Good Booty

Good Booty traces the evolution of American popular music through the lens of sexuality, physicality, and race - from the Sacred Harp singers of the 1800s to the present day. Powers examines how music has both reflected and shaped American attitudes about the body, desire, and freedom of expression. The book follows key cultural movements and musical innovators who challenged social boundaries through performance, dance, and song. From religious revivals to ragtime, jazz clubs to rock concerts, Powers documents the spaces where music became a vehicle for cultural transformation. This history moves chronologically through American popular music, exploring the connections between spirituality, sensuality, and artistic expression. Major historical events and social movements provide context for the musical developments Powers describes. Good Booty presents popular music as a vital force in American culture that has consistently pushed against restrictive social norms while creating new forms of community and identity. The narrative demonstrates how debates about morality, race, and sexuality have played out through musical performance across generations.

Readers value Powers' deep research and cultural analysis of how sexuality and race intertwined throughout American music history. Many note her ability to draw connections across genres and eras, from 19th century New Orleans through modern pop. Readers appreciate: - Fresh perspectives on familiar musicians - Coverage of overlooked female and POC artists - Clear writing style that balances academic and accessible tones Common criticisms: - Too much focus on contemporary pop stars - Some sections feel rushed or surface-level - Academic language can be dense in parts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ ratings) "Powers excels at showing how religious and sexual expression merged in music," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Several Amazon reviewers mentioned wanting more depth on the 1960s-70s era. A recurring comment praises the early chapters on New Orleans while finding later sections less compelling.

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🎵 Ann Powers spent over 20 years researching and writing Good Booty, diving deep into archives, conducting interviews, and attending countless performances to trace American popular music's relationship with sexuality and race. 🎸 The book's title comes from Little Richard's original lyrics to "Tutti Frutti" - "Good booty" was changed to "aw rooty" when recorded to make it more radio-friendly in 1955. 🎼 Powers explores how the New Orleans tradition of "body instruments" - using the body for percussion through patting, clapping, and dancing - influenced the development of American popular music. 📚 The author serves as NPR Music's critic and correspondent, has written for major publications like Rolling Stone and The New York Times, and previously worked as chief pop music critic at the Los Angeles Times. 🗽 The book reveals how New York City's status as a major port city in the 1800s helped create America's first popular music scene, as sailors brought different musical traditions that merged with local styles in waterfront establishments.