I love playing DMSR straight after hearing this song and laughing at the sheer difference in quality. DMSR is just filthy and the production actually has some quirk and interesting qualities to it. ptown Funk is far, far to clean and sterile for a funk track. Where's the stank? The grease?
Uptown Funk is a plastic parody of the sounds of yesteryear. The fact my 10 year old cousin and her friends LOVE it just makes me want to lock them all in a room and educate them 'No no no, this isn't funk! This is funk! (plays Erotic City)'
Hell, this dude wouldn't even make the cut if he was auditioning for a Prince band much less compete with him! I watched the SNL performance and immediately watched P's performance of "Mutiny" on Arsenio and man, it wasn't even fair!! It was like trying to win a NASCAR race riding a skateboard!! Ref would have stopped this one a long time ago folks!! 1st round TKO for Prince...no contest!!
To answer though...couldn't have been influenced by anything or anyone associated with the MPLS sound. It'd be insulting to even be mentioned in the same sentence actually. Faking it ain't making it...
Mark Ronson the creative producer of the song denies his obvious influence: "Is the live performance of “Uptown Funk,” especially on SNL, inspired by Morris Day and the Time? "Everyone always brings up the Morris Day and the Time reference. It’s definitely something as a DJ I knew about, I really loved playing “Jungle Love” in the club. I actually don’t know, I think it’s just something I’ve seen so much that I know it or it’s filtered in. I’ve never seen Purple Rain. I know it’s sacrilegious. Somebody told me there’s a lyric in the Time song where he says, “Jerome, get me the mic.” And I have that line in the song. It’s just bizarre how things like that happen. I don’t know that song, I’ve never heard that line before. Hopefully there’s some reason why it’s happening and we’re in the same spirit as what they were doing because they were such a phenomenal band and so exciting to watch."
His credibility just went down the tube for me. What a liar
I wish Ronson would have done what Daft Punk did with Disco, when they paid respects by actually getting people like Nile Rodgers on their songs, [/b]who is now enjoying a huge career resurgence thanks to that.
Ronson should have got Jimmy Jam or Bernie Worrell or David Frank to play the synths, then they wouldn't be so thin and weedy, and he should have got Jesse Johnson or Al McKay on guitar, because that weak attempt at chicken scratch is laughably poor. Or any members of the Stone City Band.
I think Jimmy Jam tweeted something like, "next time invite us into the kitchen" or something when Uptown Funk came out. But maybe Ronson doesn't know who JJ is, since he claims to know nothing of the Time and hasn't seen any of PR, or apparently even the music videos. lol
But, this song is crap! You can't fake the funk! Real funk makes you wanna move, tap your feet, snap your fingers and make the "that FUNK stinks" face.
This song does not have that impact on me.
Oh shut up already....damn
It's a huge smash hit. Nothing else like it on the radio. Bruno and Mark nailed it.....and they killed it on sal. Unlike someone else we know [Edited 1/30/15 23:10pm]
Even if Ronson himself said he wasn't influenced by The Time it wouldn't matter. The influence is there on Bruno's vocals and I doubt Ronson had much to do with the lyrics or the way Bruno phrases all that stuff.
Yeah, I'd really like to hear a Morris Day performance of this song too. He'd show how it's really done.
I wish Ronson would have done what Daft Punk did with Disco, when they paid respects by actually getting people like Nile Rodgers on their songs, who is now enjoying a huge career resurgence thanks to that.
Mark Ronson the creative producer of the song denies his obvious influence: "Is the live performance of “Uptown Funk,” especially on SNL, inspired by Morris Day and the Time? "Everyone always brings up the Morris Day and the Time reference. It’s definitely something as a DJ I knew about, I really loved playing “Jungle Love” in the club. I actually don’t know, I think it’s just something I’ve seen so much that I know it or it’s filtered in. I’ve never seen Purple Rain. I know it’s sacrilegious. Somebody told me there’s a lyric in the Time song where he says, “Jerome, get me the mic.” And I have that line in the song. It’s just bizarre how things like that happen. I don’t know that song, I’ve never heard that line before. Hopefully there’s some reason why it’s happening and we’re in the same spirit as what they were doing because they were such a phenomenal band and so exciting to watch."
His credibility just went down the tube for me. What a liar
Agree - that's some BS.
The song has so many co-writers. He wouldn't know all the influences. I doubt he's lying exactly.
Always hatred for what is happening when Prince ain't happening. Blah blah blah Ronson sucks. Whatever. If Ronson did not make an impact then no one on here would mention him. Personally I think he is a great artist. I'm actually not a fan of Uptown as much as I liked Record Collection. Ronson from what I understand only wants people to discover funk. Newsflash: Prince did not create the funk. He was only an emulator of sounds before him. George Clinton, James Brown it was all done before. He did carry the torch. Same old shit you old farts would be complaining about Adele or Taylor Swift or Ronson. Whoever is hot.
What are you outraged about today? CNN has not told you yet?
Always hatred for what is happening when Prince ain't happening. Blah blah blah Ronson sucks. Whatever. If Ronson did not make an impact then no one on here would mention him. Personally I think he is a great artist. I'm actually not a fan of Uptown as much as I liked Record Collection. Ronson from what I understand only wants people to discover funk. Newsflash: Prince did not create the funk. He was only an emulator of sounds before him. George Clinton, James Brown it was all done before. He did carry the torch. Same old shit you old farts would be complaining about Adele or Taylor Swift or Ronson. Whoever is hot.
"Emulator"?
Prince basically defined what funk music sounded like in the 1980s. His approach was quite different from the earlier stuff. There were some other important names involved in what funk music came to sound like in the 1980s, but due to Prince's popularity most other funk artists really were trying to "emulate" him, if anything.
Let's give credit to people that deserve it. The artists that came before him deserve theirs and so does Prince for the later developments.
Always hatred for what is happening when Prince ain't happening. Blah blah blah Ronson sucks. Whatever. If Ronson did not make an impact then no one on here would mention him. Personally I think he is a great artist. I'm actually not a fan of Uptown as much as I liked Record Collection. Ronson from what I understand only wants people to discover funk. Newsflash: Prince did not create the funk. He was only an emulator of sounds before him. George Clinton, James Brown it was all done before. He did carry the torch. Same old shit you old farts would be complaining about Adele or Taylor Swift or Ronson. Whoever is hot.
"Emulator"?
Prince basically defined what funk music sounded like in the 1980s. His approach was quite different from the earlier stuff. There were some other important names involved in what funk music came to sound like in the 1980s, but due to Prince's popularity most other funk artists really were trying to "emulate" him, if anything.
Let's give credit to people that deserve it. The artists that came before him deserve theirs and so does Prince for the later developments.
No George Clinton, James Brown, Sly.. No Prince.
What are you outraged about today? CNN has not told you yet?
C'mon my fellow orgers Uptown Funk in my humble opinion is awesome funk. It's obviously inspired by Prince and you can't get anymore direct referance to him than by combining two of his favorite concepts, Uptown and Funk. This song may not challenge or push the envelope but this song is fun and I am very very happy to hear the word "funk" on the radio. When was the last time you did? The song has all the classic basics to any Prince funk songs. It's just fun. Don't take it so serious. I swear if P did this song and it made to the radio and he was singing and playing it exactly the same we would all be rejoicing. This song makes a great addition to any house party trax list. Dont hate, congratulate!
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Well said - really can't understand why everyone's getting their knickers in a twist. Sheesh!!
Prince basically defined what funk music sounded like in the 1980s. His approach was quite different from the earlier stuff. There were some other important names involved in what funk music came to sound like in the 1980s, but due to Prince's popularity most other funk artists really were trying to "emulate" him, if anything.
Let's give credit to people that deserve it. The artists that came before him deserve theirs and so does Prince for the later developments.
No George Clinton, James Brown, Sly.. No Prince.
So?
No James Brown no Sly, no James Brown and Sly no George Clinton. There's nothing unusual about genres of music developing throughout the decades and the later artists taking influence from the earlier ones. "Emulation" means that you're replicating something else very closely without an intention to bring that much new to the table. "Uptown Funk" would be an example of it, although it is stylistically a mixed bag of various sources.
Everybody keeps saying it sounds like Prince but I don't really hear it. I feel like people are being subliminally fooled into thinking it sounds like Prince because it's called Uptown Funk. But when I think of the real Uptown Funk, this sounds nothing like it. It sounds more like Living In America to me.
"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
terrig said: I agree, its normal for new artists to recycle what went before. 30 years ago Prince was new and what he did made me find James Brown and Jimmy Hendrix. At the time my Dad told me it had all been done before but I was having none of it! And so it goes...
Well the other great thing about it is the full band, people playing their instruments, singing and dancing. And doing it WELL. It's a very talented group of people - are they EWF? NO, but thank goodness they are TRYING TO BE. These people are attempting to make it cool to dance, sing, and play FUNK...I think they deserve our full support.
Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
Since every lay person is hell bent on beliveing that this song is Prince influenced, I'll chime in. When had P ever used a doo wop intro like the one for UPTF? What song in any incarnation of The Time/O7 did they use horns - reeds and brass - or play in this style? I commented in a previous post about Uptown that it's more inspired by Roger & Zapp
Thank you.
Prince, in you I found a kindred spirit...Rest In Paradise.
Everybody keeps saying it sounds like Prince but I don't really hear it. I feel like people are being subliminally fooled into thinking it sounds like Prince because it's called Uptown Funk. But when I think of the real Uptown Funk, this sounds nothing like it. It sounds more like Living In America to me.
I hear Prince in the synths....they are straight up classic 80's prince....
Well the other great thing about it is the full band, people playing their instruments, singing and dancing. And doing it WELL. It's a very talented group of people - are they EWF? NO, but thank goodness they are TRYING TO BE. These people are attempting to make it cool to dance, sing, and play FUNK...I think they deserve our full support.
^ Yeh but these guys put funk back on the radio. Nobody else is doing it these days.
Why does it take a white British guy who clearly didn't grow up on funk (and hasn't even seen Purple Rain!) to get funk back on the radio for the first time in 20 years with a weak imitation track like this one, when the originators who have actually been making funk the whole time, keep getting told by the majors that "this kind of music doesn't get played on the radio"? Am I missing something? Plenty of people, from members of P-Funk to members of Cameo, people who played with Rick James, Zapp etc, have produced far better funk songs than this in the last decade and major labels won't touch them. I just find it a bit weird.
I can't answer that. Bruno has the teenage market, Ronson has the indie fans ears. This is commercial, has swagger, it sounds upbeat? I dont know just guessing.
In the case of Prince he's been a ballad guy since TMBGITW as far as the public is concerned.
I wish Ronson would have done what Daft Punk did with Disco, when they paid respects by actually getting people like Nile Rodgers on their songs, who is now enjoying a huge career resurgence thanks to that.
I know what you mean... I can't really argue with you there. Who knows who else was asked to contribute and declined. No P-Funk on a funk album is odd. The title of "Uptown Funk" and "Uptown Special" - claiming never to have seen Purple Rain. I can't help but think Prince must have got an email at some point. When you say you're making a funk album the name Prince will be mentioned. It feels like Ronson is playing it down.
Ronson should have got Jimmy Jam or Bernie Worrell or David Frank to play the synths, then they wouldn't be so thin and weedy, and he should have got Jesse Johnson or Al McKay on guitar, because that weak attempt at chicken scratch is laughably poor. Or any members of the Stone City Band.
The album doesn't live upto "Uptown Funk" "Feel Right" and the Stevie Wonder tracks. They're the highlights IMO. There are a couple of other good tracks but they sound more new wave. I've only listened to the album a couple of times so far though, to be fair. Those soungs jump out. There is another track on there that made me think of ATWIAD but I can't name it at present.
I don't think Ronson has much credibility at all as a funk musician even less live, the featured artists generally carry their respective tracks. But in the studio he's able to work his magic.
I love playing DMSR straight after hearing this song and laughing at the sheer difference in quality. DMSR is just filthy and the production actually has some quirk and interesting qualities to it. ptown Funk is far, far to clean and sterile for a funk track. Where's the stank? The grease?
Uptown Funk is a plastic parody of the sounds of yesteryear. The fact my 10 year old cousin and her friends LOVE it just makes me want to lock them all in a room and educate them 'No no no, this isn't funk! This is funk! (plays Erotic City)'
Hell, this dude wouldn't even make the cut if he was auditioning for a Prince band much less compete with him! I watched the SNL performance and immediately watched P's performance of "Mutiny" on Arsenio and man, it wasn't even fair!! It was like trying to win a NASCAR race riding a skateboard!! Ref would have stopped this one a long time ago folks!! 1st round TKO for Prince...no contest!! To answer though...couldn't have been influenced by anything or anyone associated with the MPLS sound. It'd be insulting to even be mentioned in the same sentence actually. Faking it ain't making it...
Live no way. Ronson gets called on his guitar steps forward and then immediately steps back. Prince would have been front and centre. As a studio track though, Uptown Funk had to happen, and hopefully will influence this summers music.
I like the song as well as anyone but we all know that had Prince released this song hardly anyone would like it, including all the people making videos dancing and who've made it #1.
The commercial power of Bruno Mars made this a phenomenon.
I love playing DMSR straight after hearing this song and laughing at the sheer difference in quality. DMSR is just filthy and the production actually has some quirk and interesting qualities to it. ptown Funk is far, far to clean and sterile for a funk track. Where's the stank? The grease?
Uptown Funk is a plastic parody of the sounds of yesteryear. The fact my 10 year old cousin and her friends LOVE it just makes me want to lock them all in a room and educate them 'No no no, this isn't funk! This is funk! (plays Erotic City)'
If you want real Prince inspired funk listen to this guy. He plays all the instrument himself as well. I don't why he isn't getting more attention around here.
I wouldn't say Ronson is lying necessarily, but one of the songs four writers was likely into the Time IMO if only because of the Mars vocalization of the lyrics and the obvious Prince-ish influence on the synths, as someone mentioned above. I don't know the other writers or producers well enough to know who that might be though.
Im not really a fan of the track tbh.. although I like Ronson and Mars in general. To me, from the very first time I heard it, I thought it sounded way too contrived.
Prince basically defined what funk music sounded like in the 1980s. His approach was quite different from the earlier stuff. There were some other important names involved in what funk music came to sound like in the 1980s, but due to Prince's popularity most other funk artists really were trying to "emulate" him, if anything.
Let's give credit to people that deserve it. The artists that came before him deserve theirs and so does Prince for the later developments.
No George Clinton, James Brown, Sly.. No Prince.
I see the emulatior thing but I always see Prince as a brilliant catalyst to inspiration and the senses around him. He needs some fuel(s) or to feed off something to get going and can take it to a whole new or other level.
Regarding this song : I see this as a nice tribute to that 80's sound with a mix of influences. Well executed but not really a long aftertaste.
But, this song is crap! You can't fake the funk! Real funk makes you wanna move, tap your feet, snap your fingers and make the "that FUNK stinks" face.
The song is okay for a funk (note the lower case spelling ) tune that follows the cookie cutter formula of today's music but they need their asses kicked for that wack ass video though.
[Edited 2/2/15 7:49am]
I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.
I wish Ronson would have done what Daft Punk did with Disco, when they paid respects by actually getting people like Nile Rodgers on their songs, who is now enjoying a huge career resurgence thanks to that.
He does have Stevie Wonder on his album.
.
Stevie Wonder's participation in "Uptown Special" is similar in scope to Erykah Badu's background vocal on Macy Gray's "Sweet Baby". Filler.
Everybody keeps saying it sounds like Prince but I don't really hear it. I feel like people are being subliminally fooled into thinking it sounds like Prince because it's called Uptown Funk. But when I think of the real Uptown Funk, this sounds nothing like it. It sounds more like Living In America to me.
The sad thing is is that most people here Bruno Mars when they hear this song. The only ones who are talking about Prince are much older and on this website. I used to try and play Prince for my mom when I was younger but all she heard was James Brown. Same shit.....different generation. And who knows, maybe Bruno Mars will influence younger artists to make some even more watered down funk-less garbage like "Uptown Funk". And future generations will be calling those artists a genius. I think Bruno has captured something that Lenny Kravitz missed out on. He's a charming little fellow isn't he? I can see him having his own Vegas show one day. If Elvis and James Brown had a son, it would be Bruno. He's only half as good though. Not even half.
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) tune that follows the cookie cutter formula of today's music but they need their asses kicked for that wack ass video though. 
