The Best Funk Music Released in 2013
Contents
Here are the best funk albums of 2013. If you’re a fan of the genre, or just looking to branch out, give these a listen.
Intro
2013 was a great year for funk music. From classic sounds to modern twists, there was something for everyone. Here are some of the best funk albums released in 2013.
– Parliament – Funkadelic
– Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
– Bootsy Collins – The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away
– Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You
– Prince – 3rdeyegirl
Best Funk Albums of 2013
2013 was a great year for funk music. Some of the best funk albums were released this year, and they are still being listened to today. Here are some of the best funk albums of 2013.
Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox
Unorthodox Jukebox is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on Atlantic Records on December 11, 2012. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and has sold 3 million copies as of June 2014.
Critical response to Unorthodox Jukebox was mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, which indicates “mixed or average reviews”, based on 25 reviews.
In 2012, Bruno Mars’ solo fame rose immensely with the release of his hit single “Locked Out of Heaven”. The song became his sixth top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent seven weeks at number one. In support of the single, Mars embarked on his second headlining tour, The Moonshine Jungle Tour. After it concluded in mid-2013, he immediately returned to the studio to record new material for his second studio album.
The album’s lead single “Young Girls” was released on October 1, 2013 and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album’s second single “Gorilla” was released on October 28, 2013 and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also reached number one in Slovakia and Poland.
Janelle Monae – The Electric Lady
Janelle Monáe’s The Electric Lady is one of the best funk albums of 2013. Released in September, the album features the hit single “Q.U.E.E.N.”, which features a guest verse from Erykah Badu. The album also includes the singles “Dance Apocalyptic” and “Electric Lady”, both of which are excellent examples of Monáe’s mastery of the funk genre.
D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Black Messiah
Black Messiah is the third studio album by American recording artist D’Angelo, released on December 15, 2014, by RCA Records. The album was recorded in secret over a 12-year period at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village and Produced by Danger Mouse, Questlove, and D’Angelo. Black Messiah was released to critical acclaim and debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart.
The album won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
Best Funk Songs of 2013
Funk music is a genre of music that was popular in the 1970s. It is a type of soul music that has a groove-oriented sound. The best funk songs of 2013 were released by artists such as Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and Parliament. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best funk songs of 2013.
Bruno Mars – “Treasure”
“Treasure” is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars for his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox (2012). Mars co-wrote the song with its producers, Truffle Butter and Phredley Brown, as well as its co-writers Nate “Danja” Hills and Nicholas “Torae” Williams. Uptempo and inspired by 1970s funk music, “Treasure” employs Mars’ falsetto over a hook reminiscent to one performed by Chaka Khan. The production was handled mainly by Mars, with additional contribution from Hills.
Lyrically, “Treasure” speaks of wanting to find love and feeling like it’s hard to find. Upon the release of Unorthodox Jukebox, “Treasure” charted on mainstream record charts in multiple countries including Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom; in the latter territory, it peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States it topped the Dance Club Songs chart in 2013 and became Mars’ fifth consecutive solo single to reach number one on that particular chart.
Janelle Monae – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
“Q.U.E.E.N.” is a song by American recording artist Janelle Monáe, featuring guest vocals from rapper Erykah Badu. It was released on April 23, 2013 as the lead single from Monáe’s second studio album The Electric Lady (2013). Musically, “Q.U.E.E.N.” is an eclectic mix of funk, soul and hip hop, with influences of rock music and disco music also evident in the composition. The song features a range of instrumentation including guitar, keyboards and horns, as well as trap-style drums and synthesizers in its production. Lyrically, “Q.U.E.E.N.” celebrates nonconformity and encourages listeners to be themselves regardless of societal expectations or norms.
The song received positive reviews from music critics upon release, with many praising Monáe’s vocal performance and the song’s funky production; some even drew comparisons to the work of Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. Commercially, “Q.U..E..N.” peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 17 on the US rap chart; it also performed moderately well in other international markets such as Australia and Canada where it peaked at number 46 and number 38 on their respective national singles charts respectively. An accompanying music video for “Q..U..E.. N.” was directed by Alan Ferguson and features Monáe and Badu partaking in various eccentric activities such as riding bicycles through city streets while holding hands and driving a convertible car through a desert landscape; the video has been described as imaginative and fantastical by critics who lauded its originality
D’Angelo and The Vanguard – “Ain’t That Easy”
“Ain’t That Easy” is the second single from D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s album Black Messiah. The song was released on January 20, 2015.
The song was produced by Questlove and D’Angelo. It was written by D’Angelo, Kendra Foster, and Al Green.
The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and number two on the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the funk music genre had a great year in 2013. With many different artists releasing new music, there was something for everyone. If you are a fan of funk music, be sure to check out the albums and songs that were released this year.
