Krista, the young, female main character of my novel-in-progress, The Flying Girl, sings. She sings jazz, and through music finds a source of empathy and solace, a means to express aspects of herself that are otherwise trapped within, even a way to safely love and be loved. It sustains her, and is in many ways her source of life itself.
She is not alone in this, I know. There are many who through performing express what is in the depths of their souls as fully as she does. But there are few who do it better than Aretha Franklin.
Given this resonance, and since the theme of The Flying Girl is all about becoming a woman in spite of hard obstacles and pain, it seems fitting that I share this YouTube video with you, recorded at the recent Kennedy Center Honors, honoring among others, songwriter Carole King.
The Flying Girl takes place in the late 60s, a time when the music of Carole King filled the air waves and concert venues, and when, in 1967, Aretha Franklin was the first to record and release a single of this Carole King (written with Jerry Goffin) song. Now we are blessed to hear the great lady of soul do it again.
Flying girls soar! And Aretha Franklin, in my view, is one hell of a flying girl, and one hell of a woman. To illustrate this point–and so that you might take flight with her–I will simply share this . . .
