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James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.
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This is the man convicted and jailed for, amongst other things, firearms offences, assault, gunpoint rape, possession and sale of illegal narcotics and domestic violence and battery?
Yeah, sad loss.
-------------------- This is where I come up with something right? Something really clever... Posts: 6552 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: This is the man convicted and jailed for, amongst other things, firearms offences, assault, gunpoint rape, possession and sale of illegal narcotics and domestic violence and battery?
Yeah, sad loss.
Yes, he had a criminal record. But he served his time, cleaned himself up, and continued on. However, I choose to remember his music.
-------------------- NO BETTER FRIEND, NO WORSE ENEMY -- "I grok when apes learn to laugh, they'll be people." Posts: 727 | From: Southeastern Arizona | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: This is the man convicted and jailed for, amongst other things, firearms offences, assault, gunpoint rape, possession and sale of illegal narcotics and domestic violence and battery?
Yeah, sad loss.
Yes, he had a criminal record. But he served his time, cleaned himself up, and continued on.
No he didn't, the convictions kept coming. I barely had to search to find another assault conviction dated 2005. Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
-------------------- This is where I come up with something right? Something really clever... Posts: 6552 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2002
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I should feel like a terrible person for chuckling over his passing, but only because yesteday I read an article where his agent said he'd be well enough to do a new year concert. I guess he was dead wrong (I am so bad!)
I don't feel so bad now though because I didn't know he was a rapist
-------------------- ~All we see or seem is but a dream within a dream~ E.A.Poe
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. ~James Dean~ Posts: 516 | From: Anderson, Indiana | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:Originally posted by happyholidaysfrog: I should feel like a terrible person for chuckling over his passing, but only because yesteday I read an article where his agent said he'd be well enough to do a new year concert. I guess he was dead wrong (I am so bad!)
I don't feel so bad now though because I didn't know he was a rapist
I feel gooood "Actually no I don't. Somebody call an ambulance!"
-------------------- "Ladies and gentlemen, this is what is commonly known as money. It comes in all sizes, colours, and denominations - like people." Posts: 997 | From: Maidstone, UK | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:Originally posted by happyholidaysfrog: I should feel like a terrible person for chuckling over his passing, but only because yesteday I read an article where his agent said he'd be well enough to do a new year concert. I guess he was dead wrong (I am so bad!)
I don't feel so bad now though because I didn't know he was a rapist
I can't find anything that indicates that he was.
-------------------- "Who needs the Bible? I've got this magic 8-ball." Posts: 354 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Oct 2003
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quote:Originally posted by happyholidaysfrog: I should feel like a terrible person for chuckling over his passing, but only because yesteday I read an article where his agent said he'd be well enough to do a new year concert. I guess he was dead wrong (I am so bad!)
I don't feel so bad now though because I didn't know he was a rapist
-------------------- "Ladies and gentlemen, this is what is commonly known as money. It comes in all sizes, colours, and denominations - like people." Posts: 997 | From: Maidstone, UK | Registered: Jun 2006
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The case was thrown out of federal court on a statute of limitations issue, but the plaintiff has appealed to the Supreme Court. Link
-------------------- How homophobic do you have to be to have penguin gaydar? - Lewis Black Posts: 8322 | From: Columbus, OH | Registered: Aug 2005
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I find all this levity shocking. Absolutely shocking. And also a relief, since my suggestion for my trivia team's name tonight is, "Poppa's Got a Brand New Bodybag".
quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
-------------------- The salty fragrance of L’EauD’I’mNotDedalus - made entirely of and entirely for sea turtles. Posts: 1983 | From: Chicagoland, IL | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
I can see where Jay Tea is coming from. I have no real opinion one way or another on James Brown but I know when the time comes for tributes to pour in upon the demise of men like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski I will be sitting in a corner reminding anyone who's willing to listen that the men were scum. Talented, ok, but scum nonetheless.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
well said. The only person I've been rather uncomfortable with in this way was Mel Gibson. When I saw the trailer for apoctolypto on the big screen, I cringed inside.
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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When I told my folks that James Brown had died, my husband, son and older grandson started sock-skating on the dining area/kitchen floor while singing "I Feel Good." Of course, they had already been doing that Christmas Eve night. The men in my family are crazy. Or something. I guess the women are, too, because they have me on the Christmas morning tape saying, "Well, I guess he won't be beating any more wives, now will he?" That's the first thing that popped into my head - perhaps colored by my own past experiences. I still felt bad thinking it, though, because I'm sure there must be some people who love him and will miss him.
-------------------- "This air we're breathing. Oxygen, isn't it?"~I’mNotDedalus, impersonating Vincent D’Onofrio.|"Sometimes trying to communicate can be like walking through a minefield."~wanderwoman "Give people a break. It's not easy doing a life."~Joshua Halberstam Posts: 4020 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
No, it doesn't.
were this an announcement about the music, the focus would be on the music. this announcement is of the death of the man, and so it is appropriate to reflect on the character of that man. and that character appears to have been a bit of a tosser to put it mildly.
-------------------- Hello, I love you - won't you tell me your name? Hello! I'm good for nothing - will you love me just the same?
quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inverterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
No, it doesn't.
were this an announcement about the music, the focus would be on the music. this announcement is of the death of the man, and so it is appropriate to reflect on the character of that man. and that character appears to have been a bit of a tosser to put it mildly.
Sure, but it's obvious that people will bring up his musical legacy,yeah?
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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this is true, in that were it not for the music I doubt we would know he lived, let alone that he'd died. but I seem to run into the attidude any time an "artist" dies of "his personal life is secondary, let's talk about the music". if the man has died and we're talking about it this is surely one time more than any other when the man himself should be central.
-------------------- Hello, I love you - won't you tell me your name? Hello! I'm good for nothing - will you love me just the same?
Sara at home
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
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OTOH, he had his 15th Annual toy giveaway on December 22. And today on NPR I heard reruns of old interviews with musicians who got their start in his band. They believe that he gave them a chance in music, got them off the streets and taught them the discipline they needed to be successful in life.
Like many -- most? -- people, James Brown was a mixed bag.
-------------------- Assume that all my posts will be edited at least once. Dyslexic -- can't spell, can't type, can't proofread. Posts: 8317 | From: Reading, PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, I for one liked his music and was sad to hear about his death. He had an upcoming show in my town and I was thinking about going to see it.
I don't have a choice now .
-------------------- Licorice of the Lord! This is classy stuff...Should I be wearing a tie? Or, at least, pants? ~I'mNotDedalus Posts: 975 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Sara Claus at home: OTOH, he had his 15th Annual toy giveaway on December 22. And today on NPR I heard reruns of old interviews with musicians who got their start in his band. They believe that he gave them a chance in music, got them off the streets and taught them the discipline they needed to be successful in life.
Like many -- most? -- people, James Brown was a mixed bag.
You've summed it up the best
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Jay Tea: Remember the music, sure, but don't gloss over the fact that the guy was an inveterate scumbag as well...
Why? What purpose does it serve?
This, naturally, lends itself to the old debate whether art should be intrinsically hinged with the artist's biography.
'Old debate' ? The long winter nights must fly by in your cabin
As far as i'm concerned, had the man been less of a violent, drug-addled woman-hater he'd have been a thousand times more laudable a human during his life than merely being memorable for shrieking and doing jumping jacks on a fecking stage. 'Seperate the art from the man' if you will but my lack of desire to do so in this thread isn't up for debate.
The 'purpose' of my rants in threads like these is merely to foreground my personal annoyance at people who are prepared to gloss over salient evils in a person's life. Purpose enough for me.
I'm sorry but no amount of funk/soul innovation should put a sheen on such a tarnished soul.
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He was influencial in music too, you know. If he isn't then who do you think should be recognized for their contribution to the world of R&B and soul? Brown was more than "Shrieking and doing jumping jacks on a fecking stage"
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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[Brown meets Emperor Joseph II:] I'm a vulgar man. But I assure you, my music is not... Wait, scratch that. My music is vulgar too. But it did define funk & soul for many years.
Posts: 4922 | From: Kyoto, Japan | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Freshman: He was influencial in music too, you know. If he isn't then who do you think should be recognized for their contribution to the world of R&B and soul? Brown was more than "Shrieking and doing jumping jacks on a fecking stage"
Not to me he wasn't, whereas a man prepared to live by certain standards and treat people with respect and dignity certainly would be more than that. I understand that he was an influential musician but you must understand that this means sweet fa to me. Are you saying his musical talent outweighs the personal pain and suffering he meted out to people throughout his life?
If you want to use this thread as a memorial or a tribute then fine, just allow me my perspective. You could work tirelessly to cure cancer, but what sort of person are you if you then go home and slap your wife in the mouth?
-------------------- This is where I come up with something right? Something really clever... Posts: 6552 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2002
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Okay, we can have a treuce. As for the treating people with respect though, Sarah said that musicians interviewed on NPR said Brown gave them a chance and taught them discipline, etc. So yes, he is a mixed bag: more bad than good though
-------------------- "High-Five!" - Borat Posts: 1056 | From: Racine, WI | Registered: Jun 2006
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