Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music
Even if you don’t actually listen to funk as a music genre, many people unconsciously use the adjective “funky,” don’t they?
As a word that’s already woven into everyday life, what kind of image do you all have of “funk”?
Funk, whose prototype is said to have emerged in the 1960s, has continued to be loved into the 2020s, evolving in form and powering countless hit songs.
This time, we’ll bring you a wide array of classics—from foundational funk essentials to disco, mellow groove, and contemporary funk.
You just might encounter the destined masterpiece that awakens the funkiness sleeping inside you!
- Recommended Western funk bands. Popular overseas bands.
- Recommended Japanese funk bands. Funky Japanese artists.
- [Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums Beginners Should Hear at Least Once
- Why Classic Disco Music Is Still Loved Today
- Legends of soul music: its history and allure revisited through classic songs
- Summary of representative Western funk artists and groups
- A classic jazz-funk masterpiece. A popular recommended track that offers a different flavor from traditional jazz.
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces of 70s Disco Music
- Dance music in Japanese (J-pop) that people in their 50s used to listen to. Nostalgic classic hits.
- [Japanese R&B] Notable Classics & New Tracks, Representative Songs of Japanese R&B
- Relive those feelings from back in the day! Youth anthems recommended for the Yutori generation
- A roundup of classic Western jazz-funk albums—from staples to the latest releases
- [For Beginners] A Roundup of Classic Popular Soul/Funk Bands
Funky Feelings — The Past and Present of Funk Music (41–50)
SupernovaSunni Colón
This irresistibly mysterious track is “Supernova” by the American singer-songwriter Sunni Colón.
From the guitar riffs to the piano parts, it’s a meticulously arranged song that reveals new details with every listen.
It starts mellow and gradually pulls you into the groove as it progresses—an addictive tune indeed.
Kung Fu fightingCarl Douglas
Known in Japan by the title “Hoero Dragon” (“Roar, Dragon”), this song became globally famous through the vocals of Carl, a singer from Jamaica.
Released in the 1970s, it’s a track in which the reggae singer also incorporated the funk-influenced style of that era.
HairGraham Central Station
Larry Graham, who delivered powerful slap bass and deep vocals with Sly & The Family Stone, formed his own band, Graham Central Station.
The slap-bass intro of “Hair” has become a canonical example of funk bass.
It’s Just BegunJimmy Castor Bunch
This is the song that became famous after the Japanese hip-hop group RHYMESTER sampled it in their signature track “B-BOY Izm.” The Jimmy Castor Bunch was active from the 1960s to the 1970s and released many songs that made it onto the Billboard charts.
Love RollercoasterOhio Players
A track released by the Ohio Players in 1975 that reached No.
1 on the U.S.
charts.
A rumor spread that the scream heard during the instrumental break was the voice of a woman murdered in the studio.
It was sampled in Club’s 2004 track “Deep Inside.”