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Aretha Franklin – My Funny Valentine


This is a short clip of Aretha as she remembers her start at Columbia Records where she auditioned for record producer John Hammond. Here she sings and accompanies herself on the piano just like her initial audition back in 1960.

25 Responses to “ Aretha Franklin – My Funny Valentine ”

  1. megadethly Says:

    I respect Aretha as the greatest due to her accomplishments and influence in soul music, but Chaka is easily the more convincing jazz singer, it’s kinda her thing. It’s how she got into music. She’s worked with Miles Davis, Chick Korea etc and she can scat better than Aretha.

    Step back from your devotion to Aretha for a second, don’t be a fool and think that she is better at jaz than Chaka. And don’t give me crap about if she WANTED to sing funk or pop she would have been better than Chaka.


  2. The90slady Says:

    I can’t believe the Aretha vs. Chaka comments. They’re both great artists. However, I believe between the two, Chaka did it better. Aretha sounds, I don’t know, country, singing this song. However, Rachelle Farrell and Anita Baker did it best in my opinion.


  3. jaye501 Says:

    the best rendition of this my funny valentine is done by terrence tc carter….


  4. ohioplayer Says:

    why are you all arguing over my 2 favorite female vocalists?…I’ll settle it…IT’S A TIE!…seriously though, I absolutely love both ladies, as does the world….ps..Aretha’s probably the better singer, because I’ve never heard her hit a flat or bad note…but I can’t say the same about Chaka…But I’d marry Chaka tonight if I could…lol..Chaka’s a beast in the studio with vocal arranging, she helped Steve Winwood get a grammy..


  5. johnathandoe Says:

    Aretha always does things her own way. Man, she is just THE best singer. I love her rendition of this song. Love IT!!!!


  6. yaskam Says:

    Great comments! Sure, Aretha is unique like Billie, Ella, Sarah, Dina, Mahalia and Bessie.


  7. cleotube Says:

    LOL. This is a funny fight, kinda dumb too. Chaka, by a slim but real margin is my favorite singer. While I also love Aretha who IS the well deserved Queen of Soul, I don’t compare them. Aretha’s career & ingenious contribution to music is unparalleled. She is part of the musical architecture of the great Chaka Khan. I think Chaka is my fave because I love funk, & NO one is funkier. Chaka is the best of her era, bar none. But Aretha is like Mt. Rushmore. Chaka is a huge stone in that edifice.


  8. TheQueenAretha Says:

    Aretha is more succesful than Chaka overall. So what is your point. And Aretha has done jazz pieces that overshadoew Chaka’s. Mummble for one of them. Plus her whole Columbia jazz material is better.


  9. cmelmoneyman Says:

    not saying i like pop but if aretha was gud at it she would hav done it better than chaka did in the 80s and she didnt. again aretha has not won a grammy for a jazz piece and she never has arranged one to come close to chakas.


  10. TheQueenAretha Says:

    First of all anyone can sing pop. it’s not that hard. But Chaka can’t not sing it better than Aretha. Aretha was sing pop and Jazz way before Chaka and has displayed her talents in it.


  11. cmelmoneyman Says:

    well aretha has never won a grammy for her jazz pieces n chaka could easily beat aretha in pop jus compare their work in the 80s. and by hip hop i meant when a rnb singer is singing on the same track w/a rapper [hip hop soul] chaka was the 1sr to do that. chaka is great at rock 2, people hav always said she was the perfect cross between aretha n tina. i wont even get started w/country


  12. TheQueenAretha Says:

    None of Chaka’s jazz song and hold a finger to any of Aretha’s Columbia material. Nor in pop. And why in the world would Aretha sing trash like Hip Hop and glad she doesn’t sing rock. Chaka should be compared to Aretha at all they are nothing alike. Aretha hold royality in all genres.


  13. cmelmoneyman Says:

    and aretha is not better in every genre than chaka. aretha was great @ soul gospel n blues,but chaka beats aretha everyday when it comes 2 jazz rnb pop funk dance hip hop rock etc. thts y music reviewers hav always called chaka the more brassy n conteporary version of aretha.


  14. cmelmoneyman Says:

    maybe bettr than her studio but not bettr than chakas live 1. chaka even won a grammy fo a song called be bop medley, which she arranged herself. its awesome u should check it out.


  15. TheQueenAretha Says:

    You got to be kidding me. No way is Chaka more smarter musically than Aretha. Whether it comes to Jazz, Pop, Soul, Blues, Gospel. You name it Aretha is musically on another level than Chaka. Aretha musical genius is unmatched. And this is only a sample of My Funny Valentine. Aretha did a version of this song last year at Radio City and it is better than Chaka’s version.


  16. cmelmoneyman Says:

    i like chakas n ellas version better. ella is simply the 1st lady and chaka is a bit more smarter musically than aretha when it comes to jazz


  17. TheQueenAretha Says:

    Aretha can sing anything.


  18. maxmillion99 Says:

    I concur. I don’t think Aretha’s voice is very well suited to this wonderful old standard, even tho I do love many of her other songs. I – probably like you – am searching youtube for various versions of this wonderful song, but I still think Ella Fitzgerald’s one is the best there ever was. Even Bing Crosby once said, “Man, woman or child — Ella Firzgerald is the greatest.”


  19. kema3 Says:

    yeah right lolllllllllll why did they even comment


  20. ShangoJamal Says:

    and so u took the time to watch this clip becaaaaause?????…


  21. XforeverlongingX Says:

    very irritating tone, I never liked Aretha. I appreciate Sarah Vaughan and the like


  22. johnathandoe Says:

    Her phrasing with hurt a person. So good.


  23. johnathandoe Says:

    Wow Retha. You just melted me.


  24. latrelle2004 Says:

    oh wow – she plays the piano so wonderfully too! awesome


  25. SoulSir Says:

    Uuh, okay thanx 4 the info.


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