Even Lou Reed Gets Sentimental At Rock Hall MSG Blowout #2 (Featuring U2, The Boss, The Black Eyed Peas, And Some Dude Named Mick)

Ooooh plus "Iron Man" Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration Madison Square Garden Friday, October 30 "When we were down, rock 'n' roll lifted us up," says Tom Hanks in his introductory remarks for the final night of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's benefit-concert extravaganza ... More >>

DANCE IT ON DOWN

Happy birthday, Soul!

Aretha and Liza in New Snickers Commercial

If you're saying "Aretha who?" and "Liza wha'?" then not only shouldn't you be reading the rest of this, you should never speak to my ass again! The two legendary divas are in a Snickers commercial (which airs starting February 15) titled, appropriately, "Divas," and it's short, but (you know I ... More >>

HONEYBEAR BITE

Blues upstarts offer some bad romance

Will & Jada Cause Pandemonium at Fences

​The Broadway revival of Fences is star-studded enough, thank you, due to performances by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. But last night, the celeb wattage increased significantly when Will and Jada Smith walked into the audience.

Aretha In Concert With Condi Rice!

​ You knew this was coming! The former Secretary of Defense with the longtime Queen of Soul. Together in concert! In a highly unusual July 27 event at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Aretha Franklin will be joined by Condoleeza Rice, who will play piano on "Say A Lit ... More >>

Live: Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, And Slick Rick Do "Old-School Night" At Wingate Field

Still talking about sex, albeit very briefly. Pics by Rebecca Smeyne, more below.​Salt-N-Pepa/Naughty by Nature/Slick Rick Wingate Field Monday, August 2 "Y'all look like a free concert out here," notes Salt wryly, shortly before launching into "I'll Take Your Man" in front of, indeed, thousa ... More >>

Aretha Cancels Concerts, Will Miss The Food

​The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, had to cancel her free Coney Island concerts next week because of "fractured ribs and a pain in the abdomen." Our hearts are with her, but it's obvious that the woman hasn't become that unglued by this cancellation, seeing as she's still thinking about the ... More >>

Pee-wee's Theater Is Ice Cold!

​ Pee-wee Herman is doing his zippy Broadway show of bratty antics at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, which is a funny observation in itself, but not so riotous is the fact that the place is colder than showbiz can be after you've had a sex scandal.

BROKEN DOLL

Sympathy for the model

The Top 10 Christmas Albums Of 2010

No.​Ah, another shitty year is ending, and we find ourselves trying to buy our way out of it with Christmas presents while struggling to block out the same old endless stream of yuletide muzak. Luckily, there's always a few notable holiday-album standouts to break the tedium, this year includi ... More >>

Jessica Simpson Is The New Aretha Franklin

​That's pretty much what a friend told me the other day, and before you reach for the straitjacket, let me inform you that he's an educated and quite savvy person who does leave the house a lot. "I am blown away by the Jessica Simpson Xmas special on PBS," he texted me, ecstatic and totally s ... More >>

The Fame Cookie: 2011 Grammy Awards Live Blog

It's the return of the most talked-about Grammy Awards live blog--a collection of quips, blips, and arguably insightful observations that dares to match the actual Grammy telecast in terms of pure spectacle and Justin Bieber mentions. Please join our hosts Tom Breihan and Ryan Dombal below, and keep ... More >>

Elvis Presley: He Was All There at Madison Square Garden

​Clip Job: an excerpt every day from the Voice archives. June 15, 1972, Vol. XVII, No. 24 Elvis: The last laugh By Carman Moore I think I know who Elvis Presley is. Wasn't he the guy who was always combing his hair, because he knew the girls would be watching? Wasn't he the guy who didn't ... More >>

Coming To The Local Sheds This Summer: Lots Of "Heritage Acts" And Country Stars (And Yeasayer)

Yeasayer. Here's hoping things are a bit warmer than this for their shows this summer. ​Today Live Nation announced a slew of shows at Long Island's Nikon at Jones Beach Theater and New Jersey's PNC Bank Arts Center, and in addition to the many classic rock acts (with "classic rock" now being ... More >>

The Best Cover Versions in Musical History

​I'm not interested in the paint-by-numbers ones designed to make a quick buck. Here are the six cover tunes that I feel brought the most originality and fresh energy to standard tunes, making it more than worth the effort to do the remaking. (6) "It's My Life" by No Doubt. (2003.) Gwen Ste ... More >>

My 10 Favorite Angry Songs Of All Time

​Here are my top 10 bouts of musical rage. If you disagree with me, I'll be furious! (10) "We're Not Gonna Take It"--Twisted Sister Infectious anger at its most rollicking. I always felt this song was the musical equivalent of "I'm mad as hell" from Network.

Kelly Clarkson's Seven Best Cover Songs

Bryan Horowitz​In this week's Voice I talked about the new album by Kelly Clarkson, inaugural American Idol and the pop star who seems most likely to be a rip-roaring time at a coffee klatsch/Tupperware party/gathering of pals. The show that put her on the map, of course, is known for putting ... More >>

Favorite Plus-Sized Female Singer Of All Time?

Some of these ladies aren't still plus-sized--and a bunch of them aren't even alive--but whatever the case, they have all been through plump periods of the soul. And their apparent lack of vomiting skills always gave them a refreshing heft, big lungs, and an ability to transcend their potential outc ... More >>