"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | ||||
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Single by Aretha Franklin | ||||
from the album Lady Soul | ||||
B-side | "Baby, Baby, Baby" | |||
Released | September 1967 | |||
Recorded | 1967 | |||
Studio | American Sound Studio, Memphis, Tennessee | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 2:45 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Jerry Wexler | |||
Aretha Franklin singles chronology | ||||
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Lyric video | ||||
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" on YouTube |
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 song by American soul singer Aretha Franklin released as a single by the Atlantic label. The lyrics were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was composed by Carole King. Written for Franklin, the record reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of her signature songs. It made history on the UK Singles Chart a week after her death, finally becoming a hit almost 51 years after it was first released, entering at No. 79. Franklin also included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris in 1968.
King herself recorded the song for her 1971 album Tapestry . The numerous cover versions of the song include recordings by Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion, both of which charted in the same year (1995). At the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, Franklin performed the song to honor award-recipient King. [1] [2] [3]
Written by the partnership of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song was inspired by Atlantic Records co-owner and producer Jerry Wexler. As recounted in his autobiography, Wexler, a student of African-American musical culture, had been mulling over the concept of the "natural man", when he drove by King on the streets of New York. He shouted out to her that he wanted a "natural woman" song for Aretha Franklin's next album. Goffin and King went home and wrote the song that night. [4] In thanks, they granted Wexler a co-writing credit.
Cash Box said that "from the vocal standpoint, the side is unmatched; and in the ork and production departments, excellent work add up to a shattering performance" and that the song builds to "new emotional peaks" from a "shattering" beginning. [5]
In 1999, the 1967 recording of the song by Aretha Franklin on Atlantic Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [6] The version ranked #90 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2021. [7]
Chart (1967) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia | 36 |
Canada RPM | 11 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [8] | 8 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [9] | 2 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 12 |
Chart (1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [10] | 32 |
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [11] | 12 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] | 69 |
UK Singles (OCC) [13] | 79 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI) [14] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [15] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [16] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | |
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Song by Carole King | |
from the album Tapestry | |
Released | 1971 |
Recorded | January 1971 |
Genre | Soft rock |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | Lou Adler |
Audio | |
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" on YouTube |
King recorded "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for her 1971 Tapestry album, a record that became one of the best-selling albums of all time. [17] Her rendition is done in a stripped-down, slower-tempo arrangement as compared to the original, [18] an arrangement that features only King's piano and Charles Larkey's bass. [19] King's vocal makes no attempt to duplicate Franklin's power or style, [19] instead singing in her own more conversational voice. [18]
In a review of Tapestry at the time for Rolling Stone , critic Jon Landau praised the rendering of "Natural Woman" as one of the album's "pleasantest moments" and "an entirely fresh and original interpretation." [19] A retrospective review for AllMusic comments that her recording of it for Tapestry "take[s] on added resonance when delivered in her own warm, compelling voice." [17] Writing for Pitchfork , music journalist Jenn Pelly says that while King's version is not the definitive one, it does "carry the bespoke power of a woman reckoning with her history in song ... Of course King's 'Natural Woman' does not summon the heavens with the same earth-shattering force as the Queen of Soul's version ... But the grasping of King's 'you make me's and the fluttering of her 'feel's are charged with the force of a person attempting to turn herself inside out. In the voice of Aretha, 'Natural Woman' is glory. In the voice of King, it is, like all of Tapestry, an act of pure conviction." [20]
"A Natural Woman" was included in King's concert performances at the time, during which she sought to deflect comparisons the original by suggested that the audience listen to it in the frame of reference of the demo recording for Aretha that it had originally been. [20]
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" | ||||
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Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
from the album New York Undercover soundtrack | ||||
Released | 1995 | |||
Length | 2:56 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | James Mtume | |||
Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" on YouTube |
American singer Mary J. Blige recorded a cover version of "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" for the New York Undercover TV series soundtrack (1995). Her version was produced by James Mtume and it reached number 23 in the United Kingdom and number 95 in the United States. It was later added to the international versions of her 1994 album, My Life . The music video was directed by Brett Ratner.
US Cassette single – UPTCS-55139
US CD single – UPTDS-55139
US 12" single – UPT12 55152
UK Cassette single – MCSC 2108
UK 12" single – MCST 2108
UK CD single – MCSTD 2108
Chart (1995–1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [21] | 36 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [22] | 46 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [23] | 15 |
Scotland (OCC) [24] | 61 |
UK Singles (OCC) [25] | 23 |
UK Dance (OCC) [26] | 7 |
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [27] | 4 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [28] | 95 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [29] | 39 |
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [30] | 40 |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | 1995 |
| ||
United Kingdom | December 4, 1995 | [31] |
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" | |
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Promotional single by Celine Dion | |
from the album Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King | |
Released | October 1995 |
Length | 3:40 |
Label | Atlantic |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | David Foster |
Audio | |
"(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" on YouTube |
Canadian singer Celine Dion recorded a cover version of "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" for the tribute album to Carole King, Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King , which was released on October 31, 1995. [32] Dion's version was produced by David Foster and released as a promotional single in selected countries in October 1995. [33] It entered the Canadian charts, reaching number 47 on Top Singles [34] and number four on Adult Contemporary. [35] In the United States, it peaked at number nine on Radio & Records 's Adult Contemporary chart [36] and number 31 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. [37]
In March 1996, the song was included on the international editions of Dion's next studio album, Falling into You . In 2008, it was featured on the North American edition of her greatest hits album, My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection .
Chart (1995–1996) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [34] | 47 |
Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [35] | 4 |
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [37] | 31 |
US Adult Contemporary ( Radio & Records ) [36] | 9 |
Chart (1995) | Position |
---|---|
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records) [38] | 94 |
Chart (1996) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) [39] | 53 |
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records) [40] | 66 |
On April 14, 1998, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Carole King performed the song during the VH1 Divas concert at the Beacon Theatre, New York. The six vocalists were recruited by the cable music network VH1 to raise money for Save the Music, their education charity. Hyped extensively in the press, the event was a ratings winner for VH1 – so successful, in fact, that the network arranged to have the concert released on disc and tape on October 6, 1998. At that time "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (performed by all the divas) was released as a radio single in selected countries. It reached number nine on the airplay chart in Belgium Wallonia on January 5, 1999. [41]
Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.
Carole King Klein is an American singer-songwriter and musician. One of the most successful songwriters in American history, she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 over the latter half of the 20th century. King also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005.
Lady Soul is the twelfth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin released in early 1968 by Atlantic Records. The album stayed at #1 for sixteen weeks on Billboard's R&B album chart, and it hit number 2 on the pop album chart during a year-long run.
Tapestry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King. Produced by Lou Adler, it was released on February 10, 1971, by Ode Records. The album's lead singles, "It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move", spent five weeks at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts.
"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.
"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J. Blige.
"Spanish Harlem" is a song recorded by Ben E. King in 1960 for Atco Records. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. "Spanish Harlem" was King's first hit away from The Drifters, peaking at number 15 on Billboard's rhythm and blues and number 10 in pop music chart.
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987. The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. Billboard listed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as Franklin's all-time biggest Hot 100 single. The song was Franklin's biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number two. The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden. Franklin and Michael won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
"Respect" is a song written and originally recorded by American soul singer Otis Redding. It was released in 1965 as a single from his third album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul and became a crossover hit for Redding.
"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967. On the R&B Singles chart it peaked at number eight. The following year, it was a top ten hit for Aretha Franklin.
"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later platinum-certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.
VH1 hosted the first annual VH1 Divas concert in 1998. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save The Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts were a follow-up to the channel's annual VH1 Honors benefit concert that ran from 1994 to 1997, airing annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five-year hiatus, the series returned in 2009 with a younger-skewed revamp. In 2010 the concert saluted the troops and in 2011 it celebrated soul music, doubling the previous year's ratings. After a dance music-focused 2012 edition aired live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on December 16, 2012, the show took another hiatus before being revived on December 5, 2016, at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a holiday theme and achieved its highest ratings in over a decade.
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles; released as a single that November, it became the first song by an African-American girl group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has since been recorded by many other artists, including King on her 1971 album Tapestry.
"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" is a song written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder. The song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967, but his version was not released as a single and did not appear on an album until 1977's anthology Looking Back. The best-known version of this song is the 1973 release by Aretha Franklin, who had a million-selling top 10 hit on Billboard charts. The song reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1974. It became an RIAA Gold record.
"I Feel the Earth Move" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Carole King, for her second studio album Tapestry (1971). Additionally, the song is one half of the double A-sided single, the flip side of which was "It's Too Late". Together, both "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late" became among the biggest mainstream pop hits of 1971.
Aretha's Greatest Hits is the third compilation album by American singer Aretha Franklin. Released on September 9, 1971, on Atlantic Records, the compilation contains three new recordings: "Spanish Harlem", "You're All I Need to Get By" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
Aretha In Paris is a live album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released in 1968, by Atlantic Records. The album was recorded in Paris, France, on May 7, 1968. It reached the top 20 of Billboard's album chart. It was reissued on compact disc through Rhino Records in the 1990s.
"Day Dreaming" is a soul single by American singer Aretha Franklin. Released from her album Young, Gifted and Black, it spent two weeks at the top of the Hot Soul Singles chart in April 1972 and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the Easy Listening singles chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 61 song for 1972.
Her Greatest Hits: Songs of Long Ago is the first official compilation album by Carole King. It was released in 1978 and features twelve songs that had previously appeared on her six studio albums for Ode Records released between 1971 and 1976. The album was re-released on CD/Cassette in 1999 with two additional tracks.
30 Greatest Hits is a 1985 Aretha Franklin compilation album. The album chronicles majority of Franklin's hit singles during the Atlantic Records era from 1967 up to 1974. Following Franklin's death, the album entered the top ten of the Billboard 200 albums chart at number seven in the week ending on August 25, 2018, earning 52,000 units, of which 18,000 were traditional sales. It climbed one spot higher the following week, becoming Franklin's highest-peaking compilation album in the United States.