REVIEW OF ARETHA FRANKLIN, NYC FEB. 17, 2012

On the night before Whitney Houston‘s funeral–where she
will perform–the amazing and svelte Aretha Franklin paid
tribute to her god-daughter in concert at Radio City Music Hall. Playing to a
sold out house that included Clive Davis, LA Reid, former Warnaco CEO Linda
Wachner and Mica Ertegun, widow of Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun–Franklin put
on a dazzling, robust nearly two hour show that featured two of Houston’s hits:
“I Will Always Love You” and “The Greatest Love of All.” She showed many
pictures on screens above the stage of both Whitney and her mother Cissy
Houston, who was for many years Franklin’s chief backup singer. She even bridged
the connection between herself and Whitney by performing an old hit of her
own–”Give Him Something He Can Feel” from the movie, “Sparkle.” Just before her
death, Houston had filmed a remake of “Sparkle.”

But it was otherwise a stellar night for Franklin, who turns 70 next month
singing and looking better than ever. She rearranged some of her hits, like
“Natural Woman,” “Daydreamin’,” and “The House That Jack Built.” Her latest take
on one of her masterpieces–”Ain’t No Way”–written by her own late sister,
Carolyn–was breathtaking. Franklin has seemed completely renewed in performance
in the last year. Her show at Jones Beach last summer was a pinnacle. But this
one in every way equaled it. At the piano, she directed her orchestra and
singers through her own gospel version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The way
she does that song surprises even Paul Simon–it’s a work of art on a huge
canvas. And she even threw in a long lost ballad, “Sweet Bitter Love,” that
sounded as fresh as ever.

Of course, an Aretha Franklin show is best marked by her own piano playing
and going to “church.” There was plenty of gospel in this show, just the right
amount for a night of “healing” before Saturday’s sad event in New Jersey for
Houston. “Spirit in the Dark” wrapped an evening that was memorable and moving.
And Franklin even told a very funny story joke that worked, and caught the
audience by surprise. So bravo–only Aretha, the Queen of Soul, who’s lived
through plenty of triumphs and tragedies, would know how to pull off a big show
on the eve of a bad day. And she’s back at Radio City on Saturday night, believe
it or not. If you can find a ticket, get one.

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