Korean Job Discussion Forums

Benicio · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:23 am Post subject:

James, man, James!

Like many a genius, an incredibly flawed human being!
Arrogant pr1ck? Yes.
A bit psycho? Yes.
Problems in relationships with women? Bingo, muthaf*****!

He was truly great as only a real, I mean real, bandleader can be. To lead a band of great musicians with skill and flair that just electrifies a crowd- that's a very rare talent that most of us humans do not possess.
He had some great bands with some stellar talent. Did he give them proper credit? No. He wouldn't even put their names on the albums. He was a tyrant, yes, but what musician in the funk and soul genre wouldn't give their eye teeth to do the tour of duty with soul brother number one?
I sure would have!
He was truly f***ed up with women. Yes, but there's lots of those characters in the music world- Ike Turner, Axl Rose, Chuck Berry, the list goes on and on.

He was the man! That's all there is!

Like Miles Davis, was with his different jazz bands, bringing in the new, young talent, letting them show their stuff and earn their places, then setting them free to do it like they do it- the same as Frank Zappa did with the avante garde musicians- James did it for the funk world. For that, we will be truly greatful!

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

I was shocked to see the news when I got up this morning.

He was incredible, as I told my students when I was teaching American music this past spring. All of the hip-hop, rap, techno you listen to even by Korean musicans got its origins with him

Saw him in Seoul in Feb, I was amazed with his energy, one of the highest energy shows i've ever been to next to Spingsteen's marathons shows.

A legend we all need to teach the next generation about

kermo · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

I'm so glad I went out to see him when he visited Korea this year! I wrote a concert review back in February, if anyone's interested.

As for his musical talent, I think Jinju has missed the point entirely with his tut-tutting about "no melody." Melody schmelody! It's funk! This guy was a ground-breaker-- I think this greatest innovation was turning his horn section into a percussive section, using the blasts to punctuate the beats. I can't explain it as precisely as I'd like to, but I don't think there's any doubt that James had originality and SOUL.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject:

i don't mean this in any bad way, but i thought he passed away a few years ago. guess i was wrong.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

The Wikipedia article gives a good summary of the ups and downs of his legendary life and career. I'm sure that a movie based on his life - probably starring Jamie Fox - will come out before too long ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown

stumptown · Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:37 pm Post subject:

I remember reading an interview with Bootsy Collins in Bass Player magazine years ago and he talked about how their recording sessions with James would be intense because they would all be wasted on acid and couldn't read the notes on the music. He also mentioned how JB would fine them $100 if their shoes weren't shined enough, but the next day give them a $200 bonus.
His stuff will live on forever and never be paralleled. One of my favorite "blaxploitation" films was "Black Caesar." JB did the soundtrack and Fred Williamson was the star. Great music and great story.

Greekfreak · Joined: 25 May 2003

Nobody in this country loved James Brown more than me--he was a legend in every sense of the word.

Not many musical artists have 'invented' a genre, or at least owned one so completely. Without James Brown, there would be no Sly Stone, Prince, Cameo, Rick James, Bootsy Collins, Parliament, MC5, Jane's Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Graham Central Station, Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew", just about every hip hop/rap artist alive and dead, De La Soul...

Er, scratch that last one off.

The unfortunate thing is watching so many people walking around with a 'Peace Love Power' shirt who haven't had the pleasure to listen to the brilliance of that live album.

Soul just doesn't get much better than this------Check out 5 minutes of absolute brilliance at the 3:20 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USTilaOqNHM

JeJuJitsu · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's

James Brown was always my cure for depression. Throw on a JB album. Depression cured.

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

second that jejujitsu.. i remember studying for my finals in the library feeling pretty shitty about everything, and i put a james brown live album on my portable cd and the announcer starting up with the 'jaaaaaaaaaamesss brooooooooowwnnnn... the funky president! the hardest working man in showbusiness' etc etc... instant mile-wide grin on my face.
i was lucky enough to have seen him in seoul this very year. of course, i'm so glad i went now. despite thinking he was in shanghai (haha), he rocked the place for over 2 hours and danced like a mofo. what a legend. what an absolute legend...

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Yeolchae · Joined: 24 Aug 2006

Here is another great performance in case there are still doubters out there.

http://yeolchae.wordpress.com/2006/12/27/goodbye-to-a-true-legend-james-brown/