Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music
Even if you don’t actually listen to funk as a music genre, many people unconsciously use the adjective “funky,” don’t they?
As a word that’s already woven into everyday life, what kind of image do you all have of “funk”?
Funk, whose prototype is said to have emerged in the 1960s, has continued to be loved into the 2020s, evolving in form and powering countless hit songs.
This time, we’ll bring you a wide array of classics—from foundational funk essentials to disco, mellow groove, and contemporary funk.
You just might encounter the destined masterpiece that awakens the funkiness sleeping inside you!
Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music (1–10)
TreasureBruno Mars
Speaking of Bruno Mars, he’s a top-tier singer-songwriter who represents the 2010s and beyond.
At the same time, we can’t overlook his achievements as a pioneer who revived the funk sound of the 1980s in a modern form and wove it into a hit-making formula.
Many people will probably think of 2014’s “Uptown Funk,” his collaboration with Mark Ronson, a fellow top-tier hitmaker and music producer.
In fact, by the time of his second album, Unorthodox Jukebox, released in 2012, Bruno had already scored a hit with “Treasure,” a retro, poppy disco tune with funk elements.
Be sure to check out the music video too—it’s pure ’80s flair, with Bruno delivering a powerhouse performance alongside a large band under dazzling, glittering lights, and he looks unbelievably cool!
Get Up（I Feel Like Being）A Sex MachineJames Brown
It’s said that the very prototype of funk music was forged in the 1960s by Mr.
Dynamite, the Godfather of Funk, James Brown, together with his band.
In other words, if you want to understand funk, you should first immerse yourself in the soul of the Emperor, JB.
One of James’s signature tracks, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being) a Sex Machine,” is a bona fide classic—its hip-shaking, hard-hitting groove delivered by the band that would later be known as the J.
B.
’s, and James’s thunderous shouts are nothing short of electrifying.
The rhythmically sparkling piano in the break is played by James himself, embodying the very essence of the word “funky.” It’s music to feel with your body, not just hear with your ears!
PlaygroundSteve Lacy
Born in 1998, Steve Lacy is a pioneering figure in alternative R&B since the 2010s and serves as the guitarist for scene-leading band THE INTERNET.
His talents extend beyond guitar; he’s also active as a singer-songwriter and producer, and is widely regarded as a highly promising young genius.
“Playground,” included on his first solo album Apollo XXI, which he released to great anticipation in 2019, is an incredibly funky masterpiece from its hard-hitting slap bass intro.
The light, choppy guitar and Prince-like falsetto vocals are fantastic as well.
It’s irresistibly catchy yet carries an introspective, bedroom-pop vibe, with slightly psychedelic sonic experimentation woven in—allowing you to fully experience Lacy’s formidable talent that goes far beyond a simple funk track!
AutomatonJamiroquai
Jamiroquai, essentially the solo project of UK-born Jay Kay, has continued to rack up hits around the world.
In the 2010s—a decade that produced many hit songs inspired by ’80s funk and disco—Jamiroquai, a leading force in acid jazz that distilled influences from funk and soul into danceable jazz, released Automaton in 2017.
The title track from the album is a near-futuristic funk tune bursting with Jamiroquai’s signature playful synths and electronic sounds, surely bringing a smile to longtime fans’ faces.
While it incorporates EDM elements in step with the times, the music’s foundation remains the classic disco sound and funk groove—hallmarks of Jay Kay’s distinctive musicality.
King JamesAnderson .Paak
In 2021, Anderson .
Paak, whose duo with Bruno Mars, Silk Sonic, became a huge sensation, was everywhere both as a singer-songwriter and as a producer.
His 2019 release King James is a gem with an irresistibly feel-good groove that blends funk and jazz.
The song is included on Ventura, his fourth studio album, released the same year, and its title refers to NBA player LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The lyrics carry a positive message as they portray James—known for his social commentary and active involvement in philanthropy—and they’re sure to give listeners the courage to take a step forward.
Coming from Anderson, who hasn’t had an easy life and has worked his way up, the song’s message feels all the more convincing.
Uptown Funk ft. Bruno MarsMark Ronson
Speaking of songs that loudly proclaim the revival of 80s disco and funk and became massive hits in the 2010s, it has to be 2014’s “Uptown Funk.” It’s the smash collaboration between music producer Mark Ronson—who has worked on countless albums by major artists since the 2000s and is also active as a solo artist—and hugely popular singer-songwriter Bruno Mars.
The track was a colossal hit worldwide, and in Japan it was even used in commercials, so even those who don’t often listen to Western music have likely heard it at least once.
Its flawless pop sensibility and funkiness need no explanation, and its timeless appeal—so compelling that Akiko Wada, known as the queen of Japanese R&B with a career spanning over 50 years, chose to cover it—transcends eras.
Talkin’ LoudIncognito
Centered on “danceable jazz,” Incognito is a quintessential acid jazz band born from the club generation.
Since forming in 1979, they’ve remained a towering presence—the pinnacle of London-born jazz-funk—still thriving in the 2020s.
“Talkin’ Loud,” from their classic 1993 album Positivity, is flawless on every front: a rock-solid yet supple groove from the rhythm section, irresistibly dance-inducing guitar chops, a lavish brass section, and Maysa Leak’s radiant vocals with superb vocal arrangements.
It’s guaranteed to put you in a happy mood just by listening.
Incidentally, the album was released on the label “Talkin’ Loud,” founded by Gilles Peterson, one of the creators of Acid Jazz Records, the label that helped spearhead the acid jazz boom.