A totally trivial thread, since I'm stuck in this blizzard with nothing else to do:

You know that thing where Prince says something like "Good God!"? Maybe Shelby says it, maybe it's a sample... I'm not even sure that's what is being said.

Anyway, where did it come from... Any particular song?

Stay warm.

the "good God" phrase is taken from James Brown...

Afaik..

thedance said:

the "good God" phrase is taken from James Brown...

Afaik..

Oh yeah, that makes sense. Thanks!

Often wondered where this came from... thought it originated with George Clinton. Didn't know about James Brown.

Pretty sure it's a cue originally used by James Brown, indicating the continuation of a jam/beat after a stop.

It is also used to indicate the tempo of the beat, as the two words usually combine to two eights in a bar; - the 4th and the 5th, to be precise. So, the singer would think as follows: "1 and 2 good god and 4 and", while the band would therefore be able to join in on the 4 already.




.

[Edited 1/6/14 9:07am]

It just sounded so wrong when Sheila E. said it in her 80's performances.

it's best to hear the live versions from the purple rain tour of "possessed" and "baby i'm a star". exciting jams they were

Yo, James Brown didn't invent that phrase... it's pretty common, actually... like "Good Lord" or "Good Grief".

Giovanni777 said:

Yo, James Brown didn't invent that phrase... it's pretty common, actually... like "Good Lord" or "Good Grief".

Have you heard it used as a musical cue before he did, though? I don't think I have...

Dave1992 said:

Giovanni777 said:

Yo, James Brown didn't invent that phrase... it's pretty common, actually... like "Good Lord" or "Good Grief".

Have you heard it used as a musical cue before he did, though? I don't think I have...

.

Good point! No, I don't think I've heard it used that way previous to James Brown, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was done in Gospel music before JB.

.

[Edited 1/6/14 11:16am]