Wild Cherry, Play That Funky Music | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

On the 13^th edition of Throwback Vibez, we explore the controversy behind the song, “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry.   

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! On the 13^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶, we explore the recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Play That Funky Music”, performed by 🎙 Wild Cherry.

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Theme & Lyrics ✍

1976 delivered a surefire gem that still holds up to this day – NO CAP! Former no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit 🎵 “Play That Funky Music” by 🎙 Wild Cherry is five minutes of sheer glory – heaven on earth!  Of course, the key lyric from “Play That Funky Music” highlights the race of the band: “Play that funky music, white boy / Play the funky music right.” Yes, Wild Cherry, is a white rock band playing disco, funk and R&B, two styles associated with black musicians.  It works out well for them, at least as far as “Play That Funky Music” is concerned! Notably, according to an American Songwriter article, the band had to embrace disco out of necessity (“Rock clubs were closing down and discos were opening up”).

“Once I was a boogie singer
Playing in a rock and roll band
... And I decided quickly, yes, I did
To disco down and check out the show.”

Everything about “Play That Funky Music” is fun, period.  The infectious groove demands that you move your body – it’s funky AF. The riffs from these white boys kick serious ass from the rhythmic guitar, looped, robust bass line, and the accented horns (especially that baritone sax).  As for the vocals (🎙 Rob Parissi), they are laden with personality; I love the playfulness of the performance, particularly on the chorus.  Prior to the chorus, the pre-chorus is memorable as well:

“Yeah, they were dancing and singing
And moving to the grooving
And just when it hit me
Somebody turned around and shouted...”

Also, shout out the killer guitar solo.

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Final Thoughts 💭

Wild Cherry had to tweak their style to survive, and it gave them the biggest hit of their career.  Never again would Parissi and company top the Billboard Hot 100.  “Play That Funky Music” gave them that once in a life, special hit.  The band even earned two 🏆 Grammy nominations, which is rad.

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🎙 Wild Cherry • 💿 Wild Cherry • 🏷 Sony • 📅 1976
Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 13 [📷: Brent Faulkner, cotton bro,  The Musical Hype, Sony]

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