Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple weeks, you’ve heard “Uptown Funk,” the amazing throwboack collaraboration between English music genius Mark Ronson and everybody’s favourite Super Bowl halftime performer of the last 15 years, Bruno Mars.
It’s catchy, danceable, fun, playful and everything that you could possibly want from a song right now. It’s great in the same way that “Get Lucky” was a couple summers ago and harkens back to days of old with its horns, back-up singers and choreographed dance routine. If you haven’t checked out the video or one of the numerous live performances that have taken place over the last few weeks (we recommend the SNL performance), do yourself a favour – find it, watch it, love it.
And do yourself one more favour while you’re at it – add these classic tracks featuring some of the same elements that make “Uptown Funk” such an irresistable song right now.
Jungle Love by The Time
The foils to Prince in Purple Rain, Morris Day and The Time’s signature track made an appearance at the end of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and is one of the first songs that comes to mind for any music fanatic of a certain age when they hear the Ronson/Mars masterpiece. Chances are some DJ is going to be smart enough to mash the two up at a club near you soon.
Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang
Favourites of wedding DJs everywhere, Kool & The Gang are an underappreciated outfit that delivered some great songs over the course of their various incarnations. Sandwiched between hits like “Jungle Boogie” and “Celebration” was this bad boy, which was eventually co-opted into a mediocre hip hop record in the late ’90s, a mark of a great track at the time.
Lady by The Commodores
With each decade that passes, fewer people appreciate the brilliance of acts like The Commodores, a collection of tremendous musicians that made some really great music in the ’60s and ’70s before Lionel Richie went on to solo success. “Lady” fits the funky playlist being crafted here and if you want a good chuckle, track down the video. You’re welcome.
Got to Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
If you liked “Blurred Lines” even a little bit, you’ll love this one since it has a very familiar sound that landed Pharrell & Co. in a deposition last year. Marvin Gaye is one of the myriad artists that was taken from this Earth way too soon, but thankfully, he left an outstanding collection of music like this for us to enjoy in his memory.
Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
There is a segment of the population that only knows Stevie Wonder for songs like “Part-Time Lover” or simply as the blind older gentlemen that plays the piano and isn’t Ray Charles. That’s sad. I feel sad for those people because Stevie used to kill and with the blaring horns that accent this one, it certainly fits on your “Uptown Funk”-fueled playlist.
Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations
We need more acts like The Temptations these days. Maybe the success of the song that inspired this list will lead to a resurgence in three, four and five-man acts that just get funky with it. If you can crank this song without giving in to the groove, more power to you, but chances are you’re going to be dancing and you should be.
It’s Your Thing by The Isley Brothers
You’ve heard this song a million times in whole or in part and that horn four seconds into the song still jumps out at you like a shot. But as one of those songs that has become more famous as a sample used in television commercials, there are tons of people that have never let it just play through and you should, because it’s a really great, funky, punchy track.
Express Yourself by Charles Wright
When the arguably the most influential musician/producer of the last 25 years plucks the instrumental from one of your tracks to create something new over, you know you’ve got a great song. Way back in the late ’80s, Andre Young grabbed this song for a little group he was in called N.W.A. and the rest is smoothed out history.
Shaft by Isaac Hayes
You had to know this was going to be on a list of funky, horn-infused, cruise in your car bumping this and not giving a shhhh…shut your mouth!
I Want You Back by The Jackson 5
Listen – Michael really was bad and he and his brothers put out some serious classics before MJ went solo and became the biggest entertainer in the world. There are a number of great songs that you could choose from to add to this list, but we’ll go with this standout that has been punched up a number of times over the years.
