the.com/funky
originally the smell of sweat and decay, now the highest compliment a bassline can earn
means Describing something with a strong, often unpleasant smell, or — more commonly now — a style of music or attitude that's earthy, soulful, and unapologetically groovy.
from From "funk," meaning a strong, musty odor, which traces back through earlier English dialect to a likely French source — "funkier," to blow smoke on, related to Latin "fumus," smoke. The word reeked of mustiness and decay for centuries before African American jazz and soul musicians of the 20th century reclaimed it: "funky" came to praise music that was raw, sweaty, and deeply felt — the opposite of polished. The stink became the compliment.
- root meaning
- From 'funk,' meaning strong stench or musty odor
- mushroom origin
- Likely from Latin 'fumigare,' to smoke or fumigate
- jazz pivot
- Musicians flipped the insult into earthy, soulful praise
- physical funk
- Also describes a low mood or depressive slump
- James Brown
- Crowned the genre's godfather of the groove
parliament funkadelic — band led by george clinton with 15+ studio albums since 1970, pioneered funk music
tower of power — oakland-based funk band formed 1968, known for 'so you want to be a rock and roll star'
james brown — the godfather of soul, revolutionized funk in the 1960s with 'get up offa that thing'