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CNN: Special Investigations Unit — James Brown, Say It Proud' Click-2-Listen
CNN reminds us why James Brown loomed so large By JILL VEJNOSKA The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/05/07 Say it loud: There's still something interesting left to report about James Brown that doesn't concern the whereabouts of his body or the "where's mine?" grappling going on among his survivors. "James Brown: Say It Proud" is more interested in examining the life and legacy of the man who arguably invented funk and coined a musical rallying cry so entertainingly empowering — "Say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud" — that it appealed to more than just African-American audiences. DITA ALANGKARA/AP (ENLARGE) James Brown 'made it possible for us to do what we all do,' R&B singer Usher says in the documentary. TV REVIEW • 'CNN: Special Investigations Unit — James Brown, Say It Proud' • 8 p.m. Sat., CNN (repeats 8 p.m. Sun.) • Grade: B The one-hour documentary occasionally speaks in generalized niceties — when CNN anchor Don Lemon says, "He made everyone feel so good," you wonder if all of Brown's exes would agree — but it doesn't sugarcoat the legend. The arrest record is mentioned, along with an anecdote about a Boston appearance around the time of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, proving that Brown was a shrewd businessman, if nothing else. On a more human scale, the documentary depicts a superstar of New York's legendary Apollo Theater who "never felt at home there. Home to James Brown was always Georgia." It opens a fascinating window on the Augusta-reared Brown's early performing years along the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit," where segregation meant he couldn't always stay in the cities he played. He and his band frequently had to dress outside; a large towel he wore to keep warm, then doffed onstage, was the early genesis for his signature throwing-off-the-cape move. Equally intriguing are the comments from funk legend Bootsy Collins, who played backup for Brown. From disco's toll on the "Godfather of Soul" to the significance of his sporting an afro, the silver-spangled cowboy hat-wearing Collins waxes surprisingly deep and never dull: "My hat's off to him," Collins says. "He waited until after he was, like, 50, you know, before he started going crazy." Lemon also interviews Usher, who considered Brown a mentor, and not just because they were both musical giants from Georgia. After crooning part of "Sex Machine," Usher stands up and starts busting the moves he suggests wouldn't have existed without the Godfather. "If you have ever as an R&B artist or pop artist moved your feet and got on the good foot, then you've gotta give it up for James Brown," Usher addresses the camera directly. "Because my man definitely made it possible for us to do what we all do. Alright ..." Sponsored Links | |
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Graycap23 said: Click-2-Listen
CNN reminds us why James Brown loomed so large By JILL VEJNOSKA The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/05/07 Say it loud: There's still something interesting left to report about James Brown that doesn't concern the whereabouts of his body or the "where's mine?" grappling going on among his survivors. "James Brown: Say It Proud" is more interested in examining the life and legacy of the man who arguably invented funk and coined a musical rallying cry so entertainingly empowering — "Say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud" — that it appealed to more than just African-American audiences. DITA ALANGKARA/AP (ENLARGE) James Brown 'made it possible for us to do what we all do,' R&B singer Usher says in the documentary. TV REVIEW • 'CNN: Special Investigations Unit — James Brown, Say It Proud' • 8 p.m. Sat., CNN (repeats 8 p.m. Sun.) • Grade: B The one-hour documentary occasionally speaks in generalized niceties — when CNN anchor Don Lemon says, "He made everyone feel so good," you wonder if all of Brown's exes would agree — but it doesn't sugarcoat the legend. The arrest record is mentioned, along with an anecdote about a Boston appearance around the time of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, proving that Brown was a shrewd businessman, if nothing else. On a more human scale, the documentary depicts a superstar of New York's legendary Apollo Theater who "never felt at home there. Home to James Brown was always Georgia." It opens a fascinating window on the Augusta-reared Brown's early performing years along the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit," where segregation meant he couldn't always stay in the cities he played. He and his band frequently had to dress outside; a large towel he wore to keep warm, then doffed onstage, was the early genesis for his signature throwing-off-the-cape move. Equally intriguing are the comments from funk legend Bootsy Collins, who played backup for Brown. From disco's toll on the "Godfather of Soul" to the significance of his sporting an afro, the silver-spangled cowboy hat-wearing Collins waxes surprisingly deep and never dull: "My hat's off to him," Collins says. "He waited until after he was, like, 50, you know, before he started going crazy." Lemon also interviews Usher, who considered Brown a mentor, and not just because they were both musical giants from Georgia. After crooning part of "Sex Machine," Usher stands up and starts busting the moves he suggests wouldn't have existed without the Godfather. "If you have ever as an R&B artist or pop artist moved your feet and got on the good foot, then you've gotta give it up for James Brown," Usher addresses the camera directly. "Because my man definitely made it possible for us to do what we all do. Alright ..." Sponsored Links Why do they always have to interview Usher????? "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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Just seen it..
Very interesting  | |
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bboy87 said: Graycap23 said: Click-2-Listen
CNN reminds us why James Brown loomed so large By JILL VEJNOSKA The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/05/07 Say it loud: There's still something interesting left to report about James Brown that doesn't concern the whereabouts of his body or the "where's mine?" grappling going on among his survivors. "James Brown: Say It Proud" is more interested in examining the life and legacy of the man who arguably invented funk and coined a musical rallying cry so entertainingly empowering — "Say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud" — that it appealed to more than just African-American audiences. DITA ALANGKARA/AP (ENLARGE) James Brown 'made it possible for us to do what we all do,' R&B singer Usher says in the documentary. TV REVIEW • 'CNN: Special Investigations Unit — James Brown, Say It Proud' • 8 p.m. Sat., CNN (repeats 8 p.m. Sun.) • Grade: B The one-hour documentary occasionally speaks in generalized niceties — when CNN anchor Don Lemon says, "He made everyone feel so good," you wonder if all of Brown's exes would agree — but it doesn't sugarcoat the legend. The arrest record is mentioned, along with an anecdote about a Boston appearance around the time of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, proving that Brown was a shrewd businessman, if nothing else. On a more human scale, the documentary depicts a superstar of New York's legendary Apollo Theater who "never felt at home there. Home to James Brown was always Georgia." It opens a fascinating window on the Augusta-reared Brown's early performing years along the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit," where segregation meant he couldn't always stay in the cities he played. He and his band frequently had to dress outside; a large towel he wore to keep warm, then doffed onstage, was the early genesis for his signature throwing-off-the-cape move. Equally intriguing are the comments from funk legend Bootsy Collins, who played backup for Brown. From disco's toll on the "Godfather of Soul" to the significance of his sporting an afro, the silver-spangled cowboy hat-wearing Collins waxes surprisingly deep and never dull: "My hat's off to him," Collins says. "He waited until after he was, like, 50, you know, before he started going crazy." Lemon also interviews Usher, who considered Brown a mentor, and not just because they were both musical giants from Georgia. After crooning part of "Sex Machine," Usher stands up and starts busting the moves he suggests wouldn't have existed without the Godfather. "If you have ever as an R&B artist or pop artist moved your feet and got on the good foot, then you've gotta give it up for James Brown," Usher addresses the camera directly. "Because my man definitely made it possible for us to do what we all do. Alright ..." Sponsored Links Why do they always have to interview Usher????? ----- I have no idea. As if he is some authority on JB WTF | |
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I saw this last night. It was good seeing Bootsy Collins but I'm with yall...who is Usher to be talking about James Brown....then again, I guess they gotta have a face to snare the youngins just in case they're channel surfing through CNN  | |
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