James Brown: Say It Loud is a new docuseries on A&E. What’s it about?
From A&E’s press release, James Brown: Say It Loud will delve “into the immeasurable musical and cultural impact of the entertainment icon.” It will look at “Brown’s incredible life that was as innovative as it was influential. The special examines Brown’s legacy through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his beloved music catalog.”
James Brown lived an incredible and eventful life that spans across a chunk of modern American history. From any number of angles – music history, cultural history, politics and civil rights history – this docuseries has so many area delve into.
Check out the trailer for James Brown: Say It Loud.
James Brown: Say It Loud: why should I watch it?
So, I’m a huge music fan and a huge fan of James Brown’s music. Two of his albums have been covered to date on the best 1,000 albums ever, including James Brown Live at the Apollo, 1962 (#414), and Star Time (#272). Here’s what I wrote as part of the Live at the Apollo piece:
As I often do when I begin writing a best 1,000 albums ever entry, I start by ruminating about when I first encountered the album or artist/band, or the time in my life when that music became important to me.
With James Brown, that process led to a really fun epiphany, which is that he enjoyed a real resurgence in terms of exposure of his music in pop culture during the mid-1980s, right when I was at an age when I was able to start making connections to such things. If nothing else, it locked in for me at a tender young age that James Brown is a musical icon.
And for my money, James Brown’s massive catalog of music remains wildly exciting and not quite like any other musician on the planet.
James Brown: Say It Loud: when and where is it on?
The docuseries is split into four parts on A&E, with two parts airing on the nights of Monday, February 19th and Tuesday, February 20th, 2024 starting at 8/7c. The episodes are as follows:
- Part I – “Making A Life For Myself”
- Part II – “The Most Powerful Black Man In America”
- Part III – “Life In The Raw”
- Part IV – “Big As Life Can Be”
James Brown: Say It Loud: original celebratory dance moves
James Brown was a consummate performer, and that included a dynamite and original dance presence on stage. In celebration of James Brown, I challenged myself to come up with some “original dance moves.”
- Funked Out Foot Shuffle – get low to the ground with your feet shoulder-width apart. Then, rapidly shuffle your feet from side to side while keeping your upper body loose and relaxed. As you shuffle, throw in some quick hops and twists to really get the funk flowing.
- The James Brown Slide: glide across the dance floor with smoothness and style in this classic move inspired by the Godfather of Soul. Start by stepping out with your right foot and sliding your left foot to meet it, then repeat the motion in the opposite direction. Add some flair by throwing in a few spins and dips as you slide, and don’t forget to punctuate each slide with a sharp hip thrust or two
- Get On Up (And Jump): Bounce on the balls of your feet in time with the music, then launch yourself into the air with a powerful jump. As you soar through the air, kick your legs out to the sides and wave your arms above your head like you’re reaching for the stars. Land with a dramatic flourish and repeat the jump with even more gusto.
- Cape-Toss Twist: Pay homage to James Brown’s legendary stage presence by grabbing a makeshift cape (a scarf or towel will do) and drape it over your shoulders like a true funk master. When the music reaches its peak, throw off the cape with a dramatic flourish and unleash your inner Hardest Working Person In Show Business vibes for all to see.