Popcorn? What exactly is this subgenre of soul/dance/disco?

[eddie]

I was looking at some online auctions and as keywords I saw ballads, northern soul, rare funk, protodisco, and popcorn.
What exactly is the style popcorn? Is it like Boogaloo?
I know James Brown had hits and songs with popcorn in the title. Just wonderin'!

[Disco Funk]

I didn't know there was a genre called Popcorn. Perhaps they were all based on The Popcorn, which itself was based on the bass solo in the break from Cold Sweat. Around that time there were a whole bunch of copy-cat sound-alike tunes doing that type of groove. I recall the first volume of Sound of Funk having a number of tunes like that.

Anyone else know?

Disco Funk

[tastyvinyl]

I was looking at some online auctions and as keywords I saw ballads, northern soul, rare funk, protodisco, and popcorn.
What exactly is the style popcorn? Is it like Boogaloo?
I know James Brown had hits and songs with popcorn in the title. Just wonderin'!

Popcorn music as a genre originated in Belgium in the late 60’s and was popular throughout the 70’s. The name comes from Dancing The Popcorn in Vrasene, near St. Niklaas in Belgium and is connected to ‘the Popcorn’ by James Brown. Other famous clubs in the early days were De Viertap, The Golden Gate, The Groove, The Versailles etc. Today there is a revival of the genre mainly in Belgium where the weekly parties attracts the original scene with a new generation of Popcorn musiclovers. Also in France, Holland and mostly in England Popcorn as a genre is becoming more and more popular but it remains a true Belgian phenomenon. Although the music differs from Northern Soul in tempo and style, the collectors of both genres have similar taste in certain styles of music.

One of the best examples is ‘I’d think it over’ by Sam Fletcher or ‘Try my love’ by Troy Dodds; both records generate huge amounts of $$; lately ‘Try my love’ went for $ 935,00, sold on eBay by a Belgian collector. So logically American sellers of obscure 45’s are aware now and listing their records as ‘Popcorn’. There is a clear difference in early Popcorn which consists mostly of Doo Wop, R&B, Latin Boogaloo, Deep Soul, Ska, Teen. The ‘second wave’ of Popcorn musiclovers in the early Seventies added danceable Italian crooners, Cha cha, and even Flemish singers to the musical menu. Broadway tunes like ‘whatever Lola wants, Lola gets’ were popular in certain instrumental versions.

The binding element of all these different styles is mainly the mid-tempo rhythm. When played by the right DJ the atmosphere created is very catchy and ‘decadent’ since so many styles are combined that nobody normally would dare to combine together. It’s up to the DJ to interweave these different styles to create a continuous flow for the dancers. The style of dancing is based on the Jive, like Rock & Roll dancing, but without the acrobatics and more elegant and is only to be seen in Belgium. Certain DJ’s playing Popcorn are famous for having ‘discovered’ certain records that became classic Popcorn tunes, just like in Northern Soul or Disco. The most famous DJ-names in the Popcorn genre are Freddy Cousaert, Theo Dumoulin, DJ Lucien, Jeff Callebaut, DJ Ferre etc.

The focus is on very obscure tunes, mostly American and certainly not mainstream hits. The Popcorn music in the 70’s was underground, a reaction to Disco which was considered ‘mechanical and commercial’, thus not being popular with the Popcorn crowd nor it’s DJ’s. I remember going to The Popcorn on a sunday afternoon in the Seventies when the DJ put on ‘I feel love’ by Donna Summer and it immediately cleared the floor and he was booed.

Find more info on the official Popcornsite
www.popcornoldies.com


my personal alltime Popcorn Top 10

-Mel Carter -when a boy falls in love
-The Impressions -I’m the one who loves you
-Jackie Mittoo -el bang bang
-Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces -hey Mr. DJ
-Jimmy Hughes -my loving time
-Eugene Church -mind your own business
-Shawn Elliott -the joker
-Rolando Alphonso -Jazz Ska
-Sam Fletcher -I’d think it over
-Serge Gainsbourgh -l’eau a la bouche

tastyvinyl

[remicks]

*****


:o :o

James Brown ........ "the original popcorn man "


now, that , I can handle !!!


:lol: :lol:


*****

[Videoskooter]

Tastyvinyl, welcome to the club :lol:

Yes, folks, Popcorn was and is BIG in Belgium and I can tell ya: if you visit a Popcornparty, you'll have a great time.

"You're the one I need"

[eddie]

Thanks for your response tastyvinyl. I noticed most of the people buying and bidding at astronomical prices were from Europe and a figured "Popcorn" music was big there.

There's something very strange with people who are deep into one specific style of music. Our absolute favorites are all near obscurities!

Are there any CDs that focus just on this? I haven't bumped into one yet.

[tastyvinyl]

Are there any CDs that focus just on this? I haven't bumped into one yet.

you might be able to find some CD's on the links of the official Popcornsite
www.popcornoldies.com
if not, there is always a weekly radio-show by DJ Theo Dumoulin
that's interesting. He plays a great selection of new and older Popcorn tunes.
Good luck!
tastyvinyl

[eddie]

Hey tastyvinyl, I've actually dug through my 7,000 CDs from all genres of soul and jazz and discovered I had some popcorn.

I have both volumes of Up all night on Charly and the Cream of Northern soul (Keep the faith series) on a British imports where many tracks are featured. Luckily, I have the aforementioned Troy Dodds, Impressions, Bobby Moore, and Sam Fletcher tracks on CD.

The standout characteristic that I noticed was that they all had a Latin feel and rhythm which like Jerry Butler. I remember the O'jays saying that much music is built around a cha-cha, a romba (sp), a 3/4 waltz ect. as a template. I also notice a sort of ska guitar throughout. I do hear a pattern but not totally distinct.

Great discussion!!!!

[remicks]

*****

Hey tastyvinyl, I've actually dug through my ((( 7,000 CDs ))) from all genres of soul and jazz and discovered I had some popcorn.

:o :o

****

[tastyvinyl]

The standout characteristic that I noticed was that they all had a Latin feel and rhythm which like Jerry Butler. I remember the O'jays saying that much music is built around a cha-cha, a romba (sp), a 3/4 waltz ect. as a template. I also notice a sort of ska guitar throughout. I do hear a pattern but not totally distinct

eddie,
you are right about this, the characteristics of Popcorn music are quite similar to what you mention;the cha-cha beat, the ska-guitar and rhythm are familiar. But dig deeper and you will find also the walking beat of (slow) Rock & Roll or Jive, Calypso, Teenbeat, Rhumba, even the schmaltz of ballads blends in perfectly.

I've noticed that over the years the most characteristic about Popcorn music is the steady mid-tempo rhythm and the lyrics that create the mood. This differs very much from Northern Soul where the tempo and the energy is higher and strongly based on the Motown Sound. Some Northern Soul clubs may have rooms where the DJ plays Popcorn-type of music but in Belgium the variety of the musical menu is much more diverse and unique if I remember well.

Although certain records will pop up in Popcorn and Northern Soul both scenes are unique and completely different from one another.
tastyvinyl