Aretha Franklin, la Reina del Soul, fue conocida, con frecuencia, por sus canciones de amor, pero también fue una cantante comprometida con el movimiento de los derechos civiles de los afroamericanos y con el feminismo. Hemos destacado cinco de sus canciones más combativas.

Respect

Aretha Franklin versionó en 1967 un tema de Otis Redding y lo convirtió en todo un canto a los derechos de las mujeres y en contra de los maltratos.

Think

Si Aretha Franklin llegó a convertir en inmortales canciones de otros autores, Think es una canción compuesta por ella y por Teddy White. Se trata, también, de un tema en que reivindica los derechos de las mujeres.

Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves (Than Never to Have Loved)

En 1985, cuando los derechos de las mujeres ya estaban mucho más reconocidos, Aretha Franklin interpretó con Eurythmics un tema que era todo un canto a la liberación femenina.

A Change Gonna Come

Aretha Franklin estuvo muy involucrada en el movimiento de los derechos civiles e interpretó también A Change Gonna Come, una canción de Sam Cooke que fue uno de los grandes himnos de la lucha por los derechos civiles.

People Get Ready

La Reina del Soul también versionó People Get Ready, un tema de The Impressions que se inspiraba en el "ferrocarril subterráneo", la cadena de evasión que permitía a los esclavos del sur de Estados Unidos huir hasta el Norte.

Respect

What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it
All I'm askin'
Is for a little respect when you get home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gonna do you wrong cause I don't wanna
All I'm askin'
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)

I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my propers
When you get home (just a, just a, just a, just a)
Yeah baby (just a, just a, just a, just a)
When you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (just a little bit)
Ooo, your kisses
Sweeter than honey
And guess what?
So is my money
All I want you to do for me
Is give it to me when you get home (re, re, re ,re)
Yeah baby (re, re, re ,re)
Whip it to me (respect, just a little bit)
When you get home, now (just a little bit)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit)
I get tired (just a little bit)
Keep on tryin' (just a little bit)
You're runnin' out of fools (just a little bit)
And I ain't lyin' (just a little bit)
(Re, re, re, re) when you come home
(Re, re, re ,re) 'spect
Or you might walk in (respect, just a little bit)
And find out I'm gone (just a little bit)
I got to have (just a little bit)
A little respect (just a little bit).

Think

You better think (think) 
Think about what you're trying to do to me
Think (think, think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Let's go back, let's go back
Let's go way on back when
I didn't even know you
You couldn't have been too much more than ten (just a child)
I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degrees
It don't take too much high IQ's 
To see what you're doing to me

You better think (think) 
Think about what you're trying to do to me
Yeah, think (think, think) 
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

Oh, freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom)
Oh, freedom, yeah, freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom)
Freedom, oh freedom

Hey, think about it, think about it

There ain't nothing you could ask 
I could answer you but I won't (I won't)
I was gonna change, but I'm not 
To keep doing things I don't

You better think (think) 
Think about what you're trying to do to me
Think (think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

People walking around everyday 
Playing games, taking score
Trying to make other people lose their minds
Ah, be careful you don't lose yours, oh

Think (think) 
Think about what you're trying to do to me, ooh
Think (think)
Let your mind go, let yourself be free

You need me (need me) 
And I need you (don't you know)
Without each other there ain't nothing people can do, oh

Think about it, baby (What are you trying to do me)
Yeah, oh baby, think about it now, yeah
(Think about, ah me, think about, ah me)
(Think about, ah me, think about, ah me)
Oh, come on, baby

Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves (Than Never to Have Loved)

Now there was a time when they used to say
That behind every - great man.
There had to be a - great woman.
But in these times of change you know
That it's no longer true.
So we're comin' out of the kitchen
'Cause there's somethin' we forgot to say to you (we say)

Sisters are doin' it for themselves.
Standin' on their own two feet.
And ringin' on their own bells.
Sisters are doin' it for themselves.

Now this is a song to celebrate
The conscious liberation of the female state!
Mothers, daughters and their daughters too.
Woman to woman
We're singin' with you.
The inferior sex got a new exterior
We got doctors, lawyers, politicians too.
Everybody, take a look around.
Can you see, can you see, can you see
There's a woman right next to you.

Sisters are doin' it for themselves.
Standin' on their own two feet.
And ringin' on their own bells.
Sisters are doin' it for themselves.

Now we ain't makin' stories
And we ain't layin' plans
'cause a man still loves a woman
And a woman still loves a man
(just a same though)

A Change Gonna Come

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ev'r since
It's been a long time, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep tellin' me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees, oh

There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

People, get ready

People, get ready
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no ticket
You just get on board

All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord

People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast

Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's room for all
Amongst the loved the most

There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own

Have pity on those
Whose chances are thinner
'Cause there's no hiding place
From the kingdom's throne

So people get ready
For the train a-comin'
You don't need no ticket
You just get on board

All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord

I'm getting ready
I'm getting ready
This time I'm ready
This time I'm ready

I'm getting ready
Getting ready, oh yeah
I'm getting ready, yes I am