Think (Aretha Franklin song)
| "Think" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Aretha Franklin | ||||
| from the album Aretha Now | ||||
| A-side | "Think" | |||
| B-side | "You Send Me" | |||
| Released | May 2, 1968 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 2:16 | |||
| Label | Atlantic 2518 | |||
| Writer(s) | Aretha Franklin, Teddy White | |||
| Producer(s) | Jerry Wexler[1] | |||
| Certification | Gold | |||
| Aretha Franklin singles chronology | ||||
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"Think" is a song performed by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released as single in 1968, from her Aretha Now album. The song, a feminist anthem, reached No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming Franklin's seventh Top 10 hit in the United States. The song also reached No. 1 on the magazine's Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles,[2] becoming her sixth single to top the chart. The song was written by Franklin and Ted White. Franklin re-recorded the song in 1989 for the album "Through the Storm". Pitchfork Media placed it at number 15 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".[3]
Instrumentation
The song is performed by a lead vocalist, backing vocalists, a brass section, organ, piano, two electric guitars, bass, and percussion.[4] the personnel on the original recording included Wayne Johnson on Trumpet, Andrew Lowe and Charlie Chalmers on tenor sax, Floyd Newman or Willie Bridges on baritone sax, Spooner Oldham on keyboards, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Tommy Cogbill and Jimmy Johnson on guitars, and Roger Hawkins on drums.
In popular culture
- Franklin lip-synched to a new, longer version of the song in a musical sequence of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. This version appears on the film soundtrack album, and in addition to Franklin's singing, features backup vocals from Franklin's sisters, Carolyn and Erma, and a recurring sax riff performed by Blues Brothers saxophonist Lou Marini. Because Franklin was not used to lip-syncing, this sequence required a number of takes and considerable editing.[5]
- Franklin re-recorded the song for Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a public service announcement during the late 1980s.
- Aretha Franklin's recording features in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).
- A sound-alike was featured in a 2010 TV commercial for Big Lots, rewriting the lyrics to emphasize the discount store's slogan of "Value."
- The piano intro was sampled by 3rd Bass on "The Gas Face" from The Cactus Album.
- On May 14, 2012, "Think" was performed by Cleo King on the TV series "Mike & Molly" (S2, E23 "The Wedding") during the wedding songs.
- "Think" was covered by Canadian child voice actress Michelle Creber on her 2012 album Timeless: Songs of a Century.
- In 2015, "Think" was heard in the theatrical trailer to Seth MacFarlane's Ted 2.
The song on Idol and X Factor
The song was performed by five American Idol contestants: Diana DeGarmo in season 3 (2004), Katharine McPhee in season 5 (2006), LaKisha Jones in season 6 (2007), Siobhan Magnus in season 9 (2010), and Adam Brock in season 11 (2012).
McPhee's version of the song was released as a limited single from the American Idol 5: Encores album. The song became a minor Internet hit for McPhee—it was her first song to chart in the Pop 100, where it peaked at No. 90 due to download sales.
The song was also performed by season 3's Fantasia Barrino in her first week in Hollywood.
In Season 6, LaKisha Jones performed the song in her initial audition, as did Syesha Mercado in season 7.
Australian Idol season 6 Finalist Chrislyn Hamilton also performed the song during Top 12 and received a Touchdown.
Amelia Lily performed this track on Season 8, Episode 24 of The X Factor (UK version)
The finalist of Polish version of X Factor Joanna Kwaśnik performed the song on Season 2, Episode 10.
Chart performance
Aretha Franklin version
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Katharine McPhee version
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References
- ↑ Jerry Wexler interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1970)
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 215.
- ↑ Tangari, Joe (August 18, 2006). "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Think – Aretha Franklin – Custom Backing Track MP3". Karaoke Version. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers, documentary feature on 1998 DVD and 25th Anniversary DVD (2005).
- ↑ CHART NUMBER 591 – Monday, June 03, 1968 at the Wayback Machine (archived November 7, 2006). CHUM. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5741." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Aretha Franklin" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Aretha Franklin – Think". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Indice per Interprete: F" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Aretha Franklin search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Aretha Franklin – Think" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Archive Chart: 1968-06-08" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Aretha Now – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 15, 1968 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 30, 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ RECORD WORLD 1968 at the Wayback Machine (archived July 23, 2004). Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – Aretha Franklin – Think" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Katharine McPhee – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
External links
| Preceded by "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell |
US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues number one single (Aretha Franklin version) June 15, 1968 – June 29, 1968 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" by The Temptations |
