His show at CanWest Global in `03 was one of the most energetic I`ve ever seen. It was like he put us all on strings, and you couldn`t help but move. James was there, I`m sure he will concur!
yowsers! alas, it's true. i think with so many of these ultra-famous people, their "flaws" often are glossed over b/c they did such cool/interesting art and so on.
i mean, classic example-- charles bukowski. in his case, people glorify his bastardy character, as if it's something to emulate.
and in the case of people like james brown, we so often ignore their major failings...
didn't ghandi abuse his wife as well? and he was also, i believe, almost non-existent as a father.
I refer to being a fan of his WORK, not his personal life. You`d be saying "good riddance" to a large chunk of society with that animosity. I`m sure you`re a fan of many an artist who were far from saints.
Miles Davis is another great example - and I am a huge fan of his work (I own probably close to 40 of his albums). I don't know what to say, really, except that when something speaks to you, like his music does to me, it's awfully hard to let the other elements, important as they are, take away from that. Likewise with the Gandhi example - is his message of peace and nonviolence lessened if he was not a perfect example thereof?
I wonder if it's just that more time is needed. I'm sure that Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and many others were just as imperfect in their real lives - but those imperfections have been weeded out of their histories over time and we are left with only the good and powerful messages they delivered, which seem to transcend their personal lives in any case. Perhaps we are simply to close to people like James Brown, and history will take a more balanced view. Perhaps...
yeah, good point. i often feel that way too-- caravaggio, for e.g., has gotta be one of my all-time fave painters, but he wasn't too hot in his personal life.
fan of the work, not the person.
that conflation is why i think people like jim morrison and charles bukowski are so interesting-- people see their "failings" as something to emulate, beyond just their art.
a friend of mine once phrased it this way: how many alcholics has jim morrison created?
anyway, i agree that the work can/should stand on its own, ghandi being the perfect example.
i think maybe in that light it's hero-worship that's so problematic.
There is a line where judging becomes irrelevant... James was so far over it...
So I judge...
and, yeah it's my opinion... I don't need anyone to agree with my expressions. No Cherishing required...or rather, just me cherishing what I believe in a forum.
that statement is both a judgement and a cherishing of opinion.
james brown beat the shit out of his wife. that merits a certain judgement, in my opinion. what if someone attacked/beat up someone you love? i doubt that, in that case, you'd be so casual about passing judgement.
Brother of all brothers;
ReplyDeleteMay he rest in peace.
"Pappa ain't take no mess" indeed.
ReplyDeleteRIP Modfather of soul
Out of the blue
ReplyDeleteThere came an angel
Singing a song
So loud and true
And darlin' that angel
Must have been you, babe
'Cause my whole world
Lights up anew
Out of the blue
Out of the blue
His show at CanWest Global in `03 was one of the most energetic I`ve ever seen. It was like he put us all on strings, and you couldn`t help but move.
ReplyDeleteJames was there, I`m sure he will concur!
i don't know karate
ReplyDeletebut I know crazy
he was a wife beating bitch...
ReplyDeletegood riddance. Especially with all his followers that pretend he wasn't.
Great music aside...
a bitch is a bitch.
yowsers! alas, it's true. i think with so many of these ultra-famous people, their "flaws" often are glossed over b/c they did such cool/interesting art and so on.
ReplyDeletei mean, classic example-- charles bukowski. in his case, people glorify his bastardy character, as if it's something to emulate.
and in the case of people like james brown, we so often ignore their major failings...
didn't ghandi abuse his wife as well? and he was also, i believe, almost non-existent as a father.
sigh...
I refer to being a fan of his WORK, not his personal life. You`d be saying "good riddance" to a large chunk of society with that animosity. I`m sure you`re a fan of many an artist who were far from saints.
ReplyDeleteMiles Davis is another great example - and I am a huge fan of his work (I own probably close to 40 of his albums). I don't know what to say, really, except that when something speaks to you, like his music does to me, it's awfully hard to let the other elements, important as they are, take away from that. Likewise with the Gandhi example - is his message of peace and nonviolence lessened if he was not a perfect example thereof?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's just that more time is needed. I'm sure that Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and many others were just as imperfect in their real lives - but those imperfections have been weeded out of their histories over time and we are left with only the good and powerful messages they delivered, which seem to transcend their personal lives in any case. Perhaps we are simply to close to people like James Brown, and history will take a more balanced view. Perhaps...
yeah, good point. i often feel that way too-- caravaggio, for e.g., has gotta be one of my all-time fave painters, but he wasn't too hot in his personal life.
ReplyDeletefan of the work, not the person.
that conflation is why i think people like jim morrison and charles bukowski are so interesting-- people see their "failings" as something to emulate, beyond just their art.
a friend of mine once phrased it this way: how many alcholics has jim morrison created?
anyway, i agree that the work can/should stand on its own, ghandi being the perfect example.
i think maybe in that light it's hero-worship that's so problematic.
The work of a person is their measure, and so are his/her actions.
ReplyDeleteWe all stumble, some more than others.
In the case of many, action is overshadowed by work.
And a bitch is a bitch, no doubt.
why judge?
ReplyDeleteWhy cherish opinions?
There is a line where judging becomes irrelevant... James was so far over it...
ReplyDeleteSo I judge...
and, yeah it's my opinion... I don't need anyone to agree with my expressions. No Cherishing required...or rather, just me cherishing what I believe in a forum.
oops...I meant relevant...
ReplyDeleteDouble negatives are one of my follies...
Please don't judge.
"Why judge?" "Why cherish opinions?"
ReplyDeletethat statement is both a judgement and a cherishing of opinion.
james brown beat the shit out of his wife. that merits a certain judgement, in my opinion. what if someone attacked/beat up someone you love? i doubt that, in that case, you'd be so casual about passing judgement.
Maybe it was an honest question, not a rhetorical one...
ReplyDeletehmmm... good point.
ReplyDelete