Aretha (song)

"Aretha" is a song by British singer-songwriter Rumer. Produced by award-winning UK TV and musical composer Steve Brown, it is the second single to be released from her debut album Seasons of My Soul.[1] A music video was made for the song and was added to YouTube on 6 October 2010.[2] The song has been added to the BBC Radio 2 A-List.[3]

"Aretha"
Single by Rumer
from the album Seasons of My Soul
Released25 October 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:22
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Rumer singles chronology
"Slow"
(2010)		 "Aretha"
(2010)		 "Am I Forgiven"
(2011)

Background

In an interview with Digital Spy she was asked to describe her single:

"It's a very soulful ballad about a little girl who goes to school listening to Aretha Franklin on her headphones. She's having trouble at school and her mother's suffering from mental illness and she hasn't got anyone to talk to, but Aretha Franklin comes to life and encourages her and speaks to her through her imagination."

She was also asked why she chose Aretha Franklin:

"She's the Queen of Soul! If you're going to write about somebody who embodies the spirit of music itself you go to the top of the list - and there she is! Her voice is probably the closest you get to God. There's an incredible amount of passion and heartbreak in her voice as she's lost a lot of family members. She's just got something in her voice that puts her at the top of the tree and there's no negotiation."[4]

Critical reception

Robert Copsey of Digital Spy described some lines as "unnvervingly honest" sung with Rumer's "smouldering tones".[5]

Track listings
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Aretha"3:15
2."The Warmth of the Sun"3:22
3."Come Saturday Morning"3:16
iTunes EP
No.TitleLength
1."Aretha"3:15
2."The Warmth of the Sun"3:22
3."Come Saturday Morning"3:16
4."Aretha" (Music video)3:17

Chart performance

"Aretha" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 72 on 31 October 2010. It also entered the Dutch Singles Chart at number 47 on 19 March 2011.

Chart (2010-11) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 47
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 72

Release history
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 24 October 2010[8] Digital download Atlantic
25 October 2010[9] CD single

References
  1. Rumer interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 2010
  2. "Rumer - Aretha (New single out now)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. "Radio 2 - Playlist". BBC. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  4. Robert Copsey. "Rumer Interview". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk.
  5. Robert Copsey. "Rumer: 'Aretha'". Digital Spy. digitalspy.co.uk. [Aretha] makes for a soulful gem that sounds as laid-back as it does timeless.
  6. "Rumer – Aretha" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  7. "Rumer: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  8. "Aretha". iTunes.
  9. "Aretha".
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