Funk tends to get overlooked as an American art form. In music, we rightly celebrate the blues, jazz, rock and roll… but as far as I know, there is no Ken Burns’ Funk coming to a PBS station near you1.
But it’s funny — in many ways, funk embodies the American ideal. It’s typically performed by (large, multiracial and multi-gendered) groups. It’s rooted in doo-wop, with its layering of individual voices to create a harmonic whole. Funk often layers intricate personal performances to create a more profound, joyous, and ecstatic whole. Many voices, many instruments, all doing their own thing, somehow blending together into that almighty groove. It’s like a patchwork quilt in musical form.
Harmony is the key, as Gladys Knight puts it.
And yet, if funk music embodies our American ideals, funk lyrics often express the painful reality of American life, albeit with a tempered optimism that better days might lie ahead. This manifests in songs that celebrate community or plead for unity, and sometimes do both at the same time. Funk acknowledges that things aren’t all right, but if we bond together, we can move to higher ground — one nation under a groove, if you will.
In that spirit, I’m presenting a playlist of funk songs that capture the duality of American life. Which sounds heady, but as it happens, these songs all work pretty well for a cookout, a drive to the ballgame, or an afternoon at the pool — wherever, and however, you commemorate our Independence Day.
You’re on your own for procuring actual fireworks, but the musical ones are below.
“Friendship Train,” Gladys Knight & The Pips
For a song called “Friendship Train,” this one absolutely fking rips.
“One Nation Under a Groove,” Funkadelic
In which the (George) Clinton administration, in declaring our independence, holds this truth to be self-evident — that all of us are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of funkiness.
“Unity,” The O’Jays
I’m not going to tell you what to do, but the O’Jays will, at least when you’re listening to this song: Stand up! (Literally and metaphorically.)
“Yes We Can Can,” The Pointer Sisters
The good stuff. Obviously the singing is the star here, but how about that backing band, including drummer Gaylord Birch (who played with Santana, Herbie Hancock, and Jerry Garcia) and Ron McClure (later of Blood, Sweat, and Tears). Fire.
But back to the Sisters: Is this the greatest vocal group performance of all-time? Incredible.
“Keep on Keeping On,” Curtis Mayfield
Message songs can be corny or fall flat. This … is the opposite. God, what a voice.
“Love’s In Need of Love Today,” Stevie Wonder
This. Every word of this.
“Harvest for the World,” The Isley Brothers
Worth noting: Ronnie Isley is still out there performing and, uh, promoting his line of brandy.
“Come Together,” The Meters
In the Beatles’ original, the chorus is an admirable admonition, the verses are glorious nonsense, and the music itself oozes swampy funk. In this version, all that remains true, but the funk’s dialed up a couple steamy, sweaty degrees.
“Put a Little Love In Your Heart,” Mahalia Jackson
The rare song that’s been covered by Leonard Nimoy, the Circle Jerks, Annie Lennox and Al Green (together), and gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, who nails it as only she can.
“If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me),” The Staple Singers
Jeff Tweedy recently said that meeting Mavis Staples was like “meeting a dollar bill or a bald eagle.” Point is, she’s an American icon. Songs like this are a big reason why, and she’s still on the road, unretired, and carrying the story of her musical family forward for the next generations.
“Everyday People,” Sly & The Family Stone
American Utopia.
“People Everywhere (Still Alive),” Khruangbin
American Utopia, rebooted for the 21st Century.
“America the Beautiful,” Ray Charles
Our national anthem.
So on and so on and scooby-dooby-doo,
-P.L.U.
P.S.: I want to acknowledge the death of Michael Corcoran, a longtime Austin writer who no doubt forgot more than most of us will ever know about the music that was made here. He was an expert in what you might think of as Austin music, from Willie to Spoon, but he also dug deep into the city’s history of gospel, blues, roots and more. Truly one of a kind, and I recommend starting with the archives of Overserved, where his most recent writings can be found. (Or go to his most notorious pieces, “Austin Music Sucks” from 1986, and “Welcome to Mediocre, Texas,” from 2012.) What a loss.
P.P.S.: To learn more about “Untitled,” the artwork I’ve chosen for this playlist and newsletter, I recommend reading this ArtNews piece about works featuring the U.S. flag.
But what a documentary that would be! I can see some talking head academic type intoning most seriously, “You see, when George Clinton says ‘Free your mind and your ass will follow,’ what he’s really talking about is America.”