Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) earned the title “Queen of Soul” on the merits of a six-decade career in which she charted more than 100 singles, sold over 75 million records, became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and at one point won a Grammy 8 years in a row. Her impact and significance are neatly summarized by Jon Pareles in his 2018 New York Times obituary for Franklin (I’ve added some links):
In her indelible late-1960s hits, Ms. Franklin brought the righteous fervor of gospel music to secular songs that were about much more than romance. Hits like “Do Right Woman — Do Right Man,” “Think,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools” defined a modern female archetype: sensual and strong, long-suffering but ultimately indomitable, loving but not to be taken for granted.
When Ms. Franklin sang “Respect,” the Otis Redding song that became her signature, it was never just about how a woman wanted to be greeted by a spouse coming home from work. It was a demand for equality and freedom and a harbinger of feminism, carried by a voice that would accept nothing less.
Her life and career are covered in rich detail at Wikipedia, her own website, Encyclopedia Brittanica, the New York Times, and Biography.com.
Paul Murtha arranged three of Franklin’s songs for a band medley called The Queen of Soul (Remembering Aretha Franklin) in 2019, just after her passing.
The medley opens with “Respect,” which Franklin first recorded in 1967. As described by Pareles above, Otis Redding originally wrote this song as a beleaguered man’s plea (demand?) for respect from his wife. Franklin turned this notion on its head, using the song to declare that a woman needs the respect of her man. Here is a clip of Franklin performing the song live in the year it was released:
“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” is presented nearly in full in the middle of the medley. This song was written in 1967 for Franklin by Jerry Wexler, Gerry Goffin, and Carole King. It became another of her signature anthems. To show the extraordinary span of her career, here is her performance of the song, including her vocal and self-accompaniment at the piano, at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2016, as Carole King (shown prominently in the video) was officially honored:
To close the medley, Murtha chose “Think.” This 1968 tune was written by Franklin and Ted White. Here she is performing it in the in 1980 film The Blues Brothers, including the scene that leads up to it: