Late Night Music Finals Week Edition Part 24................"Blame It On The Boogie"
The more I listen to funk music, I don't see how I could have possibly have made it through the late 60's, 70's, and even early 80's without constantly dancing. Is any kind of music more a big party than funk? You have all the elements of a rock band not to mention mean brass sections, crazy guitar riffs, and so much of the technological influence we have on music today. While lots of the British Invasion of the 60's was black and white, funk brought color, color, and lots more color. Funk music is about adding color to your life and dancing away your worries. Just for clarification, this is NOT a disco category.
Also receiving votes in this category were: "You Dropped the Bomb On Me" by the Gap Band, "Strokin'" by Clarence Carter, "The Electric Slide", and "Don't Change Horses" by Tower of Power.
Stevie Wonder- "Superstition". Stevie Wonder had just emerged from his "child star" status of the 1960's Motown age when 1973's "Superstition" came around. I've always been amazed with Stevie and his uncanny ability to throw out piano licks while being 100% blind. He's also had an amazing ability to re-invent himself as a singer over and over and over again which has kept him near the tops of the charts throughout his entire career. Also, I know it's an easy target for comedians, but his unusual head movements are actually cues to his band.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE
Temptations- "Psychedelic Shack". As the 1960's ended and the 1970's started, many of the Motown and soul groups had to change their sound as the "lover's lament" soft harmonizing era was over. The Temptations were not exempt of this inevitable change either. Even after the success of their 1968 Grammy Winning "Cloud Nine", the Temps ventured into the world of funk with 1969's "Psychedelic Shack" which is one of the few Temptations songs which actually features ANY solo lines sung by Otis Williams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5AYQda3nz4
Funkadelic- "I'll Stay". Never been a big George Clinton fan. I realize his pioneering sound and songwriting is without a doubt influential (alot of HBCU marching bands point to Parliament/Funkadelic as their main influences), or maybe I just am freaked out by his ridiculous hair. Anyway, you can't help but get up and dance to this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r3EGpIToOA
Cameo- "Candy". One of the last funk dance hits, "Candy" took 1987 by storm and is still a minor hit on the club circuit. Quick- all of my movie buffs out there- what movie does this song ALWAYS make you think of? Hint- I have stated that is the best African American movie ever made are more than one occasion. I couldn't find a video for this song, but tell me if the guy on the left side of the group on this album cover doesn't look like Steve Harvey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiSkgkkr0A
Sly and The Family Stone- "Family Affair". I have always been fascinated by Sly and The Family Stone. Seriously, look at these guys- are they not some of the most strange individuals you have ever seen? These guys got engulfed in the 1970's before 70's even started (if that's possible). However, this song can't help but make ya feel good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RmKBFND9SY
The Commodores- "Brick House". You know if they aren't talking about a woman, they could always be talking about Lionel Richie's afro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EmnQp3V48
Kool and The Gang- "Get Down On It". I LOVE this song! This song is everything I love about funk music. Kool and the Gang simply wanted everyone to ENJOY LIFE. Get off the wall and get down on IT! Besides that, I really like Kool and the Gang's instrumental arrrangements, and I love this video that show the whole 1978 "we are trying to be high tech" attitude. Don't watch too many times, it might hurt your eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_2m-4e4tyA
Con Funk Shun- "Love's Train". WOW! What a band! Con Funk Shun always had the unfortunate luck of being around at the EXACT same time as Earth Wind and Fire and Kool and the Gang. Sigh, the inconvenience of being human. I absolutely love this live performance as well! Michael Cooper always came to party and in my opinion, is very underrated as a lead singer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9N8GNwLEd0
Earth, Wind, and Fire- "September". Like there was any question about this one. The KINGS of funk, and still a hot ticket across the world, I would have to put Earth, Wind, and Fire as #1 on my list of "artists I want to see live that I haven't seen yet" just ahead of Hootie and the Blowfish. Seriously, even at their age they still have youthful performance ability and are spectacular musicians and artists. Now, I've never been a fan of their clothes, but how can you listen to these guys and not want to dance, dance, dance! Side note- please note the similarity in the last 2 videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iknEJf9cPeY
The Jackson Five- "Blame It On The Boogie". Ok, you know I had to have my obligatory J5 video, as you know I'm a gigantic J5 fan! I think Michael Jackson put it best when he simply said that you don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, just blame it on the boogie! Also, PLEASE notice the similarity in the last 3 videos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjW1iq4IO2k
Bonus Video- "Blame It On The Rain"- Milli Vanilli. If all else fails, blame it on the rain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrL9MV6jSk
Also receiving votes in this category were: "You Dropped the Bomb On Me" by the Gap Band, "Strokin'" by Clarence Carter, "The Electric Slide", and "Don't Change Horses" by Tower of Power.
Stevie Wonder- "Superstition". Stevie Wonder had just emerged from his "child star" status of the 1960's Motown age when 1973's "Superstition" came around. I've always been amazed with Stevie and his uncanny ability to throw out piano licks while being 100% blind. He's also had an amazing ability to re-invent himself as a singer over and over and over again which has kept him near the tops of the charts throughout his entire career. Also, I know it's an easy target for comedians, but his unusual head movements are actually cues to his band.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Temptations- "Psychedelic Shack". As the 1960's ended and the 1970's started, many of the Motown and soul groups had to change their sound as the "lover's lament" soft harmonizing era was over. The Temptations were not exempt of this inevitable change either. Even after the success of their 1968 Grammy Winning "Cloud Nine", the Temps ventured into the world of funk with 1969's "Psychedelic Shack" which is one of the few Temptations songs which actually features ANY solo lines sung by Otis Williams.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Funkadelic- "I'll Stay". Never been a big George Clinton fan. I realize his pioneering sound and songwriting is without a doubt influential (alot of HBCU marching bands point to Parliament/Funkadelic as their main influences), or maybe I just am freaked out by his ridiculous hair. Anyway, you can't help but get up and dance to this song.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Cameo- "Candy". One of the last funk dance hits, "Candy" took 1987 by storm and is still a minor hit on the club circuit. Quick- all of my movie buffs out there- what movie does this song ALWAYS make you think of? Hint- I have stated that is the best African American movie ever made are more than one occasion. I couldn't find a video for this song, but tell me if the guy on the left side of the group on this album cover doesn't look like Steve Harvey.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Sly and The Family Stone- "Family Affair". I have always been fascinated by Sly and The Family Stone. Seriously, look at these guys- are they not some of the most strange individuals you have ever seen? These guys got engulfed in the 1970's before 70's even started (if that's possible). However, this song can't help but make ya feel good!
http://www.youtube.com/wat
The Commodores- "Brick House". You know if they aren't talking about a woman, they could always be talking about Lionel Richie's afro.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Kool and The Gang- "Get Down On It". I LOVE this song! This song is everything I love about funk music. Kool and the Gang simply wanted everyone to ENJOY LIFE. Get off the wall and get down on IT! Besides that, I really like Kool and the Gang's instrumental arrrangements, and I love this video that show the whole 1978 "we are trying to be high tech" attitude. Don't watch too many times, it might hurt your eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Con Funk Shun- "Love's Train". WOW! What a band! Con Funk Shun always had the unfortunate luck of being around at the EXACT same time as Earth Wind and Fire and Kool and the Gang. Sigh, the inconvenience of being human. I absolutely love this live performance as well! Michael Cooper always came to party and in my opinion, is very underrated as a lead singer.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Earth, Wind, and Fire- "September". Like there was any question about this one. The KINGS of funk, and still a hot ticket across the world, I would have to put Earth, Wind, and Fire as #1 on my list of "artists I want to see live that I haven't seen yet" just ahead of Hootie and the Blowfish. Seriously, even at their age they still have youthful performance ability and are spectacular musicians and artists. Now, I've never been a fan of their clothes, but how can you listen to these guys and not want to dance, dance, dance! Side note- please note the similarity in the last 2 videos.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
The Jackson Five- "Blame It On The Boogie". Ok, you know I had to have my obligatory J5 video, as you know I'm a gigantic J5 fan! I think Michael Jackson put it best when he simply said that you don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, just blame it on the boogie! Also, PLEASE notice the similarity in the last 3 videos!
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Bonus Video- "Blame It On The Rain"- Milli Vanilli. If all else fails, blame it on the rain.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Michael, in one of his last appearances as a black man.
One big happy "family"
I could get lost in their music............and their afros
posted by General 5A Pigott at 11:26 PM
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