السبت, ديسمبر 28, 2024
السبت, ديسمبر 28, 2024
Home » Ain’t No Way: One of our most misunderstood love songs

Ain’t No Way: One of our most misunderstood love songs

by admin
BBC Culture  \ By Innocent Chizaram
A ballad sung by Aretha Franklin – written by her sister Carolyn – might have been ‘hiding in plain sight’, writes Innocent Ilo.

In her 2012 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper, Adele stated that “everyone loves a love song” – and the musical form has proven consistently popular, with chart-toppers such as Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, Adele’s Someone Like You, and Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called to Say I Love You. As a genre, the love song continues to endure because of its ability to capture our happiest, deepest, and most vulnerable moments. In recent years, BillboardInsiderHarper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan have ranked and curated a selection of the greatest love songs of all time. However, one song is conspicuously missing from these lists – the 1968 hit Ain’t No Way.

More like this:
– The music that won’t be silenced
– America’s first black superstars
– The greatest ‘lost tapes’ ever found?

Its writer, Carolyn Franklin, was born into a family of soul music talents. Her father – reverend and civil rights activist CL Franklin – was known as “the Man with the Million-dollar Voice”, and he featured her in his church choir, alongside her two older sisters Erma and Aretha. Of course, Aretha went on to clinch the title Queen of Soul – but her sisters carried on writing, composing, and recording songs for decades.

Aretha (left) and Carolyn (right) with their father, the Rev CL Franklin (Credit: Alamy)

During Carolyn’s musical career, before her death from cancer at the age of 43, she recorded five solo studio albums and wrote/co-wrote songs like Ain’t Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around), Angel, As Long As You Are There, Baby Baby Baby, I Was Made For You, Pullin and Without Love.

A classic is born

Ain’t No Way stands out effortlessly in Carolyn’s impressive portfolio as a songwriter. It was recorded by Aretha Franklin as part of her 12th studio album Lady Soul (which is on the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die). Ain’t No Way spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 16. It’s a quintessential love song, filled with yearning, passion, and the desire to love someone or be loved recklessly, without abandon. Described as “quite possibly soul music’s finest ballad”, it shines through with the rich and soulful lead vocals of Aretha Franklin. Carolyn Franklin and the Sweet Inspirations supplied the background vocals, with Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s mother) belting the operatic notes during the bridges.

Ain’t No Way chronicles the heartbreak of a woman whose lover has left her. As the song progresses, we begin to learn more about this woman, whose story is delivered through a beautiful monologue. Throughout the song, she keeps reminding this lover that “there ain’t no way for me to love you, if you won’t let me”. The song ends with an earnest plea: “and if you need me like you say do… then please… don’t you know that I need you?” Beneath the tenderness of these pleas, however, there could be a call for radical resistance to subvert what society has decided to adopt as the norm. Some have argued that, rather than a male lover, the lyrics are addressing a female.

According to The Guardian, Carolyn (photographed here in 1969) deserves to be known as ‘a legend in her own right’ (Credit: Getty Images)

 

Ain’t No Way’s status as a queer love song has been a subject of debate in recent times. In 2018, the writer Andrew Martone described it as “an undercover LGBT anthem”, highlighting the lyric “stop trying to be someone you’re not” as a coded message to a secret lesbian lover, asking them to accept their sexuality. The story the song tells is haunting at its very core, and could be interpreted as representing the realities of millions of queer women around the world who feel they cannot love freely. Other lyrics include the lines “I know that a woman’s duty is to help and love a man, and that’s the way, it was planned/ Oh but how can I how can I how can I/ Give you all the things I have/ If you’re tying both of my hands”.

It might also have been particularly personal for Carolyn: she told Aretha’s biographer David Ritz that Erma and Aretha were “chasing after boys when I was discovering that my romantic preference went in an entirely different direction… it took me a long time to find my own identity and voice”. In Ritz’s biography, Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, Erma is quoted as saying of Carolyn, “I consider her a great woman… She went her own way, lived her own life, and found freedom in her individuality.”

Yet Detroit-based bassist Ralphe Armstrong disagreed with Martone’s reading of Ain’t No Way when interviewed for The Guardian’s recent profile of Carolyn Franklin, claiming “It’s just a love song about having a broken heart.” Martone tells BBC Culture that he still maintains his stance. “The beautiful thing is that music is open to interpretation. Ain’t No Way certainly works on a level where it applies to Aretha’s deteriorating marriage to Ted White when Aretha sings it. But it also works on another level, and I believe that was by design. I don’t have to be right or wrong, but there’s room to see the song through multiple lenses and explore them.”

According to Dr Uju Anya, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University with a focus on critical applied linguistics through feminist and queer perspectives, it’s possible to overlook the queer elements in Ain’t No Way because it belongs to a genre with a predominant “woman struggling in love with a man” trope. But, she argues, there is a “trickery” to the song. Dr Anya claims that the singer is pleading her case to her lover (another woman) throughout the song, with the chorus functioning in two ways: the protagonist telling her lover “I want to love you but you won’t let me” and, at the same time, “describing herself: ain’t no way I’m gonna love the way that is expected of me.” Ain’t No Way, says Dr Anya, can be “just a love song about having a broken heart” – and still be a queer love song.

Carolyn (centre) sang as part of the Soul Food Chorus in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers (Credit: Alamy)

 

Rather than being queer coded, Dr Anya suggests, in the song “it [the queer element] was hiding in plain sight”. If that’s the case, it could be because the default perception of art is often through a heterosexual lens and the song was recorded by Aretha Franklin. Regardless, Ain’t No Way and Carolyn Franklin merit recognition as one of the earliest forms of black queer representation in mainstream music alongside Ma RaineyBessie SmithBillie HolidaySister Rosetta TharpeJackie ShaneGladys Bentley, and Sylvester James Jr.

A new life

Although Aretha Franklin performed Ain’t No Way sparingly throughout her luminous musical career, the song has taken on new lives with beautiful renditions by Patti LaBelle, Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston, and Mary J Blige. Performances by newer singers like Jennifer Hudson, Amber Riley, Ledisi Anibade, Sisaundra Lewis, Vanessa Haynes, and Cynthia Erivo have reintroduced it to a new generation.

However, because of Ain’t No Way’s ability to transcend sexuality, and it being performed mostly by non-queer singers over the years (Mary J Blige switched the lyrics to “How can I give him all the things I can, when he is tying both of my hands”, inserting masculine pronouns instead of the more ambiguous “you”, at a 1999 performance with Whitney Houston), the song is gradually losing its queer roots. It has fallen through the cracks in conversations about LGBTQ representation in the media and is omitted in round-ups of queer love songs and Pride anthems by Rolling StoneEsquireGLAADGay Times, and Buzzfeed despite its significance and popularity.

The upcoming film Respect stars Hailey Kilgore as Carolyn Franklin, Jennifer Hudson as Aretha and Saycon Sengbloh as Erma (Credit: MGM)

 

Carolyn Franklin died on 25 April 1988, shortly after she was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in music. She deserves to be remembered for penning one of the greatest love songs of all time. Carolyn’s resolution to live and document her truth unapologetically – knowing full well the stakes of challenging conventions in 20th-Century America – is remarkable.

Respect, a movie based on Aretha Franklin’s life and directed by South African-born Liesl Tommy, is due to be released later this year. Its cast includes Jennifer Hudson, Mary J Blige and Forest Whitaker. The Tony Award-nominated actress, Hailey Kilgore, will play Carolyn Franklin – perhaps, at last, giving her the representation she’s due.

While 71 countries still criminalise same-sex relationships, with 11 retaining the death penalty as punishment, as Pride Month comes to an end, it is worth revisiting a 53-year-old ballad that offered an alternative vision of love for generations that followed.

If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Culture, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.

And if you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called The Essential List. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

You may also like

70 comments

WilliamKeego 28 يوليو، 2021 - 6:12 م

best online dating sites
cara delevingne dating history

Reply
WilliamKeego 29 يوليو، 2021 - 8:44 م Reply
what keto diet 7 أغسطس، 2021 - 3:35 م

keto plus diet pills https://ketorecipesnew.com/

Reply
KevinPep 9 أغسطس، 2021 - 5:22 ص

gay dating av
gay dating hookup sites
gay smell dating

Reply
gay dating turkey 9 أغسطس، 2021 - 11:37 ص

best gay bear dating sites https://gaychatrooms.org/

Reply
gay dating albany, ny 9 أغسطس، 2021 - 1:44 م

gay senior online dating https://gaychatgay.com/

Reply
dating older man gay 9 أغسطس، 2021 - 5:47 م

gay christians dating https://gaychatus.com/

Reply
KevinPep 11 أغسطس، 2021 - 1:00 م

free gay sugar daddy dating
gay dating contest model
all gay dating sites

Reply
KevinPep 13 أغسطس، 2021 - 7:28 ص

first steps of gay dating
gay christian dating services
gay dating site for bears

Reply
KevinPep 14 أغسطس، 2021 - 11:22 ص

gay dating games like hunipop
interracial gay dating sits
gay dating sites android

Reply
KevinPep 16 أغسطس، 2021 - 5:17 ص

best cities for gay dating
hairy gay dating
indian gay dating

Reply
KevinPep 17 أغسطس، 2021 - 9:09 ص

gay asian dating san francisco
gay pagan dating los angeles
corny gay dating jokes

Reply
is being dating a trans guy gay 1 سبتمبر، 2021 - 11:26 م

gay dating sites san francisco https://freegaychatnew.com/

Reply
Patrickwor 2 سبتمبر، 2021 - 1:43 م

gay dating a younger guy
dating around gay
chasabl gay dating

Reply
Patrickwor 4 سبتمبر، 2021 - 10:07 ص

online gay dating sites free
gay latinos pics dating site
gay dating sites in india

Reply
Patrickwor 5 سبتمبر، 2021 - 3:29 م

bear gay dating sites
dating for gay daddies
usa black gay dating

Reply
Michaelsig 7 سبتمبر، 2021 - 12:09 م

iowa gay dating site
gay dating younger guys
minnesota gay dating site

Reply
gay dating sites t 8 سبتمبر، 2021 - 10:22 م

free gay dating sites and sites https://gaydatinglosangeles.com/

Reply
gay guy dating a ftm 9 سبتمبر، 2021 - 1:06 ص

the villages florida,gay dating https://gayonlinedating.net/

Reply
gay asian dating 9 سبتمبر، 2021 - 12:18 م

gay online dating series logo https://dating-gaym.com/

Reply
Henrytiz 9 سبتمبر، 2021 - 12:39 م

gay dating hemet,ca
gay teen dating age gap
grinder online gay dating

Reply
Henrytiz 12 سبتمبر، 2021 - 10:35 ص

gay lesbian transgender dating
good free gay dating websites
nz gay dating sites

Reply
Henrytiz 14 سبتمبر، 2021 - 4:41 ص

gay jehovah witnesses dating
lancaster sc gay dating
gay buddhist dating site

Reply
Henrytiz 15 سبتمبر، 2021 - 8:28 ص

free gay sex dating sites
lavender gay dating site review
gay dating indonesia

Reply
gay dating and parents 27 سبتمبر، 2021 - 9:58 ص

wealthy gay men dating site https://gayedating.com/

Reply
writing essays online 28 سبتمبر، 2021 - 11:07 م

write my essay 4 me https://essaywritercentral.com/

Reply
writing essay services 29 سبتمبر، 2021 - 7:46 ص

legitimate essay writing service https://essayghostwriter.com/

Reply
GustavoDab 11 أكتوبر، 2021 - 6:33 م

paper for sale
dissertations online

Reply
what to write college essay on 11 أكتوبر، 2021 - 11:07 م

writing essay service https://essaytag.com/

Reply
writing a college essay 12 أكتوبر، 2021 - 8:24 ص

writing essays for money https://essaypoints.com/

Reply
what to write about in a college essay 15 أكتوبر، 2021 - 12:03 ص

write an essay online https://online2casino.com/

Reply
play bingo for real money 19 أكتوبر، 2021 - 11:07 م

free online games to win real money no deposit https://onlinecasinos4me.com/

Reply
online casino best bonus 26 أكتوبر، 2021 - 3:30 م

free casino bonus https://casinoonlinek.com/

Reply
top us online casino 27 أكتوبر، 2021 - 11:48 ص

online mobile casino https://onlinecasinoad.com/

Reply
writing college essays 29 أكتوبر، 2021 - 6:33 م

essay writing sites https://multiessay.com/

Reply
write an expository essay 30 أكتوبر، 2021 - 5:42 ص

writing a narrative essay about yourself https://dollaressays.com/

Reply
help with essay writing 30 أكتوبر، 2021 - 12:13 م

writing expository essay https://essaytodo.com/

Reply
write an analytical essay 30 أكتوبر، 2021 - 2:57 م

argument essay writing https://buy1essay.com/

Reply
BrandonCeF 6 نوفمبر، 2021 - 9:15 ص

outline for expository essay
define essay
how to write a introduction for an essay

Reply
DonaldKiz 8 نوفمبر، 2021 - 10:08 ص

another word for says in an essay
help writing college essay
how long should an essay be

Reply
gravity falls sex games 24 نوفمبر، 2021 - 4:08 م Reply
bunny sex games 24 نوفمبر، 2021 - 8:36 م

sex games for xbox 360 https://sexgameszone.com/

Reply
real wife stories sex games houston 26 نوفمبر، 2021 - 12:24 م

free sex pc games https://sexgamesx.net/

Reply
batman sex games 27 نوفمبر، 2021 - 12:51 ص

gay sex flash games https://sexygamess.com/

Reply
Donaldwaimi 30 نوفمبر، 2021 - 9:44 م

incest sex games hentai
naughty games cruise ship sex
couples playing sex games

Reply
RonaldLoato 4 ديسمبر، 2021 - 9:26 ص

naked family sex games
adult sex games for phone
free sex games futa lesbian

Reply
free phone vpn g 17 يناير، 2022 - 4:05 م

free vpn for macbook
best vpn value
free vpn unlimited

Reply
argumentative essay format n 24 يناير، 2022 - 4:33 ص

essay grammar check
what is an essay outline
how to make an essay longer

Reply
reflection essay n 25 يناير، 2022 - 3:11 ص

essay creator
spongebob essay
topics for an opinion essay

Reply
asian gay chat phone lines free q 26 يناير، 2022 - 1:30 ص

gay phone chat line free trial
gay web chat
black bottom gay chat

Reply
gay dating sit w 26 يناير، 2022 - 11:23 م

chub mature gay bisexual dating
gay dating charlotte nc
older gay men dating sites

Reply
gay dating web sites denver. co d 27 يناير، 2022 - 4:11 م

gay dating site free
squirt gay hook up dating cruising and sex site
gay male dating sites

Reply
free gay dating websites y 28 يناير، 2022 - 8:36 ص

100% free gay sex dating
gay dating controlling macho
browse gay dating ads

Reply
torrington ct gay dating f 29 يناير، 2022 - 12:54 ص

gay dating richland, wa
michael dinsmore gay dating
gay dating profile “always-looking”

Reply
keto diet dr josh axe o 1 فبراير، 2022 - 10:39 ص

youtube keto diet
keto diet work
keto diet epilepsy

Reply
keto diet fast food u 2 فبراير، 2022 - 8:33 ص

is diet soda keto
keto diet review
define keto diet

Reply
dave palumbo keto diet g 3 فبراير، 2022 - 5:38 ص

keto diet overview
keto diet cheese
whats the keto diet

Reply
best free casino bonus no deposit w 4 فبراير، 2022 - 3:01 ص

free welcome bonus no deposit casino
kasino bonus
more casino games

Reply
critical thinking in spanish u 13 فبراير، 2022 - 8:25 ص

hesi a2 critical thinking
novice critical thinking
creative and critical thinking

Reply
vpn with free trial b 16 فبراير، 2022 - 2:43 ص

vpn browser
best vpn netflix
best us vpn service

Reply
Kirstieaot 17 مايو، 2022 - 5:22 م

sample dissertation prospectus
how to cite a dissertation chicago
chicago dissertation citation

Reply
Charlaeaot 19 مايو، 2022 - 9:24 م

online dissertation help gottingen
uk dissertation writing services
social work dissertation help

Reply
betmate 30 مايو، 2022 - 12:18 ص

이용이유가생기는곳 먹튀검증 안전노리터 go

Reply
Cyndiaeaot 15 يونيو، 2022 - 8:59 ص

free vegas world
reel deal slots
free slots to play for fun

Reply
Cyndiaeaot 15 يونيو، 2022 - 12:28 م

ruby slots casino login
free slots games to download
slot 777

Reply
Paolinaeaot 16 يونيو، 2022 - 7:33 ص

slots for fun only
igt slots free play igt slot machines online
online slots that pay real money

Reply
Twylaeaot 17 يونيو، 2022 - 3:14 ص

yahoo slots farm
igt slot machine games for ipad realmoneyonlyhr
free reel slots online

Reply
Adrianaeaot 18 يونيو، 2022 - 9:56 م

777 casino
slots of vegas casino
caesars casino online

Reply
Ingunnaeaot 20 يونيو، 2022 - 4:06 م

ceasars slots
doubledown casino slots
real money slots online

Reply
Jannelleeaot 21 يونيو، 2022 - 3:04 م

in the money slots
freevegaspennyslots
play sizzling 7 slots free

Reply

Leave a Comment

Editor-in-Chief: Nabil El-bkaili

CANADAVOICE is a free website  officially registered in NS / Canada.

 We are talking about CANADA’S international relations and their repercussions on

peace in the world.

 We care about matters related to asylum ,  refugees , immigration and their role in the development of CANADA.

We care about the economic and Culture movement and living in CANADA and the economic activity and its development in NOVA  SCOTIA and all Canadian provinces.

 CANADA VOICE is THE VOICE OF CANADA to the world

Published By : 4381689 CANADA VOICE \ EPUBLISHING \ NEWS – MEDIA WEBSITE

Tegistry id 438173 NS-HALIFAX

1013-5565 Nora Bernard str B3K 5K9  NS – Halifax  Canada

1 902 2217137 –

Email: nelbkaili@yahoo.com 

 

Editor-in-Chief : Nabil El-bkaili
-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00