Defies Literal Definition

Musically, funk refers to a style of aggressive urban dance music driven by hard syncopated bass lines and drumbeats and accented by any number of instruments involved in rhythmic counterplay, all working toward a “groove.”  Funk is a slow, rhythmic form of dance music that relies on unique rhythms and slow sensuality.  It usually has an emphasis on vocals, especially multilayered vocals with elaborate harmonies.  Funk draws on elements of jazz and electronic music and may include improvisation from singers and accompanists.  Funk music originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when African American musicians created a propulsive rhythmic music, with a decidedly danceable syncopated feel.  This new form of music was derived from a mixture of soul, bebop/hard bop, R & B and Afro- Cuban rhythms absorbed and reconstituted in New Orleans.  It was named after a slang word for “stink,” funk was indeed the rawest, most hardcore, most “black” form of R & B, surpassing even Southern R & B in terms of earthiness.  Funk de-emphasizes melody and chord progressions and focuses on the strong rhythmic groove of a bass line played by an electric bassist and a drum part played by a drummer.  Funk is rooted in African music traditions of ring shout and call and response and find their earliest African American expression in Negro spirituals, work songs, blues, praise shouts, gospel, and body rhythms (hambone, patting juba, and ring shout clapping and stomping patterns).  There is also a musical style called Brit funk (or Britfunk) that has its origins in the British music scene of the late 1970s and which remained popular into the 1980s.

Last week we had Spirit Heart Essence where the theme was to find Soul music.  This week the theme is to find Funk music.  Take some time to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this music challenge, and even better, read as many of them as you can as you will probably find many enjoyable songs and it is quite possibly that you will learn a thing or two.  Share your music with others and post a video, try do some research and let everyone know something about the song that you post.  Tell everyone why you like the song, whether it was a hit, or what you think the song is about.  Show the lyrics, let’s all listen to our favorite songs and explore some new music.  Try to find a song that fits the theme, then write your post and create a pingback, or you can just place your link in the comments section.

Suggestions
• Try to use the prompt words or at least conform to a general theme, as you see it.  If the song you select does not meet the criteria, then please explain why you chose this song.
• It would be good if you could post the lyrics to the song of your choice, as this is helpful for the people that want to follow along with the music.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due. It would also be a good idea to give credit to the singer and the band associated with your song.
• Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be, but please try not to include too many videos as that just makes it take longer to look at all of the other posts.
• Link to the YouTube video, or you can pull it into your post, so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post or place your link in the comments section below.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

This week I will be writing about the Kool & the Gang song ‘Get Down on It’, and next week, I will be writing about the song ‘The Tide Is High’ by The Paragons.  The upcoming prompts will be:
April 23, 2023 – Reggae music
April 30, 2023 – Gospel music
May 7, 2023 – Boy Bands
May 14, 2023 – Girl Groups