The Queen Of Soul Had Characters Ready
Aretha Franklin was in quite the impersonating mood back in 1971 when she appeared on The Flip Wilson Show, and the targets at hand were not exactly lightweights: Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Sarah Vaughan, and more.
For today’s Way Back Wednesday, we are revisiting one of those vintage television moments where the talent level is so casual it almost becomes rude. Aretha does not just wink at the voices. She slides into the phrasing, the posture, the timing, and the theatrical little signatures that made each singer recognizable in the first place.
music
Aretha In Full Character Mode
Explore the official source and related picks curated around this story.
Some links may be affiliate links. INYIM may earn from qualifying purchases.
The clip is funny, yes. But it is also quietly wild as a musicianship flex. Aretha gives a comical yet astoundingly precise medley of impressions, and the joke only works because the ear is that sharp. Shade? Maybe. Skill? Absolutely. Thee Queen knew exactly what she was doing.
And yes, this was long before the internet clipped her later “great gowns, beautiful gowns” Taylor Swift moment into pop-culture shade history. In 1971, Aretha was already demonstrating that a read could come with perfect pitch.
The joy of this one is how much ease she brings to it. Aretha can clown, charm, and technically dazzle in the same breath, which is precisely why watching her imitate other singers never feels small. It feels like a master casually opening the toolbox.
Press play below on the 1971 clip and witness Aretha Franklin doing the thing only Aretha could do: make a comedy bit sound like a masterclass.
Watch Aretha Franklin Impersonate Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Sarah Vaughan & More
Press play on the 1971 Flip Wilson Show clip featuring Aretha Franklin’s medley of singer impressions.
Source: Black Music Archive LIVE! YouTube / The Flip Wilson Show.
