Aretha Franklin - Think

Year Released: 1968
Genre: Soul / Funk / R&B

Description:

Released in 1968 on Atlantic Records, “Think” is one of Aretha Franklin’s most electrifying performances — a defiant, high-energy soul anthem driven by piano stabs, fiery horns, and her unmistakable vocal command. Recorded with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, it stands as both a feminist rallying cry and a dancefloor classic.

Beyond its chart-topping success, “Think” gained renewed cultural life through Aretha Franklin’s appearance in The Blues Brothers (1980), where she performed the song in an unforgettable diner scene — introducing a new generation to her power and charisma.

In hip-hop, the song’s vocal shouts and rhythmic phrasing have been sampled by A Tribe Called Quest on “Can I Kick It?” (1990), where its spirit of freedom and defiance echoed through the group’s jazzy, laid-back groove.

The single remains one of the most instantly recognizable and socially resonant recordings of the late 1960s — a fusion of gospel passion, funk precision, and pure soul attitude that continues to inspire artists across genres.