I was just thinking about it, and i couldn't come up with a very precise definition. I can tell when a song is funky. For example you can say that Let's Work's got a funkey bass line, therefore the song is somewhat funkey.But how would you define PURE FUNK? Can you name a song that is pure funk? Is there a list of funk ingredients that make the funk?

Slide is the funkiest song I ever heard. From the bassline to the horns to the keys. This song is undeniably pure funk. Even the vocals and lead guitar solo. It all just blends in so beautifully! They recorded thia sing in just 1 take! That sounds pretty pure to me!

I think Sex Machine is a standard for funk.

I heard George Clinton in an interview say somethin like "funk " is defined as mixing "fun" and "rock" .... it always stuck with me ...

to me ... to be FONKY ... you have to have some comedy ... and some downright fun bass and rock elements ....

just my .02

AsianConnection said:

who performs that song? excuse my ignorance...

I don't know... If you can describe it, it ain't funky...

True funk has no boundaries and no limits... therefore it can't be specifically described.

funk is the precise moment, the silence, when between the kick and snare drums, ones neck involuntarily bobs forwrd, then returns to its original position in anticipation of the next downbeat.
[This message was edited Thu Aug 5 11:06:50 2004 by found1]

found1 said:

RObert Palmer's "Sneakin Sally Thru the Alley" is a great example of funk - the backup band is the Funky Meters and Little Feat, by the way. It's just a swinging sparse funk.

as one of Prince's musicians once said, "funk isn't so much about the notes as it is the spaces between the notes"-that is, where you put the note and where you rest....
[This message was edited Thu Aug 5 11:17:40 2004 by paligap]

otan said:

Ndeed!! A great example- listen to the bass and Zigaboo Modeleste's drums--you can kinda here that stop and halt /push and pull space between the notes Funk....

Funk is played "on the one."
easy.

mochalox said:

But it's what you do after that One that's important!

Funk is the rhythm of The One. The One is the accent of the beat on the 1 & 3 of the meter instead of the traditional 2 & 4 (although there is Funk that uses traditional 2 & 4), in R&B/Soul this was pioneered by James Brown. He is the flashpoint.

Funk is/was Dr. J. with that bodacious afro taking off from the free throw line for a dunk.

Funk is earthy.

Funk CAN BE polished.

Funk can be a party.

Funk can be political.

Funk can be silly.

Funk is The Average White Band exhibiting the fact that they were anything but "average."

Funk will not compromisingly tidy up to be taken home to meet June Cleaver.

Funk was The Band of Gypsys.

Funk is Steve Arrington's "Weak At The Knees."

Funk is NOT Oprah.

Funk is NOT "Friends."

Funk is NOT Robin Givens.

Funk is Bernie Mac.

Funk is Marlon Brando calling attention to the film industry's treatment of Native Americans by sending Sacheen Littlefeather to give a speech rejecting his Oscar for The Godfather.

Funk is George Jefferson.

Funk is Muhammad Ali.

Funk is the bassline Sir Paul plays at the 54 second mark of "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" (yes, I'm serious - go listen).

Funk is James Jamerson.

Funk is Bonham's drums and Jones' bass on "Good Times Bad Times."

Funk is NOT The Cloud Guitar.

Funk is NOT that damn hideous symbol guitar.

Funk is The Leopard Skinned Hohner.

And gawd dammit, Funk is NOT Alex Hahn.

--supernova, 2004

Oh mah God, you saved it! Just as I was about to give my take (a different one) on it.

Supernova said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Thanks for the repost.

That Supernova is a bad....so and so.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

[img] " Shuy Yo' Mouth!"[/img]

Ditto to that. Someone please tell what is a Hohner? I've been curious as to what this is every since I saw it first referenced.

AsianConnection said:

camilleisfunky said:


The group SLAVE sing that masterpiece

vainandy said:

The guitar you see in the above photo.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Thanks!

Supernova's description pretty much said it all so i'll just paraphrase the Supreme Court.

I don't know how to define it, but I know it when I hear it.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

psykosoul said:

I would try to post some deep verbal jargon and all, but I will just advise y'all to get a copy of "Funk--The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of The One" by Rickey Vincent. It's hella cool with some good pix!

"ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE" - FUNKADELIC IS THE FUNK SONG OF ALL TIMES!
FUNK IS ALL ABOUT THAT BASS DRIVEN BEAT THAT YOU FEEL DOWN IN YOUR SOUL
IT'S FLAVA THAT YOU CAN TASTE, WHEN YOU HEAR IT YOUR EYES ROLL TO THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD AND THAT SMILE APPEARS. IT'S A FEELING, IT'S AN EXTRA SENSE, IT'S A HEAD BOBBING EXPERIENCE. UNFORTUNATLEY NOT EVERYBODY CAN FEEL THE FUNK, THEY CAN FAKE IT, BUT NOT FEEL IT!

YES! Slave was BAD! Cameo also remade "Slide" in the mid 1990s. Their version was pretty funky as well.