James Brown Is Dead
Encyclopedia
"James Brown Is Dead" and "James Brown Is Still Alive" are two of the earliest and best known of a series of electronic dance music
references to iconic American entertainer James Brown
. One basis for these lyrics is the widespread sampling
of Brown's music, particularly the rhythmic breaks
in "Funky Drummer
", possibly the most sampled piece of music of all time.
The Dutch
duo L.A. Style
(founded and produced by Wessel van Diepen
who later helped create Vengaboys
) released "James Brown Is Dead" in 1991. It appeared on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay
chart and was the first techno song to hit the Billboard Hot 100
. Despite the lyrics and title, James Brown was alive at the time of the song's release and did not die at all until December 25, 2006.
While remix
es of this song often include the words "James Brown Is Dead" as the only discernible words, the song has other lyrics including:
Some sources report that the basis for the song is a 1992 broadcast that falsely reported the singer's demise and that a sample of that broadcast became the basis of the recording. Because the song was released in 1991, this cannot be true.
Although a false report of the singer's death may have been made on the airwaves
at some time before the song was released (or perhaps at a later date with origins as a prank inspired by this song), this entire assertion may fall under the category of an urban legend
.
. Although the first song's lyrics do actually assert that "the hardest working man in show biz is alive", the Holy Noise song is regarded as an answer
to the L.A. Style song.
This song begins with the lyrics:
Like "James Brown is Dead", "James Brown is Still Alive" has been remixed innumerable times. Often, the two songs have been blended together so that they form a sort of conversation.
Many of these appeared on the compilation album James Brown Is Dead Or Alive!?!? released in 1992 by Avex Trax
.
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
references to iconic American entertainer James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. One basis for these lyrics is the widespread sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
of Brown's music, particularly the rhythmic breaks
Break (music)
In popular music, a break is an instrumental or percussion section or interlude during a song derived from or related to stop-time – being a "break" from the main parts of the song or piece....
in "Funky Drummer
Funky drummer
"Funky Drummer" is a funk song recorded by James Brown and his band. The recording's drum break, performed by drummer Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled rhythmic breaks in hip hop and popular music; indeed, it lays a strong claim to being the most sampled recording ever,...
", possibly the most sampled piece of music of all time.
L.A. Style
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
duo L.A. Style
L.A. Style
L.A. Style was a Dutch electronic dance music duo, founded and produced by radio host Wessel van Diepen, who also created Nakatomi and the very successful Vengaboys, also produced by Fonny de Wulf, Michiel van der Kuiy [aka Denzil Slamming] & FX.The group was fronted by Rapper/Singer/Songwriter &...
(founded and produced by Wessel van Diepen
Wessel van Diepen
Wessel van Diepen , was a Dutch radio host for Radio 538 and is the most successful dance-pop music producer in Dutch history....
who later helped create Vengaboys
Vengaboys
Vengaboys are a Eurodance pop group based in Amsterdam. The brainchild of two Dutch producers Wessel van Diepen and Dennis van den Driesschen , they enjoyed commercial success in the late 1990s. They are best known for their two UK number one singles, "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" and "We're Going...
) released "James Brown Is Dead" in 1991. It appeared on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay
Hot 100 Airplay
The Hot 100 Airplay chart is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It measures radio airplay, and is one of the three component charts, along with the Hot Singles Sales and the Hot Digital Songs charts, that determine the chart positions of singles on the Billboard...
chart and was the first techno song to hit the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Despite the lyrics and title, James Brown was alive at the time of the song's release and did not die at all until December 25, 2006.
While remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es of this song often include the words "James Brown Is Dead" as the only discernible words, the song has other lyrics including:
I checked up on the late great J.B.
His death is said on national TV
Now memory, man are you with that
James Brown is dead
Total chaos, man it's resurrected
I'm confused that things are gettin' hectic
In my brain, what is happenin'?
Could this be a big misunderstanding? It is
The hardest working man in show biz is alive so
Don't be misled, cause the newsman said
JAMES BROWN
IS DEAD
Some sources report that the basis for the song is a 1992 broadcast that falsely reported the singer's demise and that a sample of that broadcast became the basis of the recording. Because the song was released in 1991, this cannot be true.
Although a false report of the singer's death may have been made on the airwaves
Radio waves
Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies from 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz, and corresponding wavelengths from 1 millimeter to 100 kilometers. Like all other electromagnetic waves,...
at some time before the song was released (or perhaps at a later date with origins as a prank inspired by this song), this entire assertion may fall under the category of an urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
.
Holy Noise
In the wake of "James Brown Is Dead", the song "James Brown Is Still Alive" was released that same year by Holy Noise, a techno group also from the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Although the first song's lyrics do actually assert that "the hardest working man in show biz is alive", the Holy Noise song is regarded as an answer
Answer song
An answer song is, as the name suggests, a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. It is also known as a response song. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s through 1950s...
to the L.A. Style song.
This song begins with the lyrics:
James Brown's down
Who the funk do you think you're fooling?
For me the man's still ruling
Stop the nonsense
Stop telling lies
James Brown is still alive
Like "James Brown is Dead", "James Brown is Still Alive" has been remixed innumerable times. Often, the two songs have been blended together so that they form a sort of conversation.
Other artists
- In the quickly-evolving world of techno music, "James Brown Is Dead" was already considered a "raveRave musicRave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
classic" by the late 1990s when artists such as DJ IreneDJ IreneDJ Irene is an American electronic music DJ and producer.-Discography:*LA 5 Underground House Mix *Hard House Live At The Legendary Arena *Club Series *UC 98 *Hard House Diva...
would mix it into their setsDJ mixA DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together to appear as one continuous track. When a DJ mix or DJ mixset is recorded onto some medium, it is often referred to as a mix tape...
.
- "James Brown Is Dead" was sampled by GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
techno group ScooterScooter (band)Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
on their song "Call Me MañanaCall Me Mañana"Call Me Mañana" is a 1999 single by German techno group Scooter, taken from the 1998 album No Time to Chill. Released on 8 January, 1999, it is based around a sample from L.A...
" when it was remastered for its single release in 1999. The version on their 1998 album No Time To ChillNo Time to ChillNo Time to Chill is the fifth studio album by German techno band Scooter, released in 1998. It plays host to three singles, "How Much Is the Fish?", "We Are The Greatest/I Was Made For Lovin' You" and "Call Me Mañana"...
however did not feature this sample.
- In 2001, Wessel van Diepen and Arista RecordsArista RecordsArista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
released "James Brown Is Dead 2001", a new version of the L.A.Style original.
- The "James Brown Is Dead" refrain is also heard in the "I Love Techno" track on Nite VersionsNite VersionsNite Versions is an electronic album by Soulwax. It was released on September 26, 2005 on the PIAS record label. The album contains reworkings and remixes of tracks from earlier Soulwax album Any Minute Now....
, a 2005 album from the band SoulwaxSoulwaxSoulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, are an alternative rock/electronic band from Ghent, Belgium. Next to the Dewaele brothers, Soulwax consists of bassist Stefaan Van Leuven and drummer Steve Slingeneyer. They were first noticed after the release of their album Much Against Everyone's...
.
- Void released a remix to L.A. Style's song "James Brown Is Dead" in their 2006 album The Angry Brigade.
- Danish DJ James Braun released an edit of this track called "James Braun Is Dead".
- French electro producer Mr.Oizo released a track called Bruce Willis (is dead), as a hommage to L.A Style's classic.
- ShwayzeShwayzeAaron Smith , better known by his stage name Shwayze, is an American rapper.Born and raised in Malibu, California, Shwayze worked at a local Starbucks coffee shop until he met Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler at a nightclub. One night Shwayze jumped on stage during Whitestarr's performance and...
has a song titled "James Brown Is Dead" on his album Shwayze (album)Shwayze (album)Samples* "Don't Be Shy" samples "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, originally performed by The Exciters* "Hollywood" samples "Charlie Brown" written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, originally performed by The Coasters...
.
- Other electronic dance tracks that can be seen as references to "James Brown Is Dead" include:
- "Who the Hell is James Brown?" by Big BossBig Boss (musician)Jiří "Big Boss" Valter is the vocalist for the Czech black metal band Root and the progressive metal Equirhodont .- Biography :Big Boss was born in Czech Republic in 1952 to pianist Milan Valter. In 1987, when playing in band Vega, he met guitarist Petr Hošek, with whom he later founded the black...
- "James Brown Est" by DJK
- "James Brown Is Queer" by Organ Donors
- "James Brown Has Sex" by Raimundo Navarra
- "Laura PLaura PalmerLaura Palmer is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. Her death was the catalyst for the events of the series...
is dead" by XPC (1991) - "Pedro InfantePedro InfanteJosé Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
Murió" by Memo Rios - "Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
Is In Heaven Now" by Obscure FM - "Helmut KohlHelmut KohlHelmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
Ist Tot" by George KranzGeorge KranzGeorge Kranz is a German dance music singer and percussionist. He is best known for his song "Trommeltanz", otherwise known as "Din Daa Daa". The song hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1984 and then returned to the chart in a new version in 1991, peaking at No. 8... - "Bruce WillisBruce WillisWalter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
is Dead" by Mr. OizoMr. OizoMr. Oizo is the stage name of French electronic musician and film director Quentin Dupieux. His pseudonym is a corruption of the French , meaning "bird". He is currently signed to French electro record label, Ed Banger Records.-Beginning:... - "Justin BieberJustin BieberJustin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
is Dead" by Krftkds - "Who is MečiarVladimír MeciarVladimír Mečiar is a Slovak politician who was Prime Minister of Slovakia from 1990 to 1991, from 1992 to 1994, and from 1994 to 1998. He is the leader of the People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia...
?" and "Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
is not dead" by Imrich Tekknofactory - "Y&Co. is dead or alive" by Y&Co. for Beatmania IIDX 16: EmpressBeatmania IIDX 16: EmpressBeatmania IIDX 16: Empress is the 16th game in the Beatmania IIDX series of music video games. It was released in arcades by Konami on November 19, 2008 . The game features over 50 new songs, some of which are unlocked over Konami's e-Amusement platform...
- "Who the Hell is James Brown?" by Big Boss
Many of these appeared on the compilation album James Brown Is Dead Or Alive!?!? released in 1992 by Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
.
James Brown Is Dead
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dance Music/Club Play Singles | 4 |
| Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 14 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
1 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
59 |
| Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 9 |