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!
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- 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
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- 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 Feelings — Funk Music: Past and Present (141–150)
Tell me something goodRufus and Chaka Khan
This song was written by Stevie Wonder in the 1970s and became a hit when performed by Rufus and Chaka.
With its groovy feel, it brings joy to listeners.
Hailing from Chicago, they released many other hits as well, including Sweet Thing.
I Want to Take You HigherSly & The Family Stone
This is a song by Sly Stone, a 1960s star like James Brown.
At Woodstock in ’69, performing this track catapulted him to stardom.
It’s a supreme uptempo funk number where funk, rock, and pop are all fused together.
Incidentally, Larry Graham, a member of this band, developed the slap (chopper) bass technique.
Peaches N CreamSnoop Dogg ft. Charlie Wilson
A track released by Snoop Dogg in 2015, with production involvement from Pharrell Williams.
It became a hit worldwide, reaching No.
3 on the charts in Belgium.
It was inspired by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock’s 1988 track “It Takes Two.”
Freakshow On The Dance FloorThe Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays were also one of the bands that drove the disco-tinged funk of the 1980s.
However, their debut dates back to the 1960s, making them sometimes called the oldest funk band.
This is a track they made a hit after their comeback.
I will take you thereThe Staple Singers
The Staple Singers from Chicago are a group with strong soul and gospel influences.
This song is also known for making it into the American Top 100 chart.
Released in the 1970s, it features a funk-style chorus reflecting the era, with an upbeat and lively backing track.
Papa Was A Rollin’ StoneThe Temptations
The Temptations were the cornerstone of the Motown sound in the 1960s and its biggest hitmakers, but as the 1970s began, their sound shifted strongly toward funk.
Among these, the song released in 1973 under Norman Whitfield’s direction not only reached No.
1 in the United States, but was impactful enough to change the very image of the Temptations.
Jungle LoveThe Time
A classic funk track released in 1984 by The Time.
It is considered a quintessential example of the Minneapolis sound that gained popularity from the mid to late 1980s.
It was sampled in DJ Assault’s 1997 track of the same name.