James Brown, Kool & The Gang, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations; those were some good times indeed. Here’s a look at how far funk has traveled after being created by James Brown in the 60s.
If you listen to a lot of old funk records, the drums are really small. But you don’t perceive it like that because the groove is so heavy. – Lenny Kravitz
Funk mostly concentrates on bass guitar music pieces and drum beats, rather than comprising too much melodies and harmonies. There is a notable presence of rhythm guitar and keyboard sounds though. Recent developments in conventional funk music includes touches of rock and metal music genres.
20 Best Funk Songs
- (Not Just) Knee Deep – Funkadelic
- Atomic Dog – George Clinton
- Chameleon – Herbie Hancock
- Cissy Strut – The Meters
- Cult Of Personality – Living Colour
- Flash Light – Parliament
- Freddie’s Dead – Fishbone
- Get Up Offa That Thing – James Brown
- It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
- More Bounce to the Ounce – Zapp
- One Nation Under a Groove – Funkadelic
- Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations
- Renegades Of Funk – Rage Against The Machine
- Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
- Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud – James Brown
- Super Freak – Rick James
- Superfly – Curtis Mayfield
- Superstition – Stevie Wonder
- Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly & the Family Stone
- When Doves Cry – Prince & The Revolution
List of Other Notable Funk Songs
- Amen, Brother – Winstons
- Apache – Incredible Bongo Band
- Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today) – The Temptations
- Brick House – Commodores
- Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me?) – Gap Band
- Bustin’ Loose – Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers
- Car Wash – Rose Royce
- Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright
- Cloud Nine – The Temptations
- Computer Love – Zapp & Roger
- Cutie Pie – One Way
- Dazz – Brick
- Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied) – B.T. Express
- Don’t Stop (‘Til You Get Enough) – Michael Jackson
- Family Affair – Sly & The Family Stone
- Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
- Fire – Ohio Players
- For the Love of Money – O’Jays
- Funkin’ for Jamaica – Tom Browne
- Funky Broadway – Dyke & The Blazers
- Funky Stuff – Kool & The Gang
- Future Shock – Curtis Mayfield
- Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
- Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang
- Get on the Good Foot – James Brown
- Get the Funk Out of Ma Face – Brothers Johnson
- Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
- Groove Me – King Floyd
- Heartbeat – Taana Gardner
- Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
- Hollywood Swinging – Kool & The Gang
- Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone
- I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles
- I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) – Instant Funk
- I’ll Take You There – Staple Singers
- It’s Just Begun – Jimmy Castor Bunch
- Jungle Boogie – Kool & The Gang
- Just Kissed My Baby – Meters
- Kiss – Prince & The Revolution
- Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
- Let it Whip – Dazz Band
- Little Red Corvette – Prince & The Revolution
- Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
- Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players
- Lovely Day – Bill Withers
- Low Rider – War
- Mr. Big Stuff – Jean Knight
- No Parking (On the Dance floor) – Midnight Star
- Out of Sight – James Brown & The Famous Flames
- P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) – Parliament
- Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown & The Famous Flames
- Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
- Play That Funky Music (White Boy) – Wild Cherry
- Right Place, Wrong Time – Dr. John
- Shakey Ground – The Temptations
- Shining Star – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sign O’ the Times – Prince
- Slide – Slave
- Stand! – Sly & The Family Stone
- Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
- The Jam – Graham Central Station
- The Payback – James Brown
- Think (About It) – Lyn Collins
- Upside Down (Inside Out) – Diana Ross
- Use Me – Bill Withers
- War – Edwin Starr
- What is Hip? – Tower of Power
- Word Up – Cameo
- You Dropped a Bomb on Me – Gap Band
- You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
Though funk music was typically played by African-Americans, it is being played and experimented in almost all countries at present. Hence, there are new sub-genres coming up like funk rock, funk metal, G-funk, funk jam, and similar others.
