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SBU | Culture > Entertainment

In My Aretha Franklin Era

Olivia Francis Student Contributor, St. Bonaventure University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Lately, as I take walks late in the afternoon, I put on my earbuds and listen to music by Aretha Franklin. I have always known who she was as my mom was the one who introduced me to her. Even though I have only listened to a couple of her songs, I started to listen to her more frequently.  

In case you do not know who she is, Aretha Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. After Rolling Stone named her “The Greatest Singer of All Time” and had sold over 75 million records globally, she was named the “Queen of Soul Music.” Aretha Franklin helped defy the golden age of soul music during the 1960’s. She became well-known for her song “Respect,” which became an anthem that people related with on personal and racial levels. In 2018, Franklin died after fighting a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Even though she is no longer with us, Franklin will always be remembered as the Queen of Soul.  

One of the things people did to remember her was creating a film about her called “Respect.” Jennifer Hudson plays Aretha Franklin in this movie. This film displays the story of how a young Aretha Franklin started singing gospel in their father’s choir took matters into her own hands and became an international sensation.  

Recently, the two songs I have been listening to by her are Ain’t No Way and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. When I hear Franklin’s voice, I feel the power and the passion behind her voice every time she sings. I have been struggling a lot recently so when I pull up my Spotify and play Aretha Franklin, I begin to feel so much better about myself. Do you ever have one artist you enjoy listening to that always makes you feel good, and you will constantly listen to them on repeat? Yes, that is me with Aretha Franklin right now.  

So, if you ever want someone new to listen to, I highly recommend listening to her. When you need a mood booster, put on her greatest hits. Even though she is an oldie, her music is always a goodie. 

Olivia Francis

SBU '27

Olivia Francis is a second-year member of the Her Campus at SBU chapter. She oversees the site’s culture, entertainment, and wellness verticals on the site, including mental health, relationships, TV shows, and movie coverage.

Olivia is currently a second-year student majoring in Communications, Social Justice & Advocacy at St. Bonaventure University. Beyond Her Campus, Olivia has been published in many anthropologies over the years through an organization called Young Writers. She is also one of the leading coordinators for SBU's Break The Bubble.

In her free time, Olivia enjoys writing poetry and short stories, along with taking walks while listening to her favorite music genres on Spotify such as Pop or R&B. One of her goals is to travel the world someday and explore new foods and customs. An interesting fact about Olivia is she is not only the first college gen student but, she is the first female in her family to go for a higher education.