An Example of An Answer/Response Song

Decatur, Illinois

August 22, 2021

Nightclub and R&B artist Damita Jo answers Ben E. King's Stand By Me with I'll Be there. Answer songs died out a long time ago but they were popular when these songs were hits in the summer of '61. It's a true answer song done in the Brill Building production style of Stand By Me and any number of Drifters songs. The lilting, almost Latin rhythm, the strings and percussion all in that Drifter's style. The melody stays close to Stand By Me so there was no doubt she was answering Ben E. King's plea. A minor song and no match for the song it's answering, but a fun example of an answer song.

Here’s another example: