James Brown - "King Heroin"
May 14, 2005 20:30:27 GMT -5
Post by bluenote on May 14, 2005 20:30:27 GMT -5
This is my favorite from James Brown. This is a very powerful song about the effects of heroin. He doesnt sing on this song, he actullay speaks over a very mellow band instrumental. This hit the top 10 on the black singles chart.
"One of his most effective efforts in this arena is "King Heroin," a powerful anti-drug song that paints a genuinely harrowing portrait of heroin addiction. The lyrics interestingly treat heroin as a character, painting its view of how it affects users in first-person style: "Some think my adventure is a joy and a thriller/But I'll put a gun in your hand and make you a killer." It goes on to graphically describe the horrors of addiction and withdrawal before closing out with the powerful warning: "This is a revolution of the mind/Get your mind together and get away from drugs." The music behind these ominous lyrics is minimalist by necessity, creating a simple, meditative vamp that leaves plenty of room for Brown's lyrical message to dominate the proceedings. The song might seem preachy on paper but took on its own powerful life in Brown's recorded version: as the band vamps behind Brown in a deceptively soft and jazzy fashion, he lays down his ominous narrative with a mixture of soulful seductiveness and righteous anger. The result is a message song that represents the form at its most bone-chilling. "King Heroin" only experienced nominal pop-chart success, barely breaking into the Top 40, but went Top Ten on the soul charts, thanks to its combination of sophisticated R&B and strong lyrics. It remains a favorite with James Brown fans, thanks to the singer's unforgettable performance. "-AMG
"One of his most effective efforts in this arena is "King Heroin," a powerful anti-drug song that paints a genuinely harrowing portrait of heroin addiction. The lyrics interestingly treat heroin as a character, painting its view of how it affects users in first-person style: "Some think my adventure is a joy and a thriller/But I'll put a gun in your hand and make you a killer." It goes on to graphically describe the horrors of addiction and withdrawal before closing out with the powerful warning: "This is a revolution of the mind/Get your mind together and get away from drugs." The music behind these ominous lyrics is minimalist by necessity, creating a simple, meditative vamp that leaves plenty of room for Brown's lyrical message to dominate the proceedings. The song might seem preachy on paper but took on its own powerful life in Brown's recorded version: as the band vamps behind Brown in a deceptively soft and jazzy fashion, he lays down his ominous narrative with a mixture of soulful seductiveness and righteous anger. The result is a message song that represents the form at its most bone-chilling. "King Heroin" only experienced nominal pop-chart success, barely breaking into the Top 40, but went Top Ten on the soul charts, thanks to its combination of sophisticated R&B and strong lyrics. It remains a favorite with James Brown fans, thanks to the singer's unforgettable performance. "-AMG
