Aretha Franklin was at Roy Thompson Hall. I love gospel music and I love Aretha Franklin. The concert was preceede by a lecture by ethnomusicologist Rob Bowman. He gave an amazing lecture about Aretha and her roots in the gospel church. Aretha says that she owes everything to her dad.
Bowman's lecture was very theatrical and really gave you a feeling for the roots of this wonderful singer. Bowman argues that she is the greatest singer (male or female) of the last 100 years.
The concert was amazing. Roy Thomson Hall is more intimate than the last few places I have heard her sing. I also had an amazing seat. She gave a fantastic performance. She had an amazing orchestra and wonderful back up singers. She sang a little for obama. She sang some old favourites(but not Respect or Natural Woman). She sang her song from the Blues Brother movie. The last part of her concert became a gospel service where she praised the name of Jesus. Everyone was on their feet most of the concert. I really think she was touched by our enthusiastic response. This will be a concert I will never forget.


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Tags: aretha, concert, amazing, last, sang, lecture, bowman, gospel, franklin, singer, hall, really, love, roots, wonderful,