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 Mood: The Past and Present of Funk Music (51–60)
Handa WandaThe Wild Magnolias
The Wild Magnolias are also a New Orleans funk band.
Their primitive, powerful sound—fusing the rhythmic call-and-response music of the Native peoples of the American South with funk—has a unique, intense character.
Smiling face sometimesUndisputed truth
Released in the 1970s, this song was originally written for The Temptations.
However, it ended up being released by this band on their debut album.
The quietly sung, groove-tinged lyrics are memorable, set against the sound of blaring trumpets.
Get Down On ItKool and The Gang
They’re a group that reached their peak in the 1980s.
Although they went through a slump for a while, they made a comeback by adding a vocalist.
Around the time this song was released, they were in their prime, churning out pop tracks.
It was also used in commercials, so many people have probably heard it.
Get Down On ItKool and The Gang
Kool & the Gang is an American soul and funk band.
They debuted in 1969 and were featured on the soundtrack of the film Saturday Night Fever, gaining fame as a disco-funk band.
Get Down On It is a hit number that reached No.
10 on the pop chart and No.
4 on the Black chart in 1982.
Why can’t we live togetherTimmy Thomas
It’s funk distinguished by conveying its message over a heavy, somber groove.
The track is stripped-down—just the earliest drum machine paired with a Hammond organ—yet its gritty core is undeniable.
The sharply edged organ intensifies the dark, weighty mood.
It’s a song that vividly portrays Black society in the early 1970s.