RIP 1942-2018
Aretha helped define the
American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in
every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for
redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal
peace.
Aretha Franklin spent the turbulent 60s building her career, and in
1967 released her most famous song, and one that became inextricably linked to
the civil rights and feminist movements of the time. “Respect” was originally
released in 1965 by Otis Redding; Franklin’s cover of the song came out in
1967, and soon became the most popular version.
“I was stunned when it went to No. 1,” Franklin told Elle in
2016, “and it stayed No. 1 for a couple weeks. It was the right song at the
right time.”
Franklin, who Elle noted had it written into her contract in
the 60s that she would never perform for a segregated audience, was glad that
the song became linked to feminist and civil-rights movements. She added that
the line “you know I’ve got it” has a direct feminist theme.
“As women, we do have it,” she says. “We have the power. We
are very resourceful. Women absolutely deserve respect. I think women and
children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society.”
