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Gospel is the most American music.
Gospel is subversive music, protest music.
At the end of tribulation was rest.
Whatever justice wasnt served in life would be meted out afterward.
Faith defanged the threat of bodily harm and the finality of death.
Eternal life was a cunning last laugh.
The black church is a monument to the participatory, communal experience of gospel music.
Coming back to that well week after week sharpens a naturally gifted singer.
You werent supposed to sing the blues the way you sang the praise songs.
Her voice tapped into a well of ancient pain.
She made every note cry, scream, wail.
Her stately rendition of Nina Simones Young, Gifted, and Black simmers with pride and awe.
The Curtis Mayfield pennedSomething He Can Feelis wispy and breathy, like pangs of lust for a lover.
Her instrument was powerful and expressive enough to make anyones songs her own.
Aretha remained present in pop culture because she worked and changed with the times.
in minute five as the risen dead man walks up out of his grave.
Replaying that song all week felt like offering ambient prayer for Arethas well-being.
If Lazarus walked away from his ending, maybe she could too.
