# Aretha Franklin during the inauguration. Ouch! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154 "2009-01-20T17:42:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/21 "2009-01-20T18:39:51Z")
This is extremely out of character for me, since I’ve been - with very few exceptions - rendered incapable of crying in my adulthood, but I shed a couple tears during that song. The inauguration, plus the song, plus the image of the Lincoln Memorial put me over the top. Oh, and the hat was awful. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/22 "2009-01-20T18:47:11Z")
> **[Aretha Franklin's Inauguration Hat](http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html)** > > Is my new favorite thing in the universe. I'm glad she is representing the bow. I hope I walk out of my house tomorrow and everyone is weari... Looks like a freeway interchange. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/23 "2009-01-20T18:55:55Z")
I like the hat. I think it was in good proportion, gave her balance. A smaller hat would have given her a pin-head look. I thought it was tasteful, it’s a bit shiny but of good quality. And the singing, I liked that too. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/24 "2009-01-20T18:58:12Z")
When she took a breath between “coun” and “try” right off the bat, I cringed. And her background singers were over the top I thought. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/25 "2009-01-20T19:08:06Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I liked it. Her voice has a beautiful tone. But sometimes I do wonder what the anthem and America the Beautiful would sound like if great singers like Aretha sang them straight. > > I liked the hat too. I liked the hat and I liked the song. While I think that there is power in songs being sung “straight” when you have a legendary voice (take note Beyonce, that doesn’t mean you) adding their own flavor to it, it’s no longer just a rendition, it’s a _performance_. Some people think that patriotic songs should not be “performed” but I have no trouble with it. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/26 "2009-01-20T19:08:37Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > [http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html](http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html) > > Looks like a freeway interchange. When I saw it, it reminded me instantly of Eva Longoria’s [Marchesa](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2877998497_279ddd166b.jpg?v=0) that she wore to the Emmys last year. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/27 "2009-01-20T19:22:52Z")
Yes… DO enunciate please avoid yodling in the future and lose the hat ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/28 "2009-01-20T19:27:39Z")
> [@tumbleddown](#): > > I liked the hat and I liked the song. While I think that there is power in songs being sung “straight” when you have a legendary voice (take note Beyonce, that doesn’t mean you) adding their own flavor to it, it’s no longer just a rendition, it’s a _performance_. Some people think that patriotic songs should not be “performed” but I have no trouble with it. But it was a crappy performance, that’s the thing. If she had just sung it, she wouldn’t have gone so wonky. She was seriously wonky. Now, Immortally Wonky, forever on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/29 "2009-01-20T19:33:44Z")
I thought it was pretty bad, too. But I did like the hat. Did you notice she could barely get by the people when she was going to the microphone? ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/30 "2009-01-20T19:38:15Z")
I thought the hat was awesome, but not too many people could have carried it off. I thought her voice got better when she warmed up a bit, but her lower range was definitely better–her upper range pretty much disappeared. Could’ve been the cold, I guess. I liked all of the song except the endless repeats of “let freedom ring” at the end, which I thought was really overdone. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/31 "2009-01-20T21:24:34Z")
If the occasion was a concert, or some other type of entertainment venue, then I would admit that the performance was not her best. But given the circimstance, the performance was heartfelt and real. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/32 "2009-01-20T21:45:07Z")
The hat was interesting, but four minutes into it I had to be reminded what song it was she was singing again. It became completely unrecognizable. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/33 "2009-01-20T22:25:57Z")
“Yes” to the hat, “no” to quite so much dicking around with the melody. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/34 "2009-01-20T22:29:28Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > [http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html](http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html) > > Looks like a freeway interchange. More like the Flying Nun after a mid-air collision. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/35 "2009-01-20T22:32:19Z")
i liked the hat. that is a hat with presence. that is a church hat. it would easily fit into the book called “crowns”. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/36 "2009-01-20T22:32:40Z")
> [@Ceejaytee](#): > > I thought the hat was awesome, but not too many people could have carried it off. I think even an American Eagle would have had difficulty carrying that thing off. Maybe a Roc, or a Thunderbird. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/37 "2009-01-20T23:28:53Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > [http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html](http://subtletyinexcess.blogspot.com/2009/01/aretha-franklins-inauguration-hat.html) She’s being attacked by a rhinestone bat! ---
**Author:** ![dubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dubs)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/38 "2009-01-20T23:40:14Z")
I liked the hat. But the song? I liked it til it got a little gospel-y sounding, not that there’s anything wrong with gospel. I would have preferred God Bless America myself. Wouldn’t it have been something to have heard everyone on the Mall singing along? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/39 "2009-01-21T00:23:41Z")
Oh, on most other people the hat would have been appalling, but on Aretha? It goes with her. And yes, the singing was below usual Aretha standard, but heck, time does not pass in vain, and freezing air isn’t exactly helpful. I suppose that the choice of “America (My Country ‘Tis o’ Thee)” as opposed to “AtB” or “GBA” may have been an allusion to Dr. King’s speech (“from ev’ry mountaintop, let Freedom ring”). ---
**Author:** ![MizTina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MizTina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizTina)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154/40 "2009-01-21T00:26:54Z")
I loved the hat! There was also a bright red fedora someone in the handshake line was wearing that was hot, hot, hot. If I thought I could have got away with it, I’da knocked 'em both down and stole both their hats. I love hats. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aretha-franklin-during-the-inauguration-ouch/482154.md?page=3)