The Funk Music Revival You Need to Know About
Contents
The Funk Music Revival You Need to Know About
With the recent popularity of shows like Stranger Things and the return of bands like LCD Soundsystem, it’s no surprise that funk music is making a comeback. If you’re looking to get into the funk, here are some of the best revivalists you need to know about.
The Revival of Funk Music
Funk music is making a comeback and it’s better than ever. Funk is a genre of music that is defined by its groove. This groove is created by the interaction between the rhythm section and the lead instruments. The lead instruments often have a lot of syncopation, which creates a complex and funky sound.
The Origins of Funk Music
Originating in the late 1960s, funk is a music genre that blends elements of rhythm and blues, soul, and jazz. It is characterized by a strong bass line, often played on electric bass or keyboard bass. Funk songs often have a call-and-response structure, with the singer calling out to the audience and the audience responding back.
The word “funk” has many different meanings, but in the context of music, it refers to a specific style of African American music that originated in the late 1960s. Funk is characterized by a strong bass line and rhythms that are often syncopated (irregular) or “offbeat.” Funk songs often have a call-and-response structure, with the singer calling out to the audience and the audience responding back.
Funk began to gain popularity in the late 1960s, when artists like James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone started to experiment with new sounds and grooves. In the 1970s, funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and The Gap Band helped to solidify the genre with their distinctive styles. In more recent years, acts like Outkast, LCD Soundsystem, André 3000, Janelle Monáe, Bruno Mars, and MIA have all incorporated elements of funk into their music.
Although it has its roots in African American music, funk has been embraced by people of all races and cultures. It is frequently sampled in hip hop and electronic dance music, and its influence can be heard in many different genres of music today.
The Rebirth of Funk Music
The Funk Revival of the 2010s took the best elements of classic funk and updated it for a new generation. This new breed of funk bands brought the funky grooves of the 70s into the 21st century.
Funk Revival bands such as Vulfpeck, Lettuce, and The Meters created a new sound that was rooted in classic funk, but also incorporated elements of jazz, hip hop, and rock. This new sound was fresh and exciting, and it sparked a renewed interest in funk music.
The Funk Revival of the 2010s was a true renaissance for funk music. These new bands took the best elements of classic funk and updated it for a new generation. The result was a sound that was both fresh and familiar, and it sparked a renewed interest in funk music.
The Funk Music Scene Today
Funk has experienced a revival in recent years, with a new generation of artists breathing new life into the genre. Today, funk is more popular than ever, with a sound that is both retro and modern. If you’re a fan of funk music, here’s what you need to know about the current scene.
The Leading Figures of Funk Music
Funk music is a genre of African-American music that originated in the mid-1960s when African-American musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of soul music, jazz, and rhythm and blues (R&B). Funk de-emphasizes melody and chord progressions used in other related genres and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground.
Like much of African-American music, funk typically consists of a complex groove with rhythms that vary widely within a single song. Funk songs are often based on an extended vamp on a single chord, containing several chord changes that create dynamic contrast. Other characteristics include call and response vocals, rapid tempos, extensive use of percussion instruments such as congas, timbales, gourds, and strings, muted trumpets or horn sections employing flutter-tongue techniques, and syncopated guitarlines.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Parliament-Funkadelic became one of the most prominent funk bands in the world. Led by George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic developed an eccentric form of funk that incorporated elements of psychedelic rock, soul music, R&B, and even disco. Their best known songs include “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker),” “One Nation Under a Groove,” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep.”
Other notable funk artists from this period include James Brown (whose band The J.B.’s featured many future Funkadelic members), Sly & The Family Stone (“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “I Want To Take You Higher”), Bootsy’s Rubber Band (“Stretchin’ Out”), The Bar-Kays (“Soul Finger”), Flash & The Pan (“Hey St. Peter”), George Clinton’s solo work (“Atomic Dog”), as well as more contemporary acts like Bruno Mars (“Uptown Funk”) and Mayer Hawthorne (“The Walk”).
The Funk Music Festivals
While festivals like Burning Man have featured funk music for years, there are now festivals that are explicitly devoted to the genre. Funk n’ Sour in Charleston, South Carolina, is one such festival, and it has attracted some of the biggest names in funk over the years. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lettuce, and Vulfpeck have all played the festival, and it has become a must-attend event for fans of the genre.
If you’re looking to get your groove on and experience some of the best funk music out there today, be sure to check out one of these funky festivals!
The Future of Funk Music
Funk music has been around for decades, but it’s recently seen a resurgence in popularity. Artists like Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, and Mark Ronson have been incorporating elements of funk into their music. This has led to a new generation of funk fans who are helping to keep the genre alive.
The New Generation of Funk Musicians
Funk music is on the rise again, thanks to a new generation of musicians who are keeping the spirit of this unique genre alive.
The new wave of funk bands is led by talented artists such as Vulfpeck, Lettuce, and Mr. Bungle. These bands are not only keeping the funk sound alive, but they’re also bringing it to a new audience.
If you’re a fan of funk music, or if you’re just curious about this exciting genre, be sure to check out these new artists. You won’t be disappointed!
The Legacy of Funk Music
Funk music is a genre that has its roots in African American music and culture. The term “funk” originally referred to a type of music that was characterized by a strong, rhythmic groove. This genre of music developed in the early 1970s and became very popular in the United States during the disco era.
Funk music has since undergone a revival, with many contemporary artists drawing inspiration from the genre’s classic sounds. In recent years, funk music has seen a resurgence in popularity, with many young people discovering the genre for the first time.
The legacy of funk music is one that is steeped in African American culture and history. The genre has long been associated with social change and political activism, as well as being a source of joy and unity for many people. Funk music continues to be an important part of African American life and culture, and its influence can be heard in many different genres of music today.
