Happy Funk Music from the 80’s
Dance the night away with the best happy funk music from the 80’s. You’ll be sure to find all of your favorite hits from artists like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna.
The Birth of Funk
Funk first came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s. It is a style of music that is characterized by a strong rhythmic groove and a heavily syncopated bassline.
James Brown and the Godfather of Soul
In the early 1960s, James Brown was one of the most successful soul singers in America. But by the end of the decade, he was facing declining sales and a changing musical landscape. So Brown decided to change his sound, and the result was funk.
Funk is a style of music that is characterized by a groove that is often danceable and a focus on rhythm. It originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s, and Brown was one of the first artists to bring it to a mainstream audience.
Since then, funk has been a major influence on genres like disco, hip-hop, and electronic dance music. And today, James Brown is still considered the “Godfather of Soul.”
George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic
In the summer of 1988, George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic were in their heyday. The collective, which Clinton founded in the early 1970s, was at the forefront of the funk music scene, thanks to their chart-topping singles “One Nation Under a Groove” and “Flash Light.”
But Clinton’s success was not without controversy. In the 1980s, he was dogged by accusations of plagiarism; lawsuits claimed that he had stolen musical ideas from other artists, including James Brown and Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel.
Clinton denied the accusations, and his reputation as a musical pioneer remained intact. Today, he is widely credited with creating the “funk” sound, a mix of R&B, soul, and rock that influenced countless other artists.
The Spread of Funk
Funk music originated in the mid-1960s as a subgenre of soul music. Funk songs were often longer than other soul songs and had a danceable, rhythmic groove. George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective and James Brown’s band were the most popular funk performers of the 1970s. Funk’s popularity continued into the 1980s with bands like the Gap Band, Zapp, and Prince.
Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove”
Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove” was released in 1978 and instantly became a smash hit, popularizing the P-funk sound and cementing George Clinton’s status as one of the most innovative and influential figures in R&B. The song’s success helped to bring funk music into the mainstream, and its infectious grooves continue to inspire musicians today.
Bootsy Collins’ “The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away”
Funk music legend Bootsy Collins released his classic album “The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away” in 1982. The title track is a heavy, groove-laden anthem that has become a staple of the funk genre.
The Gap Band’s “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”
“You Dropped a Bomb on Me” is a song recorded by American funk band The Gap Band. It was released in February 1983 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Gap Band VI (1983). The song was written and produced by group members Ronnie Wilson and Rudy Taylor, with additional writing from Charlie Wilson. It reached number one on the US Dance chart and number seven on the US R&B chart.
The song’s music video features the band performing in a nightclub setting. It received rotation on BET and MTV, helping to bring the band to a wider audience. “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” has been sampled and covered by several artists, including 2Pac, Lil’ Kim, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson and Beyoncé.
The End of Funk
It is the end of an era. Funk, a unique and special kind of music, is no longer being made. This is because the artists who made funk music in the 80’s are no longer active, and there is no new generation of funk musicians to take their place.
The Death of James Brown
It is widely believed that the death of James Brown in 2006 marked the end of an era for funk music. Brown was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, and his passing signaled the end of an era for a genre of music that he helped to create and popularize.
Funk began to lose its mainstream appeal in the early 1990s, as other genres, such as hip-hop and grunge, gained popularity. Funk continued to be popular among African American audiences, but it failed to gain traction with white listeners. This changed in the 2000s, when artists like Outkast and Bruno Mars began to fuse funk with other genres, such as pop and R&B.
The new sound of funk was well-received by both black and white audiences, and it helped to revive interest in the genre. However, James Brown’s death in 2006 brought an end to an era for funk music. The genre has continued to evolve in the years since Brown’s passing, but it will never be the same without its pioneer and trailblazer.
The Decline of Parliament-Funkadelic
In the early eighties, Parliament-Funkadelic was at the height of their popularity. With hit songs like “Flash Light” and “One Nation Under a Groove,” the group had established themselves as one of the most innovative and original bands of their era. However, by the end of the decade, Parliament-Funkadelic was in decline. Their last album, “The Electric Spanking of War Babies,” was a commercial failure, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
While Parliament-Funkadelic is no longer active, their influence can still be felt in today’s music. Many of their innovations, such as the use of synthesizers and sampling, have become standard practice in hip hop and other genres. The group’s impact on popular culture is undeniable, and they continue to be revered by many fans around the world.
The End of the Funk Era
In the early 1980’s, funk music was at the height of its popularity. However, by the end of the decade, the genre had begun to fall out of favor with listeners. This decline was due in part to the rise of other genres, such as hip-hop and new wave, but it was also due to the growing popularity of electronic dance music. As a result, the funk era came to an end, and the sound of funk music would not regain its popularity until the late 1990’s.
