For this Black History Month, Gaudie Arts reviews True North’s stunning tribute to Aretha Franklin by Mica Paris with Emeli Sandé
By Isabelle Hampton-Zabotti
Aberdeen’s True North Festival is now in its eighth year of running—and it's said to be the most successful year yet. As a collection of over 80 different musicians with a range of sounds and genres, the festival appeals to all types of music lovers. Its headlining piece, an Aretha Franklin tribute performed by Mica Paris with Emeli Sandé and special guests, caught my interest. Therefore, on the 26th of September, I was at Aberdeen’s Music Hall, lining up for this performance with my expectations high—and it exceeded them by miles.
Arriving at 7:00 pm, it took some time to get to my seat. The Music Hall was very nearly full, more so than I'd seen it before, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. Around 45 minutes later, the lights dimmed, the curtains opened and the band and supporting singers were welcomed onto stage with applause. Our first special guest on the stage was Georgia Cécile, Glasgow’s own upcoming soul and jazz singer. She brought life and energy to the room in an orange 70s-style minidress, and the night’s opening song, ‘The House That Jack Built,’ was the perfect tune to get the show started. The powerful vocals required by this song were readily provided by Cécile and her playful energy. She then slowed it down with her next cover, ‘Drowin in my Own Tears.’ With smiles, she bid her farewell until the second half as we all waited for our next guest.
Emeli Sandé then made her way onstage to raucous applause. I’ll admit, I was most excited to see her as her songs were a staple of mine growing up. The singer made waves in 2012 with her album Our Version of Events, which made no.1 on charts in the UK and won her Critics' Choice Award, British Female Solo Artist, and British Album of the Year by British Choice Awards. Winning numerous other accolades and awards, Emeli Sandé’s debut was nothing short of groundbreaking, and she’s been in and out of the British music scene since as a consistent chart-topper. The pride felt in the audience seeing their own Aberdeenshire-born star was palpable. Raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Sandé was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed home. Sandé had also recently come out to the public as of March 2022, and her confidence on stage may be due to the self-assuredness that comes when someone fully embraces themselves and their identity. In a blazer and leopard print jumpsuit, Emeli looked fantastic and confident as she sang ‘Until You Come Back to Me,’ defining it as her own with her signature strong but delicate vocals. After Emeli’s strong performance, I assume that many people were thinking, ‘How can it get better than this?’
While I came to the show as Emeli Sandé’s fan, I left with only one impression: Mica Paris is a force unto herself. Aged 53 (but looks much younger) she was nothing short of fabulous in a black blazer, black gloves and knee-high boots. Her first song was ‘Say a Little Prayer’, and, being one of Aretha Franklin’s most famous songs, it was an instant crowd pleaser. ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ was slower but also well received. However, her rendition of ‘A Change is Gone Come’ is what had me sold: powerful yet touching, Mica Paris knew how to really pinpoint the finer emotions Franklin had invoked when she was alive. Mid-song she told the crowd, ‘we’ve been saying this for 60 years, which rang painfully true—but pain was not the point of the evening. In fact, for Paris, it was a celebration. She had recently become a grandmother and, speaking to the crowd, wanted to dedicate one of her own songs, ‘Mama Said Don’t Worry’,’ to the mothers and the grandmothers in the audience. To the majority older audience, this was a touching acknowledgement. While it brought a different vibe from the tribute, it was a welcome interlude. Returning back to Aretha Franklin, though, Mica Paris’ cover of ‘Freedom’ had us on our feet dancing along. At this point it should be said that the band and background singers were top-class—challenging songs were played with ease without breaks, and the brass was a fitting pair to Paris’ expansive voice. The drummer in particular was incredibly talented, as well as the supporting singers who matched well with each act and harmonised beautifully. While big names were on and off the stage, it was clear that talent did not only come with fame.
After the intermission, we were welcomed back with Georgia Cecilé covering ‘You Can’t Take Me For Granted’. Then we had Sandé, who sang one of her own hit songs, ‘Next to Me’ which received resounding applause. In a small speech, she told us that, ‘it's so amazing to be home’, and credited Aberdeen as the beginning of her musical journey. She then finished with ‘Clown’, another one of her well-known songs. Mica Paris then returned to stage for the final time, beginning with the showstopper that is Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’. I cannot understate her ability to bring the crowd into the show, even to the extent of calling out a less active section of the audience. Her years of experience have clearly given her confidence in getting the crowd to be part of the show, and it truly made a huge difference to the experience. She interacted with the band and singers which gave the performance a huge breath of life. Her next rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ was also fantastic, and paid a beautiful homage to Franklin’s gospel singer roots. Likewise, no Aretha Franklin tribute could be complete without ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ the 1967 song that has been immortalised in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Mica Paris did not emulate Franklin but made it clear that, while this is Franklin’s song, she sings it with her own personality and style. By this point I was sold as a life-long fan.
In the final song of the night, we had Georgia, Emeli and Mica join together on stage for ‘Oh Happy Day’. It was amazing to see these British singers of different ages, backgrounds, and walks of life unite over something as simple and beautiful as music. Mica Paris could not speak more highly of Georgia Cecilé, and Emeli Sande (who sat a few rows ahead of me during her time off-stage) rose on numerous occasions for an ovation of Paris. Their love and respect for each other and their craft was heartwarming, and a far cry from the image of competition between women that we are made to believe the industry represents.
As we celebrate Black History Month this October, it is unbelievably important to take each win, each moment of joy, each opportunity to celebrate. We can so easily be consumed by the constant barrage of news that reminds us that black people and black voices still struggle every day for equality that is rightfully deserved. It can therefore be hard, nearly impossible sometimes, to say, ‘Look how far we have come.’ But we must if we are to have the strength to carry forward. In her time, Aretha told us, ‘We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right’, and in 2022, we must continue to push for the respect deserved. Aretha, however, was climbing a far steeper hill and, likewise, Mica Paris broke numerous glass ceilings in her rise to fame. By remembering these women, we will have the strength and the path laid for us to push for new heights and a better future.
