History of Funk & Its Impact on EDM
“What’s that funky smell,” is a common saying used nowadays, but its original meaning is quite unexpected and it is deeply tied to the creation and naming of Funk music. The etymology of the word funk is related to the aroma emanated by a sexually aroused female. Perhaps a little different than you might expect, eh?! Next time you use the phrase, “It smells like funk “, think about what it actually means. Obviously, the words funk and funky now have broader meaning in common parlance in reference to smells, behaviors, or musical qualities.
The history of funk and the use of the term “funky” in relation to music can be traced all the way back to 1907 in the titles of Jazz songs like “Funky Butt,” (yeah, Funky Butt…), and certainly Funk music owes much to the tradition of Jazz. The term “funky” was used to describe particularly complex or groovy segments or songs. A musician would tell another musician. “put some stank on it!” to have them play more groove into their set and that terminology was kept by Funk artists.
The Music
Where Funk deviated from Jazz was its strong emphasis on the first beat of the measure (the One) and its vastly more powerful basslines. Much of these changes can be credited to James Brown and his revolutionary sound in the 1960s. He said his sound had a “funk beat” and the term began to have a broader meaning. An emphasis on the One beat creates a driving forward of the music and has a pronounced impact on dancefloor viability. The same emphasis on the One is used in EDM and EDM owes this to Funk. In fact, DJs who spin EDM key in on the first beat to match songs together when they mix.
To get Funk music on digital, follow the link below for Amazon Music:
The Parties
Funk music, its stylings, and its structure show strong parallels to EDM, but there’s another area that has similarities. The Funk movement knew how to party! During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, and early 1980s, Funk concerts and parties were raucous affairs that had massive sound systems to push those big basslines out into the crowd. Where a Jazz trio of 3 members was not uncommon in Be Bop groups, Funk concerts sometimes had 10 times that number of musicians with upwards of 30 players on the stage. Bands like Parliament and Funkadelic became famous for their intricate concerts with strong rhythm sections of bass guitar and drummers on kits and bongos or congas! They’d perform to full houses and party through the night, not unlike the Raves of the EDM scene.
The Fashion
While the music and the party scene shows definite similarities, another area that the two musical movements have some overlap is in the area of fashion. Funk became known for outlandish outfits that sparkled with glitter, fluffed with fake fur and feathers, and revealed plenty of skin. The freedom of expression that hit its peak in the 1960s and 1970s is something that is embraced by the EDM scene! Club Kids and Kandi Kids definitely can give Funk musicians a run for their money! With fuzzy boot covers, platform shoes, and gaudy jewelry, or “kandi”, they have as much eccentric style and flashy trappings as did Funk!
I hope it has become apparent that Funk and EDM have some striking similarities! There’s a direct correlation in EDM music to Funk in the style of Funky Breaks and in some Drum-N-Bass. The music with its heavy basslines and strong emphasis on the One beat, the wild, all night parties, and the eccentric fashion of each movement all have undeniable parallels between Funk and EDM..
More On Funk
Funk has a rich and varied history as it progressed from its inception in the early 1960s through its many forms it has had. You can certainly benefit by exploring Funk and learning more about its many different styles! Go through the PowerPoint lesson below on Funk to learn more about it!
If you would like to pick up some digital copies of Funk music, follow the link below for Amazon Music:
If you would like to listen to some great Funk and Disco mixed live by a DJ, take a listen to DJ Chris Sick – Live at Funktion Junktion, a monthly Funk and Disco classics night that took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA in the early 2000s!
For EDM music that has heavily sampled Funk, take a listen to “Dumpsta Funk Part3 – My Disco Balls Hang Low”, by DJ Chris Sick.
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Cool history on funk! Dayton was an epicenter for funk. More funk bands came from Dayton than anywhere else in the world.
James Brown’s King Records recordings as well as those of musical ambassadors Bootsy Collins, The Isley Brothers, Midnight Star, and many others tie back to the Queen City Cincinnati.
That’s fascinating! Who knew….? Thanks for the great comment!