Respect

Overview

It's been 50 years since Aretha Franklin dropped her version of Otis Redding's pop-gospel hit Respect. The song has since become the soundtrack for a generation, an anthem for strong, confident woman, and the karaoke go-to for horrible reality television singing show contestants.

This Auckland Arts Festival, New Zealand's own soul queens are set to pay tribute to the song and Aretha's call to action. With a big band in tow, Aaradhna, Annie Crummer, Bella Kalolo and Esther Stephens will take the stage inside Aotea Square's spiegeltent to perform a selection of Aretha classics, and their own contemporary offerings spanning funk, soul and R&B.