Christine Anu.
Camera IconChristine Anu. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Christine Anu to press Rewind with The Aretha Franklin Songbook

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

CHRISTINE Anu will never forget her earliest memory of Aretha Franklin where she was telling her husband to Think in The Blues Brothers movie.

“I’d never seen sass represented by a woman who looked like my family, my community,” Anu said.

“It was a very powerful and strong moment.

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“Aretha just sounded like her gospel roots and was true to herself no matter what she sang because evidently, over her career, she sang anything and everything she could put her hands on.

“The consistency of her vocal style, her range and her absolutely magnificent vocal ability just stuck out above the rest.”

She was throwing ideas around for a concept show in 2012 before deciding on Aretha Franklin.

Christine Anu.
Camera IconChristine Anu. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

“It’s not a tribute show but the songs of Aretha, hence the title Rewind – The Aretha Franklin Songbook,” Anu said.

“I just wanted to feel what it felt like to sing Aretha Franklin songs to an audience who are massive fans.”

Anu stopped performing the show out of respect when Franklin died last year, but is honouring the anniversary of her passing with a tour including Freo.Social on September 7.

The show will feature Franklin’s big Atlantic Records hits such as Think, Respect and Chains of Fools, a few songs from her Columbia Records years and some of Anu’s own songs as well.

“There are so many songs Aretha became famous for but what I really wanted to do is sprinkle her early years in there as well,” Anu said.

“It will be a big night all up.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: REWIND – The Aretha Franklin Songbook

Where: Freo. Social

When: September 7

Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au

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