# Funkiest song ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 2, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095 "2009-08-02T21:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/61 "2009-08-04T00:18:23Z")
Eminent musicologists have long contended [1] that _Superstition_ is not merely funky but actually **stanky**. [1] Ellis, D. et al, _J. Funk. Stud_ 36( **2** ), 1978 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/62 "2009-08-04T00:32:50Z")
I’m votin’ for Flashlight too, but think there should be some more love for Word Up and a nod to Brick Hoooooooowse. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/63 "2009-08-04T04:31:40Z")
I’m going with Jungle Fever. Not Stevie Wonder’s corny commercial crap; the cool, sexy Jungle Fever, by the Chakachas. [You Tube Link.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ubpEtlfHbE) But then, I really never was a huge fan of ‘funky’ music, so my vote isn’t as strong as it could be. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/64 "2009-08-04T17:23:59Z")
I’m pretty sure that either Pusher Man or Mighty Mighty Spade & Whitey by Curtis Mayfield are the most funktacular songs ever. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/65 "2009-08-04T17:47:49Z")
Here’s a vote for Rufus and Chaka Khan’s [Tell me something good.](http://videos.publimetro.com.mx/player/index.php?sig=iLyROoaft_KE) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/66 "2009-08-05T10:14:58Z")
There’s some great stuff being touted here (although, personally, if you don’t end up with a George Clinton work as the ultimate answer, I think you’re wrong ;)…OK, James Brown would be equally acceptable). But Stevie Wonder? I’m not saying he’s not brilliant as the other candidates and possibly the greatest artist mentioned in this thread, but funkiest? Now you could claim that there’s a lot of his stuff that I’m missing, and you wouldn’t be incorrect. But “Superstition” is being thrown out as a candidate, and I don’t see that as anywhere near as funky as, say, Kool & the Gang, let alone something like “Flashlight”. Ditto Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/67 "2009-08-05T18:51:31Z")
Yeah, there’s a difference (imho) in being danceable and toe tapping and even full of soul vs being down and dirty funky. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/68 "2009-08-05T19:24:31Z")
Well, as someone who nominated Michael Jackson for “Burn This Disco Out,” here are the bona fides: bass by Louis Johnson, song by Rod Temperton… it’s a killer groove. Not all MJ songs would fit the bill but that one does. I think Stevie makes it for songs like Superstition and Higher Ground. Clavinet always makes the funk sticky! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/69 "2009-08-05T19:24:45Z")
[Joe Tex - I Gotcha](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBbnm5SwMMk) About 2:45 in, or come early for groovy 70’s Soul Train dance goodness. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/70 "2009-08-05T21:09:31Z")
Here’s one to consider, and from a quite unlikely source: [“It Ain’t Nothing To Me” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9a0A4L4Zuc). Pretty funky for an artist known primarily for his rather conventional rock music. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_Tightlips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@Joey\_Tightlips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_Tightlips)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/71 "2009-08-06T00:05:02Z")
Finally a topic I consider myself an expert in and I don’t find out about it until the second page! Ugh! All the suggestions so far have been great, but I think Flashlight is the very definition of funk. Here’s some more from my best of Funk playlist that I think were missed above… Express Yourself - Charles Wright and the Watts Rhythm Band Brickhouse - Commodores Can I Get That Funk - Bluezeum Backstroke - Fatback Band Shotgun - Junior Walker Hollywood Swingin - Cool & the Gang Back In Love Again - LTD Fire - Ohio Players Give It To Me Baby - Rick James Soul Donkey - Sugarman Three Take Your Time - SOS Band ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/72 "2009-08-06T01:15:14Z")
hands down, Lydia Pense and Cold blood [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx2vxo5M8jA) ---
**Author:** ![Havik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Havik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Havik)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/73 "2009-08-06T08:20:31Z")
Really? Flashlight? It’s good, but really? **Mycroft Holmes** and I are on the same page with Atomic Dog. That is such a funky song! It’s the song that made me love funk! LOVE FUNK! ---
**Author:** ![crazzycat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@crazzycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazzycat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/74 "2009-08-06T09:31:20Z")
Jemes Brown-Try me ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/75 "2009-08-06T12:27:46Z")
> [@orderfire](#): > > A show of hands for Billy Preston’s _Outta Space_? That funk cannot be denied. Hand up here! It’s what I came to post and I’m listening to it as I type this. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/76 "2009-08-06T12:44:07Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > _Groove Is In The Heart_ needs a mention. Yes indeedy. Although not the funkiest, it’s wacky, it’s funky and it’s Bootsy. Definitely top of my dancefloor fillers list. ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/77 "2009-08-06T17:39:09Z")
“Brick House” -Commodores 1977 ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/78 "2009-08-06T18:03:05Z")
“Let’s Go to the Movieshow”-Jeremy and The Satyrs-1968 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/79 "2009-08-24T16:27:03Z")
G Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars are going to be in town November 7 (a Saturday). Not the most earth-shattering news; the gang rolls through a few times per year (their last gig here was a smokin’ show at B.B. Kings in February). There’re a couple slight shifts though. First, they’re playing a concert hall ([Lehman Center for the Performing Arts](http://lehmancenter.org/shows/clinton.html)), so if you want to catch them in a bit more, er, orderly environment than a club, have at it. Not that B.B. Kings isn’t a chill place, but the dance floor can get a bit sweaty and crowded. Second—and why I’m posting rather than just letting the date sit on their Web site—tix are on sale but advertising hasn’t kicked off; there are still front row seats available. ‘Course, most of their gigs are general admission in small, personal venues so getting up front isn’t that difficult—but again, it’s in a concert hall so the scene will be a bit different. Bow wow wow… ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095/80 "2009-08-24T16:37:09Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Which is the funkiest song ever? > > I nominate _Thank You (Falettinme be mice elf agin)_ by **Sly and the Family Stone**. **Close, but no cigar…** _“The Jam”_ By Larry Graham, the bassist from the aformentioned group. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funkiest-song-ever/505095.md?page=5)