TORONTO - She didn't perform her signature song but I still have nothing but the utmost Respect for Aretha Franklin.
The Queen Of Soul pulled into Roy Thomson Hall on Friday night for a sold-out show, and while her massive 21-piece band and conductor vamped the opening of Respect as she left and returned the stage for a 15-minute break during her 90-minute set, she never actually sang the song that most people in the audience probably wanted to hear.
Why? We may never know.
Because clearly the 67-year-old soul legend can still let it rip vocally as she proved song after song despite that apparently necessary break.
In fact, the evening's highlight turned out to be a electrifying, transporting cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water which featured Franklin at the piano and the song turning into a religious experience.
As she herself said about singing at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary concert last weekend: "I got the spirit."
It was like being at church, just listening to her and the song's dramatic, explosive arrangement.
One of the best parts about her getting to the piano, was when she sat down and immediately proclaimed: "Oooooooh. This seat is hot! Now I know what James Brown was talking about - hot pants!"
Jokes aside, it was evident there was still something quite deep and profound stirring in Franklin as she opened the show with a cover of (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher.
"What a pleasure to be back in Toronto," said the Queen.
Appearing glamorously, as only she can, in pale orange chiffon gown, matching pale orange tafetta overcoat with mink cuffs, and a long string of pearls, Franklin was the very picture of old-school soul.
Even her purse, a slouchy, zebra-print bag, placed under her piano where it was later retrieved by one of her handlers, was a major fashion statement.
Of the songs themselves, it was the funky soul classics like Baby I Love You, Chain Of Fools - everyone actually jumped to their feet for this one - and Think that really set the place on fire while Franklin slowly minced around the stage or raised one arm in the air to accentuate a note.
"You ladies know what I'm talking about," said Franklin after performing Think.
Also good was the Stevie Wonder penned, Until You Come Back To Me, That's What I'm Going To Do; the dramatic ballad, As If We Never Said Goodbye, adding a shout-out to U.S. President Barack Obama with "Mr. President, you're teaching the world a new way to dream;" and the swing of Mack The Knife.
"I'll remember your faces and your kind applause as I go home tonight," she said softly as the show neared its end.
In case you're wondering what happened when Franklin took her break, her magnificent band played on with virtually all of her players - including son Teddy on electric guitar- taking turns at solos until the Queen returned.
By the time she took her formal bows and received roses from one fan in the front row and another in one of the balcony, there was no question she had successfully maintained her crown.
All hail Aretha!
