News and Politics | January 21, 2009 | Comment on this video (20)

Aretha Sings "My Country Tis of Thee"

clemwilson
Aretha Franklin sings "My Country Tis of Thee" at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama
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    News and Politics,   On Current TV,   cultural film,   News Current,   2 more
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    News and Politics,  Obama,  Barack Obama,  On Current TV,  5 more
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    clemwilson Producer, clemwilson Editor, Carla Garcia Editor
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20 comments // Aretha Sings "My Country Tis of Thee" // Video

  • CaptB
    • 0
      CaptB  

    • I could not have thought of a more beautiful voice to sing that song. Although, she later stated that she was not proud of her voice related to the cold. I thought she did a wonderful job, because she moved me with her voice and talent.

    • 3 years ago
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • Back in the Jazz age when Fletcher Henderson and many of the oother bands were pperforming nation wide they did in fact make some beautiful music and the white musicians appreciated their conrtribution. Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, The Ink Spots, The Duke. Black music did in fact give us the ST Louis Blues streets of New Orleans. I would have no copmplaints but this singing they do today is to far out. If I hadn't heard the title mentioned I would nver have recognozed it. Ruth Etting introduced that type of singing in the 1930 and when she grew up and heard her voice she was Oh yes Ruth was so sick of that type of singing she tore up her music. It may be way out for young people today but it was a slightly saner world back then.

    • 3 years ago
  • ChloeLu
  • LADIVA
  • consultelaine
  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • i get the symbolism of it . Aretha was a natural choice , and it really didn't matter how she sounded , that wasn't the point . she could have been barking the lyrics . anyhow , she sucked .

    • 3 years ago
  • anniefree
    • 0
      anniefree  

    • Her hat is in the style of a tignon, which was a head wrapping that both free women of color and slave women were once forced to wear in both the southern American states and Caribbean Islands, to differentiate them from the local white women. It was meant to be a form of subjugation, but the black sisters turned them into elaborate and often beautiful head adornments. Find out more at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tignon

    • 3 years ago
  • bishopobispo
  • bishopobispo
    • 0
      bishopobispo  

    • Talk about a cultural makeover for our country. Aretha Franklin singing My Country Tis of Thee = quality.

      Amazing, simply amazing.

      When I watched this on television live, I sang along with Aretha. It was the first time I have sung this song and meant every single word.

      What a beautiful day January 20th was!

    • 3 years ago
  • Ragan
  • Ragan
    • 0
      Ragan  

    • We were singing My Country tis of thee in third grade and i can tell you that we sang it right. Why do people have to mess up history by changing it. The way she sang the song it was almost completely unreconizable. I heard God and religious words and phrases thrown around like it was a Sunday Service. If this is an example of what we have to look forward to in our Secular Government, I bow my head in Shame. I can tell you this so far it is business as usual. The first thing he should do is dismantle the Federal Reserve otherwise we will continue war and war. But I hope they leave our music from the past alone. No wonder todays music is just a loud din.

    • 3 years ago
  • proud1
    • 0
      proud1  
    • Ragan:

      obviously you are tone deaf. You don't know talent when you hear it. Small minded, petty people such as yourself fear change or anything that impacts your perfect illusion of the world. You are not only racist, but you seek to maintain the status quo. You make me sick and you don't matter!!!

    • 3 years ago
  • VitaminStolz
  • LADIVA
    • 0
      LADIVA  
    • VitaminStolz:

      If this country is so secular why do we have "In God We Trust" printed on the back of our currency? Also this is a gospel rendition of the song "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Gospel music is rooted in the African-American tradition. This country was built on the backs of African-American slaves. Also African-Americans are an integral fabric of American music. There would be no American music without black people's influences from which pop, blues, R&B jazz, rock and roll and other art forms stem from. So everything is inter-connected. Learn your history and you'll appreciate these art forms more.

    • 3 years ago
  • imastranger
    • 0
      imastranger  
    • VitaminStolz:

      To Vitamin: You should really research things before typing such aggressive statements. Try looking up the complete lyrics to the song. Samuel Smith wrote the English lyrics (the American version we know) to this originally British anthem. Check out the FOURTH VERSE, and you'll see that's what Franklin had sung after the first verse. Whether you're for the separation of church and state or not, there is no denying that back in the day, there was more emphasis on the church. Also, the American lyrics were written by a MINISTER. Go figure. You can't even blame Aretha either, because I'm sure someone else proposed the song and/or they needed permission from the people who set up the Inauguration. This song has become a patriotic theme, but was originally partially grounded in religion. Maybe this new info will make you think one step more, eh?

    • 3 years ago
  • VeraJo
  • mutedmajority
  • larock
  • bishopobispo
  • HarbingerOfTruth
  • HarbingerOfTruth
  • 4aking1
    • 0
      4aking1  

    • THE QUEEN OF SOUL, AWESOME CHOICE,RIGHT CHOICE. BROUGHT FORTH A SPIRITUAL , HEAVENLY SOUND TO THE WORLD ON SUCH A DAY THAT IS ALREADY A HISTORY BREAK THROUGH. I AM SO VERY GLAD I HEARD ARETHA FRANKLIN, JUST LIKE FINE WINE...SAVORS WITH TIME.

    • 3 years ago
  • rebelution07
  • rebelution07
  • VitaminStolz
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