Aretha Franklin successfully incorporated pathos in her version of the song "Respect" originally written by Otis Redding to further the rhetoric for gender equality. Pathos is an emotional appeal to the audience to invoke feelings and imagination. It is important to note the difference between the original and the altered versions to see the way pathos is used to invoke pride in ones' womanhood in this particular text. Franklin's version boasted of a woman's confidence and worth when she changed Redding's lyrics from: "What you want, honey you got it/ And what you need, baby you got it" to "What you want/ Baby, I got/ What you need/ Do you know I got it?" She affirmed that she has what her lover needs and she knew it. There was also a clear shift of point of view between the two versions. Redding's version featured a man that pleaded for his lover's respect alluding to the lover's infidelity with the lyrics: "You can do me wrong, honey while I'm gone/ But all I'm askin' is for a little respect when I come home." Franklin's version was from the view of a woman who demanded respect from her lover because she knew she deserved better: "You might walk in/ And find out I'm gone/ I got to have/ A little respect." This clear portrayal of a proud woman declared to society that women must be treated with respect too. Franklin even showed the woman as the primary breadwinner in the song: "I'm about to give you all of my money/ And all I'm askin'/ Is for a little respect." Women were often seen as the happy little homemaker and were expected to go along with the whims of their husband but the fact that Franklin's version deliberately changed the lyrics to illustrate a strong woman was a stand against prejudiced thinking.
Link to Otis Redding's version.
Link to Aretha Franklin's version.
Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is an empowering song that harnesses the rhetorical power of music. She uses this outlet of expression to reiterate and make known that women have an understanding of their worth and value. This is the start empowering music catered to the pathos of women. A modern example of this is P!nk's song also titled "Respect", which relays the same message as Franklin's hit song.
ReplyDeleteAretha Franklin's framing of women as the primary breadwinners is very powerful, as it shifts from society's perspective at the time.
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