Remembering Aretha Franklin's Incredible Performance Of 'Nessun Dorma'

Nov 09, 2022 by apost team

Legendary singer, Aretha Franklin, made an incomparable impact on the musical world. Known by her friends, family, and fans as the queen of soul, Franklin cut album after album of beautiful songs, inspirational ballads, and motivational dance hits. During her decades-long career, she graced the world with hit songs such as "Respect," "Freeway of Love," "Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools," along with countless others.

Mrs. Franklin also gave countless historical performances. She sang a song at Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial service and astonished the crowd there with her performance of "Precious Lord." She would later sing a song at Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, bringing the president to tears with an unforgettable rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Not many artists still have that same powerful singing voice, especially in their senior years, but Franklin did. Her soul, her star power, and her presence as a performer were so strong that audiences could still hear her shine well into her 1970s.

Sadly, Franklin was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, but she kept performing and continued to work hard for many years. It wasn't until February 2017 that she announced her retirement and gave her final performance. She made her final appearance at the Mann Center in August for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Her performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" was truly a highlight of Franklin's career. 

Another one of Franklin's more memorable performances was at the 1998 Grammys, where she filled in for Luciano Pavarotti at the last minute. 

The singer was born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. While the state is known for growing musical careers, Franklin would make her name in another place. When she was still very young, her family briefly relocated to New York state before settling in Detroit, a city that would, over time, become synonymous with Franklin's name.

While Franklin was still a girl, her father, a Baptist minister, recognized his daughter's talent and began to manage her budding career. Additionally, his own talent and profession as a preacher also drew talented performers to the Franklin house, such as gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews. Additionally, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all befriended Franklin's father as well. The presence of these legends, especially the musicians, exposed Franklin from a young age to the power and potential of the song. 

Franklin toured with her father's gospel caravan. Due to this initial guidance, the singer gained exposure and released her first music. After signing with J.V.B. Records, Franklin came out with "Never Grow Old" and "You Grow Closer" in 1956, with the teenage singer featuring in both vocals and piano. Looking back, these early cuts are quite the indication of the singer's natural born power and just raw talent. 

From that first release, Franklin's star began to rise, never slowing or stopping, and she would spend the next decades impressing audiences with her seemingly boundless abilities. Her efforts would be recognized by arts organizations the world over. 

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She would receive a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, the National Medal of Arts in 1999, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, and even a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation in 2019. The singer would be inducted into both the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Her talent was so incomparable that her home state of Michigan even declared her a "natural resource" in 1985. Franklin would also be ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time." 

However impressive these medallions and trophies are, there is perhaps no greater way to judge Franklin's talents than to witness and recognize her abilities in person. One performance that optimized her talent was Franklin's 1998 Grammy performance. Filling in last minute for Luciano Pavarotti, Franklin sang "Nessun Dorma," stunning audiences with her rendition of the traditional opera tune. 

The area unexpectedly gained popularity after Pavarotti performed it at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Perhaps an outlier amidst the setlist of pop songs, the song nonetheless became instantly recognizable even to fans outside the genre. The Italian tenor was meant to perform "Nessun Dorma" at the awards ceremony; however, he fell suddenly ill. 

Franklin, without practicing with the live band, with minimal, if no rehearsal at all, took the stage and delivered the performance of a lifetime. Even if you don't like opera or Puccini, you have to take your hat off to that level of skill and command of power. 

Do you remember watching her performance at the 1998 Grammys? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fellow Aretha Franklin fans!