Funk

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"Funky" redirects here. For other uses, see Funk (disambiguation). Not to be confused with phonk. For technical reasons, "Funk #49" redirects here. For the song, see Funk 49.

Etymology

The word funk initially referred (and still refers) to a strong odor. It is originally derived from Latin

fumigare (which means "to smoke") via Old French fungiere and, in this sense, it was first

documented in English in 1620. In 1784, funky meaning "musty" was first documented, which, in

turn, led to a sense of "earthy" that was taken up around 1900 in early jazz slang for something "deeply or strongly felt".[9][10] Even

though in white culture, the term funk can have negative connotations of odor or being in a bad mood (in a funk), in African

communities, the term funk, while still linked to body odor, had the positive sense that a musician's hard-working, honest effort led to

sweat, and from their "physical exertion" came an "exquisite" and "superlative" performance.[11]

Characteristics

Rhythm and tempo

Like soul, funk is based on dance music, so it has a strong "rhythmic role".[17] The sound of funk is as much based on the "spaces between the notes" as the notes that are played; as such, rests between notes are important.[18] While there are rhythmic similarities between funk and disco, funk has a "central dance beat that's slower, sexier and more syncopated than disco", and funk rhythm section musicians add more "subtextures", complexity and "personality" onto the main beat than a programmed synth-based disco ensemble.[19]