The Funky Soul of Music: Clips to Get You Moving
Contents
Looking for some fresh, new music to get your groove on to? Look no further than The Funky Soul of Music! This blog is chock-full of great music clips that are sure to get your feet moving.
Introduction
The Funk music genre arose in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a result of the melding of rhythm and blues with soul music, jazz, and gospel. Funk is characterized by its syncopated rhythms, often created by bass guitar and drums, as well as its call-and-response vocals. As a result, funk is often described as “a groove-oriented style of soul music.”
Funk songs are often danceable and are known for their catchy hooks. Additionally, funk is often characterized by its use of improvisation, elements of prog rock, and extended jams.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to some classic funk songs that are sure to get you moving. Whether you’re looking to get your groove on or just want to add some funk to your life, these clips are sure to do the trick!
The Funk
The Funk is a genre of music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is a style of music that is characterized by a groove, often a strong backbeat, and emphasis on extended rhythmic patterns. The Funk also has a strong bassline and often features horn and percussion instruments.
James Brown
There are few artists who have been as influential and innovative as James Brown. Over the course of his career, he created a new style of music that came to be known as funk. Funk is a genre of music that is characterized by a heavy groove and often features horns and other brass instruments.
James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, in 1933. He began his musical career as a gospel singer, but he soon turned to secular music. He had his first hit with the song “Please, Please, Please” in 1956. From there, he went on to have a string of hits, including “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.”
Brown’s influence can be heard in the work of many other artists, including Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince. If you’re looking for some funk in your life, check out the clips below.
Parliament
Parliament is a funk band formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton. The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, but Clinton has remained the only constant member.
The band’s style has been influential in the development of funk, hip-hop, and disco. Their hits include “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker),” “Flash Light,” and “Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop).”
Parliament is currently inactive, but George Clinton has expressed interest in reuniting the group in the future.
Sly and the Family Stone
Formed in 1967, Sly and the Family Stone’s unique blend of Funk, Soul, R&B, and Psychedelic Rock made them one of the most influential bands of their era. They produced hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “I Want to Take You Higher.”
The band’s tight musicianship, positive messages, and energetic performances earned them a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and made them a favorite of Funk and Soul fans around the world.
The Motown Sound
From the heart of Detroit came a new sound in the 1960s. It was the Motown sound, and it changed the face of popular music. The sound was a mix of black and white music, and it had a strong beat that you could dance to. The Motown sound was created by a group of talented black musicians who worked together to create a new sound that was unlike anything that had been heard before.
The Temptations
The Temptations are an American vocal group who rose to fame in the 1960s with their string of hits including “My Girl”, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”. Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960, the group originally featured rappers Ali-Ollie Woodson and Otis Williams, along with singers Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Elbridge Bryant. The group has undergone several lineup changes over the years; Kendricks and Paul Williams both left the group in 1971, followed by Woodson in 1983. Franklin passed away in 1995.
The current lineup of the Temptations includes Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, and baritone Dramatics member Bruce Williamson. The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and they continue to tour and release new music today.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was an American recording artist and singer-songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”. Gaye’s later work included social commentary, as on his 1971 political album What’s Going On, which recorded his response to the Vietnam War, poverty, and racism. His final album, 1984’s Sexual Healing, was credited with helping rekindle interest in erotic soul.
Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C., to church minister Marvin Gay Sr. and domestic worker Alberta Gay. As a child growing up in Northwest Washington rural area of ***West**** Virginia near Quantico Marine Base, young Marvin spent much of his time singing in the local Pentecostal church choir and learning various musical instruments including piano and drums. Despite his musical talents, Marvin’s shyness and introverted nature limited his participation in school activities outside of music; he was regularly teased by classmates for being effeminate and he withdrew into himself further following an incident where he was raped by a friend at age five.
Diana Ross and the Supremes
From their formation in 1961 to their dismantling after lead singer Diana Ross left for a solo career in early 1970, The Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown’s acts and are to this day the best known faces of the Motown legacy.
The group racked up twelve #1 pop hits – more than any other American pop group before or since – including “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Back in My Arms Again,” and the enduring classic “Someday We’ll Be Together.”
The group was originally known as The Primettes, and they were a trio consisting of schoolmates Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Diana Ross. The girls were signed to Motown’s Tamla label in 1961, and they released their first single, “I Want a Guy,” later that year. It was not a hit, but Motown boss Berry Gordy saw potential in the group and decided to groom them for stardom.
The British Invasion
The United Kingdom has given the world some of its greatest bands, from the Beatles to Led Zeppelin. But the British Invasion of the early 1960s wasn’t just about music. It was a cultural phenomenon that changed the course of history. Let’s take a look at how it all began.
The Beatles
In the 1960s, a new type of music was born in England – The Beatles. This group became wildly popular in the United States, and their unique sound soon took over the airwaves. The Beatles were a huge influence on the development of soul music, and their popularity helped to make this genre more accessible to a wider audience. The following clips feature some of the best-known soul songs that were inspired by The Beatles.
The Rolling Stones
The English rock band The Rolling Stones have released 30 studio albums, 30 live albums, 26 compilation albums, three extended play singles, 121 singles, 32 box sets, 48 video albums and 77 music videos. The earliest Rolling Stones records were released in the US on the London Records and Vee-Jay Records labels, which initially consisted of their 1964 debut album The Rolling Stones and 1965 album 12 X 5. In 1982 Rolling Stone ranked them fourth on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. As of 2017 they hold the record for most number-one hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with 25.
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band, active from 1964 to 1996. They emerged during the height of British rhythm and blues and Merseybeat, and were distinguished for their inventive guitar work, powerful vocal harmonies, and dark, witty lyrics. The Kinks are recognized as one of the most important and influential rock bands of the era; their music was marked by a hard-edged deconstruction of the British Invasion sound.
Formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies in 1964, The Kinks is considered one of the seminal British rock bands of all time. The band merged elements of British music hall, traditional pop, and early Rock & Roll to create a sound that was both fresh and distinctly their own. In 1965 they had their first major hit with “You Really Got Me” which shot to #1 on the UK charts and #7 in the US. From there they went on to have a string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic including “All Day And All Of The Night”, “Tired Of Waiting For You”, “Sunny Afternoon”, “Waterloo Sunset”, “Lola”, and many others.
The Kinks are also renowned for their influence on subsequent generations of Rock & Rollers. Many bands who came after them including The Who, The Jam, The Pretenders, Blur ( fronted by Damon Albarn who is also responsible for bringing Gorillaz to life) , Oasis , Arctic Monkeys ,and even Nirvana have all cited The Kinks as an important source of inspiration.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this funky soul music playlist. These clips should get you moving and maybe even inspire you to create your own mixes. Keep grooving!
