The surprise and pure joy on Carole King's face as Aretha Franklin starts singing the song that she made famous is all by itself a reason to watch this clip.
But then you add President Obama tearing, and just know it is something special.
By the way I am huge Carole King fan from way back. And Aretha Franklin....well who doesn't love her?
Good night my friends.
An incredible performance from an national treasure. Such a joy to watch; it must have been electric in that room. Thank you so much for posting this.
ReplyDeleteIt was an emotional experience even watching it on TV. I'd have loved to have been there when Aretha sang the second half through a standing ovation.
DeleteThat was fantastic! I too am a huge Carole King fan; I saw Beautiful on Broadway a couple of years ago and will see it in Chicago next month! Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteMy gorgeous friend Gisela is in Beautiful on Broadway, she sings 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow'.
DeleteHow neat is that?!?! Such great music.
DeleteI saw Carole King and James Taylor together in Portland years ago. It was awesome; what a tribute to her!
DeleteGood night, Gryph. Thank you so much for putting up this video. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is is absolutely beautiful! Tears in my eyes
ReplyDeleteThis brought tears to my eyes. Remember when Aretha sang at Obamas' Inauguration?
ReplyDeleteAmazing Grace, how sweet the sound!!! Thank you for such a positive way to finish up the day.
ReplyDeleteSheer joy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gryphen!
Just re-posted to my FB friends -- that made my night.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gryphen.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely wonderful! Tappin' and swayin' here!
ReplyDeleteAnyone else mentally urging Carole and the Prez to get in there and back up Aretha? Woooo!
Mildred
Kennedy Center Honors is my favorite night on TV year after year. Always wonderful people being honored and amazing performances to honor them. Is always right after Christmas and you should try to watch it -- the entire 2 hours. But, Aretha was the best way to end this year's magical night.
DeleteThe Kennedy Center Honors Show has to be one of my favorite shows every year. They do such a great job of nailing the cover performance of the artist(s) they are honoring...
DeleteEvery year they knock it out of the park!
Last year's Stairway to Heaven with Heart and Jason Bonham, to this year with "The Queen of Soul" belting out You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman...
It's not like, they are looking for someone to do a good cover, but more like a panel of the most talented producers looking at an artist's best song, and deciding with 20/20 hindsight, and a 50 year knowledge which artist should have done the song originally, to make it an even better hit than it was...
A great show always...
Don't miss it!
The entire show in clips is usually up on YouTube in HQ...
The entire show is on CBS's website...
Deletehttp://www.cbs.com/shows/kennedy_center_honors/video/3B46BD11-F62B-A68F-C39B-EB54202549BC/the-38th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Aretha knocked that song out of the park and the audience was swept up in the awesome song.
ReplyDeleteThe performance did wonders for me too. I am preparing for joint replacement surgery and feeling down about signs of aging. I was awestruck at how Aretha Franklin owned her womanliness, shedding the fur coat in command of her self that people stood energized by her! A truly empowering performance!
off topic
ReplyDeleteRESPECT
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/john-mccains-2008-campaign-darkened-barack-obamas-skin-in-ads-study-finds-7930833
"Did John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign darken Barack Obama’s skin in advertisements to capitalize on negative racial stereotypes?
It appears so, concludes a new study published in the research journal Public Opinion Quarterly."
Nice work if you can get it...
I saw this on TV last night and, if my eyes weren't already leaking, the sight of the President wiping away a tear would have done me in. Aretha Franklin stole the show despite a long list of great talents sharing the stage.
ReplyDeleteCarol King's expressions during her entire tribute were priceless. She looked like a little child finding out that Santa had brought everything that was on her Christmas list PLUS a pony!
That was positively MAJESTIC....
ReplyDeleteFantastic! Thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteI watched the entire show last night on broadcast TV. It was one of the best they've had in a long time. Having KIng as the last recipient and Aretha as the last tribute was the best planning ever.
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of the real joys in the President's job requirements. The entire time I was thinking...he gets to do this one more time. I wonder how they'll top this one.
I remember driving my litle old VW bug to my job in a downtown mpls factory when my husband was in Viet Nam blasting R
ReplyDelete-e-s-p e c t on my radio, what a voice!
Thank you Grypen for bringing this incredible performance to end an amazing roller-coaster of a year on such a high note. We take the good and the bad and hope for intelligence and good sense to rule in 2016. Thank you for updating us in a timely manner. Happy New Year Gryphen and all IM fans.
ReplyDeleteThat America experienced this triumphal, valedictory moment of Aretha's on the same day we see a doddering Cosby escorted to face grimy felony sexual charges is too bizarre an end-note of the year to absorb all at once. Two of black America's most celebrated icons going in as opposite directions as one could imagine.
ReplyDeleteTrying to recast it in terms more immediate for this 61 year old gay white man, it would be like Ellen DeGeneres critically injured in a car crash on the same day Barney Frank wins the Democratic presidential nomination.
That was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty that people can bring forth by sharing their gifts.
ReplyDeleteAretha Franklin hasn't lost a note! What an amazing singer.
ReplyDeleteWoman. An amazing woman!!
Happy New Year Gryphen! You put the HAPPY in the NEW YEAR wish for all of us!
ReplyDeleteI have it on vcr. Growing up, Carole King was one of my favorite singers/songwriters. Watching her joy as Aretha Franklin belted out each note perfectly, and seeing the crowd's reaction was amazing. Aretha is a National treasure, her voice and range are pitch perfect. Seeing POTUS's eyeballs sweat a little showed me how touched he was in her presence. Thanks, and Happy New Year one and all! I wish you the best and the health to enjoy it.
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