Recently, that was the statement. Basing it on...

(Splice Sounds Wolfgang Gartner "Flashback Funk Pack" feat. Josh Charles.)

Growing up being black and having Black music run through my veins as I strived to become a musician(in the 70's as a 7 year old, I was influenced by Gospel, Soul,Blues,R&B and Funk. Those spirits in music run through my blood. But this is about FUNK. Funkadelic,Confunkshun,Ohio Players,Cameo,Slave Etc, Etc...

I was insulted when I listened to the watered down attempt they called a demo of above sample kit and Someone proclaiming it was "Confirmed, authentic" Funk! Or maybe I was horrified!

Well there's fake news..and then there's Fake Funk Music! So many musicians (and this is where it gets rough and might offend you) (mainly white) think they can play/create Funk because they know what it is. Now a Gifted Musician can at times mimic Funk. But what I find is that for the most part they get confused by what might be called funky and what is Funk.

I remember playing gigs with new musicians (always of another color) and that was always the case. See, Funk is one of those kinds of music that is embedded deep in your soul by your upbringing and environment.

My intent is to provoke positive and constructive feedback in order to help others understand just what funk really is. I don't claim to know it all, but I do consider myself an expert on this subject.

Anyways, I was invited to start this thread and now invite my fellow musicians to speak their minds.
Fire away!

btw, this is my 1st thread as I try to contribute more to our community.

 

Last edited: Dec 13, 2017

hi my friend @blaqmatic a thread about funk music is a very good topic and i would like you to share more of your thoughts & experiences around this genre of music or better say experience of the soul.
I agree that demo is not real funk music.
To me funk music is James Brown - "Papas Got A Brand New Bag",Earth Wind and Fire - "Shining Star",Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" some examples...
it is hard to recreate something like that(real funk) in a Daw using midi in my humble opinion,but not impossible(never say never).
So to conclude the above tracks for me is Funk music & this track(which i love when it was released) is just funky :

 

Oh yhea - sho nuff....

Although some newer guys can bring it as well + D'Angello and the Vanguard + if you get the chance go see them, you wont be sorry.

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2017

Hello to you 2 my friend @spyfx. Interesting track you have there. Wouldn't say it was Funk, but it is funky! Where and when I grew up JB would be Soul music that is funky, EWF was Soul and funky at 1st but then became more R&Bish, Stevie is a blend of many influences like gospel, soul, blues, jazz and R&B but wouldn't be Funk, music just Very funky at times. It would be extremely difficult to Sequence Funk on a D.A.W. because it's the unique idiosyncrasies of a live instrument melding with that musicians Soul/"Feel".

I am very blessed. I grew up in a time when there was no digital workstations, every musician's Timing, feel and abilities said it all. For the most part this cookie cutter music that I hear now a days is stressful to my ears. However there are exceptions. But I will save that for a later time. I am what my peers would call a "Real" musician. Defined as one that can play a instrument well, in time and tune expressing his inner self thereby. No Help from electronic gadgets. All though I Love technology and engage in the changing times.
I just prefer to Play and record it live when I sequence. Even though DAW's still have a certain quirk about them.

 

@bluerover, That is great music and legendary Songs that you have there. However, Just like spyfx, I would still classify it a Soul music and funky. Even though both have some funk type influence.

Now @mozee, nothing is more Funk then Anything form that Parliament/Funkadelic Crew...Including Bootsy! Lol. When you hear what they sound like it tells it all. The whole vibe is unique. Now there are a lot of groups/People that have their own Funk "feel" and are definitely Funk. As I mentioned some in my 1st post.

Now D'angelo, grew up much like me...even though I have a few years on him. His influences are the same as my own. And he is a great musician and that Track is Def FUNK!!!!! That kind of Funky Funk with a Bounce in the Beat! Lol. Now don't think I didn't notice that Young man on bass with him. Truth told I can see the "Funk in him. Must also note that D'angelo wrote that bass line, but he Damn sure played it well. But could he write a song with a bass line like that, Like D'Angelo did would be my question. Still much respect to D'a's Work.

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2017

...If you have to ask, you'll never know!

 

Funk... A few different kinds

Now if you can listen through then all and love what you hear then you truly appreciate Funk! lol.

 

@blaqmatic hi my friend once again ! thank you for sharing your thoughts.
(just to clarify the "funk phenomena" track is just funky to me & not real Funk music).
Some other thoughts i would like to share is that funk music has influenced other styles of music like hip-hop & electronica/electronic.

i agree,but think it this way : you can buy Spectrasonics Keyscape,fire up your Daw of choice & with that alone & your voice make/play some funk music recording in a live take.
I would like to know if you ever heard of liquid Drum & bass music or liquid funk.
Also what is your opinion of boogie & electro funk ?(think of Africa Bambaataa).

 

Pino Palladino got soul man, he's been around and back from a ways back, and although there's milk in the shake, there still enough coffee and coco that you can taste it.

Dig it.

Man - I remember a time and place where I could say that out loud to someone and it would have been a perfectly acceptable form of verbiage and communication. What happened to the world. Now am sad, and going to bed.

+

Man I love me some Cameo too

 

Kool. But as long as you use a sequencer it will be kind of funny to me. But, great musicians won't quantize, which at that point you really wont be sequencing just recording.

As much as Bambaataa is a pioneer of sorts, I never really cared that much for his music. But i do respect it for what it did for Hiphop.

Influences you say..? Of course. plenty of Funk and R&B blends for R&B Groups, But I can't remember if I ever heard a Pure Funk Group Do R&B. Some might try and classify it that, But Funk is a kind of Smell that is Poignant! Thats why it's Funk. Music that smells funky. Lol

Here are some R&B bands imitating funk, But the music is R&B and not Funk, But it is Funky.
First A Funk Group:

A R&B/Funk Group:

Kind of a 50/50 blend
A R&B group that is Funky with a Little funk:

Pay close attention to the difference in Outfits...It actually might help a Little.

Next up a test...

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2017

Is this band a Funk Band..?

 

for me it has elements of disco,soul,r&b,electro funk in it (first track).

 

Not washing your feet while wearing the same socks for a week is funky, Nile Rodgers IS funk!

 

maybe this will be interesting for the thread :

 

Very Nice Spyfx! Really showed the foundation and beginning of how funk was started, I love it! The Godfather of Soul was funky, he was soul music at that time. Unlike Motown which was all soul and became "Black" Pop(Popular) music.. Again influences and the extension of all black music influences...All black music extends from Gospel though. That being said music is still the universal language and understanding how and where and why a particular genre of music began is empowering.

Aiight...i'm off to bed now. Lol. Early session in the Morn. Goodnight.

 

Good read here :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk

 

Those riffs, these neck-breaking Drums, the BASS, the Hammond. Datssomegoddamnfonkfoyoassboiiiiii ;)

 

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2017