Aretha Franklin covers ‘Rolling in the Deep’ on Letterman

I saw this when it aired. A truly great singer can sing anything, any genre.

I saw it that day, too. Have been a fan of Aretha since I was a boy but I still found this époustouflante.

It's beautiful. She is divine.

Love her. Love this.

Even if you don't like Aretha's voice, you still have to admire her artistry. She was bold with her choices, even when covering other artists.

Speaking of great singers being able to sing anything, I submit for your consideration Wynona's interpretation of Anyone Who Had a Heart. Since I was never Country music fan, I had never been exposed to her before.

I wish I understood the qualities that make a voice exceptional, but I don’t. Still understand that Aretha was regarded as the best (Marianne Faithful described her voice as “the voice of God”). I enjoyed OP’s clip because she looked like she was having fun with that song, sort of wrapping her arms around it and personalizing the sound. I read that she was often a pretty glum character behind the scenes, and demanded certain conditions like no air conditioning, a certain sum of her fee in cash, etc. She was probably able to ask for anything she wanted.

I enjoyed the male backup singer, beaming at the center of the group. He looked like he knew that he was a part of something special.

R7 No air conditioning? Lawd. Can you imagine a hot room with her big ass in there. 😂. RIP to the Queen.

Fantastic performance.

But could no one put this legend in a cardigan toward the end of her life? Not even a shrug?

No one believes me, but I actually once saw a surprisingly, yes, petite Aretha, surrounded by an entourage, ordering from an upscale deli - Steve's Deli - near her home. There was no doubt that it was her.

R9 not even a shrug?

Cardigan, shrug, poncho, shawl? I love shrug :)

R10 I believe you

Iggy Azelea: ...If Aretha can sing "Rolling in the Deep, then---"

Chaka: But that wasn't really singing - it was more of like a...rolling in defeat. It just wasn't...it's just not what...ya know? I'm very Cissy Houston when it comes to this cover. She was just like, ya know, should I or shouldn't I press my Life Alert? Because I've got an emergency. It's just...it just ain't mine.

Patti: Cissy came out there like Aretha told her a bald-assed lie. Just under the rainbow, over the bullshit. She said, "you know what girl, you SAID we were going to bible study! And you lied! And for that, you're going to have to pay. I'm not gon' sing. I'm not gonna dance. I'm not gonna act like I know the words --- no "watermelon, watermelon, watermelon." I won't even try!"

R13 Cissy's attitude is why she never made it beyond background singer.

And Chaka's and Patti's envy is showing.

Aretha loved to identify and collaborate with new talent, and that gave her a career a huge second wind in the '80s — collabs with Eurythmics, George Michael, Narada Michael Walden, and others.

Chaka and Patti tried and failed to top the charts with new producers/acts at the same time — they didn't have the same taste level, interest, and talent.

Unpopular opinion--I really like Cissy's voice. I think she is an underrated singer. I love her cover of Yesterday.

Aretha shoukd have been urethra because she was a cunt.

"I'm not broke, I'm not Toni Braxton"

Cissy looked like she showed up moments before everyone was to go onstage. I wondered if Aretha invited her the day before.

Cissy sure can sing but she's meant for R&B, gospel, and possibly 70s disco produced by bands, not synths.

Cissy was serving up so much attitude!!!

Why did she even bother participating, if she didn't even want to be there?

Cissy smiled and gestured greetings to some musicians during the song.

I like her version. It appears on one of her last recorded albums. Her tits are HUGE.