Aretha Franklin

Rolling Stonejust declared Aretha Franklin's I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You the most essential rock album by a female performer. Duh! Is there any doubt that Aretha is the most dominant female pop singer of the 20th century? Do we honestly have to draw up a damn list to make sure everyone knows this? Do we have to sound off the dozens and dozens of black and white songbirds who try and fail to sound just like her? Why can't people just shut up and accept this? No more lists. No more charts. No more countdowns. Just admit it: Aretha Franklin isn't just an influential performer, she is the muthagrabbin' first and last word in pop music divadom! Please acknowledge this -- don't make us bring up the R-word!