Funkytown

Infobox Single
Name = Funkytown


Artist = Lipps Inc
from Album =
B-side = "All Night Dancing"
Released = 1980
Genre = Disco
Length = 3:58
Label = Casablanca Records
Writer = Steven Greenberg
Producer = Steven Greenberg
Misc =Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Audio file = Funkytown by Lipps Inc.ogg

"Funkytown" is a song made by the disco band Lipps Inc. The song expresses the pinings for a metaphorical place that keeps "me movin', keeps me groovin' with some energy" and is considered to be one of the last hit songs of the disco era, as by the spring of 1980 disco's popularity was fading. It was a number-one hit in many countries. It is considered the point at which disco hinted at the future of dance music/electronica.Fact|date=October 2008

History

It was recorded in August 1979 by Fiona Ryan and engineered by David 'Z' Rivkin. An accomplished drummer, Steven Greenberg played the percussion parts. Roger Dumas programmed the Oberheim and Moog synthesizers, and was responsible for suggesting and developing the Moog Vocoder voice effect that became the Funkytown signature sound. Dumas and Greenberg shared keyboard duties. Vocal tracks were performed by Cynthia Johnson and Greenberg (low Vocoder voice). It is unclear who performed the signature saxophone riff about midway through the song, although singer Cynthia Johnson was also an accomplished saxophonist, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that she is the one featured (uncredited) on the track.

The Minneapolis-based touring band 'Lipps Inc.' consisted of Cynthia Johnson (singer), Terry Grant (bass), Ivan Rafowitz (keyboards), Peter Johnson (keyboards), Bobby Vandell (drums), Tom Riopelle (guitar), and Steven Greenberg (producer/writer). "Funkytown" reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and went platinum the following year. Lipps Inc. continued to record until 1985 with a changing line-up but never saw the success of that first hit. The song quickly came to symbolize the energetic, experimental Twin Cities music scene.

The song was later featured in Konami's Beatmania game for the U.S..

The song was a worldwide hit reaching number one in the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and West Germany. "Funkytown" reached #2 in the United Kingdom Singles Chart in the summer of 1980.

Cover versions

In 1981, it was covered by SNK in their licensed game Fantasy, released by Rock-Ola.

In 1986, it was covered by Australian band Pseudo Echo, who gave the song a different direction, moving away from the early eighties' electronica towards later eighties' rock, including a guitar solo in the middle. Pseudo Echo's version spent seven weeks at number one in Australia, (Lipps Inc's was #1 for only two weeks in Australia), and was also a number-six US hit in July of the following year. Pseudo Echo also never achieved great success outside Australia with other releases, making "Funkytown" a rare example of a musical one-hit wonder for two different bands.

In 2007, it was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks as their version appeared in the live-action/CGI film adaptation. Their version peaked at #86.It was also used in the video game Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 by Ubisoft for the music rhythm games.

Usage In Other Media

The Song Was Used In An advert for the Coco Pops "Moons And Stars" Cereal and Alvin And The Chimpunks made their own version

External links

* [http://www.funkytown.com The Official Funkytown web site]