The Funkiest Funk Music Songs

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Here’s a list of the funkiest funk songs to get you grooving.

Introduction

Funk is a genre of music that was popularized in the 1970s. It is characterized by a groove-oriented style that is often associated with dance music. Funk songs typically have a steady beat and a strong bassline, as well as Afro-centric rhythmic patterns. The genre often incorporates elements of soul, R&B, and hip-hop.

There are many funk songs that are considered classics, including James Brown’s “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,” Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and Parliament’s “Flash Light.” Other well-known funk artists include George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Prince.

Funk has had a significant impact on popular music, and its influence can be heard in genres like hip-hop, disco, and electronic dance music.

The Birth of Funk

Funk is a music genre that originated in the African-American community in the mid-1960s. Funk is a style of music that is based on a strong rhythmic groove. The word “funk” refers to a type of odor or smell. The origin of the word funk is not clear, but it may be derived from the West African word “lufuko,” which means “to give off a bad smell.”

James Brown and the Birth of Funk

In the early 1960s, James Brown was one of the most successful soul musicians in America. His albums were selling well, and his live shows were packed with fans who loved his high-energy performance style. But by the mid-60s, Brown was starting to get restless. He was looking for a way to take his music to the next level, and he found it in the form of a new style of music that would come to be known as funk.

Funk is a style of music that is based on a strong groove and often features syncopated rhythms. It is also characterized by its use of elements from other genres, including soul, R&B, jazz, and rock. Funk songs often have a call-and-response structure, with the singer singing a line and the band responding with a groove.

Brown’s 1966 song “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” is often cited as the first funk song. It features a driving rhythm section, punctuated horns, and Brown’s signature call-and-response vocals. The song was a hit, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Brown continued to experiment with funk on subsequent albums like 1967’s “Cold Sweat” and 1968’s “I Got the Feelin’”. He also began working with other artists who would help to shape the sound of funk, including Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton and bassist Bootsy Collins.

By the early 1970s, funk had become one of the most popular styles of music in America. Brown continued to enjoy success with songs like “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” and “Super Bad”, while other artists like Sly and the Family Stone and Funkadelic also found success with their own unique takes on the genre.

Funk would go on to have a massive impact on popular music in the years that followed. Its influence can be heard in everything from disco to hip hop, and its grooves continue to make people move today.

George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic

George Clinton is an American musician and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, creating an elaborate proscenium involving a mischievous interstellar group of extraterrestrials known as The Funkadelics.

Clinton has been cited as one of the most influential music artists of his generation. AllMusic summarized Clinton’s career by noting “his quirky, eccentric vocals, outlandish fashion sense, and ever-changing band lineup”. Rolling Stone wrote that “Clinton is one of the greatest innovators in black pop history”. They proclaimed that he “may well be the most important black artist of the late 20th century”.

The Funky Sound of the 70s

If you’re looking for some funky tunes to add to your playlist, look no further than the 1970s. This was the decade that funk music came into its own, with artists like James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Sly and the Family Stone creating some of the most iconic funk songs of all time. In this article, we’ll count down the 10 funkiest funk songs of the 1970s.

The Godfather of Soul

Most people think of James Brown as the godfather of soul, but there is another musician who lays claim to that title – George Clinton. Clinton was the mastermind behind the bands Parliament and Funkadelic, and he helped to create a new genre of music known as P-Funk. P-Funk was a mix of soul, R&B, and Funk that was unlike anything that had been heard before. Clinton’s bands were known for their outrageous stage shows, which featured outrageous costumes and plenty of dancing. If you want to get down and funky, then you need to check out the following songs by George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic:

-“Flash Light”
-“One Nation Under a Groove”
-“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)”
-“Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)”
-“(Not Just) Knee Deep”

The Meters

The Meters are an American funk band, formed in 1965 in New Orleans by Zigaboo Modeliste (drums), George Porter Jr. (bass guitar), Leo Nocentelli (guitar) and Art Neville (keyboards). The band performed and recorded their own songs as well as backing up other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John and Paul McCartney. Although the band had only moderate commercial success during their career, they are highly regarded among funk and rock music historians.

The Meters dissolve in 1977 but reformed in 1989 with two new members: Russell Batiste Jr. on drums and Ivan Neville on keyboards. The Meters toured and recorded new material sporadically throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins is an American musician and singer-songwriter. Collins is a former member of James Brown’s band, The J.B.’s, and Parliament-Funkadelic with George Clinton. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

The Funky Sound of the 80s

Funk music evolved in the 1970s and is often seen as a combination of rhythm and blues and soul. The Funkiest Funk Music Songs often have a strong beat and a lot of bass. This type of music is often characterized by its use of synthesizers and electric guitars.

Prince

The Purple One was born to make funky music. He followed in the tradition of James Brown and Sly Stone, with a dash of Chuck Berry guitar licks and Beatles-esque songwriting skills. From his early hits like “I Wanna Be Your Lover” and “Kiss” to his megahits “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry,” Prince was a funk machine. Even his ballads had a funky edge, as evidenced by “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

Rick James

Rick James was one of the most popular funk musicians of the 1980s. He is best known for his hit songs “Super Freak” and “Give It to Me Baby.” James was a part of the Motown family and was also a successful solo artist. He was known for his flamboyant style and his wild antics on stage. Many people believe that Rick James was responsible for popularizing the funk music genre.

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa is often credited as the godfather of hip hop for his work in the 1980s. He is best known for his hit song “Planet Rock”, which helped to popularize electro music and breakdancing. Bambaataa was a member of the Bronx-based hip hop crew the Zulu Nation, and he has worked with many other artists including Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., and Queen Latifah.

The Funky Sound of the 90s

The 90s was a decade of great music. One genre that was particularly popular was funk. Funk music is a style of music that is based on a strong groove. If you are a fan of the funk, then check out these songs.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group’s musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock and psychedelic rock. When played live, their music incorporates elements of jam band due to the improvised nature of many of their performances. Currently, the band consists of founding members vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, longtime drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.

One of the most commercially successful bands in history, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have had 12 number-one singles on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart—more than any other band—and are tied with Bad Religion for fifth place for all-time number one singles on that chart. As of 2017, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Alternative Songs chart with 13 songs; they have also amassed 19 top ten hits on that chart—the second-most by any artist

Parliament-Funkadelic

Formed in the late 1960s by George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic was one of the first funk bands. Their unique sound mixed elements of R&B, soul, and psychedelic rock, and they were known for their wild stage shows. The band’s biggest hits include “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker),” “One Nation Under a Groove,” and “(Not Just) Knee Deep.”

Funkadelic

Funkadelic was an American band formed in 1968. The band and its sister act Parliament both pioneered the style of music known as funk. Funkadelic’s greatest commercial success occurred between 1970 and 1975, with eight albums reaching the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart, including three consecutive albums that peaked at number one: Cosmic Slop (1973), Standing on the Verge of Getting It On (1974) and Let’s Take It to the Stage (1975).

The band was influential in shaping the sound of subsequent funk, R&B, and Hip hop music. NME magazine wrote in January 1971, “Funkadelic is one of the most significant bands in black music; their story is as important as that of Sly and the Family Stone or James Brown.”

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