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Awesome Funk

Snarky Puppy Keyboardist Improvs Dua Lipa

Snarky Puppy Keyboardist Improvs Dua Lipa

Borrowing a page from Drumeo’s book, the YouTube channel Pianote invites keyboardists to create their interpretations of popular songs they’ve never heard. In this video, Snarky Puppy’s Justin Stanton takes on Dua Lipa’s Don’t Start Now, imparting the dance-pop hit with a smooth blend of jazz and funk after only hearing the drums and vocals.

Nile Rogers & CHIC Tiny Desk Concert

Nile Rogers & CHIC Tiny Desk Concert

Nile Rogers has written and produced some of the biggest songs and albums ever. Among his creations is the disco-funk group CHIC, who stopped by NPR Music with Rogers. The mini-concert’s six mega-hits: CHIC’s Le Freak and Good Times, Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out, Sister Sledge’s We Are Family, Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, and David Bowie’s Let’s Dance.

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Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (Trailer)

Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (Trailer)

Rick James was a true original. He defied expectations and blasted out some incredible funk and disco music. But his talents and showmanship were offset by a cycle of addiction and abusive behavior. Showtime goes inside the world of the real Super Freak through performance footage, interviews, and more. Premieres 9.3.2021.

Electric Feel: Funk Edition

Electric Feel: Funk Edition

The guys from Scary Pockets teamed up with singer Corey Frye of The Main Squeeze for an uplifting funk cover version of MGMT’s 2007 hit track Electric Feel. The smooth grooves and soulful vocals will brighten even the darkest day.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Jazz Funk Cover

Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Jazz Funk Cover

Scary Pockets presents a sublime new take on the Tears for Fears hit Everybody Wants to Rule the World. With Cory Henry kicking ass on keys and lead vocals, we can’t help but think this is how Stevie Wonder would have recorded this song.

Funky Watermelon

Funky Watermelon

French musician MEZERG kicks out some groovy sounds using one of the silliest musical instruments – a watermelon. He connected slices of the melon – along with cantaloupe and a kiwi – to a Playtron MIDI Controller to create an edible keyboard. His cover of The Doors’ Light My Fire is pretty awesome too, even if it has no fruit.

Daði Freyr: Think About Things

Daði Freyr: Think About Things

Icelandic musician Daði Freyr and his band Gagnamagnið made a silly music video filled with pixel art sweaters, strange-looking keytars, awkward dance moves, confetti, and most importantly, a funky and soulful electro-pop track which we’re adding to our heavy rotation list right now.

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Snarky Puppy: Tiny Desk Concert

Snarky Puppy: Tiny Desk Concert

The members of the jazz collective Snarky Puppy turned in a downright funky mix of keyboards, horns, bass, guitar, violin, and percussion during their appearance at the NPR Music offices. They performed their instrumental tracks Tarova and Xavi, the latter’s complex rhythms with the assistance of the audience.

Sir Duke (on a Train)

Sir Duke (on a Train)

We can feel it all over. One of the funkiest songs ever written has got to be Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke. Recently, the members of the the artist collective known as Apartment Sessions turned in a rousing, appropriately brass-heavy performance of the track on NYC’s J Train, lead off by the soulful lead vocals of Aneesa Folds.

Bang Your Head (It’s a Celebration)

Bang Your Head (It’s a Celebration)

Musical mashup master Bill McLintock’s track will drive you mad. It’s another impossible combination that somehow just works, as Kool & The Gang’s Celebration meets Quiet Riot’s Metal Health. Crank it up to 11 as funk and metal make beautiful music together.

Layla: Funk Cover

Layla: Funk Cover

Scary Pockets turns in another wonderfully funky cover of a classic tune, this time taking on Derek and The Dominos’ 1970 track Layla. Though this time, they left the comfort of their studio and recorded the performance live at DC’s Union Stage. That’s Jacob Luttrell kicking out the soulful lead vocals and keys.

Scary Pockets: Wild World

Scary Pockets: Wild World

With the powerful vocal stylings of Rett Madison leading things off, Scary Pockets succeeded at breathing new life into Cat Stevens’ early ’70s classic Wild World with an ample dose of soul and a dash of funk.

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Louis Cole: F It Up

Louis Cole: F It Up

Musician Louis Cole loves to do live recording sessions, and this one takes the cake. Listen, enjoy, and be wowed by this captivating performance shot at “some guy’s house.” It’s got synths, loops, and more funk than you can handle. This is one clip where patience definitely pays off.

Every Breath You Take: Funk Cover

Every Breath You Take: Funk Cover

Funkmasters Scary Pockets take The Police track Every Breath You Take and give it a fresh coat of paint with this wonderful rendition of the 1983 hit, led off by the soulful vocals of Sarah Dugas, and paying tribute to the syncopated reggae beats of the original.

Leonid & Friends: September

Leonid & Friends: September

An amazingly good cover version of Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1978 classic September from an unlikely source. Hailing from Russia, Leonid and Friends completely nailed the instrumentation of the original, powered along by rock solid vocals. Check out Leonid’s YouTube channel for more.

Sweet Child O’ Funk

Sweet Child O’ Funk

Scary Pockets teamed up with vocalist Mario Jose to perform a funky interpretation of of Guns N’ Roses’ hit Sweet Child O’ Mine, unlike any we’ve ever heard before. Between the Rhodes keyboard, horns, and Mario’s soulful voice, it’s a truly special listening experience.

Funk Against the Machine

Funk Against the Machine

Metaphump performs jazzy funk covers of rock and metal tunes. Here, they turn in an excellent rendition of Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name, with a groovy bassline and vibrant horn section. Their Metallica and Megadeth covers are worth a listen too.

George Clinton: Tiny Desk Concert

George Clinton: Tiny Desk Concert

Funk’s living legend George Clinton and his band the P-Funk All Stars spread good vibes and infectious energy at NPR Tiny Desk Concert. They performed a trio of classics: Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On, One Nation Under A Groove and Give Up the Funk.

Creep: Funk Cover

Creep: Funk Cover

Scary Pockets shared this awesome funk arrangement of Radiohead’s 1993 classic Creep, brought to life by the smooth and soulful vocals of India Carney. If the guy on the Wurlitzer looks familiar, that’s Jack Conte, better known as half of Pomplamoose.

Literal Red Hot Chili Peppers

Literal Red Hot Chili Peppers

Musician Davie504 was asked by a fan if he could play some Red Hot Chili Peppers with an actual red hot chili pepper. Aiming to please, he obliged, and turned in a delicious medley of the band’s spicy blend of alternative, rap, rock, and funk flavors.

Killer Mike Meets George Clinton

Killer Mike Meets George Clinton

(PG-13: Language) Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike managed to score a one-on-one interview with legendary funk musician and producer George Clinton, and hung out in one of his barbershops to chew the fat about hip-hop, doo-wop, haircuts, counterfeit cash, and more.

Super Freak: Metal Edition

Super Freak: Metal Edition

Musician and video maker Andy Rehfeldt took the Rick James hit Super Freak and reworked its backing track from disco funk to hard rock. It works shockingly well, and to a certain extent seems more appropriate for the bad girl James describes in the lyrics.

Lamont Landers: Funk Medley

Lamont Landers: Funk Medley

Lamont Landers and his bandmates Bowen Robertson, Jaraven Moe Hill, and Kevin Canada turn in an awesome medley of Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, and a dash of funky love makin’ tossed in for good measure. Want some mo? Try on some Bill Withers.

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