DETROIT’S ARETHA FRANKLIN’S “RESPECT” DECLARED NO.1 SONG OF ALL TIME BY ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
September 18, 2021
By Tyrone E. Jennings II, B.A
Music and Entertainment Writer
Music icon The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is gone from our physical presence, but her music continues to live on, and Rolling Stone Magazine is still showing her love. In 1967 “Respect” earned Franklin two Grammy awards see the chart below:
Aretha Franklin 10th Annual Grammy Awards (1967)
| No. | Catagory | Song/Album | Win/Nominated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Best R&B Recording | "Respect" | Won |
| 2. | Best R&B Solo Performance | "Respect" | Won |
| 3. | Best Vocal Performance, Female | "Respect" (Single) | Nominated |
| 4. | Best Contemporary Female Solo Performance | "A Natural Woman" (Single) | Nominated |
Franklin’s hit song “Respect” takes the lead spot on the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The competition was fierce, and the magazine says the list was compiled from ballots submitted by more than 250 artists, journalists, and other recording industry professionals. I’ve dug up a live performance of Aretha Franklin singing her hit song for you to watch below:
https://youtu.be/ykxuu8LNluY
The date was June 3, 1967, that is when “Respect” first took the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. R-E-S-P-E-C-T became the staple song for how women demanded to be treated in their relationships: personally, romantically, and professionally.
Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Song of All Time Top 10
Every year Rolling Stone Magazine compiles a list of the top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The songs on the list are a collaboration of votes from a long list of recording artists, journalist and other industry professionals.
Position on Chart Artist Song Year Recorded
1. Aretha Franklin "Respect" 1967
2. Public Enemy "Fight The Power" 1989
3. Sam Cooke "A Change is Gonna Come" 1964
4. Bob Dylan "Like A rolling Stone" 1965
5. Nirvanna "Smells like Teen Spirit" 1981
6. Marvin Gaye "What's Going On" 1971
7. The Beatles "Strawberry Field Forever" 1967
8. Missy Elliot "Get Ur Freak On" 2001
9. Fleetwood Mack "Dreams" 1977
10. OutKast "Hey Ya!" 2003
Music from the Motor City of Detroit always find its way to the top of the most notable music charts.
Last year Marvin Gaye claimed the top spot on the Rolling Stone Magazine 500 Greatest albums of all time with “What’s Going On” 1971and he is still on the list.
“Respect” will never ever be forgotten. In fact, it is named in the Grammy Hall of Fame and is part of the National Recording Registry administered by the Library of Congress.
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” the Biopic about the life of Aretha Franklin performed by R&B singer/actress Jennifer Hudson turned out to be a tremendous success. It brought in $27 million dollars at the box office even during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aretha Franklin agreed with the will of her heavenly father to dwell on another plane of life (she died) on August 16, 2018, after losing her fight with pancreatic cancer. For several days fans came to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to pay their respects while her body lay in repose. Entertainers, political leaders, and media outlets from all over the globe flocked to the City of Detroit, MI to attend her funeral. Aretha Franklin was just 76.
Music charts like the Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time is proof that music lives on forever.
You can view the full list by clicking the link right here to Rolling Stone Magazine.
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