James Brown Songs

From their gospel origins to the top 40 soul and funk revolution, James Brown songs have inspired millions to get on up and get down. The late James Brown is an icon of American culture and visionary who knew how to get people dancing. Below are descriptions of some of the best James Brown songs. 

1. "Sex Machine" To get anywhere in life, you really need to "stay on the scene like a sex machine." This means getting on up and shaking your arms, among other things. This James Brown song encourages dance as a motivational tool. "Shake your money maker" and you can accomplish anything. 
2. "Get Up Offa That Thing" You may notice a recurring theme in James Brown songs. This one promotes dancing as a tool to make you feel better regardless of mood. As a stress management coach, James Brown saw the value of shaking out tension "to release that pressure." If you're stressed out, listen to Dr. Brown and "get funky." You'll feel a lot better. 
3. "I Feel Good" One of the most popular James Brown songs, "I Feel Good" is about a man in love. He feels good "like sugar and spice" because he's in his chosen woman's arms. The general tone of this popular James Brown song seems to resonate with millions of people who fall in love with someone for the first time or rap up a successful date. 
4. "Super Bad" Mystics and visionaries emerge in all ages with the discovery of a special "something" you just have to experience deeply to see. The late prophet James Brown lives forever as an evangelist of a very timely and urgent phenomenon called "soul" in these desperate times. The key to experiencing this shared ecstatic experience with him is "to let it all hang out." Until then, says the prophet, "you won't know what it's all about." "Super Bad" is one of the first uses of the word "bad" to denote something beautiful and positive. It was this James Brown song that planted the seeds for many creative uses of the word in later decades. 
5. "Mashed Potatoes USA" A more obscure element of the James Brown revelation is cryptically revealed in a song about mashed potatoes. A traveling illuminary, James Brown sings about aspiring to "mashed potatoes." The past tense instance of the word "mashed" actually denotes a future action that James plans to perform in Miami, Norfolk, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit and other cities. He says that if "I missed your town, I just want you to know I'm coming through, cause I'm mashed potato bound."