You Call Her Empress, People!

The Queen of Soul and one of my very favorite singers, Aretha Franklin, played Radio City Music Hall last night. She was not surprisingly a rousing success and won a glowing review from The New York Times. But the evening was not without its controversies. From the opening lead of The Times review:

An announcer hailed Aretha Franklin as the Empress of Music at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night before reverting to her usual title, the Queen of Soul. Then the large assemblage of musicians wrapped up the opening medley and started into “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” And out came Ms. Franklin, moving at a processional pace, in an abundance of glitter and black chiffon. It was a manifest vision of music royalty, whatever sobriquet you choose.

Like any sovereign Ms. Franklin has her pride. She adopted the empress moniker after publicly taking umbrage after this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony (specifically, the part where Beyoncé saluted Tina Turner as “the Queen”). But indignation is the least intriguing thing about her new title, which forsakes the specificity of genre. Ms. Franklin really does have designs on an empire, as the concert intermittently proved.

I encourage you to enjoy this appreciative review, but also to observe the concoction that encased The Empress last night. The voice is otherworldly, but the chiffon sequined mermaid dress (which appeared on the cover of The Arts page at magnified size) left me speechless.

Even majesty needs a stylist.