You know that feeling when a song starts and the piano just hits you right in the chest? That’s "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." It’s one of those tracks that feels like it has always existed, like it was pulled out of the ether rather than written in a room. But if you’re asking who sang Natural Woman, the answer is simultaneously simple and incredibly layered. Most people immediately picture Aretha Franklin, her head tilted back, pouring every ounce of her soul into that microphone. And they’re right. It is her definitive masterpiece.
But the song has a lineage. It’s a hand-off between legends.
Before it was a soul anthem, it was a spark in the mind of Carole King. It’s actually kinda wild how it happened. Jerry Wexler, the legendary producer at Atlantic Records, was driving down a street in New York City and spotted Carole King and her songwriting partner (and then-husband) Gerry Goffin. He rolled down his window and shouted out that he wanted a "natural woman" song for Aretha’s next big record. He basically willed the title into existence. King and Goffin went home, and by the next morning, they had written a classic. That’s just how they worked.
The Aretha Franklin Era: Setting the Standard
When Aretha Franklin stepped into Atlantic Studios in late 1967, she wasn't just another singer covering a pop tune. She was the Queen of Soul reclaiming her throne. While the song was technically written by a duo from the Brill Building scene, Aretha made it sound like she had lived every single lyric. Her version, released on the album Lady Soul, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. But charts don’t really tell the story. The cultural impact was what mattered.
👉 See also: Twisted Metal Season 2 Episode 8: Why the Tournament's Chaos Changes Everything
Honestly, the vocal performance is a masterclass in dynamics. She starts small, almost a whisper, talking about how she felt "uninspired" and "soul to soul... so tired." Then she builds. By the time she hits that chorus, it’s not just a song anymore; it’s a declaration of identity.
One of the most iconic moments in music history happened decades later, in 2015, at the Kennedy Center Honors. Aretha, draped in a massive fur coat, sat down at the piano to honor Carole King. When she hit the high notes, she dropped the coat to the floor and the entire room—including President Barack Obama, who was visibly wiping away tears—just lost it. It proved that even 50 years later, nobody sang it like her.
Carole King’s Intimate Reimagining
For a long time, Carole King stayed behind the scenes. She was the writer, not the star. That changed in 1971 with Tapestry. It’s one of the best-selling albums of all time for a reason. King decided to record her own version of the song she’d given to Aretha.
If Aretha’s version is a cathedral, Carole’s is a cozy living room. It’s stripped back. It’s vulnerable. You can hear the wooden hammers of the piano hitting the strings. It’s less about the vocal gymnastics and more about the songwriter’s weary, honest perspective. It’s fascinating because it changes the meaning of the lyrics. When Aretha sings it, it’s a triumph. When Carole sings it, it sounds like a quiet realization.
You’ve probably heard both versions a thousand times on the radio, but they occupy totally different emotional spaces. It’s rare for a song to have two "definitive" versions, but here we are.
The Covers: From Celine to Mary J. Blige
Because the song is such a vocal powerhouse, everyone wants a crack at it. It’s become a rite of passage for divas.
Mary J. Blige did a version for a New York Undercover soundtrack in the 90s that brought a grit and hip-hop soul flavor to it. Then you have Celine Dion, who performed it during the VH1 Divas Live concert in 1998. Celine being Celine, she went for the rafters. She stood on stage with Aretha, Carole King, Shania Twain, and Gloria Estefan. It was a "who’s who" of vocalists, but even in that crowd, the song belonged to Aretha.
💡 You might also like: Why Cyberpunk Big in Japan is More Than Just a 1980s Retro Aesthetic
- Mary J. Blige: Brought a 90s R&B edge that felt modern and raw.
- Celine Dion: Polished, powerful, and technically perfect.
- Adele: Has covered it live, leaning into the soulful, smoky roots of the original.
- Kelly Clarkson: Frequently performs it during her "Kellyoke" segments, proving its timelessness for modern pop audiences.
Rod Stewart even did a version called "A Natural Man," because why not? It didn't quite have the same cultural weight, obviously, but it shows just how far the song’s reach extended.
Why This Song Is a Technical Nightmare (in a Good Way)
Musically, the song is a bit of a trick. It’s written in 6/8 time, which gives it that swaying, waltz-like feel. But it’s the chord progressions that really elevate it. King used her "gospel-adjacent" piano style—lots of suspended fourths and major seventh chords—that give the song its "lift."
When you’re looking at who sang Natural Woman, you have to look at the backing vocals too. On the original Aretha track, you have The Sweet Inspirations. That group included Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom). Those "oohs" and "aahs" aren't just background noise; they are the foundation. They provide the "call and response" that is so vital to the Black church tradition that Aretha grew up in. Without them, the song would feel empty.
The Cultural Weight of the Lyrics
Gerry Goffin wrote the lyrics, but he was writing from a woman's perspective, which is a bit of a trip when you think about it. He managed to capture a very specific type of gender-affirming joy. In the late 60s, during the height of the feminist movement and the Civil Rights movement, the song took on a political layer.
For Black women in America, being told they were "natural" and "enough" was a radical act. Aretha knew this. She didn't change the lyrics, but her delivery turned a love song into a manifesto.
Beyond the Radio: Where You’ve Seen It
The song is a staple in movies and TV because it provides instant emotional shorthand.
- Murphy Brown famously used it—it was Murphy's favorite song.
- It appeared in Bridget Jones’s Diary, capturing that "singing into a hairbrush" vibe we’ve all had.
- It’s a constant on singing competition shows like American Idol and The Voice, though usually, the judges warn contestants to stay away from it because "you aren't Aretha."
How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
To really understand the genius of who sang Natural Woman, you have to do a side-by-side listen. Start with Aretha’s 1967 mono mix. The mono version has a punch that the stereo versions lack; the drums hit harder, and Aretha’s voice sits right in the front of the mix.
Then, immediately put on Carole King’s Tapestry version. Notice the cracks in her voice. Notice how she lingers on certain words that Aretha breezes through. It’s the difference between seeing a painting in a museum and seeing the artist’s original sketch in a notebook.
Key Takeaways for Music Lovers
If you want to dive deeper into the history of soul and songwriting, this track is the perfect starting point. It represents the bridge between the professional songwriters of New York and the raw soul of the South.
- Study the Songwriting: Look into the Goffin/King catalog. They wrote "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "The Loco-Motion" too. Their range was insane.
- Watch the 2015 Kennedy Center Performance: It is essential viewing. It’s perhaps the greatest live vocal performance of the 21st century.
- Check out the "Divas Live" 1998 Version: It’s a fascinating look at how different vocal styles (Celine vs. Aretha vs. Shania) interact with the same material.
The next time someone asks you about this song, you’ve got the full picture. It’s not just a radio hit. It’s a piece of history that required a perfect storm of a visionary producer, a legendary songwriting duo, and the greatest singer to ever pick up a microphone.
To explore the era further, look into the "Muscle Shoals" sound. Although this specific track was recorded in New York, it utilized the soul sensibilities Aretha developed while working with the players from Alabama. Understanding that connection between Northern pop craft and Southern soul grit is the secret to understanding why 1960s music still dominates our playlists today. Listen to the rest of the Lady Soul album to see how Aretha blended these worlds across a full record.