Rev Al Sharpton Shades Trump at Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
Rev. Al Sharpton wants people to teach President Trump the meaning of R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Speaking at Aretha Franklins funeral in Detroit on Friday, Sharpton paid respect to the Queen of Soul and her legacy but didnt hide his contempt for the president.
You know the other Sunday on my show, I misspelled respect, and a lot of yall corrected me, Sharpton said in his speech, referring to how he used the name of Franklins biggest hit to criticize Trumps feud with former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman. Now I want yall to help me correct President Trump to teach him what it means.
Also Read: Ariana Grande Belts Out Beautiful Tribute to Aretha Franklin (Video)
Sharptons dig received a standing ovation. After a moment, he continued, I say that because when word went out that Ms. Franklin passed, Trump said, She used to work for me. No, she used to perform for you. She worked for us.
After his speech, Sharpton recited a letter from Barack Obama, who was unable to attend the funeral. Arethas work reflected the very best of the American story, and all of its hope and heart, its boldness and its unmistakable beauty, the letter read.
Many high-profile figures did attend Franklins funeral, including musicians Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder, and Hillary and Bill Clinton.
Franklin died earlier this month in Detroit at the age of 76.During her career, Franklin won 18 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award in 1994, and was also the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
One of Aretha Franklin's biggest and first hits, "Respect" became a feminist anthem because of the way Franklin spells it out loud and proud. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The album recording is quintessential soul, but it's amazing to see her perform the song live. In this Amsterdam concert from 1968, Franklin and her back-up singers throttled the song's tempo and absolutely tore it up.
Franklin's best singles combined her R&B fire with her gospel roots, best exemplified in a song like "I Say a Little Prayer." This dazzling performance from 1970, in color no less, might be her best rendition.
Franklin had already won a Grammy by 1967 for "Respect," but she made her debut as a Grammy performer in 1971 with this cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." She makes the folk classic her own by laying in a soul groove and her signature backing vocalists.
Franklin only starred in two movies in her career, both of them "Blues Brothers" movies, but in her brief time on screen in the '80s classic she gives a convincing performance cutting Jake and Elwood down to size. It's believable enough that you for a moment DON'T believe she's capable of belting into song.
Nearly 20 years after "Respect," Franklin teamed up with Annie Lennox and Eurythmics for a diva-driven duet of "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves," kicking off a solid pop-rock period for the Queen of Soul.
You wouldn't be crazy for actually preferring Franklin's cover of The Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" with Keith Richards to the original. The guitars are meatier, the song is laid-back, and she "how-how-howls at the morning driving rain." Also check out the MTV video featuring Whoopi Goldberg and her outrageous "Purple Rain" era hair.
Before she performed for Barack Obama's first inaugural, Franklin sang the "Les Miserables" anthem "I Dreamed a Dream" for Bill Clinton's inauguration. Sure it's a song about a woman sorrowfully reminiscing about "a time when men were kind," but she makes it sound pretty and inspiring.
OK, her Obama inaugural performance marked an historic day in American history, and her performance was stunning and inspiring, but LOOK AT THAT HAT!
Late in her career, Franklin didn't need to keep making hits; she could just own covers of American standards, whether it's "Amazing Grace" at the White House or this version of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" on David Letterman's late-night show.
Carole King co-wrote "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for Franklin in 1967, and in 2015 Franklin returned the favor, performing it for King during a Kennedy Center Honors showcase. King's astonished to see Franklin sit down at the piano, and it doesn't take long for Obama to start tearing up.
The Queen of Souls legacy was undeniable
One of Aretha Franklin's biggest and first hits, "Respect" became a feminist anthem because of the way Franklin spells it out loud and proud. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The album recording is quintessential soul, but it's amazing to see her perform the song live. In this Amsterdam concert from 1968, Franklin and her back-up singers throttled the song's tempo and absolutely tore it up.
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Rev Al Sharpton Shades Trump at Aretha Franklin's Funeral