Aretha’s songs are a handbook of how women deal with love

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin performs at The Fox Theatre on March 5, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Courtesy)

Anyone who claims to know music must know Aretha Franklin, her music and most of all her voice - one of nature’s finest creations. I feel a certain sense of sadness following her demise, so today I want to pen a few lines in honour of her life and her music.

I grew up in the era of cassettes and later CDs, which meant we often heard the musician before we actually saw them perform live. So, many of us had heard Aretha sing R-E-S-P-E-CT, and we knew all the lyrics but we had never watched any of her performances. I must say the first time I saw her on TV, I was disappointed for I had hoped for more.