The man Ike Turner might have been, had he only gotten better press.
14 Replies to “James Brown”
I’m thinkin they screwed Ike over. That bitch needed a backhand…..did I say that with my outside voice?
Syncro
From my point of view, a musical icon is dead. That he had clay feet is no surprise.
Maybe the difference between his longevity in the music world and Ike’s is talent? Because based on Ike’s ex, I’m thinkin’ I know where the talent lies/lied/lay (whatever the grammatically correct word is).
How old was Priscilla when Elvis married her? Yet he’s still “The King” (gag).
So I’m okay with lamenting the passing of the “Godfather of Soul” but I agree that we shouldn’t turn him into a saint posthumously.
What is it about the art’ist community that seems to spawn personality disorders?
The only ones who I can think of as being on the straight and level are Country/Western singers and cowboy stars; with noted aceptions.
The heaven band just got the hardest workin’ front man in the biz.
It continues to amaze me how people in the entertainment business have all sorts of human weaknesses completely overlooked when people talk about their accomplishments. Its like their accomplishments are so GREAT that their faults don’t matter. Take Elvis – even Bing! Now James Brown did some bad things in his life but that doens’t matter – he was great! Al Sharpton was absolutely nauseating in his praise for Brown. But then Al is nauseating all the time.
James Brown was quite a talent but man did he have his issues! Oh well, the discussion now is
“_________” has a brand new band” enter “God” or “Satan”.
lament all you want, he was an entertainer and therefore nothing important in the big scheme of things.
Like any other entertainer, he was only important when it related to his particular field of endeavour. If the subject is “soul music”, Brown was important.
Entertainers are not unique in this, most people who specialise in one particular field are lacking in development of other skills. Ask a medical doctor for advice on the stock market some time, then don’t follow his advice, unless bankruptcy appeals to you.
As to personality disorders, entertainers are just indulged more than others, so can take their neurotic behaviour to extreme lengths. In the real world, people who act out their childishness are usually shot down in a big hurry by their peers.
The deification of entertainers and persons who are famous for being famous has always astounded me. The simple reply is “get a life”. Saint Princess Di, anyone?
Gunney 99, Country and Western stars are every bit as f***ed up as the other showbiz folks, they just have better publicity agents who stress the positive side of their personalities. Merle Haggard and George Jones were notorious pisstanks, and Hank Williams or Jerry Jeff Walker were hardly paragons of virtue.
Rock stars pander to “rebels without a cause”, so
their agents make damned sure any radical behaviour is front page.
If you were a fan of James Brown, his death is important, if not, there’s no need to “speak ill of the dead”. He was just an entertainer, and there are quite a few people in this world whose obituary I’d be much more pleased to read.
dmorris – good advice. Not that I would put James Brown in this category but does your rule apply when Saddam and Fidel slip the surly bonds? Just wondering.
adbob, Fidel and Saddam were two of those whose obits I’d prefer to see in my Sunday paper. Add Mr. Ahmadinejad to that list, too.
And anyone who commits heinous crimes can be ill spoken of after they shuffle off, as far as I’m concerned.
JB was just another flawed human who had a career in showbiz, and is thus, in some people’s eyes, elevated to a different status. I never cared for his music, but obviously a lot of people did.
JB was a hell of a performer and a deeply flawed human being….as many of us are. So be it.
Good rule of thumb dmorris. I suspect you may see two of those three obits before January 07 is over.
Syncro
James Brown got down for the last time. He made music that I and a lot of others enjoyed. The music—not his life. Who wouldn’t want a Van Gogh hangin’ on your wall? But would you want mad Vincent in your parlor? Wilson Pickett and Chuck Berry have had their days in court for a few non-musical reasons. But what music they produced! Know the difference between the art and the artist. Sheesh!
DT, How true!
Bear said . .
lament all you want, he was an entertainer and therefore nothing important in the big scheme of things.
Posted by: the bear at December 27, 2006 11:07 AM
Now that*s really missing the point.
I met James Brown and his back-up people on a GreyHound daytrip back from Bellingham Wa to Vancouver. Very reserved and good natured.
Days later, took in a live James Brown show at OilCan Harry*s vancouver.
Very extroverted and good natured. That was an excellent night out of fun. That man earned every cent he may have collected for that show.
I will never forget what James Brown gave us all that night. It is artists like him who make living in **The big scheme of things”” worthwhile. = TG
I’m thinkin they screwed Ike over. That bitch needed a backhand…..did I say that with my outside voice?
Syncro
From my point of view, a musical icon is dead. That he had clay feet is no surprise.
Maybe the difference between his longevity in the music world and Ike’s is talent? Because based on Ike’s ex, I’m thinkin’ I know where the talent lies/lied/lay (whatever the grammatically correct word is).
How old was Priscilla when Elvis married her? Yet he’s still “The King” (gag).
So I’m okay with lamenting the passing of the “Godfather of Soul” but I agree that we shouldn’t turn him into a saint posthumously.
What is it about the art’ist community that seems to spawn personality disorders?
The only ones who I can think of as being on the straight and level are Country/Western singers and cowboy stars; with noted aceptions.
The heaven band just got the hardest workin’ front man in the biz.
It continues to amaze me how people in the entertainment business have all sorts of human weaknesses completely overlooked when people talk about their accomplishments. Its like their accomplishments are so GREAT that their faults don’t matter. Take Elvis – even Bing! Now James Brown did some bad things in his life but that doens’t matter – he was great! Al Sharpton was absolutely nauseating in his praise for Brown. But then Al is nauseating all the time.
James Brown was quite a talent but man did he have his issues! Oh well, the discussion now is
“_________” has a brand new band” enter “God” or “Satan”.
lament all you want, he was an entertainer and therefore nothing important in the big scheme of things.
Like any other entertainer, he was only important when it related to his particular field of endeavour. If the subject is “soul music”, Brown was important.
Entertainers are not unique in this, most people who specialise in one particular field are lacking in development of other skills. Ask a medical doctor for advice on the stock market some time, then don’t follow his advice, unless bankruptcy appeals to you.
As to personality disorders, entertainers are just indulged more than others, so can take their neurotic behaviour to extreme lengths. In the real world, people who act out their childishness are usually shot down in a big hurry by their peers.
The deification of entertainers and persons who are famous for being famous has always astounded me. The simple reply is “get a life”. Saint Princess Di, anyone?
Gunney 99, Country and Western stars are every bit as f***ed up as the other showbiz folks, they just have better publicity agents who stress the positive side of their personalities. Merle Haggard and George Jones were notorious pisstanks, and Hank Williams or Jerry Jeff Walker were hardly paragons of virtue.
Rock stars pander to “rebels without a cause”, so
their agents make damned sure any radical behaviour is front page.
If you were a fan of James Brown, his death is important, if not, there’s no need to “speak ill of the dead”. He was just an entertainer, and there are quite a few people in this world whose obituary I’d be much more pleased to read.
dmorris – good advice. Not that I would put James Brown in this category but does your rule apply when Saddam and Fidel slip the surly bonds? Just wondering.
adbob, Fidel and Saddam were two of those whose obits I’d prefer to see in my Sunday paper. Add Mr. Ahmadinejad to that list, too.
And anyone who commits heinous crimes can be ill spoken of after they shuffle off, as far as I’m concerned.
JB was just another flawed human who had a career in showbiz, and is thus, in some people’s eyes, elevated to a different status. I never cared for his music, but obviously a lot of people did.
JB was a hell of a performer and a deeply flawed human being….as many of us are. So be it.
Good rule of thumb dmorris. I suspect you may see two of those three obits before January 07 is over.
Syncro
Profiteer Alert! Spike Lee to direct James Brown movie.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2006-12-27T084321Z_01_N26418289_RTRUKOC_0_US-BROWN-DEATH-FILM.xml&src=rss&rpc=81
The body’s not even cold, rat bastard.
Fan of James Brown ….. Hell Yes!
James Brown got down for the last time. He made music that I and a lot of others enjoyed. The music—not his life. Who wouldn’t want a Van Gogh hangin’ on your wall? But would you want mad Vincent in your parlor? Wilson Pickett and Chuck Berry have had their days in court for a few non-musical reasons. But what music they produced! Know the difference between the art and the artist. Sheesh!
DT, How true!
Bear said . .
lament all you want, he was an entertainer and therefore nothing important in the big scheme of things.
Posted by: the bear at December 27, 2006 11:07 AM
Now that*s really missing the point.
I met James Brown and his back-up people on a GreyHound daytrip back from Bellingham Wa to Vancouver. Very reserved and good natured.
Days later, took in a live James Brown show at OilCan Harry*s vancouver.
Very extroverted and good natured. That was an excellent night out of fun. That man earned every cent he may have collected for that show.
I will never forget what James Brown gave us all that night. It is artists like him who make living in **The big scheme of things”” worthwhile. = TG