When listing the names of music legends, Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul, is among that list. Born in Memphis, Tennessee 1972, no one expected someone from such background to make huge hits that will shake the nation to its core. She was the fourth of five children to Baptist preacher Reverend Clarence la Vaughan and a gospel singer Barbara Siggers Franklin. At the age of six, Aretha’s parent separated. A few years later she lost her mother to a heart attack. Her father and she relocated to Detroit, Michigan where her father became a renowned preacher at a Baptist Church. As her father's popularity grew so did Aretha. Having become the face of the church, Aretha was a child prodigy because she taught herself how to play the piano and had a voice tha
...t resonated with church members. Through her influence was only in the church, Aretha had a few records with Songs of Faith in 1956. She also aided her father on his revival tours all around the country. She was able to meet influential singers such as Mahalia Jackson while on the tour.
At the age 14, Aretha had her first child who she will name Clarence. Two years later, she had a second son Edward. She will, later on, go to have two more sons; Ted White, Jr. and Kecalf Cunningham. In 1960, Aretha with permission from her father traveled to New York, where she got signed by Columbia Records. In 1962, she released her first album with Columbia records. This album was such a huge hit that two tracks on her album made it to Top 10 on the R&B charts.
In 1966, Aretha along with her husband Ted White, who was also her manager decided to sign with Atlantic Records. She continued to make hits even though she was signed to another label.
However, she had to leave a record label due to a disagreement between her husband and a band member. Aretha was able to win her first two Grammys because of her song Respect which reached number one on the R&B and pop charts. Since then, Aretha has had so many hits in her career, hence why she was known as the Queen of Soul. At the peak of her career, she divorced her husband Ted White. Inspired by the death of her friend Mahalia Jackson, Aretha released a new album Amazing Grace in 1972 which sold a million copies. Her success led her to win many Grammys and many awards.
By 1795, Aretha fame was fading, and new emerging artists started taking a lead in R&B genre. In 1979, Aretha ended her relationship with Atlantic Records. Meanwhile, her father was in a coma from a burglary attack. She had so many bills to pay and with her failing career, Aretha had no other ways to pay for her bills. She was able to persevere and sign with another record label and win many awards after releasing new hits. In 2003, Aretha left her label Arista to found her own label Aretha label. In 2008, she won her 18th Grammys. Aretha spends the remaining of her career collaborating with other hit artists like Stevie Wonder. On August 12, 2018, she was reported to be ill. A few days later, she was pronounced dead.
Aretha is considered
the Queen of Soul but a crucial person during the Civil Rights Movement. Aretha lived in a time of segregation and racism. Hence why most of the songs represented the demand for change and respect which reflected the ideals of not only the Civil rights movement but women’s rights movement. Aretha was not only a singer, but one a purpose and a lot to say about her society. She used her voice to advocate racks equality and to support women’s rights. Her song respect became an anthem for the civil rights movement. It spoke to many people on so many levels and spoke on the need for racial equality. The respect which won her two Grammys brought to her audience attention fire situation of racial inequality on the streets. Aretha used her musical influence to help bring attention to the civil rights movement. She went on tours with civil right activists such Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and other musicians. She also offered to post bail a revolutionary activist Angela Davis, who was accused of assisting in courtroom takeover. Her influence had gained her many audiences and followers one of which is our former president Barack Obama.
Her song Respect is arguably her famous song. It speaks out on the demand and need of respect among man and women and even among different races. Respect was originally recorded by Otis Redding but later on recorded by Aretha Franklin in response to Otis Redding version which was considered sexist, and vulgar by critics. Aretha Franklin version of Otis Redding song had many rhythms, melody, harmony, form, and stylistic lyrics. Aretha version of respect has a forceful, more
demanding tone which can be seen in the way she demands her “ RESPECT”. Such tone is different from Otis Redding playful tone when he speaks of his wife respecting him. Her lyrics such as “Is for a little respect when you come home” is powerful because it reveals some feminist aspect which will otherwise be viewed as a sexist comment from Ottis.
Her song adopts a moderate tempo and a duple meter. An Accelerando can be detected at the bridge of the song. After that, the rhythms go back to adopting a moderate tempo. Respect has a conjunct melody because it uses the minor and major scales of tonal music. The harmony of the song can be described as dissonance because of the harsh sounding of the harmonic combination. This song adopts a strophic form because of the structure of the verses of the song. The timbre of the song can be characterized as a change in the dynamics of the song. There is a change from a soft to slow to loud and fast. The instrument which is mostly detected in the song is the piano and drum which help create a crescendo.
You make me feel like a natural woman is one of Aretha’s popular songs. Though the song has a short duration. The message behind the lyrics is crucially powerful. It has an andante tempo. Going slow and only increasing its rhythm once it hits “You make me feel” The repetition of that part of the song along with the tempo draws significance to the certain part of the song. The melodic structure of the song can be described as pitch which continues
to increase by ascending scales then later on through descending scales.
The harmonic structure of You makes me feel like a Natural Woman shows the complexity and has a rough edge which can be detected in the second verse of the song and the chorus. The form or rather structure of the song can be described as traditional in the sense in which it has a chorus, a verse, and a bridge. The repetition and unification of the song make up the structure of the song. There is a dynamic change in the orchestration of the song. A piano is played to give the song a light, soft touch in the beginning. However, as the song nears its chorus, the piano is exchanged for bass drum which goes perfectly along with the rough edgy side of the song.
Mary Don’t Weep in her Amazing Grace album dedicated to her friend Mahalia Jackson. Unlike the other song mentioned above, this song has a longer duration. However, incorporates adagio tempo. It has a unique melody which shows descending scales at the bridge of the song. The song is meant to take on the structure of a funeral song. It has a depressing tone. The harmonic structure of Mary Don't Weep shows a dissonance at the chorus of the song where the choir says “Don’t Weep”. The form seems to mimic a worship song at a church because of its sequencing and repetition which is seen in church music. The timbre of the song can be best described as a change from a slow to soft and from loud to slow. The drum adds more drama to the somber mood.
The repetition of the lyric Mary Doesn’t Weep comfort Mahalia loved ones who may weep over her death. Perhaps Aretha is referring to herself and advising her not to weep.
Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8th, 1995 to Vernon and Gladys Presley, along with his twin Jesse Presley who died at a young age. Elvis was raised in a poor religious family where his family scraped to get by. His father was a carpenter and his mother a housewife. As a result of this, Elvis was very close to his mother. At a young age, Elvis’s parent discovered the talent that their son had. So on his birthday, the gifted him a guitar which he used to teach himself how to play and write music. In his teenage years, Elvis auditioned in many talent shows and even after his family moved to Memphis, he still auditioned for talent shows.
After graduating from high school, Elvis got a job as a taxi driver where he saved money in order to record his song at Sun Records. He released his song “ That’s All Right Mama” which marked the success of his musical career. He will then go to record music such as Mystery Train (1955), Heart Hotel (1956), It’s now or never (1960), songs which reached the top of the music charts and granted Elvis this is newfound music success. Later on in his career, he will be named as the King of Rock for having 136 gold records, and 10 platinum records and also for influencing the way people dress and style their hair in his era. One of the people who he
had great influence will be the Beatles. Elvis Presley’s influence goes as far as to earn him multiple recognition and admiration on TV. Elvis was an instant hot in movies and T.V shows. Some of his shows and movie include; Blue Hawaii (1961), Jail House (1957) and Spinout (1966).
In 1958, Elvis was stationed in the army. He lost his mother during his time in the army. He met his wife while he was stationed in Germany. His wife bore him one child whom he names Marie Presley. In 1973, he divorced his wife. As Elvis Presley popularity grow, so does the mismanagement of his money. His manager Tom Parker, who was a renowned gambler, wasted Elvis money gambling while Elvis worked hard to increase his wealth in the musical field. This act results in a series of a lawsuit between Elvis and his management crew. In 1960, Elvis became really dependent on drugs. In 1977 after his tour, Elvis was found dead by his fiancee. The official cause of death was a heart attack.
Elvis Presley is known for changing the social and moral values of American society. He paved for a way a new era, “Rock n’ Roll” Though he did not invent Rock n’ Roll, he developed the concept of it: Rockabilly which involves the combination western music from the South and rhythms and blues. He had such a huge influence in the 1950s society. He did not only change the youth viewed music, but also their clothing style, and perspective of the living. Elvis is still a huge influence on pop culture today. Everything ranging from his hairstyle, clothing and music style has
influenced music today.
Can’t Help Falling In Love, one of Elvis’s renowned songs, is particularly interesting for its stylistic rhythm, timbre, form, and lyrics. The song has a variety of short and long duration. Short duration can be detected between each different verse and as of longer duration, they can be detected at the end and at the beginning of the song. There is a change in the tempo from andante to adagio. The melody of the song can be described as descending scales and for having melodic cadence.
The harmonic structure is unique because it contains a static harmony than a function as the song transition from the first verse to eh second verse. Can’t Help Falling In Love has a harmonic progression which can be detected at the chorus of the song an at the bridge of the song. The timber has a quite distinguished, dynamic which begins slow and soft to loud and soft. The use of the piano between verses increase the calmness of the song and adds a romantic feeling to it. The deconstruction of the lyrics tells the story of a man who is pronouncing his love for another person. His use of words such as “ Wise men say only fools rush in” depicts how others might view his love for his significant other. Such depiction is not one of support but of scrutiny, but their opinions cannot stop his love.
Love Me Tender is another Elvis famous song that did not only topped the charts, but increased his followers and audience. The rhythm of the song has a compound meter at verse 1 and the chorus of the song. There
is a silence in the third verse, right after the song leads to the chorus. The song has contour, range, and intervals in a different aspect of the song. The contour can be detected at the bridge of the song. The range and intervals can be detected in the chorus of the song. The harmonic structure has a consonance along with a chord progression in the last verse of the song and the bridge. Love Me Tender form has a rhythmic phrase throughout the song. The arrangement of the lyrics fits with the instrument type. Though many instruments can be detected in the song, the instrument which can be detected the most is the piano. Elvis’ unique lyrics help bring the song together.
Jailhouse is an upbeat song by Elvis that involves the use of a lot of body movement. The rhythmic structure of Jailhouse can be described as Accelerando which fits perfectly with the type of song Jailhouse is. The fast-paced rhythm helps create an upbeat tone. The song has a high-pitched as it nears the chorus. And has an ascending scale which can be detected at the bridge o Jailhouse. The harmonic structure of the song can be described as having a dominant chord in the different verses of the song. Jailhouse has a hook which helps draw listeners in. It has a dynamic timbre which involves the use of a drum and different instrument types which helps create a loud and fast rhythm. The lyrics work in perfect uniformity with the form. Jailhouse has an edgy tone to it which matches perfectly with the repetition of “Let’s Rock”.
Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin are
similar and different in various ways. One way in which they are similar is the title that they bear. Aretha being known as the Queen of Soul and Elvis the King of Rock. These two artistes bear unique titles that distinguish them and their music style from others. Aside from their titles, they are similar in the way in which they grew up. These two artists grew up in a religion which shaped their music in a great way. Some things that distinguish Elvis from Aretha is their stylistic lyrics and genre of music. Aretha is known for singing soul music. Music that resonated with the individual’s soul as many will call it. Elvis is known for producing edgy music that led to a new age in the music era. Aretha is quite influential because of her participation in the civil rights movement. She was a young woman who was not afraid to speak her mind in a society where women were restricted from many rights that men have.
The project was quite interesting yet tedious because I was able to research legendary artists that teenagers of this era do not listen to. I can see the way in which music has evolved from a different genre to what it is today. Also listening to the music of the artists is quite intriguing because it allows me to succumb to the time period of the artist and to really enjoy the components of the song. Writing about the artist and deconstructing each aspect of the song is a tedious task. It involves analyzing the stylistic aspect of the song, the rhythm, and form and all the
different aspect that makes the music what it is.
