James Brown: Some Conclusions
James Brown Through 3 Different Decades
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Please Please Please - 1956
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Try Me - 1958
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Analyze/Examine
Think about the characteristics of this song: Instrumentation, Subject Matter, Genre, Vocals, ETC.
Think about the characteristics of this song: Instrumentation, Subject Matter, Genre, Vocals, ETC.
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Cold Sweat - 1967
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The Fred Wessley/Maceo Parker/ Pee Wee Ellis Horn section
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Analyze/ Examine:
Think about the Observations we made about Please Please Please and Try Me - In a Matter of 10 years most all of those things have evolved and changed into something different.
How Have they Changed?
Why have they Changed?
What Events were Important?
Which people were important?
Think about the Observations we made about Please Please Please and Try Me - In a Matter of 10 years most all of those things have evolved and changed into something different.
How Have they Changed?
Why have they Changed?
What Events were Important?
Which people were important?
Class Activity : Who Means It More?
Example 1
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3. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
3a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
4. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
4a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
5. Which artist Means it most?
5a. How could you tell from the song that they meant it more?
5a. How could you tell from the song that they meant it more?
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6. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
6a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
7. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
7a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
8. Which artist Means it most?
8a. How could you tell from the song that they meant it more?
8a. How could you tell from the song that they meant it more?
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9. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
9a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
10. In a Sentence, what the intended message of this song?
10a. Do You believe the Artist's feelings are coming from a true life experience? |
11. Which of these was a more authentic country song?
11a. How could you tell?
11a. How could you tell?
Is it Authentic? How do we Know?
Authentic: “Of Undisputed Origin: Genuine”
Genuine: “truly what something is said to be”
Sincere : “Preceding from Genuine feelings”
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
This is very prominent in regards to the blues -
Think of early blues musicians , or even the blues predecessors (work songs, hollers, chants). These are inspired by true life experience, the “music’ only ever happen as a result of the life situation they are put in (i.e. they wouldn’t’ even be singing these work songs if they weren’t force to work) so by definition they are an inspired by life experience - In this case, the oppression they were living in.
Genuine: “truly what something is said to be”
Sincere : “Preceding from Genuine feelings”
Inspired by genuine feelings and real experiences.
This is very prominent in regards to the blues -
Think of early blues musicians , or even the blues predecessors (work songs, hollers, chants). These are inspired by true life experience, the “music’ only ever happen as a result of the life situation they are put in (i.e. they wouldn’t’ even be singing these work songs if they weren’t force to work) so by definition they are an inspired by life experience - In this case, the oppression they were living in.
Quote from JB Docu: “His life personified the music, his music reflected his life experiences”
They gave great examples of this throughout the Documentary:
Early Career examples
“Please Please Please”
“Try Me”
What was his early career about? Just trying to make it!
Think about his what we learned about his childhood... he had JUST been released from prison....think about what we learned about his previous employment.... he wanted desperately just to succeed an be accepted!
Mid-Later Career
“Papa’s got a Brand New Bag”
Remember with the new Jazz influence ( think "Cold Sweat" vs. "Try me") in the 60's his music literally was 'brand new'
Late sixties during the height of the civil rights movements
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”
(This is the one he said he wrote when he got back to his hotel room after witnessing violence in new york city )
“I don’t want nobody to give me nothing, (open up the door and I’ll get it for myself”
Support of Nixon and Bootstrap economics
They gave great examples of this throughout the Documentary:
Early Career examples
“Please Please Please”
“Try Me”
What was his early career about? Just trying to make it!
Think about his what we learned about his childhood... he had JUST been released from prison....think about what we learned about his previous employment.... he wanted desperately just to succeed an be accepted!
Mid-Later Career
“Papa’s got a Brand New Bag”
Remember with the new Jazz influence ( think "Cold Sweat" vs. "Try me") in the 60's his music literally was 'brand new'
Late sixties during the height of the civil rights movements
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”
(This is the one he said he wrote when he got back to his hotel room after witnessing violence in new york city )
“I don’t want nobody to give me nothing, (open up the door and I’ll get it for myself”
Support of Nixon and Bootstrap economics
Concluding Questions about Authenticity
With James Brown, It is easy to look back researching his life and know that he was being Authentic, But can we do this with other artists?
For example,
12. What makes Country Song an Authentic Country song? or A Country Artist and Authentic Country Artist? Name A few...
12a . What Makes a Hip hop Song and Authentic Hip Hop Song? A Hip Hop artist ? Name A few...
13. Is it Important to you that an artist has lived through the experiences their songs are about?
14. Do you think all current artists today have lived through everything their songs are about?
For example,
12. What makes Country Song an Authentic Country song? or A Country Artist and Authentic Country Artist? Name A few...
12a . What Makes a Hip hop Song and Authentic Hip Hop Song? A Hip Hop artist ? Name A few...
13. Is it Important to you that an artist has lived through the experiences their songs are about?
14. Do you think all current artists today have lived through everything their songs are about?