Aretha Franklin: Keyword "Intervention"

Subject: Keyword: Aretha Franklin
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 00:20:42 -0700
From: reynos
To: soul-patrol

Subject: Aretha Franklin

Key word: Intervention.

Think about it. Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, David Ruffin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, Diana Sands, Florence Ballard, Phyllis Hyman and so many, many and even more phenomenally talented people who could not deal with their physical and emotional demons. Now, let's get back to Aretha.
She is, unquestionably, the "Queen of Soul!" Unfortunately, I had the weird coincidence to rather casually watch Aretha's "Pink Cadillac" music video about an hour after watching the VH-1 "Divas Concert". Then, today, I re-listened to Aretha's 4 CD box set "Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul - The Atlantic Recordings". Wow! Aretha has such uncompromising brilliance! She is a treasure.

Key word: Intervention!

Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, Suzanne Somers, Gladys Knight, James Brown and so many, many and even more phenomenally talented people who - through intervening friends, family and others - were able to successfully deal with their physical and emotional demons. Now, let's get back to Aretha.
Perhaps, Aretha has a medical condition (glands, etc.) that accelerated her increase in weight. Perhaps, Aretha has mental challenges that are compromising her health and creating the increase in weight. Perhaps, Aretha just doesn't give a damn anymore about how she looks or, more importantly, how she feels about herself and, understandably, to hell with her fans. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...it's this or that or whatever. I don't know and, after all, Aretha's health is her own personal business. However, as a "public figure" Ms. Franklin is subject to public commentary, which brings me to the following conclusion, based entirely on the reality of the current status of Black health and mortality [and it is NOT a pretty picture!]. Aretha Franklin was born March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee and recently became sixty-one (61) years of age. In the absence of any self-generated or outside-generated intervention, unfortunately, we shouldn't count on Aretha turning seventy. Regretfully, "Diva's Live" may have been Aretha's swan song performance. Now, if you don't like my conclusion...

Key word: Intervention!

Would someone, someone with access to and influence with Aretha Franklin, please, please help the Queen of Soul? Please?