Aretha - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

[cking33]

Great Song and one of Aretha's best. I always thought that it was one of the biggest ironies in pop music that the lyrics to this were written by a man, Gerry Goffin. A man wrote the lyrics to "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman." Jerry Wexler gets a writing credit becuase one night he saw Gerry Goffin and told him to go write a song with his wife, Carole King, with this as the title. King wrote the music and did her own great version on "Tapestry," but Aretha made it an anthem for the 60s like she did with so many of her songs.

[A Thug Named Slickback]

I appreciate the technical quality of this song, but it has always been one of my least favorite Aretha Franklin songs. Maybe the lyrics are just a little too cheesy for me. Who knows?

At any rate, I'll take "Chain Of Fools," "Think," or "Ain't No Way" any day.

[sleepy time]

Everyone thinks I'm weird for liking Carole's version way better than Aretha's.

Aretha has a great voice but I think she overdoes things sometimes. And I think Carole's seems much more authentic and it seems like she "feels" the song more than Aretha did.

Still a great song by Aretha, though.

[cking33]

sleepytime said:

Everyone thinks I'm weird for liking Carole's version way better than Aretha's.

Aretha has a great voice but I think she overdoes things sometimes. And I think Carole's seems much more authentic and it seems like she "feels" the song more than Aretha did.

Still a great song by Aretha, though.

You're not the only one. I do like Carole's version better, but Aretha's reached the ears of more people, and I think more people associate the song with Aretha. Although anyone who owns "Tapestry" has to love Carole's. A lot of people don't like her voice because it can be thin at times, but I think she has one of the most distinctive and authentic voices ever.

[sleepy time]

I'm completely in love with the "Tapestry" album and I have been for years so I'll admit that I'm very biased.

I think it's one of the greatest albums ever, and it's hard for me to believe that anyone could top anything that Carole King did with regard to that album. So it's quite possible Aretha's version is better, but you won't see me admitting it! hehehe.

Carole King is an absolutely brilliant, amazing writer, but her vocals are limited. She knows it too, I think most people will admit that. That's what makes "Tapestry" so poignant and incredible. The fact that she wrote all those songs... Each one absolutely amazing in it's own right... and they're all on one album. It baffles me.

[cking33]

sleepytime said:

I'm completely in love with the "Tapestry" album and I have been for years so I'll admit that I'm very biased.

I think it's one of the greatest albums ever, and it's hard for me to believe that anyone could top anything that Carole King did with regard to that album. So it's quite possible Aretha's version is better, but you won't see me admitting it! hehehe.

Carole King is an absolutely brilliant, amazing writer, but her vocals are limited. She knows it too, I think most people will admit that. That's what makes "Tapestry" so poignant and incredible. The fact that she wrote all those songs... Each one absolutely amazing in it's own right... and they're all on one album. It baffles me.

lol, you think you're biased? Take a look at my member name, lol. It's even more amazing when you get to see her in concert. I got to see her last summer on her living room tour and it was amazing. Again, her voice isn't perfect, but that's part of what draws you into the intimacy of the show. I'm going again to see her at Radio City in July. My favorite song she ever wrote was "So Far Away," followed by "Goin' Back" done by Dusty Springfield and the Byrds. lol, i created this thread as an aretha thread though,.

[sleepy time]

Hehehe oops sorry to make it so OT. i didn't notice your name either, hahaha. i'm so unobservant.

Anyway, have a great time at the concert! I'm sure it will be INCREDIBLE.

[JOJO SIWA DERANGEMENT SYNDROME]

I like it!

[reception]

Classic!

[staythenight]

The REAL Queen of SOUL!...............this is not my favorite song of her's but it is a great song, that has been done by other artist, BUT never as good as her version (MJB was close)

[Deleted]

cuidado said:

I appreciate the technical quality of this song, but it has always been one of my least favorite Aretha Franklin songs. Maybe the lyrics are just a little too cheesy for me. Who knows?

That's basically how I feel about "Respect" and "Chain Of Fools" too. They've just become so cheesy with time.

[jond7699]

What can you say about this song other than it is pure and simple classic soul

[irock]

sleepytime said:

Everyone thinks I'm weird for liking Carole's version way better than Aretha's.

I hear ya, but I don't think I could ever choose one version as best. I love both, they're equally superb!

In a way, this is similar to The Weight, roughly contemporary with YMMFLANW. I liked Aretha's version just as much as The Band's, but I could never choose one as the best.

[cartman2002]

You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman reached #8 in 1967

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Hands down my favorite Aretha song ever!!!!

[Caviar]

Best to ever do it!

[disman00911]

My earliest memory of this song is through a 1990s shampoo commercial.  As for early Aretha, I prefer "Respect".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO1HFO4e4vI&

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

#440 on Billboard's 500 Greatest Pop Songs

440. Aretha Franklin, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Photo : Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Hot 100 Peak: No. 8 (Nov. 4, 1967)

You Know What It Is: Aretha Franklin’s signature reading of the ballad, penned by Carole King, Gerry Goffin and Jerry Wexler, effectively capturing the knee-buckling amazement of a genuinely fulfilling and wildly unexpected love.

The Sun Always Shines on T.V.: “Natural Woman” made a pair of appearances on hit ’90s sitcom Murphy Brown — first when Aretha plays it performs it live next to an awestruck Murphy (chastising her as she tries to sing along: “I ain’t Martha, and you ain’t no Vandella”), and then when Murphy herself sings it to her newborn baby (a scene later parodied by Selma and pet iguana Jub-Jub in The Simpsons).

Because of You: A pre-fame Madonna sang an impromptu rendition of “Natural Woman” at what ultimately turned out to be a career-making audition — a story that she shared in long and somewhat self-serving fashion at her infamous VMAs homage to the Queen of Soul following her 2018 passing.