It'll Sneak Up on You

I had tickets to see Aretha Franklin for about two months. A friend from work gave them to me, and I accepted, thinking it's important to see the greats when you can.  I didn't give it more thought than that.

But when I sat down last night, and she came on stage as diva-esque as you would image the Queen of Soul to be, singing songs like Chain of Fools, Dr. Feelgood, If You Want My Lovin', and of course Respect, I choked up with emotions. I hadn't reckoned on that, but hearing these songs and that voice live, I was immediately transported back to New York City in the early 1990s when I was at Columbia. 

At that time, I had a tape of her greatest hits, and I used to run down the Hudson River starting up at Grant's Tomb with that blaring in my Walkman. Last night's music instantly brought back those runs with the river gleaming next to me. I'd watch people tending the flower gardens along the path and kids playing in the fountains and wonder about the people living on the houseboats.  This was my happy time between classes and interviews and wondering why I had gone to business school.  I used these runs as an escape - from school, from boyfriends, and the city - and to clear my head.  So many of Aretha's songs are about female power and sex, both of which I was still sorting out at that age.  I knew every word of every song and agreed with every one.

We all grow up, though, and even Aretha had since those greatest hits songs.  Last night she included a passage from La Boheme, some Hayden (played expertly on the piano by her as she sang to it) and songs more familiar to other greats.  (Her rendition of Memories was a show-stopper, believe it or not, and I hate that song.)

Music has that power - the power to sneak up on you and smother you with emotions - and I forgot it. Thanks to Aretha for reminding me of that and of bringing back some of the sweetest memories I have of my time in New York.