Play That Funky Music

Wild Cherry

About Play That Funky Music

"Play That Funky Music" is a song written by Rob Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The single was the first released by the Cleveland-based Sweet City record label in April 1976 and distributed by Epic Records. The performers on the recording included lead singer Parissi, electric guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session players Chuck Berginc, Jack Brndiar (trumpets), and Joe Eckert and Rick Singer (saxes) on the horn riff that runs throughout the song's verses. The single hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 18, 1976; it was also number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 2 million records and eventually sold 2.5 million in the United States alone. The song was listed at No. 93 on Billboard magazine's "All-Time Top 100 Songs" in 2018. It was also the group's only US Top 40 song. 


Year:
1999
3:16
121 
#2

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Hey do it now
Yeah hey

Hey once I was a boodie singer
Playin' in a rock and roll band
I never had no problems yeah 
Burnin' down one night stands
And everything around me, yeah
Got to stop to feelin' so low    
And I decided quickly, yes I did
To disco down and check out the show
Yeah they was

Dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music 'til you die
'Til you die, yeah, oh 'til you die

Gonna play that electrified funky music, yeah

Hey wait a minute 
Now first it wasn't easy
Changin' rock and roll and minds
And things were getting shaky
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
But now it's so much better (it's so much better)
I'm funking out in every way
But I'll never lose that feelin' (no I won't)
Of how I learned my lesson that day

When they were
Dancin' and singin'  and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music 'til you die
'Til you die, yeah, oh 'til you die

They shouted play that funky music
Play that funky music
Play that funky music
Gotta keep on playin' funky music
Play that funky music
Play that funky music
Play

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Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry was an American funk rock band best known for their song "Play That Funky Music". more »

2 fans

Written by: Robert W. Parissi

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


5 facts about this song

Music Creation
1. "Play That Funky Music" was written by Robert Parissi, the lead singer of the band Wild Cherry. 2. The idea for the song was born during a performance when a black audience member shouted at the then predominantly rock band to "Play some funky music, white boy".
Chart Performance
3. The song was released in 1976 and became a major hit, reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 4. It was also a hit internationally, reaching the top 10 in several other countries. 5. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, signifying sales of over 2 million units.
Awards and Recognition
6. "Play That Funky Music" received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1977. 7. The song is regarded as a classic and is frequently played on classic rock and oldies radio stations to this day. 8. It has been covered and sampled by numerous artists, including Vanilla Ice in 1990. His version peaked at No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cultural Impact
9. The song's refrain "lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die" has become a popular catchphrase. 10. "Play That Funky Music" was included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. 11. The song has been featured in numerous movies and television shows, including 'Transformers', 'Guardians of the Galaxy', and 'Undercover Brother'.
Miscellaneous
12. Contrary to common belief, the band Wild Cherry was not a funk band; they were a hard rock band that had a major hit with this funk-inspired song. 13. Despite the success of "Play That Funky Music", Wild Cherry struggled to achieve sustained success. The band eventually disbanded in 1979. 14. The song is a prime example of the "blue-eyed soul" genre, in which white artists emulate traditional black music styles. 15. Parissi auctioned off his rights to the song in 2005, citing it was time for him to move on.

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    Play That Funky Music

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1976

    Billboard #1


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