Vladimir Putin Is Dead
L.A. Style, a Dutch electronic dance music duo composed of Wessel van Diepen and Denzil Slemming, released “James Brown Is Dead” as the lead single from their debut album in August 1991. The song was a chart-topping hit across Europe, including in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain, and reached the top 10 in several other countries such as Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the US, it peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track became a “techno classic” and inspired multiple answer songs, with artists like DJ Irene and DJ Boozy Woozy remixing it into their sets. Critics praised the song’s high energy and frenetic beat, with Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times calling it a “good starting point” for the techno movement. The real James Brown passed away from heart failure in the early hours of December 25, 2006. Interestingly, the song “James Brown Is Dead” was released 15 years prior to his passing. Somehow the following New York Times article reminds us of the L.A. Style song.