Thanks to Aretha Franklin, "Respect" is a world we'll never forget how to spell. At the age of 76, Aretha Franklin lost the fight of life to pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. Known as the "Queen of Soul" for the past 50 years, Aretha Franklin will live on not only in our memories but in music forever.
Aretha Franklin inspired many people – especially me. When it comes to music, I dive into a world I never knew existed just by singing. When Aretha sang, all your worries and stress just seemed to fade. Growing up hearing her belt, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what that means to me," I couldn't help but find myself singing along and wanting to sound just like her.
I'm not sure if it was her soul or her raw talent that inspired me the most.
All I know is that when I would hear her sing, I couldn't help but sing too. After looking up to her for so long, I wanted to incorporate her vocal and musical styling into my own voice.
When I first started singing, I didn't know what kind of sound I would have, but I knew I wanted to sound like a church lady. So that meant, I needed something with soul. If it weren't for the church lady who was the "Queen of Soul," I never would've had the courage to step outside of my comfort zone and discover a true talent inside of me.
Singing or even listening to music, is my form of therapy. Whether I'm writing poetry that could be turned into lyrics, or listening to music and having this urge to belt out a song with crazy high notes, I feel like myself. My worry is gone. My stresses are gone. From the minute a song starts to the second it stops, nothing else in the world matters except for trying hit every riff and run I can.
Aretha Franklin taught me to be confident in my voice. She influenced me to try singing, no matter what.
I know that I'm not the only fan she's influenced or encourage to find his or her talent. Aretha inspired millions to show some "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and to sing it proudly.
Looking back on all of her success, from sold-out shows to Grammy awards, Aretha Franklin broke records and barriers of music in the industry. She created a new meaning of soul. That meaning will continue to live on forever.
Although she may be gone, her presence will always be alive.
A woman with that much soul could never fully be gone.
I hope that in 20 years, I can show my kids the insanity that was Aretha's voice. From high notes that could reach Heaven to low notes that could reach the bottom of Kylie Jenner's bank account, her voice was something special and everyone knew it.
"R-E-S-P-E-C-T" will never sound the same as it booms from my Spotify playlist because she's gone. Instead, it will have a new meaning – it will be in loving memory of Aretha.
