“On the 3rd planet from the Sun, I’ve been trying to get the funky job done!”
Wow! Mighty Skip has just made my month! And in a month that includes Christmas that’s sayin’ something’. I really like James Brown and I am a big fan of his song, “Gravity.” I hesitate to say it’s my favorite. Even though it’s ridiculously overplayed, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” is truly great, and “Livin’ in America” is a personal favorite. I once wrote a letter to the first President Bush, encouraging him to make it our new national anthem. And there are a lot of other greats. “Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto” is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It gets a lot of airplay in the Firefly Household this time of year.
But “Gravity?!” This is truly, truly an awesome song. If you haven’t heard it, and unless you’re Porvaznik that’s likely, take 4 minutes out of your day and watch this video. Why am I so excited? I had no idea that J.B. had made a music video to this song. I had always wished one had been made, I even had scripted one in my mind (mine includes J.B., in professorial robes and a mortar board, tapping a blackboard in rhythm with a pointer), but I just assumed it hadn’t been done. With J.B. resting six feet below the soil of Augusta, Georgia I figured the window had closed.
But here it is! James Brown! “Gravity!” A lot of the original band is here. I’m not sure why he has Wesley Snipes in drag dancing next to him, but the band sounds tight and the man could still mash potato. In response to a comment made earlier by Mighty Skip I went to You Tube. I didn’t think I’d find anything, but I had a slim hope I could find one of those awful music videos where someone plays a scratchy album to a power-point of images that they think have something to do with the song. And I did find those there. But then I found this! The Godfather himself! In a real, honest to goodness video of the real, honest to goodness song. What I would not give to have been wearing a tux in his horn section that day! Too cool for school, indeed!
Thanks, J.B., and thanks Skip!
You’re welcome! And unfortunately I’m a work now (shssssh) so I cannot view any of these videos.
Along with “Livin’ in America,” most egregious omissions on the otherwise phenomenal James Brown Star Time! boxed set. Great video catch, Rufus!
Now I love our National Anthem. It’s a great song and I always shed one, manly tear when I hear it sung. It should always be our National Anthem. But, I think we should have a second National Anthem; one we can take out for less formal occassions, like sporting events. Just picture the Olympics. The Russians win a weight lifting contest and their guy stands on the tall podium and you hear their, plodding, boring anthem. The Germans win a swimming event, same thing. The Chinese… same thing. Now, you see an American athlete on the #1 podium, and those beautiful stars and stripes drop down behind her, and then you hear an electric guitar. And that beat. And then the horns kick in! “Livin’ in America, Baby!”
Now that would say something to the world! “Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere…just slide behind the wheel…
When there’s no destination – that’s too far
And somewhere on the way,
you might find out who you are…
Living in America – got to have a celebration!
Smokestack, fatback, many miles of railroad track…All night diners keep you awake, hey, on black coffee and a hard roll, You might have to walk the fine line, you might take the hard line But everybody’s working overtime!
…You might not be looking for the promised land, but you might find it anyway…”
And what are the last lines of the song?
“I feel good!”
Seriously, imagine that. That’s what this country is all about, and the rest of the world knows it. You play that at the Olympics and within 30 seconds the entire stadium would be on their feet, rockin’ to J.B.’s lyrics and that thumping bass guitar. And who wouldn’t want to live in that country. There’s nothing in the lyrics about free mediccal care, or a hand-out.
“Everybody’s working overtime!” That says almost as much about America as, “The home of the brave.”
My favorite is the much over heard “I Feel Good”. It’s one of those tunes that I could probably be at a funeral and still want to dance. I use it to mop my floors now.
Like I wrote, Tracy, it’s overplayed, but it is such a great song it might be un-overplayable. Although I can’t think of a single James Brown song that does not have the capability to not only wake the dead, but have the dead up and doing the pony.
Tracy, you should try “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” for mopping. Good rhythm to get the mop moving too and not quite as frenetic as “I Feel Good”.
“Funky Drummer.”
That is a great song but I’ve taken it off the rotation at the Firefly Household. We used to play it a lot and then when day I started paying attention to the lyrics and wondering what the kids made of it. I love how he says, “Get on Uppp-Ah.” While the background singer says, “get on up,” on the alternate beat.
But seriously, can you believe this “Gravity” video? How awesome is that? I also love how you can tell that James kind-a knows gravity has something to do with science, and he’s trying to make it seem like he knows what’s going on by mentioning the Sun, and Earth’s position in relation.
Rufus, I’m pleased, but not surprised, you’re the sort of parent who parents. Since we haven’t been blessed with kids I tend to forget about such things. On second thought, Tracy, you might want to be sure you use headphones if you use this as a motivational song. Now “Shake your money maker!” and get those floors clean! If you need help I can be there in a day or so.
Oh, yeah, the video is great. Great is too weak of a word but I’m tired and need more coffee.
Never get sick of watching James dance, especially because it reminds me where John Mellencamp stole all his moves. Prince, too, but he at least also remembers Little Richard.
Good point, and I never thought of it until you mentioned all 3 in the same sentence, but I don’t think any of ‘em are over 5′8″.
I was trying to avoid the midget references, but yeah, you’re right. Mellenhead’s the tallest and he’s mayyyyyybe 5′8″. His wife, on the other hand, damn near my height (six-one).
If we are changing anthems, the I nominate “Louie, Louie”.
No problem with the nom, RO, but isn’t that how the world (allegedly) views the ugly Americans: loud and unintelligible? Come to think of it, based on that, I second that emotion.
Too slow and it doesn’t have the word, “America” in it. At least I don’t think it does. Most of the lyrics are unintelligible.
Rufus, I had no idea you had such a funky soul. Makes me wanna jump back and kiss myself.