Respect, Aretha Franklin

"Respect" is a 1967 hit song and the signature song of the R&B singer Aretha Franklin, written and originally released by Volt recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. While Redding wrote the song as a man's plea for respect and recognition from a woman, the roles were reversed for Franklin's... Read More

"Respect" is a 1967 hit song and the signature song of the R&B singer Aretha Franklin, written and originally released by Volt recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. While Redding wrote the song as a man's plea for respect and recognition from a woman, the roles were reversed for Franklin's version. Aretha Franklin's cover was a landmark for the feminist movement, and is often considered as one of the best songs of the Rock & Roll era, earning her two Grammy Award in 1968 for "Best Rhythm & Blues Recording" and "Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female", and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, the Library of Congress honored Franklins version by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It is number five on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. See Less