The Top 10 Funk Songs of All Time

We all know that feeling when a song just gets you moving. The beat is infectious, the groove is irresistible – it’s funk. Funk is the kind of music that just makes you feel good, no matter what.

So, without further ado, here are the top 10 funk songs of all time. Get ready to get your groove on!

Introduction

Funk is a genre of music that was popularized in the 1970s. It is characterized by a groovy, soulful sound that is often accompanied by Afro-centric lyrics and danceable beats. Funk songs are often based around a catchy bass line or hook, and they typically features instruments like drums, guitars, and keyboards.

While there are many different funk songs out there, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best funk songs of all time. These tracks are sure to get you up on your feet and moving to the groove. So without further ado, here are the top 10 funk songs of all time:

1. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
2. “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine” by James Brown
3. “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” by Parliament
4. “Flashlight” by Parliament
5. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by Funkadelic
6. “One Nation Under A Groove” by Funkadelic
7. “Can You Get To That” by Funkadelic
8. “Ain’t Nothin’ But A G Thang” by Dr Dre feat Snoop Dogg
9 .“The Ghetto” by George Clinton
10. “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton

“Super Freak” by Rick James

“Super Freak” is a 1981 single produced and performed by Rick James. The song was co-written by James and Alonzo Miller, and became one of James’ signature songs. It also features background vocals from the Temptations’ Dennis Edwards. The single was a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 21, 1981. In the UK, the song peaked at number 16 in September 1981.

“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” by James Brown

“Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine” is a song recorded by James Brown with assistance from The J.B.’s, released as a two-part single in 1970.

The song was recorded in June 1970, at the same sessions that produced “Ain’t It Funky Now” and “Super Bad”. It features bandleader Fred Wesley on trombone, Maceo Parker on alto saxophone, St. Clair “Pinetop” Palmer on piano, Bootsy Collins on bass guitar, Jabo Starks on drums, and Bobby Byrd doing the famous “rap” near the end of the song.

Released as a two-part single in August 1970, it reached number one on the soul singles chart for four weeks and number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in early 1971. In 2004, it finished at number 324 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

In 2003, the TV network VH1 named it the sixty-fourth greatest hard rock song of all time. The follow-up single to this one was “Soul Power”, which peaked at number three on the soul chart andnumber twenty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971.

“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament

“Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” is a single by Parliament. It was released in May 1976 as the lead single from their album Mothership Connection. The song was written by George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, and Jerome Brailey. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was ranked number two on VH1’s “100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80s”, and number four on their “100 Greatest Dance Songs” list.

“Flash Light” by Parliament

“Flash Light” is a song by Parliament. It was released in 1977 on the album Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome. The song became one of Parliament’s most well-known songs, and helped to popularize the use of the talk box.

The song contains elements of funk, disco, and soul. The lyrics are written in a call and response style, with the main hook being chanted by George Clinton. The song also features a prominent bassline and a Talkbox solo by Bootsy Collins.

“Flash Light” was an instant hit with funk fans, and continues to be one of the most popular funk songs of all time. It has been covered by numerous artists, including Q-Tip, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes.

“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5

“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 is a song that was released in 1969 and it is one of the most popular funk songs of all time. The song was written by Motown founder Berry Gordy and the group’s lead singer, Michael Jackson. The song is about a young man who is trying to get his girlfriend back. The song was a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson

“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. Jackson stated that the lyrics were inspired by his crush on Tatum O’Neal, and expressed an obsession with youth and beauty.

The song received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Some praised it as one of the album’s highlights while others criticized its simplistic composition. “P.Y.T.” was moderately successful, reaching the top ten in several countries including Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom; while peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart. The song also peaked at number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart, becoming Thriller’s ninth single to do so.

A remixed version of “P.Y.T.” produced by will.i.am was included on Jackson’s posthumous album Xscape (2014). The original demo version of the song, which was recorded in 1981, was also included on the album.

“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

“Uptown Funk” is a song by English producer Mark Ronson featuring American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on 14 November 2014 as the lead single from Ronson’s fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015). The song topped the charts in several countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It became Ronson’s second UK number-onesingle as a solo artist after “Bang Bang Bang”, which also featured Mars. The song achieved similar chart success in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand peaking at number one in all four countries.

In the United States, “Uptown Funk” spent 14 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart from January to April 2015, becoming both Ronson’s and Mars’ longest-running US number-one single. By April 2015, it had sold 6.4 million copies in the US and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also peaked at number one on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs chart and Alternative Songs chart.

The song won two Grammy Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year. “Uptown Funk” was ranked sixth on Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2015 listing. Several news media outlets named it one of the best songs of 2014 and 2015. In 2019, Pitchfork ranked “Uptown Funk” 34th on its list of The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s decade; NME ranked it fifth on their list of The 50 Greatest Pop Songs Of All Time list in 2020; while Rolling Stone placed it at 11th on their list of The 100 Greatest Pop Songs Of All Time also in 2020.

“Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan

Released in 1984, this infectiously fun track rose to the top of the charts and helped cement Chaka Khan’s status as a bonafide R&B legend. With its signature synth line and irresistibly danceable beat, “Ain’t Nobody” is the perfect song to get any party started.

“Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band

“Pick Up the Pieces” by Average White Band is a 1974 funk song that was a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by many artists, including the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Isaac Hayes. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.