MUSC 113 Funk

for exam 3

funk

developed in late 60s/early 70s; represented a reassertion of african american musical values; initially targeted predominantly toward urban black audiences of soul music; redirected focus back to dance within the pop mainstream; achieved #1 hits in the 70s - disco was its more commercial offspring

characteristics of funk music

strong dance rhythms; catchy melodies; call and response patterns between voices and other instruments; repeated, rhythmic, interlocking patterns - forms the foundation/groove

groove

strong rhythmic momentum that informs the feel of the song

what creates the groove in funk music

interlocking ostinato patterns distributed among the guitar, keyboard, and horns, as well as between the bass guitar and guitar

james brown

one of the prime inspirations for funk music; most funk bands echoed the instrumentation of his late 1960s hits; continued to be successful with hits like “the payback”; previously called the “godfather of soul”

the payback

james brown funk song played in class; has interlocking ostinato patterns among instruments and a prominent bass

sly and the family stone

bridged the gap between rock and soul; sly stone (sylvester stewart) developed a style that reflected his own diverse musical background, a blend of jazz, soul music, san fransisco psychedelia, and socially engaged lyrics of folk rock

larry graham

pioneered the slap bass, a prominent instrument of funk

everyday people

sly and the family stone funk song played in class; talks about race and that everyone is equal and just a person

funk in 1973

funk burst into the pop music scene in 1973 due to its ability to reach to a diverse audience who were attracted to rhythmically propulsive dance music; drew from james brown and sly and the family stone in commercialized, nonpolitical ways

pop funk songs

kool and the gang’s “jungle boogie”, ohio player’s “fire”, and wild cherry’s “play that funky music white boy” featured on AM radio, in nightclubs, and in discotheques

jungle boogie

kool and the gang commercialized pop funk song played in class; has prominent bass, ostinatos, and interlocking of various instruments

dr. funkenstein

parliament funkadelic george clinton; enlisted former members of james brown’s band; developed compelling polyrhythms, psychedelic guitar solos, jazz horn arrangements, and R&B vocal harmonies; reconfigured black music as a positive moral force

funk stereotypes

the record industry’s packaging of “black authenticity”; afro-hairstyles, sunglasses, and brightly colored outfits bordered on racial stereotyping

give up the funk

george clinton parliament funkadelic example song played in class; has vocal harmonies, ostinatos, and celebrates funk as a lifestyle rather than just music

funkadelic

a combination of funk with psychedelic rock

prelude

parliament clones of dr funkenstein funkadelic song played in class; not really a song - a prelude to the album and very odd; sounds almost extraterrestrial, with a very low voice and weird keyboard sounds