‘Ain’t No Way’ to forget her

You would think that with the vast number of songs in the Aretha Franklin catalogue that it would be hard for a fan, a true fan, to have a single favorite. But the answer to that question has always been as easy to me as “What's your name,” or “Where were you born.” Favorite Aretha song? “Ain't No Way.” The classic is as raw, simple and vulnerable as it gets, with lyrics as truthful as the lines in an old man's face.

“It ain't no way for me to love you, if you won't let me,” the songbird sang. “Stop trying to be someone you're not. Hard, cold and cruel is a man who paid too much for what he got. And if you need me to love you, say you do. Oh then, baby, don't you know that I need you.”

(Cue Cissy Houston on the high note.)

Aretha Franklin was the absolute truth with a voice as powerful as thunder, and a faith as strong as the cornerstone rock.

Whether she was “Climbing Higher Mountains” with the Rev. James Cleveland, or filling in for Luciano Pavarotti at a moment's notice at the Grammys to sing “Nessun dorma,” Franklin showed the world time and time again that she was more than just the Queen of Soul.

Aretha could sing a lunch menu or a list of ingredients on a can of processed food and make it sound like something special. She had hits in soul, pop, R&B and gospel, but I was always a fan of her bluesy tunes, the B-side songs, if you can remember back that far.

While all the collections will include “Chain of Fools,” “Respect,” “Do Right Woman” and “Dr. Feelgood,” my playlist includes lesser known hits like “I Wonder,” “Going Down Slow,” and “Never Let Me Go.”

I'm kind of traditional with my musical tastes. I tend not to like it when artists remake a song.

But Aretha was the exception. Only Aretha Franklin could take a Stevie Wonder song — a Stevie Wonder song — and make it better. (“Until You Come Back to Me”).

And what about Otis Redding? Otis Redding made “Respect.”

But after Aretha Franklin did it over, even he had to bow down to the Queen.

After a days-long death watch, the news finally came that Aretha's magical musical journey was over.

In my denial, I wanted her to hook up with George Benson one more time and just “Love All the Hurt Away.” Aretha? Gone? Ain't No Way.