In the year 1965, Otis Redding released the song, Respect, which became a smash hit for Aretha Franklin two years later. Aretha Franklin’s version of Respect gained popularity for the catchy, upbeat music as well as the empowering lyrics. She was able to achieve this success by making significant revisions to the music, the delivery, and the lyrics. Franklin’s revisions to the music focused on the melody and the usage of different instruments on the recording in order to have Respect become more captivating and memorable. Aretha Franklin’s delivery of Respect uses more power and soul than Otis Redding’s version, creating an inspirational and thrilling performance. Her revisions to the lyrics include rewording several of the lead vocalists’ …show more content…
Victoria Malawey, an Associate Professor at Macalester College, wrote an article from Popular Music that Franklin’s revisions to the music focused on the melody and the usage of different instruments on the recording. Blue notes are a flatted note, especially the third or the seventh degree of the scale, recurring frequently in blues and jazz as a characteristic feature. Franklin used blue notes more distinctly than Redding, causing the melodic structure to shift in regards to pitch and rhythm. Additionally, she used background vocalists and guitar to feature syncopation throughout the song, while Otis Redding used vocals and horns. Revisions to the lyrics include the addition of phrases for background vocalists as well as rewording several of the lead vocalists’ lines. In Malawey’s article from Popular Music, she suggests that Aretha is responding to the original lyrics with her revisions. For example, the original lyrics portray the woman as financially dependent when Redding says, “Hey little girl, you’re sweeter than honey. And I’m about to give you all of my money.” However, Franklin modifies the line to portray a character that is financially independent when she states, “Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey. And guess what? So is my money.” Her revisions to the lyrics create a powerful message of an independent woman who stands up for what she believes in, unlike …show more content…
More than 12,000 people watched a lively performance by Franklin, which the Mayor of Detroit, Jerome P. Cavanagh, later declared the date as “Aretha Franklin Day.” During the show, “the Queen of Soul” received an award from the Southern Christian Leadership Council presented by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum wrote an article on this performance as well as Franklin’s influence, stating, “King and Franklin's father were friends and shared a mutual admiration fostered during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, making King's presentation to Aretha both personal and declarative, recognizing the female performer's role in defining African-American identity.” Franklin’s award presented by King is significant as not only does it show her musical talent, but also that she was more than just a musical artist. Martin Luther King Jr. presenting Aretha Franklin the award shows that their friendship is strengthened by the goals of the civil rights movement. Additionally, throughout the performance Aretha Franklin and the background singers had a tremendous amount of energy on stage in order to successfully excite and inspire the
Joan Baez, a famous folk singer, sang her most famous song “Oh Freedom” during the civil rights movement. She expressed her want and need for equality and freedom f...
I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.” (Gordy, 2011). According to Boyce (2008), the image and sound of Motown was all about the promotion of “cross over” music without the involvement of politics, but Gordy ended up showing some support for the civil rights movement as he recorded and distributed Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘The Great March to Freedom’ speech in 1963, later founding a Black Forum label which allowed the speeches from civil rights leaders and various Motown songs available to everyone. Religion, especially Christianity, played a huge role in black peoples’ lives at the time, leading to the expansion of black churches in South America. In the 1960s, the proportion of blacks going to church increased as segregation and racial discrimination divided the two cultures in America.
Aretha Franklin is a well known pop, R&B, and gospel singer. She has been 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. The reasons I believe allowed Aretha Franklin to become so successful are the following: Her family’s involvement with religion, the inspiring people that surrounded her, and the pain she suffered.
In the song “When Will We Be Paid for the Work We’ve Done?” by the Staple Singers, they use pop music and culture to spread their message. The song talks about how African Americans have done all this work for the white men but they don’t receive any repayment for it. The Staples Singers focus on many different aspects of African American history throughout the song. They used this song to reflect on African American history during the times of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. They also used the catchy tune to engage people and unite them by singing along in protest. The catchy tune that made the song easy to sing along irritated the officers that had to control the protests. This song was an easy way to express the thoughts of unequal
had become a leader, and he had found his group of supporters, or in other words, his social group. In this case, my formula only works because of the parentheses surrounding the first three parts of the equation. From my perspective, Martin Luther King Jr. became a symbol of a general group of African American Civil Rights Activists, before they found him as an actual leader. While others may figure that there is more than one specific leader that had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement, I really cannot deny that way of thinking, rather I can only say that it is of my belief that he was the most important of all in this process. Others may also present the counter argument that there may have been more than one leader and that all of them were equally important in the process of this. I cannot deny that opinion either, as it is valid. I can present my opinion and only my opinion here, which presents that Martin Luther King Jr. deserves to be the leader of all leaders. Possibly, the best example of his leadership came on a day in August, at “The March of Washington,” when he presented a speech of dynamic poetry. My favorite lines from this “I Have a Dream Speech” go, “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” (King Jr. 5) After this line, the audio recording presents the roar of the crowd. In my opinion, it was not just the words of this speech and this specific quote that made him a leader. I perceive that words are just words, as they need substance, this substance is created with a charismatic attitude. Martin Luther King Jr. had this, and it is possibly the biggest indicator that he was a leader of his group. It is possible that there were other
"Martin Luther King Jr." - Acceptance Speech. The Novel Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. .
“All I’m asking is for a little respect when you get home. R-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me. R-e-s-p-e-c-t, take care TCB.” The notorious, veracious lyrics of Aretha Franklin’s song “Respect” probably ring in everyone’s ears as soon as they hear the word respect. Through the power of music, Aretha Franklin recognized the importance of instilling necessary words into everyone’s head. Hopefully everyone understood the lyrics well enough so the words pop into their head at the most essential times. It’s important for everyone to be respectful to everyone, including being respectful to oneself. That means holding aplomb, being truthful, and holding a healthy sense of self-worth. In addition, respect teaches a person to stay out of trouble because they value others thoughts and considerations as highly as their own. Respect controls a person’s temper. Respect builds up a society to become a better place. It relates to a person’s values and actions. The five reasons stated are just a few of the several reasons why everyone should exhibit respect.
“Death is the only pure, beautiful conclusion of a great passion” (David Herbert Lawrence). Coretta Scott King was an inspiring person to women of all ages and races. However her death had an impact on everyone, she was seen as an idol, more importantly as a leader. Malcom X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz who is also Mrs. King’s most pride supporter addresses her remarks in her eulogy and engages the people at the funeral service for Mrs. King on the sorrowful day of February 7th, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. With hundreds of people, (mainly women) watching on TV or listening in the stands during this depressing time reflect and honor on the achievements and positive attitude she had on the community for others. Attallah Shabazz hoped that this event
Aretha was then moved with her father and siblings to Michigan because of her father’s preaching calling “Guided by C.L.'s preaching assignments, the family relocated to Detroit, Michigan. C.L. eventually landed at Detroit's New Bethel Baptist Church, where he gained national renown as a preacher”("Aretha Louise Franklin."). In Michigan, they found a church in which they attended by the name of, Detroit’s New Baptists. Her father was recognized as a preacher and her talent was starting to peek out when she would sing at her Father’s congregation. She mostly self-taught h...
This is a strong example of how he started to fuse logos and use of pathos together. There isn’t any doubt that Dr. King is a powerful speaker. Although his acceptance speech is often only messages of appreciation toward the awarder. His time on the stage was to release awareness and to motivate people to take action. King would not be able to do this speech without manipulation of pathos, pathos and logos and as well as his great rhetorical skills. he used techniques like anaphora and personification to keep people interested and make connections personally, that would remembered for
Coretta Scott King was one of the most important women leaders in the world. Working side-by-side with her husband, she took part in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and worked to pass the Civil Rights Act. After King's death, she founded The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. Mrs. King traveled around the world speaking out on behalf of racial and economic justice, women’s and children’s rights, religious freedom, the needs of the poor and homeless, full-employment, health care, educational opportunities, and environmental justice.
King’s historical speech in 1963 has held great symbolic value not only for the African Americans, but also for all of the equal rights supporters of every age and race. He was the first one who really fought for the same rights of African Americans and therefore inspired other people to live his dream and to continue his work for racial equality.
...her King's fervor towards justice because of the stand he chose to make. He didn't just give a speech. King was the leader of many marches in several different states, and his passion and emotion for ending racial discrimination will not be forgotten.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most influential leader of the American Civil Rights Movement as he fought for the freedom of African Americans. King’s most influential speech is his “I Have a Dream” given on August 28, 1963.1 King himself was a man whom thousands of people admired. Martin Luther King Jr. uses an expressive tone in his speeches by using verbal powerful imagery toward his audience, reminding them of the challenges facing them and defeating racism. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired others to take action, lead by example, as shown in his speeches and promoted non-violence as a method for change.
Scott King, Coretta. My Life With Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Holt, Rinehart and