The politics of groove, funk, and soul Flashcards
Describe the state of soul in the late 1960s.
It was a period of transition as Stax went bankrupt and Motown lost its major songwriters. Soul was splitting off into two main directions: sweet soul and funky soul.
What was the definition of funk?
Similarly to soul, it denoted a feeling outside of the musical qualities of the songs themselves. It began to be used to describe certain kinds of grooves. It was seen as the more down to earth counterpart to soul that was more for dancing than spirituality.
What type of groove is characteristic of funk? Explain what it is.
In the pocket groove: interlocking rhythmic patterns so that the expression comes form small deviations from the model. The musical structures are very based on layering.
Name the major funk artist discussed.
Sly and the Family Stone
Describe the visual characteristics of Sly and the Family Stone.
They were of mixed gender and mixed rice, so they appeared to both the white counterculture and the soul music audience.
Describe the musical characteristics of Sly and the Family Stone.
They fused doo-wop style vocals and aspects of psychedelic rock. There was also prominent use of the slapping and popping technique and the expansion of the role of the bass guitar, creating more interlocking elements for the groove.
What was the impact of the album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” on Sly and the Family Stone’s career?
It marked a turning point as they transitioned into a darker aesthetic, with lyrics embracing pessimism and disillusionment with the 1960s counterculture and political climate in the US.
What was the typical sound of soul in the 1970s?
It included both strings and brass, and the arrangements tended to be lush and slick (like Motown). It used conventional song forms and used the bass less than funk. Also continued the gospel-influenced soul vocals.
What were the two major lyrical themes found in 1970s soul?
- Political messages and critiques
- More sensual mood music
Name 3 the major 1970s artists discussed.
Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Parliament Funkadelic
Curtis Mayfield is known mainly for his contribution to what media? Explain why.
The blaxploitation movie Super Fly (1972). He used his music as social commentary to address the state of affairs in black, urban ghettos at the time and with strong anti-drug messages. This was different from the norm, which involved glorifying the criminal lives of dealers.
Name Marvin Gaye’s iconic album and its major themes.
“What’s Going On” was a theme album that focused on social justice with songs focusing on social, economic, and ecological issues. It had a rich texture with multiple layers of percussion, strings, and horns.
What was distinctive about Stevie Wonder’s music?
His albums focused on social awareness and used adventurous techniques, such as the synthesizer. He also used almost classical-sounding music to get his point across, especially when contrasted with harsh lyrics about difficult topics.
What were the major characteristics of Parliament-Funkadelic?
Uses a clear backbeat with emphasis on beats 2 and 4, thick textures with overlapping parts, Afrofuturism, gospel-style backing group, synthesizer innovations. They often played on black stereotypes to get their point across.
The major album by Parliament is […]. Describe its thematic content.
Mothership connection. It is a concept album that mixes fantasy, sci fi, psychedelic imagery, and black sensibility. Despite the out there narrative, it has strong political messaging.
