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    Dave Michael Harriot
    8/16/18 4:44pm

    I am not equipped with enough word-knitting ability to weave a tapestry out of the favor some almighty things has bestowed upon this royal voicebox.

    You sir, are wrong about that.

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      acmeindustriesDave
      8/16/18 5:13pm

      Yeah—I got chills from both Aretha’s performance here and from the Mr. Harriot’s writing about it.

      s

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      MarissaDave
      8/16/18 6:28pm

      I am sobbing quietly on the bus to work. Dammit Michael! 

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    Tippi GordonMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 4:50pm

    I hadn’t seen this before today (I gave up on the NFL a few years before). But holy god, this is beautiful. I still don’t think “The Star-Spangled Banner” should be the national anthem of the United States (that should be “This Land Is Your Land”), but if we have to hear it, it should be versions like this, proudly with hands on hearts, down on one knee.

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      OldManInSeattleTippi Gordon
      8/16/18 5:08pm

      I still don’t think “The Star-Spangled Banner” should be the national anthem of the United States (that should be “This Land Is Your Land”),

      for a million reasons i agree but my vote would be America the Beautiful


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      thatsjustmyhair-kinjadOldManInSeattle
      8/16/18 5:16pm

      agreed. It should be America the Beautiful. Or to be petty “My Country Tis of Thee” just to mess with everyone.

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    sigmapapiMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 4:42pm

    First, I like pumpkin pie. I do not like sweet potato pie. It’s not good. I said it.

    I believe this is one of the poignant articles written today about Aretha Franklin (I still don’t return to work until the 27th). It speaks volumes about the affect of voice on family, culture, and one’s soul. You can see the pleasure her voice gave to the players on the field as well as those in the stands. “Jesus Queen”, indeed.

    Now fight me about the damn pie. SABE MAL!

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      HRHDuchessNapsalotsigmapapi
      8/16/18 5:36pm

      First, you are wrong about sweet potato pie.

      Second, have you tried it with bourbon?

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      sigmapapiHRHDuchessNapsalot
      8/16/18 6:58pm

      Well, I’ll try anything with bourbon...

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    GPMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 5:04pm

    The Queen doesn’t care about critics, because she is the Queen.

    She knows her purpose and her voice is true.

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      forgetGP
      8/17/18 4:44am

      I’ve been looking at her videos on and off all day, so many occasions she sanctified.

      She enjoyed being appreciated but I kept coming upon times when I just thought it was off somehow, for everyone to applaud. She wasn’t entertaining, she was teaching.

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    FredCee71Michael Harriot
    8/16/18 7:23pm

    Aretha owns the anthem for this setting, just as Marvin Gaye owned it for the NBA and Whitney Houston owned it for the NFL. And now all three are gone while racism lives on. Goddamn shame.

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    myopicprophetMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 4:55pm

    Every year on FB, I post, “happy thankstaking everyone!” and it gets all kinds of love. About a month and a half later, I post, “happy thankstaking to all of my American friends!” and it doesn’t get the love. I am glad I am not on FB anymore.

    As far as Aretha goes, I am surprised by how many of her songs I knew the words to listening to her on the radio today.  My introduction to black music was the Fat Boys and Run DMC, Aretha was more my mom’s era.  She can be the queen of any soul music in my books.

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    hvnlysmileMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 5:29pm

    (Not “stuffing.” Stuffing is for people who like Velveeta macaroni and prefer pumpkin-based desserts to sweet potato pie).

    I can’t with you right now! LOLOLOLOL

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    shindeanMichael Harriot
    8/19/18 2:51am

    I hate youtube for taking it down, but her replacement performance of Nessum Dorma for Pavorotti is the moment that woman’s voice touched my spirit.
    You can find other versions of it, some in different keys or with alterations. But that one, that particular version is the one that will keep ringing in my heart for all time. 

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    HiMyNameIsJayOnceAgainMichael Harriot
    8/17/18 11:27am
    Your browser does not support HTML5 video tag.Click here to view original GIF
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    HRHDuchessNapsalotMichael Harriot
    8/16/18 5:37pm

    This is the best tribute I have read today. Thank you.

    Question, re: pie.  Did anyone in your family sing the Tater Pie song at Thanksgiving?  Is that something my grandfather made up?

    Reply