A Rose Is Still a Rose (song)
"A Rose Is Still a Rose" is a song recorded by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written and produced by singer Lauryn Hill for Franklin's album of the same name (1998). The song focused on a motherly figure giving advice to a younger woman who keeps getting into bad relationships. Throughout "A Rose Is Still a Rose", Franklin advises that in spite of everything and despite the woman's "scorned roses and thorn crowns," the woman is "still a rose". Elements of the song "What I Am" by Edie Brickell and  the New Bohemians were sung throughout the song by Hill herself. Released as the album's lead single in 1998, the song became a surprise hit for Franklin, 40-plus years into her career, reaching number 26 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and number-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while also reaching the UK top 40. "A Rose Is Still a Rose" remains one of Franklin's most played songs from her later years and was her last top 40 hit. The single received nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at  the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. Critical reception. Larry Flick from "Billboard" described the song as "a sleek, jeep-styled cruiser that matches her with Lauryn Hill of the Fugees," noting that "it's an absolutely electric union that results in Franklin's strongest, most instantly pop-viable single in eons. Hills dresses the track in fashionable shuffle-funk beats, a snaky bassline, and jiggly wah-wah guitars, leaving the legendary singer plenty of room to flex and vamp to maximum effect." He also added that "kids will dig the contemporary vibe of the track (and, it is hoped, use this  single as a springboard into a deeper exploration of Franklin's plush catalog), while more mature listeners will bond with the sage, almost motherly tone of the lyrics. A li'l something for everyone." Jeremy Helligar from "Entertainment Weekly" said that "A Rose Is Still a Rose" "doesn't match the soulful finesse of "Spanish Harlem", but when Lady Soul sings about a rose, something divine happens." He added, "Even after a dozen listens, the song's it's-his-problem-not-yours message doesn't lose its bloom." After the passing of Franklin in 2018, Alexis Petridis from "The Guardian" wrote , "The late 90s attempt to give Franklin a hip-hop/neo soul-influenced makeover didn’t really work, except on the album’s Lauryn Hill-penned title track. The beat and the lyrical references to “flossin’” are contemporary, but the singer sounds unfazed, delivering a coolly controlled performance." A reviewer from "People Magazine" picked it as "the best" song of the album. Music video. An accompanying music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Lauryn Hill and designed by Ron Norsworthy. It features Franklin, Hill and other female R&B singers such as Faith Evans, Changing Faces, Amel Larrieux  and actress Elise Neal as protagonists along with A Tribe Called Quest rapper, Q-Tip. Track listings. U.S. CD single U.S. promo single U.S. maxi single UK CD 1 UK CD 2 Hip Hop Mixes promo CD single Hip Hop Mixes promo 12" single The Remixes" (2x12" vinyls) Credits and personnel. Credits adapted from the liner notes of "A Rose Is Still a Rose".