For Aretha
Franklin (1942-2018)
Her voice
silenced
In the blue
skies of the morning
The sweet, deep
vocals
In the winter
of hope
She made us
feel it
As every soul
quake with passion
When she took
the microphone
For she was the
queen
Her royalty was
beyond genre
But her life
was, sometimes,
In the Blues
Unlucky in
love, she told us
She deserved
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
As she felt
like a Natural Woman
We will miss
the soulful music
She brought
Rest, O' Queen
of Soul
Of Angels.
Aretha Franklin -- Liv-via
In 1964 one of the leading young American female singers of her time released an album titled "Queen of Soul." However, the singer, Etta James, did not acquire the personal title. That honor went to her contemporary, Aretha Franklin, at the time relatively unknown. The daughter of C. L. Franklin, a nationally acclaimed preacher, she began singing at his New Betel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. When she was 12 her father began managing her career and featuring her in his "gospel caravan" tours. In 1956, at 14, she cut her 1st record, and at 18 she switched from gospel to pop music; her 1st single for Columbia Records reached no. 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart in 1960. Her 1st secular album had a single that cracked the Billboard Hot 100, and in 1961 she had her 1st international hit. In 1963 Leonard and Phil Chess (whose company recorded Etta James) bought the WHFC radio station in Chicago and renamed it WVON; at a concert at the Regal Theater in Chicago, a KVON announcer dubbed Aretha "te Queen of Soul," and the title stuck, though she was still only moderately successful despite her 9 Columbia albums. In 1966 she moved to Atlantic Records and became a star. In March 1967 "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" was released, her 1st #1 record, and the single's flip side "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Chips Moman/Dan Penn) charted as well.
ReplyDeleteA month later she covered Otis Redding's "Respect," which gained her a Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording and the 1st-ever Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female.
ReplyDeleteWhat you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it?
All I'm askin'
Is for a little respect when you get 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 'cause I don't wanna
All I'm askin'
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 propers
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
Sweeter than honey
And guess what?
So is my money
All I want you to do 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 fools (just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) when you come home
(Re, re, re, re) 'spect
Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
The spelling of respect and the choral repetitions of "sock it to me" was suggested by Aretha's sister Carolyn, who sang backup vocals with another sister Emma. In 1967 she had another major hit, "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But your love was the key to my peace of mind
'Cause you make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
And when my soul was in the lost-and-found
You came along to claim it
I didn't know just what was wrong with me
'Til your kiss helped me name it
Now I'm no longer doubtful
Of what I'm living for
'Cause if I make you happy I don't need to do more
You make me feel
You make me feel
You make me feel
Like a natural woman
Oh baby, what you've done to me
(What you've done to me)
You make me feel so good inside
(Good inside)
And I just want to be
(Wanna be)
Close to you you make me feel so alive