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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I am 46yo and grew up in Arlington and have worked in DC since college. I never heard people talk about go go nor would I have been able to describe it either - so I don't think you are crazy for asking

white bubble for sure.

The extent of the white bubble sometimes surprises me, like now.

Because if you don’t care about go go music, then you must be a racist bubble dweller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I am 46yo and grew up in Arlington and have worked in DC since college. I never heard people talk about go go nor would I have been able to describe it either - so I don't think you are crazy for asking

white bubble for sure.

The extent of the white bubble sometimes surprises me, like now.

Because if you don’t care about go go music, then you must be a racist bubble dweller.

Assuming that your white experience is the only significant experience, and dismissing anything that conflicts with that - yes, that’s racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I am 46yo and grew up in Arlington and have worked in DC since college. I never heard people talk about go go nor would I have been able to describe it either - so I don't think you are crazy for asking

white bubble for sure.

The extent of the white bubble sometimes surprises me, like now.

Because if you don’t care about go go music, then you must be a racist bubble dweller.

Assuming that your white experience is the only significant experience, and dismissing anything that conflicts with that - yes, that’s racist.

This. Not only about personal experience but if it is something (food, art, tradition) that isn't valued or perpetuated by whites, it can't form part of the culture. That's infuriating to witness. I'm not AA myself but it still rankles.

[Anonymous]

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?

Wow, this troll really had many of you going. If they knew the name Chuck Brown, they knew something about go-go.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget hand dancing!

[Anonymous]

...and Cool "Disco" Dan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...and Cool "Disco" Dan

His obit here, for those who don't know: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2017/07/28/a-folk-hero-d-c-street-art-legend-cool-disco-dan-dies-at-47/?utm_term=.3b918f5a4529

[jsteele]

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?

Wow, this troll really had many of you going. If they knew the name Chuck Brown, they knew something about go-go.

That was posted in 2012 when Chuck Brown was in the news because of his death. (And has it already been 7 years already? Seems like yesterday.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...and Cool "Disco" Dan

Lol, that’s right! The graffiti vandal who wrote his name in talent-less plain letters (oh, sorry, “his aesthetic”) all over public and private property.

[Anonymous]

who is "looking" for post-racial harmony? that is the funniest shit i've heard all day.

"i haven't heard of it so it must not matter." that's some harmony for your ass!

[Anonymous]

Everyone who hasn't heard of Chuck Brown is really missing out. Unfortunately, IMHO, the heyday of go-go has come and gone and it's best experienced live. But there's enough Chuck (and E.U., Rare Essence, Trouble Funk, etc.) on YouTube to still experience the sound.

A lot of Chuck Brown had Latin, Caribbean, and jazz stylings. So even if you think you don't like the T-Mobile store music, look for "Go Go Swing" or "Run Joe" online.

[Anonymous]

Whomever asking this questions ain’t know about DC. You best get that knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's very possible to have grown up here and not know who Chuck Brown is. But only if you're white (or more accurately, not black) and were never around local black people growing up. And you didn't listen to any of the black music stations. And you hardly ever went into the more "urban" parts of the city (sorry, cleveland park doesn't count).

And this describes many people who grew up here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's very possible to have grown up here and not know who Chuck Brown is. But only if you're white (or more accurately, not black) and were never around local black people growing up. And you didn't listen to any of the black music stations. And you hardly ever went into the more "urban" parts of the city (sorry, cleveland park doesn't count).

And this describes many people who grew up here.

Chuck Brown used to play the Adams Morgan Festival, Taste of D.C., and a whole lot of other events that attracted white people. Trouble Funk played the 9:30 Club a ton of times. E.U. had a big national hit with "Da Butt" in '88 . No matter what your ethnicity, if you were around here in the '80s and '90s, you had to be pretty clueless not to know who any of these people were.

[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?

I just showed up to this post. I’m sure you’ve gotten plenty of replies already. If you love in this area and don’t know gogo music and the late Chuck Brown you are out of touch. Living a solely Folger Theater life.