Breaking Down Riffs and Runs || The Agility of Aretha Franklin

"The Agility of Aretha Franklin" breaks down the musicality of one of Aretha Franklin's rangiest and most flexible displays of vocalism.
Episode Credits
-----------------------------
Director: Milik Kashad
Executive Producer: Milik Kashad
Editor: Milik Kashad
Motion Graphics: Milik Kashad
Voiceover: Milik Kashad
Script: Milik Kashad

[@BlackMusicArchive]

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[@mlbk7848]

Why did you delete your longer segment on Aretha?

[@noreneal7252]

The thing about Aretha’s runs is that they’re not useless. You can still feel the emotion and soul in her delivery. Even when she goes crazy with them they still make you wanna get up and run lol!

[@edwardwheeler197]

Get up and run is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

[@MrBarrywes]

I say that all the time

[@lutherwilliams8429]

i know that's right!

[@anthonymeans7439]

Yes! Its not just overkill and not every singer can pull the off..Thas just natural skill

[@anthonymeans7439]

Exactly! Its not just overkill &and every singer can't pull that off.Its just raw skill!

[@bmwjourdandunngoddess6024]

Lord I need a compilation of Aretha’s riffs and runs. I also see where Mariah got her influence. I just hear so much Mariah in it. She studied the great Goddess of Music, Aretha!🥰

[@jamals.8786]

Yup! I always said that Mariah’s runs and riffs were like a perfect marriage of Aretha’s and Stevie Wonder’s.

[@arethasD6belt]

Aretha is widely known for her songs and her voice as shes so effortlessly soulful but I don't think enough people GRASP the phenomenon that is Aretha! Thank you for this video ❤

[@sirblack1619]

This right here!

[@jamals.8786]

No one can touch the Queen with the vocal runs. She’s truly The Godmother of Melisma. (Stevie is the Godfather.)

[@malcolmnichols3510]

Please note the Queen is Madame Edna Gallmon Cooke

[@adappowerz5704]

​​@@malcolmnichols3510 Yup she doesn't get mentioned often. Her 'curly q's" lol

[@Theredeyedjedi]

The Forever Queen of Soul and The Forever Queen of Detroit

[@coinquilinanza]

The run she makes in “Truly” is one of the most beautiful runs ever done in contemporary music… so much emotion and musicality

[@anjelheaven]

The Queen doing what she does best! One of my favorite Aretha runs is when she covered "Hero." The run at the end on "that a hero lies...." can SAVE LIVES!

[@lutherwilliams8429]

I felt that too!

[@CuirPhotodotNet]

....SHE....loved JAZZ ...ELLA...and SARAH....she copied them a lot...her scatting is always IMPECCABLE.....

[@kimberlyjade4094]

She, Sarah and Jessie J share a birthday

[@gaddovame2879]

The I GET HIGH run was the very first time I understood the technique (1984). I am SO happy you have broken this down. The entire Sparkle album is a textbook!

[@nicolesherman8974]

Milik has been blessing us this entire week, much love 🥹🫶🏾❤️

[@firelord_ozai]

And this is just one of the many reasons why she is the goat

[@majorboyce123]

The Queen of Soul was no joke. One bad sister. As good as other singers are no one runs woops wails squalls belts or hollars like Ms. Ree. Prime examples are When I Think About You Meadows in Spring Time Mumbles I Got the Music in Me and Amazing Grace entire album showcased her entire voice highs lows and in between. Her voice just was so flexible she had the skills to sing anything. The Masquerade is Over superb performance.

[@09michaele]

Patti Labelle...enuff said

[@johnclay661]

@@09michaele- ??? Please re-read the original post! They mentioned lows, now that right there should have given you pause!! 🤫🙄

[@missya9103]

She is THEE Mother of Riff and Runs. Please show me a female singer who was riffing and running like Aretha before she hit it big.

[@johnclay661]

Exactly, please show us! Ok……..that’s what I thought!!!

[@firelord_ozai]

Period!!!

[@dcanto9880]

MORE ARETHA PLEASE!! 🙏🏽🫶🏽✨

[@anonymouss974]

i really like aretha’s run from the beginning of “break it to me gently”

[@michaelcarroll2399]

💯

[@TGSHomeandGarden]

the greatest to do it in our lifetime

[@kreole7376]

"Aretha always Gobbles them bottoms" this statement always sends me 😂

[@Nonrelatable_t]

she’s the goat…. her runs and riffs be blowing my mind.

[@lutherwilliams8429]

Aretha has an anointed heavenly amazing voice! She has always been in full control of her voice, and really knew how to work that voice!!!😍

[@agendarecords2530]

My favorite runner

[@kaleidoscope_97]

You are so quick with these videos and thorough.

[@adrina911]

Aretha was a vocal genius and had the voice of god! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sirblack1619]

Yet another example of why Queen reached the level that she did! There is no one like her. And that Sparkle album the Queen sang like the mortgage, electric, gas, water and trash bill was past due!

[@basilmusic9041]

The difficulty of that run is she means it.

[@elizabethperlotte2923]

This timing is so good! I’ve been working to improve riffs and runs

[@coinquilinanza]

I remember about a video named “queen of melisma, runs, etc.” with a fantastic compilation of Aretha’s vocal agility… wouldn’t it be possible to bring it back? Btw, great video☺️

[@thatboycjsings]

these back to back videos!❤️🔥🔥

[@hinderless5811]

Aretha was tasteful and used her gift authentically and didn't constantly exhibit vocal runs for the purpose of exhibition and overdo it like a Houston or Mariah and become thoroughly boring, her ability to speed run whilst at full chest belt is unmatched. Aretha could do a hundred different vocal shifts in one belt.

[@tremaine861]

You just wanted to hate on Whitney and Mariah there's nothing boring about those ladies

[@kimberlyjade4094]

@@tremaine861 Whitney was so boring she had Aretha in the studio redoing her vocals 8 times attempting to top a Whitney run.

[@tylermills4812]

Whitney and Mariah > Aretha

[@hinderless5811]

@@tylermills4812 It must be time for your medication

[@michaelcarroll2399]

@@kimberlyjade4094 And that’s straight from the producers mouth lol

[@charlita25]

Ms. Franklin 👸🏽👑

[@bskeete]

Thanks.

[@charlita25]

Thanks for the lesson in music 🎶 theory

[@chromebook2447]

May Her Soul Rest In Peace!

[@vm7497]

Thanks!!!

[@SonofBaldwin]

Lawd have mercy.

[@JustServe-Him]

What song is this?

[@maryamkim1281]

I really need to listen harder, and learn more, as I don't yet find her voice beautiful, extraordinary, etc.

[@sibun7153]

Do you mind if I ask whose voice you do find beautiful and extraordinary?

[@cynthiaanderson3742]

🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@charlita25]

Wow "3 seconds"

[@AvidRarf-]

It's clear that Karen Clark Sheard also studied Aretha.

[@efg5000]

Love Aretha, She didn't CONFORM to the standard form of SINGING or to those would be NON-TALENT, STUCK in formation, TIN EAR CRITICS that wanted to Silence her GIFT‼ ARETHA took JAZZ, GOSPEL SHOW TUNES, and POP and turn it into what is now known as SOUL MUSIC❗Some do it and Some don't and those who CAN'T, Critize & Complain ‼

[@iamlyrics9118]

In this run Aretha and Karen Clark Sheard sound the same

[@shonmosley4215]

Ummmmm

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Karen has a variation of this run in, "He Lifted Me," from Azusa 1995.

[@BlackMusicArchive]

Karen and VBA both have done a variation of this run. Karen in "He Lifted Me," and VBA in, "Peace Be Still."

[@iamlyrics9118]

@@BlackMusicArchive ok Kool. I knew I had heard it somewhere before