Aretha Franklin passed away today at the age of 76 in her home town of Detroit. After being admitted to hospice care this week, fans in New York City paid homage to the Queen of Soul by putting up signage and stickers in the Franklin St. subway station in the Tribeca neighborhood.
Gothamist posted pictures of the Franklin St. subway station, where fans put a sign that said “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” referencing one of Franklin’s biggest hits.
On the stairs leading into the station, there are signs that read “Say a Little Prayer for Aretha,” referencing the song “I Say a Little Prayer,” and “Aretha makes me feel like a natural woman,” referencing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
New York City's Franklin Street Subway stop pays homage to the late Aretha Franklin. pic.twitter.com/khxuWwJCra
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 16, 2018
WBAI mourns the death of Aretha Franklin and so do many New Yorkers… Pictures from Franklin Street train station. #WBAI pic.twitter.com/On0xj5OKdV
— WBAI New York at 99.5 FM, streaming at wbai.org (@WBAI) August 16, 2018
Aretha! Franklin Street station. TriBeCa. NYC. pic.twitter.com/t98hu3KbOy
— Robert J Stevens (@SidArthurNYC) August 15, 2018
New Yorkers have done things like this in the past when celebrities have died, like when they turned the Prince Street Station into a memorial for Prince, and the David Bowery installation.
While this was done in a DIY way before Franklin’s passing, it’d be interesting to see what the city decides to do with the signage. After creating tributes to other musical icons, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the city allows the signs to stay or possibly even puts up some of their own.
