MUSC 2019 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Bootsy Collins, White-Collar Crime, Blaxploitation
Lecture 11 - Funk
February 12, 2018
6:20 PM
Funk
• From 1960s soul music, with a harder sound and a more emphasized black sound
• Motown had tried to frame black music so it could cross-over to mainstream white music
o However, living conditions for black people didn't improve much
James Brown
• Developed a more aggressive sound in the 1960s
• Grew up in Georgia from a broken home and tough living conditions
o Hustled, sold drugs, and stole - whatever he could do, he did to get by
o During this time, drugs (such as heroin, cocaine)were being trafficked by white people
• White collar crime were profiting off the addiction of drugs by black people
• He portrayed a hyper syncopation, and connected to the roots of dance culture with a low, deep
voice
• Energy is projected into his performance
o Limbs are almost always moving fast
• Physical prowess was a survival trait in slavery
o Energy was hyper political
• The message that comes across is one where he cannot be contained, cannot be
forced back into slavery, and that he is a free man
• Tried to assimilate into white institutions (via integrationist method) but racism wouldn't let him
infiltrate, he decided to use the Black Nationalism strategy
o Created a company, a radio station
• He was a leader in a civils right movement - shows the line between music and politics was often
blurred
o White artists tend to profit more in all aspects compared to black artists - seen in covered
rhythm and blues songs, rock n' roll, etc.
• 12-bar blues was so ubiquitous that both black and white artists were using it (such as Pat Boone -
a very safe, conservative white artist)
o Black artists used the 12-bar blues and reclaimed it as a black music form
• Almost all instruments are played as percussion instruments
• Song: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
o Scratch guitar
• Played to reflect a rhythm more than a melody
o Voice is rhythmic, emphasizing certain beats
• Song: "Say it loud, I'm Black and Proud"
o No chord changes - only one is played
• Rhythm is emphasized (all emphasis on rhythm)
o Bass guitar (historically accompanies harmonic melody) emphasizes rhythm in funk
• Bootsy Collins - along with Larry Graham, revolutionized a new method of playing the
bass
• Song: "Super bad"
o Almost no harmonic change
• Largely about rhythm - the 'one' is emphasized, the syncopation makes sure to land
on the down beat
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