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.
Funky Vibes: The Past and Present of Funk Music (1–10)
ChameleonHerbie Hancock
Released in 1973, Head Hunters is a classic of electric jazz-funk and is regarded not only as a landmark in jazz but as an important album in music history.
The band formed by the genius behind the release, Herbie Hancock, was also named The Headhunters—a pioneering fusion group whose crossover sound blended jazz, funk, and rock.
Among the tracks, the opening number Chameleon—an extended piece running over 15 minutes—is not only a masterpiece of electronic funk but has also been widely sampled, exerting a profound influence beyond jazz.
Its distinctive bass line boldly expresses the track’s funkiness.
Incidentally, Hancock is sometimes called the “Chameleon of Jazz” in reference to this tune.
Looking at his flexible and free-ranging musical career, it’s easy to see why he earned that nickname.
Lose Yourself to DanceDaft Punk
On February 22, 2021, the French male duo Daft Punk announced their breakup on their official YouTube channel.
Not only were they pioneers who elevated French house music, but their genre-defying sound kept producing global hits, so news of their split saddened many music fans.
Among their magnificent discography—which includes songs so iconic that even people who rarely listen to Western music know them—this time I’d like to introduce Lose Yourself to Dance from Random Access Memories, their biggest hit and effectively their final album.
It’s a disco-funk tune featuring Nile Rodgers—guitarist of the quintessential American funk band Chic and an accomplished producer—and Pharrell Williams, a hitmaking producer and popular solo artist, on vocals.
Beyond its sound, the subtly nostalgic melody invites listeners back to the evocative atmosphere of the 1980s.
Good TimesChic
This is CHIC’s classic that topped the U.
S.
charts in 1979 at the height of the disco boom and profoundly influenced popular music as a whole! As a flagship funk-to-disco band, CHIC was formed in 1977 in New York State by two musicians from the jazz world, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.
In addition to their work as a band, both have also been globally renowned as hit-making music producers.
As mentioned at the start, the most famous example of the broad influence of the song we’re featuring—Good Times—is The Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight, released the same year and considered one of the earliest rap records.
It used a track that re-performed and quoted elements like the bassline from Good Times, and became the first Top 40 hit in hip-hop history—an achievement that speaks to CHIC’s role in crafting the cutting-edge funkiness and groove of the time.
The ultimate funk beat that moves listeners on sheer instinct is right here!
Feelin’ Funky: Funk Music Past and Present (11–20)
(Not Just) Knee DeepFunkadelic
As a feature on funk music, we simply can’t leave out Funkadelic.
Formed in parallel by George Clinton—progenitor of P-Funk and leader of Parliament—the band included marquee names like P-Funk’s flagship bassist Bootsy Collins and keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and in its early days fused psychedelic rock with funk.
The track we’re highlighting here, “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” was a 1979 hit and a bona fide classic loved as a funk standard.
It’s hugely popular with the hip-hop generation as well; from De La Soul’s “Me Myself And I” onward, its explosively funky synth tones and catchy chorus have made it an obvious go-to for sampling.
Forget the logic, let it drift far away, and dance wherever your body takes you!
Them ChangesThundercat
Born in Los Angeles and raised in a musical family, Stephen Bruner—better known by his artist name Thundercat—is a phenomenal bassist, singer-songwriter, and Grammy-winning producer who’s active across many fields.
A devoted Japanophile and big fan of Japanese anime, Thundercat is also a familiar, likable figure to many of us.
Them Changes, a track from his third album Drunk released in 2017, is one of his signature songs and a favorite of Ariana Grande.
Its undulating, groove-heavy bass line and synth-driven funk exude a sophisticated mellowness and a futuristic vibe, creating a sonic world that could only be Thundercat’s.
Don’t miss the fact that his fellow LA native and close friend Kamasi Washington joins on sax.
Although the lyrics are essentially a plaintive, heartbroken lament, the music video is intriguingly themed around samurai.
SuperstitionStevie Wonder
While carrying the handicap of blindness, Stevie Wonder has displayed his talents from a young age as a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, continually producing works that will go down in history.
“Superstition,” included on his 1972 masterpiece Talking Book—released when Stevie was just 22—is a single that topped the U.
S.
charts and stands as one of his signature songs.
Although it was originally written for Jeff Beck, famed as one of the world’s three great guitarists, Stevie ultimately released it himself after his manager at the time objected.
Beyond its undeniable funkiness, outstanding catchiness, and unimpeachable perfection as a classic, a key highlight is the brilliantly prominent use of the Clavinet performed by Stevie himself.
Maria TambiénKhruangbin
Among today’s funk bands, the most talked-about rising act is surely Khruangbin, a trio from Houston, Texas.
Their name, which you might not know how to pronounce at first glance, is said “Kruangbin,” and it was chosen by the group’s elegant lone female member, bassist Laura Lee, who studied Thai.
Drawing influence from funk in Thailand, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, they craft exotically tinged grooves that have already earned high praise worldwide.
The track featured here, Maria También, appears on their breakout second album from 2018, Con Todo El Mundo.
It’s a cool, danceable number that incorporates flavors of Afghan music, among others.
The main guitar phrase feels completely different from what you’d call a typical rock approach, giving it a uniquely beguiling charm.
Keep in mind: this is the kind of funk that’s being made right now, in real time!