Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Studio albums
Please Please Please (1958)
Try Me! (1959)
Think! (1960)
The Amazing James Brown (1961)
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. (1962)
Prisoner of Love (1963)
Grits & Soul (1964)
Showtime (1964)
Out of Sight (1964)
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday (1965)
Mighty Instrumentals (1966)
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (1966)
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs (1966)
Handful of Soul (1966)
James Brown Sings Raw Soul (1967)
James Brown Plays the Real Thing (1967)
Cold Sweat (1967)
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
I Got the Feelin' (1968)
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul (1968)
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things (1968)
A Soulful Christmas (1968)
Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1969)
Gettin' Down to It (1969)
The Popcorn (1969)
It's a Mother (1969)
Ain't It Funky (1970)
Soul on Top (1970)
It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In (1970)
Hey America (1970)
Sho Is Funky Down Here (1971)
Hot Pants (1971)
There It Is (1972)
Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Black Caesar (1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973)
The Payback (1973)
Hell (1974)
Reality (1974)
Sex Machine Today (1975)
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump (1975)
Hot (1976)
Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)
Bodyheat (1976)
Mutha's Nature (1977)
Jam 1980's (1978)
Take a Look at Those Cakes (1978)
The Original Disco Man (1979)
People (1980)
Soul Syndrome (1980)
Nonstop! (1981)
Bring It On! (1983)
Gravity (1986)
I'm Real (1988)
Love Over-Due (1991)
Universal James (1993)
I'm Back (1998)
The Merry Christmas Album (1999)
The Next Step (2002)
The Popcorn
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Popcorn, hey
Popcorn, hey
Popcorn, hey
Popcorn, hey
Popcorn, hey
Popcorn, hey
The lyrics to James Brown's song The Popcorn are very simple and repetitive, with the only words being "popcorn" and "hey." However, the meaning behind these lyrics is open to interpretation. One possible interpretation is that the song is about dancing, with the word "popcorn" perhaps referring to a dance move or a style of dancing. The repeated use of the word "hey" could be an invitation for others to join in and dance along. Overall, the lyrics evoke a sense of excitement and energy, encouraging listeners to get up and move their bodies.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is about the sensory experience of eating popcorn. The repeated use of the word "popcorn" could be a reference to the sound of popping popcorn or the sight of it popping in a container. The word "hey" could be a way of expressing delight or satisfaction in the taste of the popcorn. This interpretation would make the song a playful and lighthearted ode to a beloved snack food.
Overall, the lyrics to James Brown's The Popcorn are simple but effective in creating a fun, lively atmosphere that encourages dancing and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Popcorn, hey
This is a song about the dance called the Popcorn, and the singer is encouraging people to get up and dance to it.
Popcorn, hey
He repeats the introductory line to emphasize the importance of the dance and to create a catchy chorus.
Popcorn, hey
Again, he repeats the line to reinforce the idea that this is a song about a popular dance move that everyone should be doing.
Popcorn, hey
Once more, the line is repeated to get people hyped up and ready to dance.
Popcorn, hey
He uses the repetition of the line to create a sense of energy and enthusiasm for the dance.
Popcorn, hey
The line is repeated to get everyone involved and keep the dance going.
Popcorn, hey
With each repetition, he is building momentum for the dance and getting more people to join in.
Popcorn, hey
The final repetition of the line signals the end of the song and the end of the dance, leaving everyone energized and fulfilled.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ray Burton
This was undoubtedly JBs tightest band! The soul and funk just mashed together! 👏🏿
Ramses Stafford
You're 💯% right this particular late 60s James Brown band is the most monumental and groundbreaking and that's saying something considering some of the great classic tunes that came out of the other different variations of his band.
jplew138
You right 😉
Vaughn Chauncy
I played this song over and over as young kid.the drummer is simply smoking throughout.horns too.
Jonathan Nieto
Excellent! ✌️👍🙂🎸
Tyrone Price
I had the album in 1969 The Popcorn. The album was very enjoyable.
ironman tooltime
The live version at dallas from '68 slays
Jamey Bonaparte
for real. I have to find that
Ms Hubbard
Love this song. They were jamming
Danbarno Maman
Ce morceau me rappelle assurément notre tendre jeunesse dans les années 68 a dungass dans le sud-est nigérien paix à ton âme mon cher James