"James Brown is important because he decorates the clock correctly and he's good with lower mathematics. Don't get me wrong - he's good"

Don Van Vliet’s remark about James Brown, highlighting his attribute of "decorating the clock correctly" and being "good with lower mathematics", employs vivid, metaphorical language that encapsulates James Brown’s profound influence as a musician, especially in rhythm and timing. "Decorating the clock" evokes the idea of musical timekeeping, an essential facet in Brown’s legendary funk grooves. Far more than just keeping time mechanically, Brown adorned rhythms with syncopation, polish, and unexpected flair, he made timing an expressive, creative core of his music. He didn’t merely stay on the beat; he shaped it, enhancing each bar with nuanced accents and intricate interplay between instruments and vocals.

The reference to "lower mathematics" aligns rhythm and groove with arithmetic’s foundational concepts, counting, division, multiplication. James Brown’s work often hinged on deep, repetitive rhythmic cycles ("the one", his iconic downbeat) that involved careful subdivision and layering. Much of funk’s architecture is mathematical, beats are divided into sixteenths, tightly woven together, creating complexity from basic building blocks. Van Vliet’s phrase doesn't diminish the music’s sophistication but draws attention to genius embedded in apparent simplicity, how Brown could manipulate rhythm, syncopate, and cut time to create irresistible energy, all rooted in the "lower" side of musical math.

Van Vliet’s final assurance, "Don’t get me wrong, he’s good", signals profound respect. The seemingly playful tone masks deep admiration for skills that are easily recognized but rarely matched. From one boundary-pushing artist to another, there is recognition that Brown’s mastery isn’t in showy excess or theoretical esoterica, but in absolute command of essentials. The remark is both an homage to the science of groove and a celebration of Brown’s role in redefining how musicians keep time, shape rhythm, and, above all, move listeners to dance.