| Respect | |
| Cover: | Respect_(Alliance_Ethnik).jpg |
| Caption: | Artwork by Number 6 |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Alliance Ethnik |
| Album: | Simple et Funky |
| B-Side: | Instrumental, Remix |
| Released: | 10 January 1995 |
| Genre: | R&B, funk |
| Length: | 4:21 |
| Label: | Virgin, Delabel |
| Producer: | Bob Power |
| Next Title: | Simple & Funky |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
"Respect" is a 1995 song recorded by French hip hop act Alliance Ethnik. It was the first single from his album Respect, and was released in January 1995. It achieved success in several countries, including France and Belgium where it was a top three hit. The song was Alliance Ethnik's biggest hit to date and can be deemed as its signature song.
After a 30-second introduction using the sound of a radio, the song contains several samples from songs such as "It's Good to Be the King Rap Pt 1" by Mel Brooks, "Back Together Again" by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway[1] and a small interpolation of "Life's a Bitch" of American rapper Nas. The verses, performed by K-mel, are in French, while other verses and the refrains are sung by Vinia Mojica in English. The male singer has a delivery "which makes use of words and onomatopoeia with and joviality". This single is "festive and optimistic", and uses the repertoire of the 1980s rap.[2] The music video was shot in black and white.
"Respect" had a success on the French SNEP Singles Chart (top 50), where it ranked for 33 weeks; it debuted at number 13 on 28 January 1995, then entered in the top ten where it remained for 22 weeks, with a peak at number two for four consecutive weeks, behind The Cranberries' hit "Zombie". It achieved Gold status awarded by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. In Belgium (Wallonia), it was number one for a sole week, and remained for 17 weeks in the top ten and 24 weeks in the top 40. In Belgium (Flanders), Sweden and Austria, "Respect" achieved a moderate success where it was a top 25 hit. In Germany, it achieved only a low charts positions.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart[3] | 25 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 25 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 1 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] | 18 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 2 |
| German Singles Chart | 72 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 30 |
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[5] | 4 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 52 |
| French Singles Chart[6] | 5 |