The Top 10 Funk Songs of the 2010s

It’s been a decade of funk – and we’ve compiled the top 10 funk songs of the 2010s! From Bruno Mars to Lizzo, these are the tunes that got us grooving.

Introduction

presenting the Top 10 Funk Songs of the 2010s. This list is based on a combination of funk song popularity, critical acclaim, and our own personal opinion. The 2010s were a great decade for funk music, with artists like Bruno Mars, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince keeping the genre alive and well. Here are our picks for the best funk songs of the 2010s:

1. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
2. “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” by Parliament
3. “Kiss” by Prince
4. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
5. “Funkadelic” by George Clinton
6. “Hot in Herre” by Nelly
7. “I Want You Back” by Jackson 5
8. “(Not Just) Knee Deep” by Funkadelic
9. “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)” by Snoop Dogg ft. Nate Dogg & Warren G
10. “I’ll Be Good to You” by Quincy Jones ft. Ray Charles & Chaka Khan

“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

“Uptown Funk” is a song by English producer Mark Ronson from his fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015), featuring American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. The song was released as the album’s lead single on 10 November 2014.

“Get Lucky” – Daft Punk feat. Pharrell

Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” was one of the most popular songs of the 2010s, and for good reason. The track, which features vocals from Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, is a perfect example of the French electronic duo’s knack for creating catchy, danceable tracks. The song became an instant classic upon its release in 2013, and it’s still a favorite among funk fans today.

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for the film Trolls (2016), serving as its lead single. The song was written and produced by Timberlake, Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing from Chad Hugo. It was released on May 6, 2016, following a announcement that Timberlake would executive produce and star in the film. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a disco, funk and soul song that contains elements of R&B and pop. Its subject matter discusses happiness, love and pleasure.

“24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

In 2016, Bruno Mars accomplished what few artists had done in the previous decade: He brought funk back to the mainstream. It was a masterful stroke of pop songwriting, arrangement, and performance, with one goal in mind: to make people dance. The result was “24K Magic,” a slick and irresistible disco-funk jam that dominated radio and spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned Mars his first Grammy for Record of the Year.

“Happy” – Pharrell

“Happy” is a song by American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams, released as the first single from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack album on November 21, 2013. It also served as the lead single from Williams’ second studio album, Girl (2014). The song was written and produced by Williams, with additional writing from Calvin Harris. “Happy” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Williams’ fourth US number-one single. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, France, Denmark and New Zealand.

“Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell

“Blurred Lines” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Robin Thicke featuring American rappers T.I. and Pharrell Williams. The song was produced by Thicke and Williams with an additional production credit from French disc jockey Edwin “Fanatic” Serrano. It was released on March 26, 2013 as the lead single from Thicke’s album of the same name. The song’s music composition are led by percussion instruments such as drums, hand claps and drum machine, rhythm guitar and bass guitar, while the lyrics evoke themes of male-female gender relations.

The recording was met with controversy before its release because of its sexually suggestive lyrics, which some felt were misogynistic and contributed to rape culture. In September 2013, the song was ranked number two on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 30 Best Songs of the 2010s (So Far)”.

“We Are Young” – fun. feat. Janelle Monáe

“We Are Young” is a song recorded by American indie pop band Fun. featuring American singer Janelle Monáe, for their second studio album, Some Nights (2012). It was released on September 20, 2011, as the lead single from Some Nights. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many noting the song as a breakthrough in the career of the band and praising the song’s hook. “We Are Young” has become an international anthem for the young and has been used in commercials and as a theme song for several television programs. “We Are Young” won two Grammy Awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Commercially, it peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Digital Songs chart, as well as reaching number one in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand and Slovakia.

“Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd

The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” might be one of the most unexpectedly perfect funk songs of the 2010s. The slinky, infectious bass line and synth melody are pure ’70s disco, while The Weeknd’s smooth, falsetto vocals bring the track firmly into the 21st century. It’s a perfect blend of old and new that makes you want to get up and dance.

“Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon

“Shut Up and Dance” is a song by American rock band Walk the Moon for their second studio album Talking Is Hard (2014). The song was written by all four members of the band: Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman and Eli Maiman. It was produced by Tim Pagnotta. The song is based on an incident at a Cincinnati bar when frontman Nicholas Petricca was robbed at gunpoint.

Petricca has said that the lyrics of “Shut Up and Dance” are “a call to arms for everyone out there who’s been stuck in a funk … It’s about finding that one person or that one moment that can just change everything in your life and getting up off your ass and doing something about it.” The song was released as the second single from Talking Is Hard on September 10, 2014.

“Shut Up and Dance” became Walk the Moon’s first number-one single on Alternative Songs, as well as their first top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four. In Canada, it reached number two on both the Alternative Songs chart andMainstream Rock Songs chart. In Australia, it peaked at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified 5× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), becoming their most successful single there. Globally, it sold over 3 million units in 2015 and was the ninth best-selling song of the year.

The accompanying music video features people of various ages lip syncing to the song while performing various dances in everyday locations such as parking lots and laundry mats. The video won awards at both MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2015 and 2016 UKMVAs.