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Getting A Groove On.

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There are certain pieces of music that, if you have a normal person’s sense of rhythm, you can’t help moving your body to. Even if unconsciously.
I was involved in a group conversation at the recent London mingle which was within earshot of the weedy little stereo that lives in the room we use. Somebody’s iPod was hooked up and War’s “Low Rider” came on. The conversation continued while everyone moved, ever so subtly, to the music. That’s what that Choon does. It’s irresistible.
The one in this clip came up on random play while I was lying abed with a heavy cold, feeling sick and sorry for myself. I had to get up. Partly because I couldn’t remember what it was and urgently needed to know, but mainly because I couldn’t remain lying still while it was on.

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Comments

  1. Just read a book called ‘Your Brain on Music’, a neuroscientist’s view of the effect of music on the brain. The author discusses the concept of ‘groove’ and gives exemplars, as follows. I offer them with no opinion, just for your interest:

    ‘Shout’, The Isley Brothers
    ‘Superfreak’, Rick James
    ‘Sledgehammer’, Peter Gabriel
    ‘I’m on Fire’, Bruce Springsteen (?!)
    ‘Superstition’, Stevie Wonder
    ‘Ohio’, The Pretenders

    Helpfully, he says that there is ‘no formula’ to create a great groove. A scientist speaks. 😀

  2. Let’s also recognise those rare tunes which, when they suddenly appear on the radio, compel you to cease whatever it is that you’re doing, jump up out of your chair and begin enthusiastically and unceremoniously breaking stuff.

  3. This idea is worth exploring. I know that I have knocked over, dropped or otherwise damaged fragile things in my house because of a total inability to stay still to ‘Hallogallo’ by Neu!, ‘Ladyflash’ by the Go! Team (is it the exclamation marks, maybe?) and the Dmitri From Paris remix of Sister Sledge’s ‘Thinking Of You’. Most recently, a very nice cup was sacrificed to this one. Worth it, though.

  12. Bit bloody obvious, but have just had Martha Reeves & Vandellas/Nowhere to run on and, thank Christ I’m alone in the office, because bouncing along to this is not a thing of beauty. I’m always tempted to do that bit from The Commitments when the girls do their dance by the washing line.

  16. Not going to post it because then I’d have to listen to it, but Groove Is In The Heart is the tune that is guaranteed to make me want to dance. No matter how many times I hear it, every bit of it just grabs me and all the little breakdowns are superb. Not one wasted moment.

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