Faith Is A James Brown Song

REFLECTIONS
March 21, 2010

Scholars tell us that Psalm 107 is probably a song used by those who have come in off the desert to celebrate a festival. It begins with the words, “O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble...” Then just a few Psalms later in 126, a so called song of ascents, the psalmist gives voice to the celebration of deliverance from threats. “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongues with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.

When I read these two passages together I heard a voice, though not the one most might think. I heard the voice of the late great singer James Brown. I was transformed back to the first time I saw him on television. It was the early version of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. The show was in black and white, not the high definition digital color we have today. I was young and mesmerized by he stylish flamboyance. Where most of the men who performed on the show wore sport coats, Mr. Brown wore what appeared to be formal wear. While most singers stood at the microphone James treated it like it belonged only to him making it at times a part of the performance. Even the way he sang seemed different. This was before the Beatles or at best very early in the “British Invasion.” It was certainly pre-Heavy Metal, and Grunge Rock when lyrics became secondary to volume, or so it seemed. When James Brown sang he articulated the lyric, but the energy was so intense that at time it became difficult to understand what he was singing.

He presented music as a celebration. Becoming a force of nature almost in a dervish like trance. Though years later there would be tales of great excess regarding alcohol and drugs, few of which he denied, early in his career his energy seemed more pure as if coming from a spiritual side. It is important to note that James Brown like many early Rock and Roll stars first played in churches before making it to The Ed Sullivan Show. It may perhaps seem strange enough to think of reading a Psalm and hearing James Brown sing, but if you’re interested, this is the abridged version . “I feel good, I knew that I would. Now, I feel good, I knew that I would. Soo good, Soo good, God is so good. Heh”

Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601