Am I mistaken, or was Aretha Franklin at death’s door a few years ago?
I guess she recovered nicely, because her 39th studio album, Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics is due out later this year.
At 72, here’s Aretha not just alive but belting out Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ with her typical style and power.
Franklin’s voice isn’t what it used to be — I repeat, she’s 72 — but who cares? I’m sure Adele is thrilled to have such a legend cover her song, not to mention include it among the “great diva classics.”
Something should be done about that album cover, though. Franklin looks like she’s wearing a mask, and the awkward position of her arm is all wrong.
There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it’s bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out, and I’ll lay your ship bare
See how I’ll leave with every piece of you
Don’t underestimate the things that I will do
There’s a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, and it’s bringing me out the dark
[Pre-Chorus + Chorus]
The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can’t help feeling
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
[Verse 2]
Baby, I have no story to be told
But I’ve heard one on you
Now I’m gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there
As mine sure won’t be shared
[Pre-Chorus]
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love remind me of us
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
I can’t help feeling
[Chorus]
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
Could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hand
But you played it with a beating
[Bridge]
Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You’ll pay me back in kind and reap just what you sow
[Interlude]
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
[Chorus]
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hand
(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)
But you played it
You played it
You played it
You played it to the beat
Meet Me In Montauk 
I just heard this on Howard Stern yesterday, where they were deciding whether Aretha’s version topped Adele. Howard said he loved Adele’s version, but was marveling that Aretha could still belt it out at 72 and, in a close voice-off, and after only hearing a bit of the first verse, gave it to Aretha.
I think you are right that, hearing the whole song, you can pick up a bit of the limitations of Aretha’s voice, but, still, the woman has the chops. I like the mashup with “Ain’t No Mountain” as well.
Glad to see Aretha get her weight and health under control. Would hate to lose the Queen of Soul.
Damn, that’s good!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m as impressed as you all are that Aretha is belting this song out at 72. That said, yuck!! With the exception of the Ain’t No Mountain mash-up at the end, I sort of hate this. And I LOVE the original. Too much music, shrieking, everything… just YUCK!!!
Come on she’s 72!! Damn, that’s good is right 🙂