He got soul, he's a superman - James Brown. Photograph: Sandro Campardo/EPA
There's still half a turkey left, the bubbly's gone flat and Mum's fallen asleep watching Gone With The Wind. So allow us a little indulgence as we remember the genius of James Brown, who passed away on Christmas day last year. He was far from perfect as a human being, but as a performer, few will ever come close to clutching his coat-tails.
He could move like no one else. Even (or especially) when he tried to show everyone else how easy it was. But, incredible showmanship aside, there's a reason why his music remains far and away the most sampled in history: his perfectionism (and intricate system of fines) meant he had the tightest band in the world and, as a singer, he could hold his own against the best of them.
Have a very Soulful Christmas with James.
