Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Papas Got a Brand New Bag...

The Godfather of Soul has died...and what a
sad sad day it is...I can remember wearin' out
my Mother's carpet dancing the Mashed Potatos
to the music of James Brown...I can remember
the feeling of nervous pride as I sang along to
"Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud"....It's
difficult to believe that that statement, at the
time, was considered militant...I remember
hearing the song "Hotpants" playing in my head
as I watched women and men's booties go
ba-dunka-dunk-dunk in skintight, brightly colored
shorts as they strolled down the street..and
"Livin' In America" was an anthem I found myself
singing...and dancing to.

JB did have his problems...reform school as a child...
abusing drugs and alcohol...spousal abuse. Let's face
it...the man was no saint....

But he could perform...man could he perform.

When I look back on my life...I know that James
Brown had a hand in how I see myself and how I
see the world around me....

Now...Papas got a brand new bag.

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