Sublime

These seven psalms are among the fifteen chapters known as the Songs of Ascent.

Al Green, Parliament, the Meters, the Isley Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone, Labelle, and Stevie Wonder.

A quintessential song of female empowerment, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. King—and then, of course, Aretha Franklin—sang it. I was surprised to learn that Goffin wrote the lyrics and King the music.

The word Jeshurun that appears three times in this song is a reference to the Israelites. It means “upright ones,” and it’s used ironically here, since they aren’t upright.