Sunday Edition: Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%

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Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: Most will agree that Chris Brown is a terrible person. Yet, James Brown beat women too, but he is thought of as a legend. What is the difference? Does making amazing music as opposed to mediocre music give you a free pass? Is it a symptom of the tech age?

A: James Brown was undoubtedly a troubled man with a lot of problems. I do believe it's two part. Yes, it was pre-digital media so it was easier to forget. People talk about the digital age and how short everyone's attention span is, yet simple incidents have the power to follow a person for the entire length of their career (everyone still remembers shaved head Brittany and the Howard Dean scream).
But additionally, I don't know how many people forgive Brown for his problems versus acknowledge what he did musically. In that capacity I'd put him along side people like Ike Turner (who is undoubtedly a questionable figure, at best). I wouldn't want to associate with either but both made amazing music and helped craft what we listen to even today.

Place that against Brown, who merely seems to occupy a vacant spot in the pop music landscape and it's easy to see why there's more focus on Brown as a person and not as a musician. It's because there's nothing of note in his music, it's hallow and designed for no other purpose than sell soda, chewing gum or shoes. It's worth talking about in the same way the Mentos jingle is worth talking about.

-Rich

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