What is the definition of funk? In terms of music. Not the
stuff in your
shoes.
If it is super
easy to dance to and seems to pull your fore head up and down, and you find yourself making a "nasty" face like you would
if you smelled something very bad. It is probably funky.
One could also say that it is a mixture of soul, rhythm & blues, and jazz. Heavy on the bass and drums with
scratchy guitar riffs and choppy keys mixed in. Horns never hurt the funk either.
A common component of funk would be the bass drum and other instruments heavily laying into the "1" . Some back
beats in certain funk songs have permission to go where ever they feel the "funkiest" such as decreed by the mighty drummers
of James Brownever
The
real man, in my opinion was Clyde Stubblefield,recognized by many as one of the mightiest drummers to ever play for James
Brown. So as a drummer I might add that if it hadn't been for Clyde, you may have never gotten an answer to this question.
Top all the above off with a powerful vocalist and you've described the artists that brought funk to the world in the late
60's and 70's. Start with James Brown, and then you can add the Meters, (need I say that without Zigaboo you would not have
had the Meters?.) then take a look at both Sly and The Family Stone and Parliament. In this order, you can see the origins
of funk. In the late 70's and early 80's, funk made it possible to dance without having to deal with the dreaded "disco" phase.
The best answer I can give you is a chronological
one. The Meters, Sly, and George Clinton P-Funk. You can hear a good modern funk in the newest Prince releases, such as "ready
to do the work". But your best bet is to check out the funky side of Bad News and Get the Knock Out CD. Track #9 will show
you the FUNK! Again, as always I could write on and on about other bands that are funky, but the above mentioned are guaranteed
to give you your answer because they created funk.
As always, your man Shad will answer any further
questions you may have in the future. Sincerely Shad.
