Andrew Martone

Andrew Martone

aretha franklin young, gifted black

Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted & Black is a Masterpiece

by
January 24, 2017
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Young, Gifted & Black: The Queen On The Throne 45 years ago Aretha Franklin was at her peak. 3 major events mark this era: First, her show stopping 1971 performances at the Fillmore West in San Francisco helped expose her to a brand new audience. Second, her game-changing 1972 gospel album Amazing Grace redefined the gospel genre, and helped bring
...ready for it?

Single Review: Taylor Swift “…Ready For It?”

September 5, 2017
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Strike One: “Look What You Made Me Do” Strike Two: “…Ready For It?” Why is Taylor Swift rapping and who told her the white-girl rapping route was a wise move in 2017? This isn’t looking good. First there was the strange, vindictive, “I’m So Sexy”-sampling first single “Look What You
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The Emancipation of… Mimi’s Extras

April 12, 2017
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When Mariah Carey released The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005, the album received critical acclaim. It went on to become the best selling album of 2005 in the US, and won Mariah 3 Grammy Awards. The album’s original 14 tracks are nearly flawless. However, there are 3 other tracks that
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Playlist: The Best of Celine Dion… and Beyond!

March 30, 2017
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Another day, another Aries birthday! As if the last week hasn’t been exciting enough with the birthdays of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey, Aries season has just begun! Today we celebrate the birthday of another Aries, Celine Dion! In celebrating the Canadian powerhouse’s birthday, we’ve compiled a list
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aretha franklin

Playlist: Aretha Franklin’s Deep Cuts

March 25, 2017
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Aretha Franklin: The Queen Turns 75 In celebration of Aretha Franklin’s 75th birthday, I dug into her catalog for some deep cuts. Everyone knows “Respect“, “Think”, and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, but what about the songs that didn’t receive single treatment/attention? Let me take you back… Digesting Aretha
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Top 5: Melanie Fiona’s “The MF Life”

March 20, 2017
From the moment I heard Melanie Fiona’s Zombies-sampling debut single “Give It To Me Right“, I became hooked. Between the impeccable sample use of “Time Of The Season” and her incredible voice which combines Brandy’s timbre with the soulfulness of a young Aretha Franklin, she mesmerized me. Then I heard her follow-up
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ABOUT THE 97

THE 97 is a music and culture magazine that curates deeply researched retrospectives, reviews, and original commentary on iconic artists, albums, and moments in music. Blending reflective nostalgia with a fresh perspective, we offer readers a way to “relive the splendor” of music’s most memorable moments and enduring legacies.

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