Aretha Franklin Respect

Abstract

This essay will address protest music and its influence on its audience,

and the shared characteristics of the music, through a general semantics

point of view. It will help to determine what protest songs are and what

makes them effective.

By Rachael Hopson

This essay highlights basic themes associated with the topic of protest

music and persuasion by addressing the question, “How does protest music

work?” How can one describe protest music’s most characteristic aspects

and Influential aims? In order to address this question, the essay outlines a

general semantics model for protest music, arguing that protest music is, in

its most basic sense, an persuasive function of communication. This view

explains that protest music follows basic key characteristics: (1) An attempt

to transform a perception of reality ;( 2) makes demands, present solutions

or calls to action;(3)focus upon self-identity or self-worth;(4)focus upon unity

and inevitable victory and;(5)are comprised of a melodic structure and make

use or rhythm and repetition to nonverbally reinforce a lyrical message. For

these reasons, Aretha Franklin’s protest song called Respect was chosen.

THE PROTEST SONG

An artist whose music can bridge race, color, creed, and gender and have

an equal impact on each is rare. Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT did all of the

above. This was a song that was popular among the women who were

beginning to imagine the feminist movement. It was a song that simply said,

“The time for change has come.”

Respect also reflected a shift in the tone of the Civil Rights Movement.

It introduced a new and bolder phase in the struggle that was now going to

the streets with a different approach. So, when Aretha Franklin came along

and sang, “Give me some respect and here is why I deserve it” it caused

women to start swinging banners(African American Studies, 2003). It was the

soundtrack of the times. The emotion, the sound and the memories makes

Respect as significant a record now as it was in 1967.

Aretha Franklin the Artist the Issue and the Song

Aretha Franklin is a well-known pop, R&B, and gospel singer. She was

nicknamed “The Queen of Soul” and is an internationally known artist and a

symbol of pride in the African American community. Her popularity soared in

1967 when she released an album containing songs “I Never Loved a Man”,

“Respect”, and “Baby I Love You.” Throughout her career she has achieved

fifteen Grammy Awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, National Academy of

Recording Arts and Sciences Legend Awards, and many Grammy Hall of

Fame Awards. In 1987 she became the first woman inducted into the Rock &

Roll Hall of Fame. Time magazine chose her as one of the most influential

artists and entertainers of the 20th century. She sang at Dr. Martin Luther

King’s funeral and at former President Bill Clinton’s inaugural party. Although

she has all these accomplishments and awards there are other reasons that

have driven Franklin to fame and landed her on the front cover of Time

magazine on June 28, 1968(New York Post,2006).

It is clear that her family’s involvement with religion would be one

reason why Aretha Franklin became famous as a Gospel singer. Some people

would say that her love for religion is unbelievable, but after researching her

childhood it is very believable. Her father, Reverend Clarence LaVaugh

Franklin, jumped off a mule in Shelby Mississippi and preached while living

the life of a sharecropper. As soon as he had enough money, he would move

to Memphis, Tennessee to become a pastor of two churches. After a couple

of years he attended Lemoyne College, and he studied Education and English

Literature. With his education he was able to bring a more liberal view to his

preaching’s. Then he moved the family to Buffalo, New York. When he had

the resources, he moved the family again to Detroit, Michigan where he

settled and became a pastor of a churched called New Bethel Baptist Church.

He quickly became one of the most famous pastors in the city of Detroit.

Aretha was two years old when they made their final move, she would grow

up here and grab the emotion of Church and incorporate it into her music.

Aretha Franklin’s mom, Barbara V. Skaggers, served as choir director and

pianist. Aretha describes her mom as “a Superb singer, her voice was clear

and distinctive” (African American Studies, 2003). Her parents taught her

how to sing with great pride. This was a big issue because the late ‘50s, and

early ‘60s was a time of turmoil for African Americans. Her father especially

tried to instill pride into her. He was a Civil Rights activist and he was a close

colleague with Dr. Martin Luther King. With her parents keeping her involved

in Church she was bound to become one of the world’s greatest singers. At

around age 12, the father recognized Aretha’s talent as a singer. So he took

her on the road with his traveling gospel show. This was important because it

shows the kind of support Aretha received from her family. It was said, “She

was a spellbinding performer at the age of fourteen.” (African American

Studies,2003 ) So her family really supported and inspired her to become a

gospel singer.

What also made her a great artist was that she had inspiring people all

around her. Aretha grew up in Detroit which at the time was a rousing city or

a city of hope for the African Americans running away from the brutality of

the South. Though Detroit still had its problems such as race riots, many

famous musicians grew up there. Also since New Bethel Baptist Church was

so prominent, many musicians and political leaders used Reverend Franklin’s

pulpit as a platform to sing or speak to the Blacks of Detroit. Aretha was

introduced to classical music by Smokey Robinson’s sister Sylvia Burston.

She listened to well-known local DJ’s like Ruth Brown and Senator Brystal

Brown. When Aretha was younger, she would ride her bike to the local park,

and on her way home she would stop by a night club where you could hear

B. B. King perform. She says, “You could hear the soft sound of his guitar all

the way to the sidewalk (African American Studies, 2003). National and local

political leaders would give their speeches. Speakers such as Dr. Adam

Clayton Powell, Sr., Dr. Martin Luther King, and Reverend Jesse Jackson

would speak powerfully to the church. Aretha was directly influenced by

Miriam Anderson, Sammy Davis, and Roy Wilkins. Detroit was overflowing

with talent and speakers.

Pain was probably what really drove Aretha Franklin’s success. As

stated before, Franklin’s family was highly religious and was continually

involved in the Church. But that doesn’t mean that she didn’t go through a

tremendous amount of pain. Early in life her mother and father got a divorce.

The father was better suitable to raise Aretha and her four Siblings. The

mother moved to Buffalo, New York and tried to make regular visits to see

her children. She supported her children in the best way she could, but when

Aretha needed her, she still was not reachable. Matters became worst a few

years later when Aretha’s mom dies of a stroke. Aretha described her mom

by saying “she was the absolute lady” (African American Studies, 2003). At

age 15 she had her first child and two years later another would come. But

Aretha still wanted to go out and be with friends, so her grandmother usually

babysat for her periodically. In a time when Black Activism, Feminism, and

Sexual Liberation were high, she needed to provide for herself. So when

Aretha was old enough and was ready to start performing, she hired a man

named Ted White to be her manager. He later became her husband. In the

future she would divorce him for a famous actor which would end in divorce,

too. Even though in 1968 to 1969, Franklin’s career was rising rapidly. She

was still described by her Producer Jerry Wexler as “a person whose

depressions runs deeper than the sea” (African American Studies,2003).

Then one of Franklin’s highest admirers, gospel giant Mahalia Jackson died.

Right after her death an extremely emotional gospel album was released by

Aretha “Amazing Grace”. This record was considered to be one of the most

emotional records of its time. Much of the pain that Aretha suffered was not

really publicized, but still it had to be one of the reasons for her to have such

a powerful voice.

Aretha Franklin was a successful artist and still inspires musicians

today. Her voice is still described as incredible. She has all the awards that

she needs to show her talent. But the reasons Aretha Franklin became so

successful was her family’s involvement with religion, the inspiring people

that surrounded her, and the pain she suffered (New York Post,2006).

How Does This Protest Song Work to Persuade

The song under many aspects relates to the characteristics of protest

music. The song attempts to transform some perception of reality. When the

author indicates to her audience” I anit gone do you wrong while you’re

gone” (Respect,12) she is assuming a perception and addressing the

perception by saying that it’s not true. She is using a form of persuasion.

Aretha franklin defiantly makes demands and solutions in her song.

“R.E.S.P.E.C.T. find out what it means to me” (Respect, 12) She even spells

out respect in her song, which is what she demands and is her offered

solution. This song is comprised of melodic structure and makes use of

rhythm and repetition to nonverbally reinforce a lyrical message. “I anit gone

do you wrong while you’re gone.” (Respect,12) The included repetition of this

in the song enhances the message. These characteristics example those of

protest songs, songs that are created in order to deal with social issues. Also

the focus upon unity and inevitable victory is portrayed when she sings “I'm

about to give you all of my money And all I'm askin' in return, honey Is to

give me my profits” (Respect 12).She is trying to focus on the good that can

come from giving her respect. Then she focuses also on her own self-worth

by indicating if you don’t respect me I will leave. The song goes, “Or you

might walk in (Respect, just a little bit) And find out I'm gone (Just a little bit)

I got to have (Just a little bit) A little respect (Just a little bit) (Respect, 12).

GENERAL SEMANTICS

In the song Aretha Franklin sings with soul and power .In general

semantics we call this affective connotation because the way she sings along

with the repetition of the song draws you in to listen and then influences you

towards her beliefs. (Hayakawa, 19) In this song it seems that the map is the

territory because Aretha sets up an ultimatum for her audience. The fact that

she states the conclusion leaves out something that we have to infer will

happen. The resemblance to the extensional world is clear and spelled out

for the songs audience. (Hayakawa,21) As she sings, “Or you might walk in

(Respect, just a little bit) And find out I'm gone (Just a little bit) I got to have

(Just a little bit) A little respect (Just a little bit) (Respect, 12). This

song also includes indexing since Aretha Franklin sings her song in a way

that represents women in a light that they should be respected by their men,

but she is not the women that play the song she is the singer. And the

women that play the song may not example the power the song has as she

sings it. Inference also is a good way to describe this song through general

semantics because a person may infer that the meaning respect as a general

meaning but what is that? An Inference is a statement about the unknown

based on the known. (Hayakawa,24) We know that we all want respect but

what is it in a given situation, what defines giving someone respect. Since

everyone has their own definition we can only infer what the singer would

want as far as respect.

This essay addressed the song by Aretha Franklin titled Respect and

looked at it in a general semantics point of view. This song included five out

of the twelve protest song characteristics also the map was the territory in

this song. Since the song gave the audience a realistic point of view. But the

word respect was used by the singer and song writer as an inferred

understanding that the audience knew what the definition of respect is.

Which is not true since each person may have different view of the meaning.

The song in itself was a part of the feminist movement and helped activist

towards their actions in the feminist civil rights movement. The general

semantics view of the song helped us to know what a protest song sounds

like and what it does. It is developed to persuade its audience. Through

affective connotation the song is effective in relaying a message. Even

though the message implied is one that the is not clear. The song writer

would have to imply more clear definitions of respect to address its audience

more effectively. Overall the song is effective in its goal of getting the

attention it needed but the full effectiveness cannot be received without an

added explanation as to what R.E.S.P.E.C.T. is.

Appendix

(Ooh) What you want

(Ooh) Baby, I got

(Ooh) What you need

(Ooh) Do you know I've got it

(Ooh) All I'm askin'

(Ooh) Is for a little respect when you come home (Just a little bit)

Hey baby (Just a little bit) when you get home

(Just a little bit) mister (Just a little bit)

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone

Ain't gonna do you wrong (Ooh) 'cause I don't want to (Ooh)

All I'm askin' (Ooh)

Is for a little respect when you come home (Just a little bit)

Baby (Just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)

Yeah (Just a little bit)

I'm about to give you all of my money

And all I'm askin' in return, honey

Is to give me my profits

When you get home (Just a, just a, just a, just a)

Yeah baby (Just a, just a, just a, just a)

When you get home (Just a little bit)

Yeah (Just a little bit)

Ooh, your kisses (Ooh)

Sweeter than honey (Ooh)

And guess what (Ooh)

So is my money (Ooh)

All I want you to do (Ooh) for me

Is give it to me when you get home (Re, re, re ,re)

Yeah baby (Re, re, re ,re)

Whip it to me (Respect, just a little bit)

When you get home, now (Just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Take care, TCB

Oh (Sock it to me, sock it to me,

sock it to me, sock it to me)

A little respect (Sock it to me, sock it to me,

sock it to me, sock it to me)

Whoa, babe (Just a little bit)

A little respect (Just a little bit)

I get tired (Just a little bit)

Keep on tryin' (Just a little bit)

You're runnin' out of foolin' (Just a little bit)

And I ain't lyin' (Just a little bit)

(Re, re, re, re) 'spect

When you come home (Re, re, re ,re)

Or you might walk in (Respect, just a little bit)

And find out I'm gone (Just a little bit)

I got to have (Just a little bit)

A little respect (Just a little bit) (Respect, 12)

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