The Godfather of Soul
You can’t write about rock music without at least mentioning James Brown. I never saw him performing in person but I had listened to him sing and saw him on television–I think. But I just watched and listened to him doing Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.
I never knew what the words to this song meant. Who is “Papa” and what does “got a brand new bag” mean? I just looked up the lyrics and they are pure soul-talking in a dialect I can’t recognize. It’s about dancing some of the new dances, that’s all I can make out. But just take a look at you tube and watch James Brown perform. Gorgeous clothes, the kind white guys never wear–shoes that look Italian, very sleek and shiny. His dancing–impeccable.
However, there was also “I Feel Good.” Now we’re cooking, as my grandmother used to say. They used it in the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, Robin Williams making up these crazy words about dinosaurs and he thinks he’s alone but the boss comes along…
As a part of our private family mythology, the song has a place. Everything can be quiet and ordinary and suddenly Peter will turn on his heel, do some kind of crazy dance steps and sing, really loud: “I FEEEEEL GOOD! I KNEW THAT I WOULD! I FEEEEEL GOOD! I KNEW THAT I WOULD! SO GOOD–SO GOOD–I’VE GOT YOU!!!! I FEEEEEL NICE! SUGAR AND SPICE!!! I FEEEEEL NICE!! SUGAR AND SPICE!! SO NICE–SO NICE I’VE GOT YOU…”
Then Michael and I would fall apart, laughing. Peter had a good sense of timing in doing this little singing act at exactly the right time.
It is considered by the music community that James Brown was actually the founder of funk music.
lgmwriting 