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!
- Recommended Western funk bands. Popular overseas bands.
- [Western Music] Tracing the Roots of Funk: Essential Albums Beginners Should Hear at Least Once
- Why Classic Disco Music Is Still Loved Today
- Legends of soul music: its history and allure revisited through classic songs
- Summary of representative Western funk artists and groups
- A classic jazz-funk masterpiece. A popular recommended track that offers a different flavor from traditional jazz.
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces of 70s Disco Music
- A roundup of classic Western jazz-funk albums—from staples to the latest releases
- [For Beginners] A Roundup of Classic Popular Soul/Funk Bands
- [Definitive Edition] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of 80s Disco
- R&B Masterpieces in Western Music: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics [2025]
- Back to those nostalgic days… Classic and hit Western songs of the 1960s
- Classic fusion music masterpieces. Recommended staple tracks.
Feeling Funky: The Past and Present of Funk Music (101–110)
Shake ItHip Spanic Allstars
For those of you who love not just funk but also Latin vibes, I recommend Hip Spanic Allstars’ “Shake It”! It kicks off with a dope Latin groove, and once the drums come in, it shifts into a funky feel.
I never imagined a passionate, tropical-tinged sound would mesh this well with a funk beat.
The horn section is awesome too!
You sexy thingHot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate is a British group formed in 1970.
They gained popularity with a versatile style spanning funk, R&B, and disco, yet—as exemplified by this song, which climbed to No.
3 in the U.
S.
—they never lost their pop sensibility.
You Sexy Thing was released in 1976, and it has since been featured in many films, TV shows, and commercials.
Get Up Offa That ThingJames Brown
A track released in 1976 by James Brown, also known as the Godfather of Soul and Funk.
It reached No.
4 on the U.
S.
charts and was sampled in Savage Garden’s 1995 track “I Want You.”
Too much to loseJeff Beck
Jeff Beck, one of the world’s three greatest rock guitarists, doesn’t just play rock—he also has stylish funk tracks like this.
For guitarists who admire Jeff Beck, his exploration of such a wide range of genres is likely one of the reasons why.
The guitar melody, which has a chorus-like quality, feels incredibly good.
I GocchaJoe Tex
Joe Tex wrote this song in the 1960s, but it wasn’t released until the 1970s.
It was issued as the B-side to a track called “Mother’s Player.” In the 1990s, it also became known for being covered by a band from Australia.
Funky Feelings — Funk Music Then and Now (111–120)
FencewalkMandrill
This is a funk band centered around the Wilson brothers, who were born in Panama.
Their sound, which incorporates Latin and Afro elements, helped shape a particular stream of funk music.
Their signature song is “Fencewalk,” and they also created Antonio Inoki’s entrance theme, “Fighter’s Theme (ALI BOMBAYE).”
cutie pieOne Way
This is a funk-style song by One Way, an artist who covers a wide range of genres.
The band gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.
It was released in 1982.
The track is notable for Al Hudson’s funky vocals.