"Respect" is a cover performed by Ariana Grande, Blake Shelton, and Kelly Clarkson during the premiere of The Voice (Season 21), which aired on September 20, 2021, on NBC. The song is originally by Otis Redding (and made famous by Aretha Franklin).[1]
Background[]
The cover was released on September 20, 2021 as part of the first episode for Season 21 of The Voice . The cover includes a mash-up with Sam and Dave’s 1966 hit ‘Hold On, I’m Comin’ which was sung by John Legend and Blake Shelton,[2]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
What you want, baby, I got it
What you need, do you know I got it?
[Chorus]
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) Hey baby
(Just a little bit) when you get home
(Just a little bit) mister
(Just a little bit)
[Verse 2]
I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
Ain't gon' do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna
[Chorus]
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)
[Verse 3]
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
[Refrain]
(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)
[Verse 4]
Ooh, your kisses, sweeter than honey
And guess what? So is my money
[Chorus 2]
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)
[Verse 5]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take care of T-C-B
[Outro]
(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) Start when you come home
(Re, re, re, respect) Or you might walk in
(Just a little bit) And find out I'm gone
(Just a little bit) I gotta have
(Just a little bit) A little respect
(Just a little bit)
Trivia[]
- Ariana Grande also covered an Aretha Franklin song when she paid tribute to the music legend in 2018. Shortly after Aretha passed away, Ariana performed Aretha’s 1968 hit song ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She also performed the song at Franklin's funeral.[3]
- Grande's friend and colleague Kelly Clarkson previously covered ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin during her time as a contestant on American Idol in 2002.
- ‘Respect’ was Aretha’s signature song and also became a soundtrack for the racial and gendered political movements of its time when it was released in 1967. Aretha knew that ‘Respect’ carried great power and previously said that it was of “monumental significance”.