Did Chaka Khan tape lyrics to her fan for performance at Aretha Franklin's funeral?
Chaka Khan might not use her fan just to keep cool under pressure.
The singer performed gospel classic “Goin’ Up Yonder” at Aretha Franklin’s funeral in Detroit on Friday, and she kept a big blue folding fan within sight the entire time. In fact, while she was singing, a few eagle-eyed viewers caught her looking at the back of her fan as if she were reading from it. Her frequent and obvious glances at the fan have led some to believe she had the lyrics to the song on the back of it.
People are speculating about the fan’s purpose on social media.
Chaka Khan got the lyrics in the back of her fan!!!!!!! Lmaoooo
— Sazón Goya Lomacang (@Jaylittlelisa) August 31, 2018
I’m sooooooooooo tickled by Chaka Khan reading her lyrics on this fan! But she’s in GREAT voice today! Doing her good singing! #AreathaHomegoing #ChakaKhan
— Jawn Murray (@JawnMurray) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan has the lyrics taped to the fan… #ArethaHomegoing
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan thinks she's slick…we see those lyrics behind that huge fan! #ArethaHomegoing #ArethaFranklinHomegoing #ArethaFranklinFuneral
— Candace (@General_Candace) August 31, 2018
I see you reading the lyrics Ms Chaka Khan #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/65bdCWSEth
— Jerri Peal (@jerri_peal) August 31, 2018
LMFAAAAOO no chaka khan did not have the lyrics behind that fan!
— fvmous. (@tahjaay) August 31, 2018
#ArethaHomegoing Chaka Khan with the lyrics to Going up to Yonder taped to the back of her fan. She should of picked a song she already knew. pic.twitter.com/trd0ppgIYP
— Michelle Langston (@chellelang44) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan got the lyrics on her fan #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/ooc1jla6u2
— Jewel (@jewelchristi_) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan has the lyrics taped to the back of her fan at #ArethaHomegoing. I absolutely cannot. pic.twitter.com/oALMRuEaN1
— omri (@Omri_Rawrlan) August 31, 2018
Did Chaka Khan just read the lyrics from the back of her fan #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/otKMAOEErs
— Tyquana (@TyChantelle) August 31, 2018
While Twitter users think the icon looked obvious and unprepared, others are commending her for the clever idea (if she did have ulterior motives with her statement accessory).
Chaka Khan with the lyrics in her fan lol genius! #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/YxufgVaz9u
— David Lamar (@ImDavidLamar) August 31, 2018
Y'all Chaka Khan has a lyrics sheet in her fan and I respect that #ArethaHomegoing
— Toya L (@ToyaLark) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan has the lyrics on a fan. She is an ageless genius.
— Maggie Hendricks (@maggiehendricks) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan I peep the lyrics on the inside of your fan but I ain’t mad at ya!!
#ArethaHomegoing #chakakhan pic.twitter.com/iT2z7pKA4D— Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan with the lyrics on the inside of her fan is divadom and professionalism at it finest. #ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/5iI89XyRBK
— ejk (@kesseje) August 31, 2018
Some don’t understand how people are talking about anything but her performance.
When you gotta a voice like Chaka Khan, you ain't got to know the lyrics. #ArethaFrankinFuneral #ArethaHomegoing
— Afros and Jackson Five Nostrils (@i_noire) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan may have the song lyrics on her fan, though no one can deny that she is absolutely *belting* to the heavens on "Going Up Yonder."
WHEW. #ArethaHomegoing
— Derrick Clifton (@DerrickClifton) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan may be reading the lyrics off of the back of her fan but Lord knows she is SANGING! @ChakaKhan
— NeCe (@nece98) August 31, 2018
I'll take Chaka Khan getting her lyrics off a teleprompter than any of these Autotune wannabes!!
SING FOR YOUR FRIEND!!!#ArethaFranklinHomegoing
— Triple♚Crown♔ByLine♚🥅🏒 (@TCByLine) August 31, 2018
I can’t believe Chaka Khan taped the lyrics to her fan. 🙄 but her voice will always make up for that. 🙌🏽💯 #AreathaHomegoing
— Sarah 💋💄🌹🐝 (@miss_flawless4) August 31, 2018
Lmaooo why Chaka Khan tape the lyrics to her fan though 😂😂😭 She still killed it
— • (@TheVokality) August 31, 2018
Chaka Khan has her lyrics on the back of that fan like she afraid of failing the midterm 😂😂😂 None the less, ICONIC.#ArethaHomegoing pic.twitter.com/6ZrCQadjOF
— Zackery Alexzander Stephens (@ZackeryAStephen) August 31, 2018
Y'all forgot about them lyrics on that fan when Chaka Khan went up 1000 octaves! pic.twitter.com/4GJSJA6F5q
— Danielle Harr (@freespirit74) August 31, 2018
But many have pointed out that viewers should just appreciate that she’s up there at all.
Listeeeennnnnn stop worrying about whether Chaka Khan has the lyrics taped to the fan (she does), be happy that she has been able to make up on that state and she belting out legendary vocals that will still put these contemporaries to shame. #ArethaHomegoing
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 31, 2018
Sure, Chaka Khan had her lyric sheet taped to the back of her fan while she sang.
But that most likely means she's having memory problems, that she's aware of it, & that she still paid tribute anyway.
That has to be humbling. And it requires bravery.#ArethaFranklinHomegoing
— Litsa Dremousis (@LitsaDremousis) August 31, 2018
Mick Jagger is also known 2 forget lyrics & have cue sheets. Memory problems suck because one feels demeaned somehow, & humbled. But as a musician, I don't think bravery is so much the case here 4 Chaka Khan as was pride do be a part of the program! I'd do it too & so would you.
— Dorian Rudnytsky (@JABat49) August 31, 2018
Anything for the Queen of Soul.
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