R.I.P. J.B.

Damn. The Godfather’s Gone. If you haven’t yet heard then you probably don’t care, so I won’t bother repeating the news. Suffice it to say it was a sad, unfunky Christmas.

I spent my first sixteen years of life knowing who James Brown was, watching Eddie Murphy parody him on Saturday Night Live, and thinking “Living In America” was crap. But in high school Chad Miller force-fed me some of the funkiest James Brown moments and I became a devotee. James Brown is to funk as The Beatles are to pop and Black Sabbath is to heavy metal; he created the gold standard and no one has come close despite countless attempts.

A few of my personal favorite James Brown cuts:

Since You Been Gone – James Brown

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Motherlode
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Motherlode is an outtakes collection of amazing goodies from the 68-72 period and was actually one of the first things that Chad (mentioned above) loaned to me. I lost track of it for a few years and was beside myself when I noticed they reissued it a couple years back. Every time I listen to “Since You’ve Been Gone” I lose my mind. The perfect funk track, James and Bobby kicking back and forth over the Give It Up Or Turn It Loose riff, the band just killing it. As tight and as funky as any song in the history of time.

Medley: I Found Someone – James Brown

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Live At The Apollo, 1962
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

I didn’t really appreciate this album until I’d seen James Brown live for the first time (around 1991). But after that show I couldn’t stop playing it. Check out the crowd and the way he’s winding them up. Fitting that this is where his viewing is, really.

Brother Rapp – James Brown

on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Love Power Peace: Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971
Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Check the transition from Brother Rapp to Ain’t It Funky Now, the track builds and builds and builds and they don’t even bother to release, the just drop the needle right on the one in Ain’t It Funky and keep the train moving. Hardest working man leading his flawless, relentless band. Perfection.

I could go on, but it’s time to head out for dinner and there’s no end to the JB-love in the blogosphere. WFMU has a great post which wraps up a lot of the coverage, or you could dig the Yahoo! Music coverage if you’re looking for a place to start.

We did about 24 hours of JB in our house, once we heard the news. Maybe we’ll do that every Christmas day from now on. I can’t think of a better way to drown out the jingle bells and celebrate the legend. Groove on, James. Thank you.

ian c rogers
Yahoo! Music

Yahoo! Music Puts You On-Stage With Justin Timberlake at The GRAMMYs

Thanks to SNL, we know what J.T. gifted his girl for Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, backstage at the CMAs), but what is he getting YOU? A chance to sing with him, live on The GRAMMYs, that’s what. Or if you’re not the show-off kind, Justin is giving you the gift of watching, voting on, commenting on, applauding, laughing-out-loud-at, or otherwise enjoying the performances of the contestants.

So here’s the deal:

• If you want to submit a performance for consideration, follow these instructions, but hurry, submissions end Jan 3rd, 2007.
• If you want to enjoy, rate, and comment on the submissions, check this page on Yahoo! Music daily. Help us pick the winner!

Oh and while we’re talking about you performing for us on Yahoo! Music, be sure to check out the latest in the Get Your Freak On series, Chingy’s ‘Dem Jeans”. Ish is funny, yo.

See you on the GRAMMYs,
ian c rogers
Yahoo! Music

Yahoo! Music Unlimited Gift Certificates

Ah yes, the holiday season. Shopping at Best Buy and your local mall with the cast of COPS and the same thirteen songs pouring out of the ceiling everywhere you walk. My favorite time of year.

I haven’t been to a store yet this year, though. I’m getting everyone the same two things: Sesame Street’s “Old School” DVD and Yahoo! Music Unlimited gift certificates.

Everyone knows that Sesame Street was best before Zoe Monster and Elmo just like everyone knows that Yahoo! Music Unlimited is the best and cheapest way to give your friends and family the entire canon of music for one low price.

So come on, get your nephew off those P2P services before the RIAA comes knocking on his door. Give the gift of unlimited music this holiday season.

Enjoy,
ian c rogers
Yahoo! Music