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 Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music (’81–’90)
The Great DivideMayer Hawthorne
This is a song called “The Great Divide” by Mayer Hawthorne, a singer-songwriter who won a Grammy in 2013.
Its relaxed tempo and soulful vocals are incredibly sensual.
It’s a richly atmospheric track that combines both languidness and romance.
FunkentownSlave
Slave is also a funk band from Ohio.
They are known for performing a Parliament-like style of funk with a large lineup, highlighted by Mark Adams’s slapping bass and a tight rhythm section.
“Funkentown” is one of their signature tracks.
The PathRalph MacDonald
Ralph MacDonald, an American artist who blends the Caribbean sun with New York’s urban sensibility.
His 1978 album The Path features an over 17-minute instrumental suite of the same name that is truly a grand epic woven in sound.
Beginning in Africa, then crossing the Caribbean to the American continent, the music’s journey is vividly drawn through the lively interplay of steel pan and congas.
There are no lyrics, yet the groove clearly conveys the birth of new music born from the mingling of diverse cultures.
This innovative fusion of jazz, funk, and Caribbean music is highly recommended for anyone who wants to feel the profound depth that music can hold.
FireOhio Players
They were a band that became a hit at the height of the 1970s disco sound.
Characterized by light, rhythmic cutting-style guitar, they brilliantly popularized funk, which typically features heavy bass.
The song is marked by electric guitar riffs played in the breaks, with a groovy sound trading back and forth—ultimately taking the number one spot in the U.S.
Stone RollinRaphael Saadiq
A quintessential American soul singer, Raphael Saadiq delivers a heartfelt cry of the soul that grips the listener from the first note.
This is the powerful title track from his album Stone Rollin’, which revives the classic soul sound of the 1960s through a modern lens.
It was released by Columbia Records in March 2011.
The commanding rhythm infused with blues and funk, the groovy bassline, and the weighty sonics woven by vintage Mellotron keys are truly stunning.
Meticulously crafted over the course of a year at his own studio in Los Angeles, this track is highly recommended for anyone who loves soul music.
It’s sure to satisfy listeners seeking the deeper flavors of music.