Respect - 2018 Mono Remaster

Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is a transformative anthem of empowerment, whose meaning transcends its lyrical origins. Initially written and recorded by Otis Redding in 1965, his version tells the story of a working man who demands respect from his wife when he comes home with his earnings. Franklin's 1967 rendition fundamentally alters this narrative. By flipping the gender perspective, she transforms the song from a man's plea into a powerful woman's demand for dignity and equality. It's no longer about a man expecting deference, but a self-assured, financially independent woman defining the terms of her relationship.

On its surface, the song is a dialogue about a personal relationship, demanding recognition and fair treatment from a partner. However, its significance exploded into the public consciousness, where it was adopted as a battle cry for wider social movements. Released during the height of the civil rights and burgeoning feminist movements in 1967, "Respect" became an anthem for both. For women, it was a declaration of independence and a rejection of patriarchal norms. For African Americans, it was a powerful call for the basic human dignity and civil rights they were fighting for. Franklin herself acknowledged this dual significance, stating, "It reflected the need of a nation... everyone wanted respect. It was also one of the battle cries of the civil rights movement."

The song is a powerful and direct address from a woman to her partner. She begins by stating that she has everything he could possibly want or need. Her one and only demand is simple: she requires a small measure of respect when he returns home. This isn't a suggestion, but a fundamental condition of their relationship. The repetition of "just a little bit" underscores the basic, non-negotiable nature of her request, a plea that grows into a firm expectation as the song progresses.

She offers a promise of fidelity, assuring him that she won't do him wrong while he's away, not because she's obligated, but because she genuinely doesn't want to. Her loyalty is a choice, and in return, she expects the same fundamental decency. The core of her argument is reciprocity. She's about to give him all of her money, a significant gesture of commitment and support. In exchange for this financial and emotional investment, she demands her "propers"—her due respect and recognition—the moment he walks through the door.

The energy of the song builds into a triumphant, instructional crescendo. She exclaims that her kisses are sweeter than honey, and so is her money, implying her value is total, encompassing both affection and financial independence. This leads to the iconic spelling out of "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," a moment that transforms the song from a personal plea into a universal anthem. It's a lesson, a chanted declaration of what respect means to her. She follows this by demanding he "Take Care of TCB" (Takin' Care of Business), an instruction for him to handle his responsibilities, implying that part of his business is giving her the respect she deserves. The song concludes with the famous "sock it to me" refrain, a vibrant, energetic, and assertive demand for attention and acknowledgement, repeated with increasing fervor. It’s a final, joyful, and unshakable command for recognition, not as a subordinate, but as an equal and powerful partner.

The history of "Respect" begins with Otis Redding, who wrote and first recorded the song in 1965 for his album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. Redding's version, a solid R&B hit, was framed from the perspective of a man demanding respect from his partner when he comes home from work.

In 1967, Aretha Franklin, then 24 and newly signed to Atlantic Records, decided to cover the song. Producer Jerry Wexler brought the song to her attention, though Franklin was already familiar with it and had been performing it in her live shows. The recording session took place on Valentine's Day, 1967, in New York City. Franklin, a formidable pianist and arranger herself, dramatically reworked the song's structure and message. Working with her sisters, Erma and Carolyn, she came up with key additions that would make her version iconic. It was her sister Carolyn's idea to spell out "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" in the chorus and to add the energetic "sock it to me" refrain during the breakdown. These changes, along with Franklin's powerful, gospel-infused vocal delivery, shifted the song's narrative entirely, turning it into a woman's declaration of strength and self-worth. Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding reportedly said, with a smile, "That girl has taken my song." Franklin's version was released in April 1967 and quickly soared to #1 on the charts, becoming her signature song and a defining anthem of an era.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Respect" are crucial to its energetic and assertive character. The song does not follow a strict, complex rhyme scheme; instead, it relies on a more conversational and musically-driven structure. Rhymes appear intermittently, such as "What you want, baby, I got it / What you need, you know I got it," which uses identical rhyme for emphasis. The lyrical power comes less from intricate rhymes and more from the rhythmic phrasing and repetition.

Rhythmically, the song is a powerhouse. It has a strong, driving beat in a 4/4 time signature and a brisk tempo that propels the song forward with relentless energy. The interplay between the lyrics and the music is a key feature. Franklin's vocal phrasing is highly syncopated, often pushing and pulling against the steady backbeat provided by the rhythm section. This creates a sense of urgency and dynamic tension. The famous "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" section is a rhythmic masterpiece; the percussive, staccato spelling of the word acts as a powerful hook that is both lyrical and rhythmic. The call-and-response with the background vocalists adds further rhythmic layers, creating a complex and infectious groove that makes the song's demand for respect feel both righteous and danceable.

Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is a masterclass in musical and literary re-authoring, employing numerous techniques to transform the original song.

Musical Techniques:

• Vocal Delivery: Franklin's performance is defined by its gospel-infused power, control, and fierce conviction. She uses a commanding, soulful tone with melismatic flourishes, contrasting with Redding's more plaintive style. Her delivery is not a plea but a declaration.
• Call and Response: A classic gospel and blues technique, Franklin engages in a dynamic call-and-response with her backup singers (her sisters, Erma and Carolyn). Her lead vocals are punctuated and amplified by their retorts of "just a little bit" and "sock it to me," creating a sense of female solidarity and communal power.
• Arrangement: Franklin fundamentally rearranged the song. She changed the key from D major to C major and added a bridge built around King Curtis's iconic saxophone solo. The song's instrumentation, featuring a driving rhythm section, emphatic horns, and Franklin's own gospel-style piano, creates an urgent, unstoppable momentum.
• Harmonic Language: The song utilizes seventh chords, giving it a bluesy feel. The melody frequently uses the blues scale, particularly emphasizing the flat third (E-flat in the key of C), which adds to its soulful and defiant character.

Literary Techniques:

• Change in Narrative Voice: The most significant literary change is the shift in perspective from a man to a strong, independent woman, which completely alters the song's meaning and power dynamics.
• Repetition and Refrain: The repetition of "Respect" and the hook "sock it to me" reinforces the central theme and makes the song incredibly memorable.
• Direct Address: Franklin directly addresses her partner with phrases like "Hey baby" and "mister," creating an intimate yet confrontational tone.
• Allusion: The use of the acronym "TCB" ("Takin' Care of Business") is an allusion to contemporary African-American vernacular, grounding the song in a specific cultural context and adding a layer of meaning about self-sufficiency.

The cultural influence of Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is immense and enduring. Upon its release in 1967, it became an immediate commercial success, spending two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and eight weeks atop the R&B chart. More significantly, the song was adopted as a powerful anthem for both the Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements. Its message of demanding dignity resonated deeply during a period of intense social and political change.

"Respect" became Aretha Franklin's signature song, solidifying her title as the "Queen of Soul." It earned her two Grammy Awards in 1968 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2002, the Library of Congress honored Franklin's version by adding it to the National Recording Registry, cementing its status as a culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant work. Rolling Stone magazine has consistently ranked it among the greatest songs of all time, placing it at #1 on their revised "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2021.

The song's influence extends deep into popular culture, having been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, including Forrest Gump, Mystic Pizza, and Bridget Jones's Diary. It has been covered by a wide array of artists, though Franklin's version remains the definitive one. It stands as a timeless testament to the power of music to articulate social change and a universal anthem for anyone demanding their inherent right to be treated with dignity.

The primary symbolism in Aretha Franklin's "Respect" lies in its re-contextualization of the title word. What was a personal plea in Otis Redding's original becomes a powerful, multi-layered symbol in Franklin's hands.

• Respect as Dignity: The central word, "Respect," is transformed from a request for household deference into a symbol for fundamental human dignity. It represents the demand for equality by marginalized groups, particularly women and African Americans, during the civil rights era.
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The act of spelling out the word is a powerful symbolic gesture. It serves as a lesson, a declaration, and an act of reclamation. It ensures the message is unambiguous and forces the listener to concentrate on the word's meaning, turning it into an unforgettable hook and a rallying cry.
• TCB: This acronym, for "Takin' Care of Business," was a popular phrase in the African-American community. In the song, it symbolizes competence, responsibility, and self-sufficiency. When Franklin sings "Take care, TCB," she is asserting her own agency and demanding her partner handle his responsibilities, which includes giving her due respect.
• "Sock it to me": This recurring phrase, while having potential sexual connotations which Franklin denied, functions more as a symbol of assertive and energetic demand for attention and acknowledgement. It's a defiant, rhythmic punch that underscores the song's confidence and power.

Several recurring phrases and motifs in "Respect" are central to its identity and lasting impact.

• "R-E-S-P-E-C-T": This is the song's most iconic motif. Added by Aretha Franklin and her sisters, the spelled-out word functions as the ultimate hook and the song's central thesis. Its repetition transforms a simple request into an unforgettable, educational, and powerful demand. It's a moment of pure empowerment, ensuring the message cannot be misunderstood.
• "Sock it to me": This phrase, repeated eight times in the song's climax, is a vibrant and memorable hook. Suggested by Franklin's sister Carolyn, it was a popular slang term of the era. In the context of the song, it serves as an energetic, almost percussive demand for attention, acknowledgement, and action, adding to the song's assertive and joyful tone.
• "Just a little bit": This phrase, sung by the backing vocalists in response to Franklin's calls, is a brilliant piece of understatement. By repeating this modest-sounding phrase, it highlights the fundamental and basic nature of the request for respect, making the refusal to grant it seem all the more unreasonable. The phrase evolves from a plea to an insistent demand as the song progresses.
• "TCB": An acronym for "Takin' Care of Business," this motif appears near the end of the song. It's a cultural signifier of competence and responsibility, reinforcing the singer's position as a self-sufficient woman who expects her partner to handle his affairs, a key part of which is treating her with respect.