Tag: aretha franklin

Categories
FM Feline Trending

Beyonce Soars To New Historical Heights With Renaissance

Beyoncé
Image via Getty Images

After being in the game for 25 years, Beyonce continues to make history in music. Just two weeks after her no-skip album Renaissance was released, all 16 songs landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The infectious “Break My Soul” topped the chart at number one. The song marks her first number one since “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” in 2008. “Cuff It” and “Alien Superstar” landed in the Top 20 at #13 and #19 respectively.

Yonce joins female artists Cardi B, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Adele and Ariana Grande to have every song from an album chart. She is also one of the only female artists to have at least 80 songs in her catalog to make the Billboard charts. Nicki Minaj and Swift have also achieved this.

“Break My Soul” also landed the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. She is the fourth woman in history to have 10 songs on top of the chart. She follows Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey; whom she is tied with.

Renaissance Era

Bey’s seventh studio album Renaissance also topped the Billboard 200 at number one, the same week Break My Soul became number one. She becomes the first female artist in history to have all seven of her solo albums debut at number one. Renaissance is also the biggest female album release of 2022 so far and third overall, following Harry Styles’ Harry’s House and BTS’ Proof. It also received widespread acclaim from fans and critics, calling it her most cohesive work yet.

Throughout its release, Beyonce has also released a handful of remixes to “Break My Soul,” including a Queens Remix with Madonna. The remix samples Madonna’s “Vogue” and name drops other black queens in the industry, including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lizzo and her sister Solange.

With this album only being out for two weeks and is the first part of a trilogy, the Beyhive will surely be fed.

Written By: Roy Lott 

Categories
FM News Updates

Respect Is Coming to the Screen

Respect Is Coming to the Screen

An iconic singer is in the movies at last. The upcoming movie ‘Respect,’ which is about Aretha Franklin’s life, will reach the big screen in U.S. theaters on August 13, following many delays from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Hudson will star as Franklin, taking the helm as the Queen of Soul. As Hudson said in an interview, music was Franklin’s comfort, just as it was Hudson’s.

“Music was Aretha’s comfort zone, her expression,” she says.

The film will depict a dynamic life

Aside from Franklin’s rise to stardom, the MGM biopic will examine her early life in Detroit, involvement in the civil rights movement and her fight for respect in the music business and beyond, in the Queen of Soul’s own words.

“She’s an artist, she’s a woman, she’s an icon,” says Hudson. “But the biggest impact on her was the people in her life.”

Franklin’s son gave the film a positive review

Kecalf Franklin was able to screen the film prior to its impending release, since a private screening took place for the filmmakers to consider the family’s opinion. Kecalf called Hudson’s performance as his mother “phenomenal.” The youngest son of the late singer, he had nothing but positive things to say about the film based on his mother.

“We had a wonderful time watching the film,” he said. “Jennifer Hudson did a phenomenal job as well as the rest of the cast. We truly thank you all for providing your GOD-given talents to depict our mother/grandmothers’ life story.”

By: Samantha Evans

Instagram:sammerz149

 

 

Categories
FM Feline FM News

Please RESPECT the Franklin Family’s Wishes

The family of Aretha Franklin participated in a protest on 3/13/21 using ‘#justiceforthequeen’ as a call to action for fans. The demonstration is in response to National Geographic’s anthology series ‘Genius: Aretha’, which will premiere on March 21. The series stars British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo as The Queen of Soul. Erivo is no stranger to controversy surrounding her portrayal of African-Americans; as she experienced backlash when she portrayed Freedom Fighter; Harriet Tubman in 2019. Victorie Franklin, the late songstress’ granddaughter, shared via Instagram that she and her family would protest the series because they didn’t’ “believe it would be an honest depiction of who my grandmother was”.

According to the family, National Geographic did not include them when it came to producing the series. The family alleges they reached out to Genius on multiple occasions and in turn have been disrespected. With this protest, the family is asking that the public not support the series.

Franklin’s youngest son, Kecalf, claims; “This series was pushed through without our consent”. He also stated via Instagram; “This post does not reflect our feelings toward any of the actors/actresses as we know they are just doing their jobs.” Suzan-Lori Parks; showrunner of ‘Genius: Aretha’ responded; “We worked with many people who knew Ms. Franklin — from Clive Davis to representatives of her family’s estate”, which seemingly confirming accusations from the Franklin family. While it’s possible to create a series based on a public figure with contributions from colleagues and friends, it seems particularly tone-deaf to do so. Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul. Without the input of the immediate family, the series will lack just that; the soul of the Queen. Will you watch the ‘Genius: Aretha’ series? Will you stand with the family in boycotting?

Written by: T.Nicole

tnicolewrites