"Respect" is a song recorded by American singer Aretha Franklin. It is a version of a song originally written and recorded by Otis Redding. Franklin changed and adapted the song to show the perspective of a woman, unlike Redding's version, which focused on a man's viewpoint. The music in the two versions is very different, and some changes in the lyrics created different stories about the theme of human dignity. These changes have been seen as messages about gender roles, relationships, and the idea of "respect." Franklin's version of the song was released on April 10, 1967, by Atlantic Records as the second single from her first album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.

When the song was released, it became a popular hit quickly. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for two weeks. Franklin won two Grammy Awards at the 1968 ceremony, including the first of eight Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

The song has been called a protest anthem because it is connected to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the second-wave feminist movement of the 1970s. It is considered Franklin's most famous song, even though she had many successful songs over thirty years. In 1998, Franklin re-recorded the song for the movie Blues Brothers 2000. It is also the title of Franklin's estate-approved biopic, released in 2021, which stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin.

"Respect" is considered one of the best R&B songs of its time. It has been included in many best-of lists, such as being named the greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone in 2021 and again in 2024. It was also ranked the fourth greatest "protest song" of all time by the same publication in 2025. The song was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2002. It was also listed in the "Songs of the Century" collection by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Background and recording

Aretha Franklin began her music career with Columbia Records when she was 18 to 24 years old. None of her albums or songs recorded during this time reached the top ten on major music charts, including Billboard and Cashbox. Only a cover of "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" became a moderate top 40 hit on the pop charts. By November 1966, Franklin’s contract with Columbia Records ended, even though she still owed the label money. Her contract was then sold to Atlantic Records that same month.

After signing with Atlantic Records, the company quickly arranged studio time for Franklin. Producer Jerry Wexler noticed that Franklin’s voice was not fully expressed in her earlier Columbia recordings. He decided to have her record more blues and gospel-influenced R&B music, which was called "soul music" at the time. Franklin’s first recording sessions took place at FAME Studios in Alabama, with engineer Tom Dowd starting work in January 1967. During her only session at FAME, Franklin and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, known as the "Swampers," recorded the song "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" by Ronnie Shannon.

Although the session was successful, the recording of the B-side, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," was canceled after Franklin’s husband and manager, Ted White, had a physical fight with the studio owner. Franklin and White left Alabama and returned to New York. Ten business days later, Franklin called producer Jerry Wexler and requested a new session at Atlantic Recording Studios instead of FAME. Wexler agreed, and Franklin recorded "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" with engineer Tom Dowd, the Muscle Shoals musicians, and her sisters Erma and Carolyn. Atlantic Records released "I Never Loved a Man" as a single in February 1967. The song became Franklin’s first major hit, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Top Selling R&B Singles chart. It was her first of 20 number one hits on that chart. The B-side, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," also gained popularity, peaking at number 37 on the R&B charts.

On February 14, 1967, Franklin entered Atlantic Recording Studios to record another song she wanted to cover: "Respect." The song had originally been a hit by Otis Redding in 1965. Franklin had performed the song live for years and decided to change the lyrics to reflect a woman’s perspective, with help from her sisters Erma and Carolyn. She directed the rhythm section on how to play her arrangement of the "stop-and-stutter" syncopation and worked out new parts for the backing singers.

For the song’s bridge, King Curtis played a saxophone solo based on the chords from Sam & Dave’s song "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby." Franklin played piano during the recording. Producer Arif Mardin explained that Franklin often played piano during sessions. The overall arrangement was based on Franklin’s ideas. Mardin said, "I have been in many studios in my life, but there was never a day like that. It was like a festival. Everything worked just right."

Franklin’s version of "Respect" was interpreted as a message from a strong, confident woman demanding respect from her partner. The repeated line "sock it to me," sung by Franklin’s sisters, was an idea developed by Franklin and her sister Carolyn. Engineer Tom Dowd noted that Carolyn suggested spelling out "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." The phrase "sock it to me" became a common expression. In a 1999 interview, Franklin said the line was not sexual but a common saying.

Franklin’s version of the song includes the lyrics "TCB," an abbreviation meaning "taking care of business," which was African-American slang for pleasing one’s partner. "TCB in a flash" later became Elvis Presley’s motto. These lines were not in Redding’s 1965 version, but he used Franklin’s ideas in later performances.

Detroit Free Press critic Brian McCollum noted that Franklin’s song has been studied in books and academic papers as a significant feminist and civil rights statement. When asked about her bold stance during the feminist and Civil Rights Movement, Franklin said, "I don’t think it’s bold at all. I think it’s quite natural that we all want respect—and should get it."

Release

The song "Respect" was released as a single by Aretha Franklin on April 10, 1967, by Atlantic Records. It was released as a response to high demand for Franklin's music, following the success of her album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, which was released in 1967. The single included "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)" as the B-side. This release occurred just weeks after Franklin turned 25 and was labeled with the number 2403.

In the April 22, 1967, issue of Billboard, Jerry Wexler, a representative from Atlantic Records, wrote to distributors, explaining that "Respect" was being quickly released to meet strong demand from music stores, radio stations, and other sellers.

In the same issue, Cashbox described the song as "a fast-paced and energetic version." Billboard also highlighted the single, calling it a "Top 20 Pop Spotlight Single" and noting that Franklin's version of "Respect" was "a powerful revival" that could follow the success of her earlier hit, "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You."

"Respect" first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April 29, 1967, at number 50. It climbed to number 26 the following week, marking Franklin's third Top 40 entry and her second consecutive Top 40 single since joining Atlantic Records. By the third week, it reached the Top 20 at number 14. On May 20, it entered the top five on the Hot 100. On June 3, it reached number one, replacing the Rascals' song "Groovin'" and becoming Franklin's first chart-topper. It stayed at number one for two weeks.

On the Top Selling R&B Singles chart, "Respect" entered at number 19 on May 6. By May 20, it replaced Martha and The Vandellas' song "Jimmy Mack" as the number one R&B single in the United States. It remained at number one for eight weeks, becoming Franklin's longest-running number one single in her career. The song also reached number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Singles chart in its June 3 issue.

Internationally, "Respect" achieved success. It reached number ten on the UK singles chart and entered the top ten in Canada and the Netherlands. It also reached the top 20 in Australia, Austria, and Belgium, and had moderate success in West Germany and Italy.

Legacy

Billboard listed the song as the 13th most popular single in 1967, one of three songs by Franklin to appear on the list. "Baby I Love You" ranked at 59, and "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" was at 75. The song's success helped Franklin win her first two Grammy Awards at the 1968 ceremony, for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. This was the last win in the former category and the first in the latter. Franklin went on to win eight consecutive Grammys in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category, a streak that ended in 1976.

According to NPR, Franklin's changes to the song, including new lyrics and musical elements like a soulful guitar hook, background vocals, and a saxophone solo, helped make "Respect" a hit and a powerful anthem. The song became a symbol for the Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements. Franklin changed the lyrics to reflect her own voice, showing a strong woman demanding respect from her partner. Her version was linked to both the fight for Black freedom and women's rights.

Otis Redding, the original artist, was impressed by Franklin's performance. At the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, he joked that "Respect" was a song "a girl took away from me, a friend of mine." When Franklin's version of the song reached the top of the charts in July 1967, some fans called the summer "the summer of 'Retha, Rap, and Revolt.'"

"Respect" has appeared in many films and is still played on radio stations. In the 1970s, Franklin's version became a key part of the feminist movement. Producer Jerry Wexler said in an interview that the song had a global influence, connecting the civil rights movement and gender equality. Although Franklin had other hits before and after "Respect," the song became her most famous recording.

In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked Franklin's album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You at number 83 on its "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. The same year, "Respect" was ranked fifth on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. In 2021, "Respect" moved to number 1 on the updated "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list, replacing Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," which dropped to number 4. In 2025, Franklin's version was listed at number 4 on Rolling Stone's "100 Best Protest Songs of All Time."

Because Franklin made "Respect" so popular, many artists who cover or sample the song use her version instead of Otis Redding's original. The Supremes and the Temptations were two successful groups signed to Motown Records. Their leader, Berry Gordy Jr., paired them for a collaborative album titled Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations. To promote the album, Gordy created a TV special called TCB, short for "Taking Care of Business." The special included a cover of Franklin's "Respect," which highlighted the battle for respect between men and women and showed the Supremes' fight for racial equality.

Stevie Wonder covered "Respect" on his 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her. Reba McEntire recorded her version for her 1988 album Reba and performed it at the CMA Awards that year. In 1989, American R&B singer Adeva released a house music version with changed lyrics, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2012, Melanie Amaro performed an upbeat version of "Respect" for a Pepsi commercial with Elton John. The single reached number 3 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and number 42 on the year-end list for that year.

Personnel

• Aretha Franklin – performed lead vocals and played the piano
• Spooner Oldham – played the Hammond organ
• Chips Moman, Jimmy Johnson – played the guitar
• Tommy Cogbill – played the bass guitar
• Roger Hawkins – played the drums
• King Curtis – played the tenor saxophone
• Charles Chalmers – played the tenor saxophone
• Willie Bridges – played the baritone saxophone
• Melvin Lastie – played the cornet
• Carolyn Franklin – performed background vocals
• Erma Franklin – performed background vocals

• Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin – served as producers
• Tom Dowd – worked as the engineer
• Arif Mardin – arranged the music