He was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. In Plainfield, he ran a barber salon, where he straightened hair, and soon formed a doo wop group, inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, called The Parliaments. Despite initial commercial failures, The Parliaments eventually found success under the names Parliament and Funkadelic in the seventies (see also P-Funk). This article focuses on Clinton's solo efforts after 1981.
Beginning in the early 1980's, Clinton recorded several nominal "solo" albums, although all of these records featured contributions from P-Funk's core musicians. The primary reason for recording under his own name was legal difficulties, due to the complex copyright and trademark issues surrounding the name "Parliament" (primarily) and Polygram's purchase of his former label (as part of Parliament), Casablanca Records. In 1982, Clinton signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist and as the P-Funk All-Stars, releasing Computer Games that same year. "Loopzilla" hit the Top 20 R&B charts, followed by "Atomic Dog," which reached #1 R&B, but peaked at #101 on the pop chart. In the next four years, Clinton released three more studio albums (You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish, Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends and R&B Skeletons in the Closet) as well as a live album, Mothership Connection (Live from the Summit, Houston, Texas) and charting three singles in the R&B Top 30, "Nubian Nut," "Last Dance," and "Do Fries Go with that Shake." This period of Clinton's career was marred by multiple legal problems (resulting in financial difficulties) due to complex royalty and copyright issues. In 1985 he was recruited by the Red Hot Chili Peppers to produce their album Freaky Styley, because the bandmembers were huge fans of George Clinton and Funk in general. Though Clinton's popularity had waned by the mid 1980s, he experienced something of a resurgence in the early 1990s, as many rappers cited him as an influence and began sampling his songs. Alongside James Brown, George Clinton is considered to be one of the most sampled musicians ever.
In 1989, Clinton released The Cinderella Theory on Paisley Park, Prince's record label. This was followed by Hey Man... Smell my Finger. Clinton then signed with Sony 550 and released T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (The Awesome Power Of A Fully Operational Mothership) in 1996, having reunited with several old members of Parliament and Funkadelic.
In the 1990s, Clinton appeared in films such as Graffiti Bridge (1990), Good Burger (1997) and PCU (1994). Most recently he appeared as the voice of The Funktipus, the DJ of the Bounce FM station in the 2004 video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rapper Dr. Dre sampled most of his beats to create his G-Funk music era.
"You're Thinking Right" - the theme song for The Tracey Ullman Show, was written by Clinton.
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This is not the soundtrack composer George S. Clinton who did Mortal Kombat etc.
Red Hot Mama
George Clinton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A luscious bitch she is, true
But it's not nice to fool mother nature
The proud mother of god like all ho's
Is jealous of her own shadow
Who is this young Vic Tanny bitch
Who wish to be queen for a day?
Who would sacrifice the great grandsons and daughters of her jealous mother
By pimping their instincts
Until they were fat, horny and strung-out
In a neurotic attempt to be queen of the universe
Who is this bitch?
{sung:}
Red hot mama from Louisiana
Thumbin' her way to Savannah
She been cooped up too long
Red hot mama lookin' to the city
Taxi dancers and big time spenders
She's been groovin'
Red hot mama was gettin' down
Scoping the places where fun to be found
She was smokin'
Ride on, red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Ride on, red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Ride on, red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Ride on, red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Red hot mama was really bad
She was badder than bad, bad as she want to be
Red hot mama was a real gas
Doin' it good and doing it fast
She was smokin'
Whoa, {etc}!
Ride on red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Ride on red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
(Come on baby!)
Ride on red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
(Right on!)
Ride on red hot mama
Girl, you sure look good to me
Be my dog!
You look good, girl
Carry on!
Hey!
Get funky?
Hey baby
Be my dog
Come on, baby!
Red hot mama
Right on
Play, boy
Play on
The lyrics to George Clinton's song "Red Hot Mama" are a vibrant and provocative exploration of femininity, power dynamics, and societal expectations. The opening spoken word segment sets the tone by describing a woman as a "luscious bitch," acknowledging her attractiveness but also hinting at a deeper complexity. The reference to mother nature being fooled suggests a cautionary tale about the consequences of underestimating the power and influence of women. The singer reflects on the jealousy and competitiveness that can exist among women, highlighting the destructive nature of trying to assert dominance over others.
The sung portion of the song introduces the titular character, the "red hot mama from Louisiana," who is portrayed as a bold and confident woman breaking free from societal constraints. She is described as being cooped up for too long, eager to explore the city and indulge in its pleasures. The imagery of "taxi dancers and big-time spenders" suggests a world of excitement and luxury that she is eager to experience. Despite the challenges she may face, such as being judged or underestimated, the red hot mama exudes a sense of liberation and self-assurance.
The lyrics celebrate the red hot mama's independence and fierce spirit, painting her as a rebellious figure unafraid to challenge norms and embrace her sexuality. The repeated refrain of "Ride on, red hot mama" emphasizes her strength and resilience in the face of societal expectations and constraints. She is described as "badder than bad, bad as she want to be," signaling her defiance of conventional standards and her determination to live life on her own terms. The song's upbeat and energetic tone reflects the red hot mama's unapologetic attitude and zest for life.
Overall, "Red Hot Mama" can be seen as a celebration of feminine power and agency, as well as a critique of the limitations and double standards imposed on women. The character of the red hot mama embodies a sense of freedom, confidence, and sensuality that defies stereotypes and expectations. Through its bold lyrics and funky groove, the song invites listeners to embrace their own individuality and break free from societal constraints, celebrating the diversity and strength of women in all their complexity.
Line by Line Meaning
A luscious bitch she is, true
She is a captivating and attractive woman, undeniably
But it's not nice to fool mother nature
Deceiving nature is not a wise or kind thing to do
The proud mother of god like all ho's
Even the most confident and respectable women, like all whores
Is jealous of her own shadow
Feelings of envy towards something as insubstantial as her own shadow
Who is this young Vic Tanny bitch
Who is this ambitious woman striving to take control?
Who wish to be queen for a day?
Desiring to be in charge, if only for a brief period
Who would sacrifice the great grandsons and daughters of her jealous mother
She would harm her own offspring to satisfy her envious maternal figure
By sucking their brain until their ability to think was amputated
Draining their intellect until they could no longer reason
By pimping their instincts
Exploiting their natural inclinations for her own gain
Until they were fat, horny and strung-out
Ultimately leading them to become overweight, sexually aroused, and addicted
In a neurotic attempt to be queen of the universe
Driven by unhealthy compulsions to rule over everything
Who is this bitch?
Who is this woman behaving in such a manner?
Red hot mama from Louisiana
A fiery and captivating woman from Louisiana
Thumbin' her way to Savannah
Traveling to Savannah by hitchhiking
She been cooped up too long
She has been confined or restricted for too long
Red hot mama lookin' to the city
The fiery woman seeking excitement in the city
Taxi dancers and big time spenders
Encountering people who indulge in lavish spending and dancing for money
She's been groovin'
She has been enjoying herself and dancing
Red hot mama was gettin' down
The fiery woman was getting into the rhythm
Scoping the places where fun to be found
Surveying the locations where enjoyment can be had
She was smokin'
She was extremely attractive and alluring
Ride on, red hot mama
Keep going, fiery woman
Girl, you sure look good to me
You are undeniably appealing to me
Red hot mama was really bad
The fiery woman was truly daring and mischievous
She was badder than bad, bad as she want to be
She was extremely rebellious, just as she desired to be
Red hot mama was a real gas
The fiery woman was an absolute blast to be around
Doin' it good and doing it fast
Engaging in activities skillfully and with speed
Whoa, {etc}!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Be my dog!
Adopt a carefree and faithful attitude with me
You look good, girl
You are truly appealing, girl
Carry on!
Continue with your activities
Get funky?
Want to engage in some funky behavior?
Hey baby
Expressing affection or attraction
Come on, baby!
Encouraging someone to join in or participate
Red hot mama
Referring to the fiery and captivating woman
Right on
Absolutely correct or appropriate
Play, boy
Have fun or enjoy yourself, young man
Play on
Continue with your playful activities
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GEORGE JR. CLINTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@delmaddox2377
Dude, I was the only speck of salt in all that pepper at many shows, never anything but love, funk, and the GROOVE . Funk on people
@user-bj7uq9ns9s
❤
@elvisbarber3432
My brother played the hell out of Red hot mama. On guitar. I growed up playing. The shit. The seventies played with my brother we turned out many clubs. He was a legend. And now I'm a legend. My brother has passed on but he live in me. Forever!!!
@neillbarrett4959
That drummer never misses a beat.
@marvinmcdonald1676
Funk has it's own reward put your foot on the rock
@brotherdaryll1399
Fall 2023 and even now, sometimes ONLY THE P FUNK will do.....
Pfunk is literally part of my DNA.......
@treeslikeflowers
For sure!! Love this version of Red Hot Mama.
Since I was in my early teens in the early 70’s. The first concert I ever went to was to see the Funkadelics.
@knobbynah
This is a masterpiece.
@scottycunningham1413
Michael Hampton's legato based soloing is so fluid and smooth. Very tasteful and deserves just as much love as Eddie.
@yogiguitar1
yup . he's liquidity ratio is pretty high .