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Thread started 07/02/22 11:08am

gandorb

What is the difference between funk and R & B.

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

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Reply #1 posted 07/02/22 12:40pm

Gooddoctor23

gandorb said:

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

I doubt that oneone has ever made the FUNK face listening 2 R&B.

Graycap23 was ME!
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Reply #2 posted 07/02/22 1:34pm

gandorb

lol

Gooddoctor23 said:

gandorb said:

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

I doubt that oneone has ever made the FUNK face listening 2 R&B.

lol

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Reply #3 posted 07/02/22 5:28pm

TrivialPursuit

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"Bop Gun" vs "Lovesign"

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #4 posted 07/03/22 5:24am

gandorb

TrivialPursuit said:

"Bop Gun" vs "Lovesign"

If they knew these two songs and the distinction between them, then I wouldn't have any explaining to do lol.

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Reply #5 posted 07/03/22 9:10am

jazzz

.
If you have to ask...
(that's a Peppers song)
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Reply #6 posted 07/03/22 9:13am

jazzz

.
Here is Bootsy, explaining what funk is:
https://m.youtube.com/wat...PtljteVQSE
.
The one, baby...
[Edited 7/3/22 9:14am]
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Reply #7 posted 07/03/22 4:15pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

gandorb said:

TrivialPursuit said:

"Bop Gun" vs "Lovesign"

If they knew these two songs and the distinction between them, then I wouldn't have any explaining to do lol.

Then maybe play them for your friends?

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #8 posted 07/04/22 4:52am

DonRants

gandorb said:

TrivialPursuit said:

"Bop Gun" vs "Lovesign"

If they knew these two songs and the distinction between them, then I wouldn't have any explaining to do lol.

Hmm..I think those are both funky.

To All the Haters on the Internet
No more Candy 4 U
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Reply #9 posted 07/04/22 5:58pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

DonRants said:

gandorb said:

If they knew these two songs and the distinction between them, then I wouldn't have any explaining to do lol.

Hmm..I think those are both funky.


But the question is what's the difference between R&B and funk. Not "what is funky?'

"Lovesign" ain't funk music. It's funky, but it's straight ahead R&B with some quasi-hiphop thrown in.

"Bop Gun" is by the guy who all but invented the funk genre as we know it.

[Edited 7/8/22 16:21pm]

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #10 posted 07/08/22 5:52am

DonRants

TrivialPursuit said:

DonRants said:

Hmm..I think those are both funky.


But the question is what's the difference between R&B and funk. Not "what is funky?'

"Lovesign" ain't funky music. It's funky, but it's straight ahead R&B with some quasi-hiphop thrown in.

"Bop Gun" is by the guy who all but invented the funk genre as we know it.

Gotcha.

To All the Haters on the Internet
No more Candy 4 U
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Reply #11 posted 07/08/22 10:26am

johnnieb

gandorb said:

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

I usually explain it like, R&B is polished bass groves embedded in steady drum patterns with a soloist or group crooning and harminizing on top. soulful and structured.

Funk however, is a dirtier, unpolished version of R&B where all the instrumentation is subject to chage at a whim, be unstrctured and the vocals could be screaming, whispering, straight singing but mostly a combination. Funk music is soulfully nstructured and dirtier in sound.

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Reply #12 posted 07/08/22 3:03pm

gandorb

johnnieb said:

gandorb said:

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

I usually explain it like, R&B is polished bass groves embedded in steady drum patterns with a soloist or group crooning and harminizing on top. soulful and structured.

Funk however, is a dirtier, unpolished version of R&B where all the instrumentation is subject to chage at a whim, be unstrctured and the vocals could be screaming, whispering, straight singing but mostly a combination. Funk music is soulfully nstructured and dirtier in sound.

Yes, nice response!

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Reply #13 posted 07/09/22 1:33am

funkaholic1972

avatar

johnnieb said:

gandorb said:

I sometimes try to convey to family and friends that part of the reason why I like Prince so much is because a lot of his music is so funky. They kind of look at me with blank stares, as I don't articulate well with this really means. There may be musical explanations, but how would you differentiate funk from traditional soul/ R & B music in a way that a person who is not steeped in music knowledge could understand it. The one thing I do say is that funk makes me gyrate my whole body continuously, even if I am driving or not trying to dance. For more traditional soul music, I may want to dance but it is less free form and more deliberate movement on the percussion beat. How would you describe the difference?

I usually explain it like, R&B is polished bass groves embedded in steady drum patterns with a soloist or group crooning and harminizing on top. soulful and structured.

Funk however, is a dirtier, unpolished version of R&B where all the instrumentation is subject to chage at a whim, be unstrctured and the vocals could be screaming, whispering, straight singing but mostly a combination. Funk music is soulfully nstructured and dirtier in sound.

Pretty good explanation! wink

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
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Reply #14 posted 07/11/22 4:34am

JorisE73

TrivialPursuit said:

"Lovesign" ain't funk music. It's funky, but it's straight ahead R&B with some quasi-hiphop thrown in.




I once heared someone say this that I pretty much aggree with, that R&B and R'nB shouldn't be confused as being the same, one is Rythm and Blues while the other is Rap 'n Bullshit lol
(I love late 80s/early 90s R'nB tho)
BUt Lovesign is clearly R'nB with nothing 'Funky' in it. For the OP expose your friends and family to to Taborine (which isn't traditional 'Funk' in the vein of Fred Wesley/James Brown or George Clinton but it sure does make my face crumple up with a shit eating grin, something R'nB could never achieve) and then Lovesign (or a lot of songs on Emancipation) and they hear it immediatly.

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