| "James Brown Is Dead" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by L.A. Style | ||||
| from the album L.A. Style | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Format | CD single, 12" single, 12" maxi | |||
| Recorded | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Techno | |||
| Length | 5:50 | |||
| Label | Avex Trax | |||
| Writer(s) | Denzil Slemming | |||
| Producer | Denzil Slemming | |||
| L.A. Style singles chronology | ||||
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"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.[1]
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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.[2]
While remixes 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[3]
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.
| "James Brown Is Still Alive" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Holy Noise | |
| Released | 1991 |
| Format | 7" single |
| Recorded | 1991 |
| Genre | Techno |
| Length | 3:30 |
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 Netherlands. 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.[4][5]
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.
Many of these appeared on the compilation album James Brown Is Dead Or Alive!?!? released in 1992 by Avex Trax.[12]
| Chart (1991) | Peak position [13] |
|---|---|
| Dance Music/Club Play Singles | 4 |
| Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 14 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 1 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position [14] |
| Billboard Hot 100 | 59 |
| Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 9 |