Thank you for all the great music Natalie. As a tribute, she asked for a moment of silence for the “lovely and gifted Miss Natalie Cole.” Then, Franklin sat at the piano playing and singing a few bars of a song synonymous with Miss Cole: “Inseparable.” Franklin said, “We will always remember this very classy and sophisticated lady. Miss Franklin could not let the night pass without paying homage. The night was especially poignant as music lovers were mourning the New Year’s Eve death of Grammy Award winning singer, Natalie Cole. She segued into her rendition of another song on the album: “People,” originally recorded by Barbra Streisand. She kicked off the second half of the concert with her rendition of the Gloria Gaynor classic “I Will Survive,” which she recorded for “Aretha Sings the Great Diva Classics,” the CD released in 2014.

Of special note: pianist Richard Gibbs playing drew thunderous applause from the approximately 7,000 concert goers.Īfter about 10 minutes, the singer returned to the stage –this time opting for a floor-length gold sequined gown with sparkling high-heeled shoes to match. During the interlude, the approximately 20 musician-orchestra under the direction of her long-time conductor H. One of the highlights of the first half came when Miss Franklin performed “Natural Woman.” The song has experienced a resurgence since the Queen of Soul perfo rmed her rendition last month on The Kennedy Center Honors CBS broadcast in tribute to singer-songwriter Carole King.Īfter about 45 minutes, Franklin left the stage for a brief break. Among them: “Think,””Till You Come Back To Me,” “Gotta Find Me an Angel (during which a ballet dancer emerged to dance alongside Franklin) ,”You Lie”and “Chain of Fools.” She proved that during the concert’s first half which consisted of classic Aretha songs. After what she says has been 50 years in show business, the Queen of Soul can still raise the roof with soaring vocals and imbue old standards with a new twist. Over the course of the 90-minute concert, Franklin performed 14 songs. She kicked off the concert with “I Knew You Were Waiting”, a song released as a duet with George Michael in 1987. The multiple Grammy-winning singer emerged from the wings in a floor-length off-white gown with short sleeves and long auburn curly locks. This time the Queen of Soul appeared before a packed house at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Aretha Franklin celebrated New Year’s Day doing what she does best: performing.

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