Funk-Pop
tagStarted 1976Peak 1978-1985Last big hit 2014
Pop carried by the funk pocket: syncopated slap or fingered bass, tight muted-guitar scratch, punchy horn hits, and a snare-on-the-two-and-four backbeat under catchy hooks. The emphasis is on the rhythm section's interlocking groove rather than disco's string wash, blending Black funk's swing with radio-ready song structure and bright, exuberant vocals.
History
Grew as funk bands chased crossover hits in the late 70s and 80s, with Earth, Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang topping pop charts. The pocket fed Prince and Michael Jackson's funkier singles, then resurfaced for a new generation when Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' 2014 'Uptown Funk' became a global No. 1 throwback smash.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/funk-ma0000002593
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uptown_Funk