Listening

Guide 9-2_2b.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag as recorded by James Brown (1965)

Features:
The basic beat subdivision is even, but Brown's vocals sometimes relax into uneven
subdivisions.

The backbeat is accented by the guitar.

Even sixteenth-note subdivisions strummed on the guitar add energy at the end of
each chorus (except the last).

Polyrhythms are created among the horns, the bass, and the drums. Each maintains
its own rhythmic pattern that is simple and repetitious but different from that of the
other instruments.

Tempo:
The tempo of the beat is about 126 beats per minute, with four beats per bar.

Form:
The twelve-bar blues form is followed throughout, with an introduction and six full
choruses.

Lyrics:
The lyrics tell us that Papa's "bag" is dancing.