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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!

Playlist

Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastPlaygroundSteve Lacy
PlaygroundSteve Lacyplay_arrow
Introduction to Steve Lacy’s talent-filled funk track
2eastGet Up(I Feel Like Being)A Sex MachineJames Brown
Get Up(I Feel Like Being)A Sex MachineJames Brownplay_arrow
Funk music originated with James Brown
3eastTreasureBruno Mars
TreasureBruno Marsplay_arrow
Bruno Mars’s Role in Reviving ’80s Funk and His Hit-Making Achievements
4eastKing JamesAnderson .Paak
King JamesAnderson .Paakplay_arrow
Introduction to Anderson .Paak’s classic song “King James”
5eastAutomatonJamiroquai
AutomatonJamiroquaiplay_arrow
Introduction to Jamiroquai’s 2017 album “Automaton”
6eastUptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson
Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronsonplay_arrow
The Massive Hit and Allure of Uptown Funk
7eastTalkin’ LoudIncognito
Talkin' LoudIncognitoplay_arrow
Danceable jazz from Incognito’s masterpieces
8eastChameleonHerbie Hancock
ChameleonHerbie Hancockplay_arrow
Herbie Hancock’s classic album Chameleon
9east(Not Just) Knee DeepFunkadelic
(Not Just) Knee DeepFunkadelicplay_arrow
Analysis and Appeal of Funkadelic's Classic Song
10eastLose Yourself to DanceDaft Punk
Lose Yourself to DanceDaft Punkplay_arrow
Daft Punk disbandment, introduction to their masterpieces
11eastGood TimesChic
Good TimesChicplay_arrow
Chic’s classic laid the foundation of hip-hop.
12eastThem ChangesThundercat
Them ChangesThundercatplay_arrow
Introduction to Thundercat’s signature songs
13eastSuper FreakRick James
Super FreakRick Jamesplay_arrow
Rick James's classic song Super Freak
14eastSuperstitionStevie Wonder
SuperstitionStevie Wonderplay_arrow
A signature song by Stevie Wonder.
15eastGive Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)Parliament
Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)Parliamentplay_arrow
Introduction to Parliament’s greatest hits
16eastMaria TambiénKhruangbin
Maria TambiénKhruangbinplay_arrow
Khruangbin, exotic-style funk music
17eastDo ItTuxedo
Do ItTuxedoplay_arrow
Tuxedo’s signature track, Disco Boogie
18eastKissPrince & The Revolution
KissPrince & The Revolutionplay_arrow
The appeal of Prince’s signature song “Kiss”
19eastLevitatingDua Lipa
LevitatingDua Lipaplay_arrow
Introducing Dua Lipa’s hit song “Levitating”
20eastWord UpCameo
Word UpCameoplay_arrow
Introduction to Cameo's 1986 hit song 'Word Up'
21eastPowerMarcus Miller
PowerMarcus Millerplay_arrow
A funky performer with the bass in the spotlight
22eastThe Adventures of Rain Dance MaggieRed Hot Chili Peppers
The Adventures of Rain Dance MaggieRed Hot Chili Peppersplay_arrow
Released by RHCP in 2011
23eastGidget (feat. Anderson .Paak & T.Nava)Free Nationals
Gidget (feat. Anderson .Paak & T.Nava)Free Nationalsplay_arrow
A modern funk song by Free Nationals
24eastFunk #49James Gang
Funk #49James Gangplay_arrow
A classic funk song in a rock style
25eastShining StarEarth, Wind & Fire
Shining StarEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
A funky classic by Earth, Wind & Fire
26eastPaint ItLucky Daye
Paint ItLucky Dayeplay_arrow
Lucky Dae's groovy track
27eastStretchin’OutBootsy Collins
Stretchin'OutBootsy Collinsplay_arrow
Bootsy's comical and flamboyant funk music
28eastSweet NothingsFat Night
Sweet NothingsFat Nightplay_arrow
A funk track by Fat Night. Original arrangement in a 70s–80s style.
29eastTightropeJanelle Monáe ft. Big Boi
TightropeJanelle Monáe ft. Big Boiplay_arrow
A collaboration song by Janelle Monáe and Big Boi
30eastPick up the PiecesAverage White Band
Pick up the PiecesAverage White Bandplay_arrow
A British funk band that produced major hit songs
31eastFunknRoll!Prince
FunknRoll!Princeplay_arrow
Prince's funk song released in 2014
32eastMolassesKwaku Asante
MolassesKwaku Asanteplay_arrow
Kwake Asante’s luscious funk track
33east1999Prince
1999Princeplay_arrow
The dawn of 80s funk with cutting-edge equipment
34eastCallingQUIN
CallingQUINplay_arrow
Introduction and Features of Quinn’s Song “Calling”
35eastManeaterDaryl Hall & John Oates
ManeaterDaryl Hall & John Oatesplay_arrow
A black-and-white mixed soul-funk band
36eastFantastic VoyageLakeside
Fantastic VoyageLakesideplay_arrow
Lakeside is a funk group known for its distinctive choruses.
37eastFreedomJimi Hendrix
FreedomJimi Hendrixplay_arrow
Hendrix was influenced by funk
38eastBrick houseCommodores
Brick houseCommodoresplay_arrow
A funk band performs a groove song
39eastKing KuntaKendrick Lamar
King KuntaKendrick Lamarplay_arrow
The MJ-style track released by Kendrick Lamar in 2015
40eastJungle BoogieKool and The Gang
Jungle BoogieKool and The Gangplay_arrow
Kool & the Gang’s 1973 classic
41eastSir DukeStevie Wonder
Sir DukeStevie Wonderplay_arrow
An inspiring melody by Stevie Wonder
42eastKung Fu fightingCarl Douglas
Kung Fu fightingCarl Douglasplay_arrow
A reggae song sung by a Jamaican singer
43eastDo It RogerRoger Troutman
Do It RogerRoger Troutmanplay_arrow
Roger is a leading figure in funk disco.
44eastSuperflyCurtis Mayfield
SuperflyCurtis Mayfieldplay_arrow
Curtis Mayfield’s masterpiece Super Fly
45eastValdez in the CountryCold Blood
Valdez in the CountryCold Bloodplay_arrow
Impressed by the warm, glowing allure of ’70s funk
46eastCome And Get ItJohn Newman
Come And Get ItJohn Newmanplay_arrow
John Newman's single reaches No. 5 in the UK
47eastSupernovaSunni Colón
SupernovaSunni Colónplay_arrow
The American singer-songwriter, Santi (Sonny) Colon’s supernova
48eastGet Down On ItKool and The Gang
Get Down On ItKool and The Gangplay_arrow
An 80s peak-era group makes a comeback
49south_eastGet Down On ItKool and The Gang
Get Down On ItKool and The Gangplay_arrow
Kool & the Gang, a disco-funk band
50eastWhy can’t we live togetherTimmy Thomas
Why can't we live togetherTimmy Thomasplay_arrow
Depicting Black society in a funk song
51eastLucky StrikeBerhana
Lucky StrikeBerhanaplay_arrow
City pop-style song by Belhana
52eastBlack catJanet Jackson
Black catJanet Jacksonplay_arrow
Funk rock from Rhythm Nation
53eastI Can’t stand the rainAnn Peebles
I Can't stand the rainAnn Peeblesplay_arrow
Anne Peebles’s popular song with gospel origins
54eastRock SteadyAretha Franklin
Rock SteadyAretha Franklinplay_arrow
Aretha Franklin’s 1971 funk-soul
55eastI know you got soulBobby Byrd
I know you got soulBobby Byrdplay_arrow
Contributed to the development of funk music
56eastAnother You (Feat. Ruckazoid)Breakbot
Another You (Feat. Ruckazoid)Breakbotplay_arrow
French-born disco-funk music producer
57eastle freakChic
le freakChicplay_arrow
The disco-funk classic “Le Freak”
58eastSuper StupidFunkadelic
Super StupidFunkadelicplay_arrow
Funk rock song by a different P-Funk group
59eastHairGraham Central Station
HairGraham Central Stationplay_arrow
Larry Graham establishes the canon of funk bass
60eastIt’s Just BegunJimmy Castor Bunch
It's Just BegunJimmy Castor Bunchplay_arrow
Jimmy Castor was sampled by RHYMESTER
61eastEvan Finds The Third RoomKhruangbin
Evan Finds The Third RoomKhruangbinplay_arrow
Khruangbin is an American band known for their laid-back grooves.
62eastFeel RightMark Ronson feat. Mystikal
Feel RightMark Ronson feat. Mystikalplay_arrow
A collaborative song by Mark Ronson and Mystikal
63eastLove RollercoasterOhio Players
Love RollercoasterOhio Playersplay_arrow
Ohio Players 1975 No. 1 song
64eastFlash LightParliament
Flash LightParliamentplay_arrow
A pioneering funk track with synth bass
65eastFamily AffairSly & The Family Stone
Family AffairSly & The Family Stoneplay_arrow
I’m soothed by a vintage-feel funk track
66eastThank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)Sly & The Family Stone
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)Sly & The Family Stoneplay_arrow
Sly & the Family Stone’s classic song from ’69
67eastHigh On YouSly Stone
High On YouSly Stoneplay_arrow
A funk track Sly Stone produced solo after his band broke up.
68eastARKADE FUNKTROUBLE FUNK
ARKADE FUNKTROUBLE FUNKplay_arrow
Funk track featuring video game sounds
69eastAin’t We Funkin NowThe Brothers Johnson
Ain't We Funkin NowThe Brothers Johnsonplay_arrow
The Brothers Johnson: Louis’s superhuman bass playing
70eastCissy StrutThe Meters
Cissy StrutThe Metersplay_arrow
Funk music by The Meters
71eastFireThe Ohio Players
FireThe Ohio Playersplay_arrow
Funk classic by the Ohio Players
72eastHanda WandaThe Wild Magnolias
Handa WandaThe Wild Magnoliasplay_arrow
The distinctive fusion of New Orleans funk music
73eastSmiling face sometimesUndisputed truth
Smiling face sometimesUndisputed truthplay_arrow
Covering a song by The Temptations
74eastso ruff, so tuffzapp and roger
so ruff, so tuffzapp and rogerplay_arrow
Synth-bass electro-funk
75eastF.U.N.K.Betty Davis
F.U.N.K.Betty Davisplay_arrow
Betty Davis influenced Miles.
76eastMr. Big stuffJean Knight
Mr. Big stuffJean Knightplay_arrow
Gene became famous for his 1970s hit songs.
77eastPick Up The PiecesAverage White Band
Pick Up The PiecesAverage White Bandplay_arrow
A funky track by Average White Band, released in 1974
78eastFantasyEarth, Wind & Fire
FantasyEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
Arthur Windfire, the byword of the funk world
79eastLong Hot Summer NightJames “JT” Taylor
Long Hot Summer NightJames "JT" Taylorplay_arrow
Kool & the Gang make a comeback with JT joining
80eastThis LoveMaroon 5
This LoveMaroon 5play_arrow
A funk song featuring distinctive cutting guitar
81eastGonna Be Just Me (feat. Adryon de León)The New Mastersounds
Gonna Be Just Me (feat. Adryon de León)The New Mastersoundsplay_arrow
A jazz-funk band from London
82eastMe and Your MamaChildish Gambino
Me and Your MamaChildish Gambinoplay_arrow
Childish Gambino's 1970s funk-style hit song
83eastPOUND FOR POUNDFEDERATION OF THE DISCO PIMP
POUND FOR POUNDFEDERATION OF THE DISCO PIMPplay_arrow
Introduction to Scottish funk bands
84eastSorryBeyoncé
SorryBeyoncéplay_arrow
Beyoncé’s infidelity theme song
85eastWhat Is Hip?Tower Of Power
What Is Hip?Tower Of Powerplay_arrow
Tower of Power's signature songs
86eastThe Great DivideMayer Hawthorne
The Great DivideMayer Hawthorneplay_arrow
Mayer Hawthorne soulful tracks
87eastFunkentownSlave
FunkentownSlaveplay_arrow
Slave is a funk band from Ohio.
88eastFreakshow On The Dance FloorThe Bar-Kays
Freakshow On The Dance FloorThe Bar-Kaysplay_arrow
The Bar-Kays, a 1960s funk band, make a comeback
89eastGot to Get DownAnalog Son
Got to Get DownAnalog Sonplay_arrow
Funk music originating from Colorado
90eastSomeday We’ll Get ByAzteca
Someday We'll Get ByAztecaplay_arrow
Musical characteristics of the Bay Area funk band Azteca
91eastYou Are The First, My Last, My EverythingBarry White
You Are The First, My Last, My EverythingBarry Whiteplay_arrow
A song with the warm vibe of funk
92eastUse meBill Withers
Use meBill Withersplay_arrow
Funk classics are loved across generations
93eastSugar.Honey.Ice.TeaCharlie Wilson
Sugar.Honey.Ice.TeaCharlie Wilsonplay_arrow
Charlie Wilson's R&B song
94eastWarning feat KaiitCookin’ On 3 Burners
Warning feat KaiitCookin' On 3 Burnersplay_arrow
A classic funk song by a funk trio from Melbourne
95eastGet Up Offa That ThingJames Brown
Get Up Offa That ThingJames Brownplay_arrow
James Brown's 1976 smash hit
96eastThe PathRalph MacDonald
The PathRalph MacDonaldplay_arrow
An epic tracing Ralph’s musical journey
97eastStone RollinRaphael Saadiq
Stone RollinRaphael Saadiqplay_arrow
Sadiq’s soulful soul music
98eastI’ll Take You ThereThe Staple Singers
I'll Take You ThereThe Staple Singersplay_arrow
The Staple Singers' classic
99eastRespect YourselfThe Staple Singers
Respect YourselfThe Staple Singersplay_arrow
A song of the soul after the Civil Rights Movement, conveying hope and courage
100eastTake Me There (ft. Nicole Willis)Bosq
Take Me There (ft. Nicole Willis)Bosqplay_arrow
Bosq is modern disco-funk
101eastDazzBrick
DazzBrickplay_arrow
An influential disco-jazz-funk track
102eastUpside down (inside out)Diana Ross
Upside down (inside out)Diana Rossplay_arrow
Diana Ross's 1980 release song
103eastOld SchoolDirty Dozen Brass Band
Old SchoolDirty Dozen Brass Bandplay_arrow
New Orleans funk with a strong brass section
104eastRight place, wrong timeDr. John
Right place, wrong timeDr. Johnplay_arrow
Doctor John's funk-style composition
105eastChurchGalactic
ChurchGalacticplay_arrow
Galactic Sophisticated Funk Music Fusion
106eastPowGraham Central Station
PowGraham Central Stationplay_arrow
Larry Graham's upbeat funk band
107eastShake ItHip Spanic Allstars
Shake ItHip Spanic Allstarsplay_arrow
Passionate sound fusing Latin and funk
108eastYou sexy thingHot Chocolate
You sexy thingHot Chocolateplay_arrow
Hot Chocolate's signature song, "You Sexy Thing"
109eastToo much to loseJeff Beck
Too much to loseJeff Beckplay_arrow
Jeff Beck is active in both rock and funk.
110eastI GocchaJoe Tex
I GocchaJoe Texplay_arrow
A Joe Tex song was covered in the ’90s.
111eastFencewalkMandrill
FencewalkMandrillplay_arrow
A funk band of the Wilson brothers born in Panama.
112eastcutie pieOne Way
cutie pieOne Wayplay_arrow
A funk-style song by One Way
113eastCome Get It BaePharrell Williams
Come Get It BaePharrell Williamsplay_arrow
Pharrell Williams's funk track
114eastLa Negra (Bosq Remix)Son Palenque
La Negra (Bosq Remix)Son Palenqueplay_arrow
Remix a Latin African beat track into disco-funk
115eastDo MeTeddy Pendergrass
Do MeTeddy Pendergrassplay_arrow
Introduction to Teddy's Hige-Dance Song
116eastBrick HouseThe Communards
Brick HouseThe Communardsplay_arrow
The Commodores’ heavy funk
117eastBetween The SheetsThe Isley Brothers
Between The SheetsThe Isley Brothersplay_arrow
The Isley Brothers’ rock-style guitar sound
118eastWho’s That ladyThe Isley Brothers
Who's That ladyThe Isley Brothersplay_arrow
A long-running group even has an anecdote about Jimi Hendrix
119eastState Of ShockThe Jacksons
State Of ShockThe Jacksonsplay_arrow
A collaboration song by Michael and Mick
120eastSquib CakesTower Of Power
Squib CakesTower Of Powerplay_arrow
Tower of Power's brass rock music
121eastSo Nice You Name Him TwiceWilliam Bootsy Collins
So Nice You Name Him TwiceWilliam Bootsy Collinsplay_arrow
Bootsy’s bass playing accelerated the funk-ification.
122eastMore Bounce to the OunceZapp
More Bounce to the OunceZappplay_arrow
Zapp is a funk band notable for its talk box.
123eastMore Bounce To The OunceZapp
More Bounce To The OunceZappplay_arrow
Sampled heavily in Zapp’s 1980 hit
124eastOnce In A LifetimeTalking Heads
Once In A LifetimeTalking Headsplay_arrow
Talking Heads 1981 release song
125eastLow riderWar
Low riderWarplay_arrow
A band led by a former Animals vocalist that was active in the 1970s
126eastBe thankful for what you gotWilliam DeVaughn
Be thankful for what you gotWilliam DeVaughnplay_arrow
A worldwide song released by William in 1974
127eastBlended Family (What You Do For Love)Alicia Keys ft. A$AP Rocky
Blended Family (What You Do For Love)Alicia Keys ft. A$AP Rockyplay_arrow
A collaborative song about love and growth
128eastCommodoresBrick House
CommodoresBrick Houseplay_arrow
The Commodores are a soul-funk band.
129eastWord Up!Cameo
Word Up!Cameoplay_arrow
Cameo is an American funk band formed in 1974.
130eastLazarusDavid Bowie
LazarusDavid Bowieplay_arrow
David Bowie 2015 release song
131eastGetawayEarth, Wind & Fire
GetawayEarth, Wind & Fireplay_arrow
Introduction to popular 70s disco songs
132eastAtomic DogGeorge Clinton
Atomic DogGeorge Clintonplay_arrow
A 1982 funk song with lyrics by Clinton
133eastI Want You BackThe Jackson 5
I Want You BackThe Jackson 5play_arrow
Michael Jackson's famous songs
134eastMr. DivaKaleta & Super Yamba Band
Mr. DivaKaleta & Super Yamba Bandplay_arrow
A 2018 new song in the James Brown style
135eastMemphis Soul StewKing Curtis
Memphis Soul StewKing Curtisplay_arrow
King Curtis established his own style by incorporating funk.
136eastHow We Gonna Work It Out (Bosq remix)Kokolo
How We Gonna Work It Out (Bosq remix)Kokoloplay_arrow
Kokolo remixed by Bosq in a disco-funk style
137eastJuicy FruitMTUME
Juicy FruitMTUMEplay_arrow
Mtume's 1983 funk song
138eastBefore I Let GoMaze
Before I Let GoMazeplay_arrow
Maze 1981 R&B soul song
139eastGive Up the FunkParliament
Give Up the FunkParliamentplay_arrow
Introduction to Parliament’s funk tracks
140eastMary JaneRick James
Mary JaneRick Jamesplay_arrow
A lo-fi track brimming with funk-loving vibes
141eastTell me something goodRufus and Chaka Khan
Tell me something goodRufus and Chaka Khanplay_arrow
Composed by Stevie Wonder, performed by Rufus and Chaka.
142eastI Want to Take You HigherSly & The Family Stone
I Want to Take You HigherSly & The Family Stoneplay_arrow
Sly Stone’s classic funk song
143eastPeaches N CreamSnoop Dogg ft. Charlie Wilson
Peaches N CreamSnoop Dogg ft. Charlie Wilsonplay_arrow
Snoop Dogg's hit song
144eastI will take you thereThe Staple Singers
I will take you thereThe Staple Singersplay_arrow
A classic by a soul group originating from Chicago
145eastPapa Was A Rollin’ StoneThe Temptations
Papa Was A Rollin' StoneThe Temptationsplay_arrow
The Temptations shifted to funk
146eastJungle LoveThe Time
Jungle LoveThe Timeplay_arrow
A quintessential Minneapolis sound funk track
147eastThe BirdThe Time
The BirdThe Timeplay_arrow
A song featured in a show by a Prince-derived band
148eastAmen brotherwinstons
Amen brotherwinstonsplay_arrow
Funk band originating from Washington, D.C.
149eastWarEdwin Starr
WarEdwin Starrplay_arrow
Edwin Starr’s Vietnam War song
150eastPlay That Funky MusicWild Cherry
Play That Funky MusicWild Cherryplay_arrow
Royal road funk, a thick groove of vocal unison
151eastSugah DaddyD’Angelo and The Vanguard
Sugah DaddyD'Angelo and The Vanguardplay_arrow
D’Angelo’s soulful jazz track
152eastFireOhio Players
FireOhio Playersplay_arrow
A popular funk band from the heyday of 70s disco
153eastYou Dropped A Bomb On MeThe Gap Band
You Dropped A Bomb On MeThe Gap Bandplay_arrow
Gap Band’s 1982 funk classic
154eastElectric KingdomTwilight 22
Electric KingdomTwilight 22play_arrow
A track produced on synth by Gordon Bahari
155eastI Got My Mind Made UpInstant Funk
I Got My Mind Made UpInstant Funkplay_arrow
A skilled parody song by an anonymous group
156eastLet It WhipDazz Band
Let It WhipDazz Bandplay_arrow
Dazz Band's hit song 'Let It Whip'