Out of tune

Madonna has faced criticism for a long tribute speech to Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, that was almost entirely about herself. The pop icon, whose tenuous connection with the soul singer is that they both grew up in Detroit, referred to Franklin as a “queen” who “changed the course” of her life, as she recalled singing (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman at an early audition.