Rolling Deep with Aretha...

I swear this is not a music blog. It is NOT. I promise... kinda. Here I was eating dinner and making purple cupcakes- because why NOT make purple cupcakes on a Monday?! Minding my own business when I saw that Aretha Franklin did a remake of Rolling In The Deep. Dear, sweet baby Jesus why did you let THIS happen? I had to listen to it. I mean, I HAD to. I love the Aretha of the 50s, 60s and 70s. I mean, Respect, Chain of Fools, Dr. Feelgood (what?!!?-- Don't send me doctor...). But I NEED Aretha to know when to just have a seat and let a song happen... without her.

Now look. I love Aretha. She has a voice that is very distinctive and funky. Her voice is beautiful, and Adele is, without a doubt, the singer that she is because of Aretha Franklin (and several other Black singers). But oh, my love bugs-- Aretha should have let Adele have this song, because she lost this battle so significantly. Let's hear the evidence: First up, the original (which, I am SURE has been on this blog before-- because when it came out I was going through a crazy break up and this song was on repeat like it was the only song in the universe.)


Adele - Rolling In the Deep




Good, right?! I mean, besides that fool dancing in the powder, I really love this rendition. Relays the pain of dating a douchebag that betrayed your trust (wait, we aren't talking about my break up, right? Oh, ok... back on track). Soulful. Just angry enough. Wonderful. Now let's check out Aretha's version.

Aretha - Rolling In the Deep




See- no. From the 23 second mark, me and Aretha broke up. Cut it out. "Rolling in the deep... screech."

We broke up. We are in a fight. We are not speaking. No, no, no, no. And again, no. I mean, it was so bad. And the mixing of Rolling in the Deep and Ain't No Mountain High Enough. I am done. BROKE. UP. This version is making me long for the Negro Spiritual version from John Legend-- at least it is a cappella... get it, John.