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Aretha Franklin: Respect (The True, Ironic Story)
Aretha Franklin, a legendary music artist, is best known for her smash hit " Premium Link Upgrade ". The song was recorded in 1967 by Aretha Franklin in a New York studio, backed vocally by her two sisters, Carolyn and Erma. The song was released in April of the same year by Atlantic Records and appeared on Franklin's Atlantic debut album, I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You.
The song became an instant success, quickly reaching #1 on multiple music charts. It spent 12 weeks near the top of the charts and it's popularity had made Aretha Franklin a househould name overnight. From that point on, Franklin continued to wail out hit after hit, adding to her legendary resume. She had mega hits with songs like "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Baby I Love You", "Chain Of Fools", "You're All I Need To Get By" and "Freeway Of Love". But, even through all of Aretha Franklin's successful years, "Respect" is the one song that people remember her for.
To this very day, "Respect" is still frequently played on popular radio stations and is often heard coming from bars, cars and jukeboxes. The song's ability to withstand time has been truly remarkable. It's popularity hasn't faded since the day of it's initial release and it is continuously fueled by the very strong message that the song sends; FEMALE EMPOWERMENT.
The song "Respect" was recorded by Aretha Franklin as a message to men, demanding that women should be treated with respect. During the 60's, when the song was recorded, it was still common for women to be treated as servant-like by the men in their life. It wasn't uncommon for a man to almost control a woman and her life. Aretha Franklin was fed up with how society was making this treatment almost acceptable, so she decided to do something about it. She recorded the song "Respect" as a tool of inspiration; a ray of hope.
Aretha Franklin recorded "Respect" as a plea to men across the world that a woman should be recognized for being a woman and not as some sort of submissive object. The song's lyrics scream a plea of respect from men, demanding that women be treated with love, dignity and, of course, respect. The meaning behind the song is simple; quit ignoring me as a human being just because I am a woman.
When the song reached the airwaves, things began to change. Women began standing up for themselves and were no longer submissive to a man's orders. Women began to act with confidence and dignity and began to live their lives with a new sense of female empowerment. Aretha Franklin's song, "Respect", had become a main source of inspiration for women from all around the country.
To this very day, women still continue to turn to "Respect" for inspiration. It is hard to argue that when "Respect" is played in a bar or at a party, the women who are in range to hear it, feel a sense of empowerment, just from hearing the song. All you have to do is open your eyes and you can actually see the impact that the song has on a woman when they hear it. For that, and that alone, "Respect" has always been considered one of the most powerful songs to have ever been recorded and remains the theme song for the feminist movement.
THE IRONIC TRUTH
Aretha Franklin didn't write "Respect". In fact, it was written by a man; Otis Redding.
In 1965, two years before Aretha's song was recorded, Otis Redding wrote "Respect" as a plea for respect from the women in his life. Redding was tired of being ignored and wrote the song as a message to women to say that he just wanted to be noticed. As many men feel, Redding felt like he was being ****** over by women, as if he wasn't good enough for them. So, he took action and wrote a song about it.
This is the real, true version of "Respect"...
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When Aretha Franklin caught wind of the song, her producers thought it would be a good idea if she covered it. So, she did. When Aretha Franklin recorded her version of the song, she changed some of the lyrics around to make the song from a woman's perspective and not a man's. The song became an instant, legendary song that helped fuel the feminist movement in America.
The irony?
Women feel empowered when they hear "Respect" and consider the song to be somewhat of a theme song for female empowerment. When, in all reality, the song was written by a man and is actually a plea for women to start treating men with respect; not the other way around.
So, the next time you hear "Respect", you can look at all of the women who get a cocky look in their eye and laugh to yourself, because now you know the ironic truth behind their unknowing smiles.