Listen to the Music, Spring 2017

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find Out What It Means

Emmeline Haiss

Part 1 Chart Analysis:

Part 2 Written Analysis and Evaluation:

Aretha Franklins song Respect, originally written and performed by Otis Redding,

took over the charts in 1967. Although she had released many songs beforehand, Respect is the

hit that determined her place in history.

As a soulful R&B song, Respect bore a sharp contrast to the more psychedelic songs

that were topping the charts in the late 60s.1 In fact, Franklin is credited with being highly

influential in the introduction of rhythm and blues into the mainstream and in popularizing the

stream of music that had been called R&B since 1949. Upon being equated with other pop

music, this stream became more accessible and influential to other artists. Franklins vocal roots

came from her background in the church. She grew up singing gospel in her fathers church, and

was described as being a person who was chosen to sing from birth. Her powerful vocals need no

microphone, and she can accompany herself on the piano. Producers she has worked with believe

that being able to play along while she sings not only make it easier for Franklin to understand

the piece and identify what she wants to happen, but also contributes by adding additional depth

and emotion to the song.2

As an R&B song, Respect demonstrates the freedom of pitch and syncopation common

in genres that draw their origins from the African Diaspora. Repetition and call-and-response are

also major musical themes of this song, contributing to its AAAAB form in the vocal verses.

There is also an instrumental interlude between the third and fourth A verses, which was added in

Franklins version to give everybodylisteners and vocalists alikea bit of a break.3 This

interlude interrupts the flow of the song that had resulted from the repetition of the A verses, and

1 John Soeder, R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The inside story behind Aretha Franklin's chart-topping
anthem, Cleveland.com, October 30, 2011,
http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2011/10/r-e-s-p-e-c-t_the_inside_story.html.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
signals listeners that a change will be coming soon in the rest of the song. Sure enough, the next

A verse (which is also the last) switches up the all Im asking portion, changing it to all I want

you to do for me and making that do a much higher pitch in comparison to the rest of the

song. After that high note comes the most iconic portion of the entire song, the R-E-S-P-E-C-T

that has taught hundreds of thousands of elementary students how to spell over the years,

followed by a coda that repeats the layered call-and-response pattern of the second half of the A

verses.

The song conveys emotion through the lyrics. The words list multiple reasons for the why

the singer deserves to be treated well, but in the end, the only thing the singer wants in return for

their love, loyalty, and money is just a little bit of respect. The up-beat instrumentals add

power to the song, as do the call-and-response vocals between Franklin and the back-up singers

(who are in fact her sisters). Their dialogue might represent a call for backup, and is reminiscent

of rally cries at protests. This response pattern seems to be reinforcing a side argument where

Franklin asks, Dont I deserve respect? and her sisters are ready with their response, Of

course you do!

The meaning of this song is most largely derived from the socio-cultural context of its

release. The TCB at the end of the climax (the area highlighted in blue on the chart above)

stands for a motto that was common during the era, Taking Care of Business.4 Aretha Franklin

was able to create and anthem, not only for African Americans finding their place in society

amidst the aftermath of early victories in the Civil Rights movement, but also for women. The

lyrics about respect in the home provided a particularly strong connection to the womens

movement occurring at the time. In her autobiography, Aretha: From These Roots, Franklin

emphasizes the idea that the song is about promoting respect for everyone, calling it the

4 Ibid.
inherent right of all human beings.5 The song pushes the theme of demanding the respect ones

deserves, which is a message that most people can (and did) relate to.

Franklins background with gospel music in the church had a major influence on her

soulful R&B style. She was able to contribute to the lively instrumentals of Respect personally

by accompanying herself on the piano, and her sisters echoed her vocals to create a song that

reinforces itself. The message that everyone is deserving of respect is one that has resonated with

people since the song first became a hit in the 60s. Overall, Aretha Franklins Respect is a

timeless song that it likely to continue to garner respect for many years to come.

5 Ibid.