The Luxury Of Funkery

When it’s funk – you can pardon the length it takes to prove the point. In fact among all of the distinct solos and rhythmic gliding, who cares if the cup is running over? I remember getting lost in the experience of jams that seemed to last over 30 minutes. I was taken away by the bass and drums – before the guitar or keys ever made their entrance. My feet could not remain still. My face improvised a series of sonnets and joyful disgust. It was ugly. Almost like the spirit of music personally chose me to endow me with the gift of goosebumps over my body.

If you have experienced similar sensations – you know all too well about the luxury of funk. It’s insane and sometimes just ridiculous because sanity goes out the window. It’s something about a thumping bass and horns that blow your head off. If you ever underestimated the power of funk – the funk ain’t ever too far to remind you of its skill. Most of us just look at the table and whatever happens to be on it. We don ’t pay too much attention to what’s supporting it.The legs and bloodline of what helps the table stand are rarely given detailed attention. If you are lost in the groove, rarely is the focus on the buildup. The journey of sound takes you a wide arrange of places.

I was blessed like many others to experience the grace and normality of funk music. The funk was always in my backyard and whenever I needed a flavor I didn’t know I was missing, it would hit me up with no delay. I never got spoiled by it because U Know… “Music Never Lies, You know It’s true!”I had the pleasure to witness Funk on the regular because I lived in one of the Funk Capitals of the world, Minnesota! An unlikely place to some, unless you knew who Mr. Nelson was. Prince is the embodiment of music and while he played around with various kinds of music – funk is the main ingredient in all of his servings over the years. Rock N Roll for him had to be funky.

Sometimes, life itself can toss us into moments of funk. (No surprise there) An unreasonable desire to screw our faces and shake our heads. This has happened much more often as of late, it’s not hard to understand the flow of why this happens. We all know when we are witnessing a luxury. A remarkable experience is embedded in us and becomes the blueprint of how we value the experience. It’s important to remember the vastness of how many diamonds, emeralds, gold, silver, and jewels exist underneath the core. There are many properties that exist and none of them are mutually exclusive. How we consider worth is often one of heated discourse. The burning need to compare experiences tend to invalidate the individual pieces that embody the whole. (See; Beyoncé vs XYZ)

Nothing is merely created out of the blue. There is an important process and combinative forces that join together. Of course, we don’t think about this. The focus is often on the finished product which is what leads me to my next point about the funk. Funk music takes it time. It might hit you quickly or the bass may be buried in the mix – but it’s there if you pay more attention to the details, it becomes less ambiguous. We should take the time to let each instrument have the ability to solo in a song.

“What my drummer wanna say?
Listen 2 my bass man play
Listen 2 the guitar play”

I live for solos because we all got something to offer. If there’s one thing I can set aside as a valuable experience with Prince, is that he takes you on this journey! He’s shared his life through his music. This is one luxury of FUNK – there are places you did not know you can go. Remember when joining in the journey with Prince – bring your foot pray Cuz it’s gonna be funky!

“Just when U thought it was safe 2 go outside

Eye hit your ass with another funky design

And it’s real good

U thought it wasn’t when U shoulda

Checked yourself before U got another foot in your ass

And now it comes 2 pass another phat shot from the higher class

That’s right, U’re still a rookie, see

Kickin’ it with the grown folks in the wrong key

Honey please, U need 2 find

Somebody that’ll hip U 2 the funky design

Shouts out 2 the rookies, put it in the bank

And let it gain a cent or 2 until it just stanks

And flows, your nose will know

When it’s all wrinkled, then it’s good 2 go

On the fire, I would be a liar

If I didn’t say I wanna take U higher

And hip U 2 the one-eyed bass

Listen 2 the solo while it pleads my case

And just when U thought it was over, it started up again

Kickin’ so loud that it’s sure 2 frighten and win

Gossip again? Ho-hum

Listen 2 my drum

When eye 1st heard ur face

Listen 2 my bass

Time will tell who we r

Listen 2 my guitar”