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 — Funk Music: Past and Present (141–150)
Amen brotherwinstons
A funk band from Washington, D.C.
in the 1960s, consisting of six members.
This instrumental track was released as the B-side, with “Color Him Father” on the A-side.
It’s a song with a beautiful melody.
WarEdwin Starr
Edwin Starr, who rose to prominence in Detroit from the mid-1960s and became a top star of Northern Soul, took this song to No.
1 in the U.S.
in 1970.
As the title suggests, it’s a song about the Vietnam War.
Not only its funky sound but also its lyrics resonated deeply, and Bruce Springsteen continues to perform it on stage to this day.
Play That Funky MusicWild Cherry
This is also a straightforward, masculine, classic funk in E with a single chord.
The unison vocals create a thick, powerful groove.
If you can play this rhythm pattern, you can pretty much join any jam session.
That kind of classic, straight-ahead vibe struck me again as really cool.
Funky Vibes — Funk Music: Past and Present (151–160)
Sugah DaddyD’Angelo and The Vanguard
A sensual track featuring funky grooves, soulful piano, and a jazzy horn section.
It is included on American artist D’Angelo’s third album, Black Messiah, released in 2014.
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.
You Dropped A Bomb On MeThe Gap Band
A shining hit in the history of funk burst onto the scene in 1982 courtesy of The Gap Band.
Distinguished by its bomb-drop sound effects and synth tones, the song’s lyrics memorably liken the shock of romance to an explosion.
Featured on the album Gap Band IV, it reached No.
2 on Billboard’s R&B chart.
In 2004, it also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, captivating countless listeners.
It’s the perfect track for igniting the dance floor or channeling the pain of heartbreak.
With The Gap Band’s soulful vocals, you can fully savor the essence of funk—be sure to experience this classic for yourself.
Electric KingdomTwilight 22
A track released under the name Twilight 22 by Gordon Bahary, a synthesizer player who has worked with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Ramsey Lewis.
It was sampled in DJ Maestro’s 1988 track “Cali Cuts.”