What the F is "go go" and who the hell is Chuck Brown?

[Anonymous]

E.U. (Experience Unlimited) Was more mainstream as far as go go bands. 20 years ago anyway. Da Butt was played everywhere - from Spike Lee's movie School Daze. And they backed up Salt n Pepa on Shake Your Thang.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shame on you. People complain about DC but then don't know any of the cool things about it. Inform yourself. Get a clue.

What if we just don't find it cool?

I'm glad Chuck Brown brought joy to a lot of people and am sure he will be missed by people who knew him and are interested in this "GoGo" thing. It was extremely important for the popular culture of this city for several decades in the 20th century, but tastes change as cities change.

Regardless of whether you find it cool, I think you should appreciate that at least one non-homogenized regional music genre still survives. People complain all the time about the power of the music corporations and the lack of creativity in popular music. We are fortunate to have a local example that has bucked that trend.

[Anonymous]

It isn't that Go Go was "a thing" in the late 20th century. It still is, and as the pioneer of the genre, Chuck Brown performed with incredible energy virtually until his death.

Part of what makes it so great is the live interaction between the performers and the audience. The participatory nature of the music helped bind different neighborhoods and communities in a unique way.

That isn't to dismiss some of the violence that came with a handful of concerts in the late 1980's/early 1990's but still, for anyone who came up in DC in the 1975-present, Chuck Brown was a local legend.

[Anonymous]

You never heard the song "I Feel Like Bustin' Loose" on the radio?

Give yourself a treat and play it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shame on you. People complain about DC but then don't know any of the cool things about it. Inform yourself. Get a clue.

Pretty sure OP knows and is just trolling. Any question that begins "what the F' is usually not a genuine inquiry.

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to move out of DC right now! RIGHT NOW! Same goes for the rest of you losers who don't know what Go Go is and who never heard of Chuck Brown. LOSERS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol, it's a DC music genre thing. Google it.

Funny story...when I moved here from another state I thought Go Go meant pole dancers at strip clubs. That's what we call "Go Go" where I'm originally from (think Bada Bing Club and the Sopranos)!

op again -- yes! This is what I think of too! I moved here from PA about 10 years ago.

Go buy chuck brown live at the 9:30 club from 2001. One of the best live recordings of chuck brown ever. Ain't no party like a chuck brown party, because chuck brown parties don't stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, so I can Google. And it isn't too kind to the genre. But the local news is all over it so maybe I'm missing something, so I thought I'd ask here. Wiki says that Go Go is a genre that wasn't popular enough to expand beyond the DMV, and only remains popular in the area essentially because it's the only musical genre to start here so therefore it is revered here. So I am back to my original question. What is the draw to Go Go beyond the fact that it originated here? The Op Ed that someone linked to earlier basically made reference that Go Go is a lasting remnant of the Chocolate City - which doesn't seem like something to revere if we're looking for a post-racial kind of harmony. So again...my question stands.

Would love harmony. But post-racial? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shame on you. People complain about DC but then don't know any of the cool things about it. Inform yourself. Get a clue.

Pretty sure OP knows and is just trolling. Any question that begins "what the F' is usually not a genuine inquiry.

I agree. Totally trolling. OP clearly knows but is obviously not a fan of the music. The problem is most people here (whether they like Go-Go, or not) at least have an appreciation for the art form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:E.U. (Experience Unlimited) Was more mainstream as far as go go bands. 20 years ago anyway. Da Butt was played everywhere - from Spike Lee's movie School Daze. And they backed up Salt n Pepa on Shake Your Thang.

OK, I'm only posting these because the newbs will recognize them. But hey, they were fun!

And of course the man himself:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: So I am back to my original question. What is the draw to Go Go beyond the fact that it originated here?

Um, no. Your original question was "What the F is 'go go' and who the hell is Chuck Brown?'" Seems the easy answer is to google "chuck brown music" and give it a listen.

[Anonymous]

And now you will understand what those guys drumming on paint cans are doing. Above all, Go Go is about the beat.

[Anonymous]

I am probably not the only person that's thought that Chuck Brown and go-go would have been huge if he'd lived in or moved to L.A. or New York.

Bustin Loose is so good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wevVoB9IdFg

OP, your subject line is strange ... if you don't "get" a cultural phenomenon, read up on it! And if it's not your flavor, it's not your flavor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now you will understand what those guys drumming on paint cans are doing. Above all, Go Go is about the beat.

Disturbing the peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm clearly not in the cool crowd. Someone please explain this to me. Is this just a "DC trying to find some culture" thing? Or is this a real claim to fame?

how can you be here 10 years and not know who or what gogo or chuck brown is? i dont expect you to know all his songs but youve had to have heard the name?