Chapter 3: Aretha Franklin
Preview Questions
Introduction
Soul music fuses elements of R&B with gospel and emphasizes freedom of expression. In this chapter we will focus on The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin and some of the main soul artists of the time. Aretha won over both black and white audiences with her hit song “Respect”, which reflected contemporary aspirations for the empowerment of African Americans and women. James Brown was more physical on stage and his musical style was more basic and raw.
Berry Gordy created a hit-making machine with Motown Records by capitalizing on the talent of Detroit’s African Americans. The Motown style was rigid and less open to personal expression than soul. Motown artists sang with controlled voices, wore coordinated outfits, and performed family-friendly choreography. The Smokey Robinson & the Temptations and Diana Ross & the Supremes were some of the biggest names in Motown.
Review Questions
- What is soul music?
- What was significant about Aretha Franklin’s career?
- How do the musical styles of soul and Motown differ?
- What made Motown Records a successful hit-making operation?
- Who were the major stars of Motown?
Introduction
Soul music fuses elements of R&B with gospel and emphasizes freedom of expression. In this chapter we will focus on The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin and some of the main soul artists of the time. Aretha won over both black and white audiences with her hit song “Respect”, which reflected contemporary aspirations for the empowerment of African Americans and women. James Brown was more physical on stage and his musical style was more basic and raw.
Berry Gordy created a hit-making machine with Motown Records by capitalizing on the talent of Detroit’s African Americans. The Motown style was rigid and less open to personal expression than soul. Motown artists sang with controlled voices, wore coordinated outfits, and performed family-friendly choreography. The Smokey Robinson & the Temptations and Diana Ross & the Supremes were some of the biggest names in Motown.
Review Questions
- What is soul music?
- What was Aretha Franklin known for?
- How did James Brown’s style differ from Franklin’s?
- What was Motown Records known for?
- How did the Motown style differ from soul?