# Surprising funk from non-funky bands

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 25, 2019, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268 "2019-10-25T12:09:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/41 "2019-10-28T16:42:26Z")

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I’ve added the Iggy Pop song.

Here’s the story so far:

Sheryl Crow song: Excellent. Perfect for the playlist.  
Megadeth: Good song, not funky, not really for this playlist  
Grateful Dead: Terrible song, “funky” in that it sounds like a band that can’t play funk trying to play something funky.  
The Sweet: Excellent. Perfect for the playlist.  
Led Zeppelin: Great song of course, funky except for the time signature. I’ll allow it.

That’s as far as I’ve gotten.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/42 "2019-10-28T18:25:30Z")

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[Chameleon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbkqE4fpvdI) - Herbie Hancock

[The Stroke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFwvY9A1zAs) - Billy Squier Yeah, I know, but it’s definitely funk.

[Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6-kdVrmVE) - Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter

I’ll also suggest [Let’s Dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbD_kBJc_gI), by Bowie.

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**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/43 "2019-10-28T18:39:12Z")

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My marshmallows thrown into the fire…

[The Clash - Rock the Casbah](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ)

[Alice Cooper - I’m the Coolest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJIZrSMllEQ)

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/44 "2019-10-28T18:45:31Z")

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**Chefguy** , I’ll add the Billy Squier and Rock and Roll Hootchie Koo. Herbie Hancock is one of the funkiest guys around (jazz funk fusion?) and is obviously disqualified from this playlist. That song is great, that whole Headhunters album is so funky (Vein Melter? Jeez). But, he’s also giving funk lessons in the song Doin’ It, and lots of other stuff, too.

**GargoyleWB** , I don’t know that Alice Cooper song, so I’ll add it. Not sure about the Clash – they did a lot of pretty funky stuff. Should they be allowed on?

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**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/45 "2019-10-28T19:23:46Z")

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R.E.M., “Drive,” live versions circa 1995. That arrangement is called the “funk” version, but that might just be self-effacing humor. Spotify links below, except as noted.

The _[R.E.M. at the BBC](https://open.spotify.com/track/0FNSmhP6sHL5Zj8w21557H?si=rtAeL7QNRTacdRaa-jdljw)_ version has about one minute less banter at the beginning than the version on the 25th Anniversary edition of _[Automatic for the People](https://open.spotify.com/track/2X1eFVZTZ9yW3FqK8RMfHQ?si=jqOxWZ_FQSOvAr67zgk-CA)_; the latter was originally on Greenpeace’s Alternative NRG compilation and got minor airplay, or at least it did on the Memphis alt-rock stations. It can be [found here on YouTube](https://youtu.be/rYgonBJ-U1Y). Later versions, as on _R.E.M. Live_ or _Live at the Olympia_, are in the style of the studio recording.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/46 "2019-10-28T20:55:15Z")

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OK, I’ve added the REM song, but I’ll be shocked if they’ve done something actually funky.

The Jimi Hendrix song is good, but not particularly funky. Why that one?

Don’t Let Me Down by the Beatles was a great suggestions. I played (still play :o) Beatles Rock Band and I love playing that drum part.

The Sacred Reich song was a great find! Never heard of them, so I’ll take your word for it that the rest of their catalog isn’t funk.

I’m not sure about New Sensation – I guess the guitar part has a Nile Rodgers feel?

That’s as far as I’ve gotten.

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**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/47 "2019-10-28T21:30:38Z")

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Another Led Zeppelin song that is pretty funky to my ears is Trampled Under Foot

[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ftknR1gf9qw/hqdefault.jpg "Trampled Under Foot-Led Zeppelin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftknR1gf9qw)

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**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/48 "2019-10-28T21:45:18Z")

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If we consider German Krautrock bands, I nominate Can’s “Vitamin C.” The drummer Jaki Liebezeit could have been the drummer for any funk band if he was so inclined.

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hSBWYWFmyGQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Vitamin C (2004 Remastered Version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSBWYWFmyGQ)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/49 "2019-10-28T23:37:58Z")

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**AnalogSignal** – OK, added

**zimaane** – Agreed. I’m adding that and removing The Crunge. You can’t have a 9/8 funk song.

**EinsteinsHund** – The version that Spotify has of Felhfarben seems to be spoken word, something about getting a big hit (my German is very, very rusty). Did you mean some other song?

**journeyman\_southpaw** – Great calls on the Rod Stewart, Van Halen, and Whitesnake songs! That’s exactly, precisely what I’m looking for.

Good call with HiJinx by Heart as well. That’s where I am so far.

What do you folks think of:

Climax Blues Band: Couldn’t Get It Right

Spandau Ballet: Chant #1

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/50 "2019-10-29T01:08:38Z")

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> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> **EinsteinsHund** – The version that Spotify has of Felhfarben seems to be spoken word, something about getting a big hit (my German is very, very rusty). Did you mean some other song?

The only version I know and mean is the one [I linked to on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s10U_efDHME), or [here at spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/6mMUoEgOl1yuGMJ6dfHzh6). It’s not really sung, more of a chant or even rap, but not spoken word, and has nothing to do with getting a hit. And it sure is funky.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/51 "2019-10-29T01:21:49Z")

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> [@EinsteinsHund](#):
>
> The only version I know and mean is the one [I linked to on youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s10U_efDHME), or [here at spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/6mMUoEgOl1yuGMJ6dfHzh6). It’s not really sung, more of a chant or even rap, but not spoken word, and has nothing to do with getting a hit. And it sure is funky.

Looks like it’s not available in the US. Here’s what I had:

> **[Fehlfarben - Ein Jahr – Es Geht Voran](https://open.spotify.com/track/4m6dOBwSvEZdRVtoEtFiy6)**
>
> Michael Pan · Song · 2000

Basically, it’s part of an album that talks about various German hits, I think. I really need to relearn German.

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/52 "2019-10-29T01:29:41Z")

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> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> Looks like it’s not available in the US. Here’s what I had:
> 
> [Fehlfarben - Ein Jahr – Es Geht Voran - song and lyrics by Michael Pan | Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/4m6dOBwSvEZdRVtoEtFiy6)
> 
> Basically, it’s part of an album that talks about various German hits, I think. I really need to relearn German.

Oh yes, that’s something completely different, 21 humorous stories about big German hits, not the real thing. Is the youtube link also inavailable in the US?

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/53 "2019-10-29T01:31:56Z")

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The YouTube link worked – I definitely would have added it, but the playlist is on Spotify. Thanks for the suggestion! Also for posting at zero dark hundred, I imagine, if you’re anywhere near Germany.

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/54 "2019-10-29T01:38:09Z")

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> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> The YouTube link worked – I definitely would have added it, but the playlist is on Spotify. Thanks for the suggestion! Also for posting at zero dark hundred, I imagine, if you’re anywhere near Germany.

Zero dark hundred is nothing special for me, I’m a night owl. And I had to adapt my SDMB schedule to US business hours ;).

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/55 "2019-10-29T02:56:04Z")

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This one gets a bit funky in the breaks  
[Burning From the Inside](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iGvfWus-y4)–Bauhaus

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**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/56 "2019-10-29T11:25:01Z")

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Mazzy Star [Wasted](https://youtu.be/yIC_E3CZjvI).

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/57 "2019-10-30T12:48:41Z")

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OK, I’ve added Wasted. **Johnny Q** , I’d consider adding it if the rest of the song didn’t contribute to a total of 9 minutes. The funk to non-funk ratio is too high.

I’ve also added Walk This Way by Aerosmith, which was already a rap song before Run DMC got a hold of it.

What about Lights Out by Royal Blood? The bridge seems really funky to me, not sure if that’s sufficient.

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**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/58 "2019-10-31T21:29:59Z")

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I didn’t name any Aerosmith because I thought maybe they fell into that same grey area the Stones do, but [Sight for Sore Eyes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU3nAiL0Luo) is an option for a funky deep cut instead of a well-known hit.

And I guess if Aerosmith qualify than Thin Lizzy does too, with something like [Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ68OOoSnc4).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/59 "2019-11-01T01:26:50Z")

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> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#):
>
> I didn’t name any Aerosmith because I thought maybe they fell into that same grey area the Stones do, but [Sight for Sore Eyes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU3nAiL0Luo) is an option for a funky deep cut instead of a well-known hit.
> 
> And I guess if Aerosmith qualify than Thin Lizzy does too, with something like [Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ68OOoSnc4).

OK, I’ll add those and then delete the less funky Aerosmith one after I’ve given them both a listen. If you had to choose only one Stones song, which would it be? Has to be the funkiest, not the best.

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-funk-from-non-funky-bands/842268/60 "2019-11-01T02:09:54Z")

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> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> OK, I’ll add those and then delete the less funky Aerosmith one after I’ve given them both a listen. If you had to choose only one Stones song, which would it be? Has to be the funkiest, not the best.

That’s tough, they had several very funky songs, most of them already mentioned in this thread. But one that has not been posted yet is [Hot Stuff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVpzrxjiAtc), and that’s maybe their most bare bone funk track.

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