My Life In Songs | Niklas

It's time for another fascinating trip into the mind of a funk lover. This week the producer of the awesome 'FunkyLompo' youtube channel, presents to us his Life In Songs. Niklas has a passion for 80's funk, soul and disco and spends much of his spare time in the studio. To him, music is an everyday essential, a way to create a positive mood, and he sometimes wonders where he would be without the funk (we can all relate, right?).    

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Can't Let Go - Earth, Wind & Fire.

This masterpiece is amazing. It's indescribable. Incredible. It's so positive, so uplifting. Personally I think it's the best Earth, Wind & Fire song. As I'm not born in the 80's or 70's, I have learned what funk was through my dad (I would like to tell you how I discovered funk, but that's for another time). At home my dad held a little lecture for me and my brothers, and we cruised through music history, from 19th century jazz to 60's rock, to 70's and 80's soul and funk, and finally 90's euro music. 

I got the hang of the 70's and 80's. My dad saw that I started to get interested in soul, funk and also disco, so a couple of days later he brought home his big LP collection along with a vinyl player. I was free to play any tune I wanted to. So I actually chose a random one, the I Am LP by Earth, Wind & Fire. I had heard "Earth, Wind & Fire" somewhere else, but couldn't remember where, so I took the vinyl and started to play it. "In The Stone" was something of the best I ever heard, it's my second favourite song by EW&F, but second track on the album "Can't Let Go" took my heart. The first times I listened to it, I had such a special feeling for the sound, so I could almost not continue listen to the remaining tracks. When I finally did I recognized "Boogie Wonderland", and some of the others. Since then, Earth, Wind & Fire has been my absolute favourite group, and their "Can't Let Go" is one of my absolute favourite tracks.

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Positive Energy - George Duke

Had bought a album by George Duke which apparently to many many people was his best album. Had actually never heard of George Duke earlier, but decided to give him a chance. And I'm glad I did that. The whole album was a real The "Dream On" album was something of the best I had ever heard (as many other albums, hehe). "Shine On" (first track on CD) was a real hit, as well as "You", "Dream On" and "Ride On Love". And when I first heard "Son of Reach for It (The Funky Dream)" I thought it was the best funk-a-groove track I had ever heard. The album was great, but when I got to "Positive Energy", the song was so exotic in a kind of way. It was great, amazing. The track made me start imagining about Rio (even though I have never been there). The instruments are in perfect sync; the horns, the bass, synth and the vocals. Simply a 11/10 track.

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Sayonara - A Taste Of Honey

One nice afternoon I was in town when, suddenly, I heard a beautiful sound in the form of music coming from the radio in a store. I didn't know what the song was or who was performing it, but I was sure it was FUNK. Luckily, there was free WiFi in the store and I was able to use "Shazam" to identify the track (editor's note: don't you just love Shazam and Soundhound? They're awesome, and they work really well). It told me "Sayonara - A Taste Of Honey". I had never heard of this group before, but I loved this song. The smallest instrument gave the track a great sound. The horns, the bass, guitars, vocals, everything was perfect. After some research, I find out that the track is produced by "Al McKay", a member from Earth, Wind & Fire. Not surprising it's so good then, I thought.

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S.O.S. (Dit Dit Dit Dash Dash Dash Dit Dit Dit) - S.O.S. Band

Came over this when I made a search for S.O.S. Band on google. Was something of the funkiest I ever heard. Love that bass. Those catchy Vocals. The S.O.S. truly must stand for "Sound.Of.Success", hehe ;-) I really start to think about boats sending an S.O.S. It's kind of a disco and funk track. In the breaks it's more disco, in the verse it's funk. Really cool.

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Magic - Tom Brown

There's something magic about this tune. In this album, many people say "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)" is the funkiest tune, but I must say I like "Magic" better. It's not the same funk as "Thighs High", but "Magic" has a better flow. Plus it has the coolest horn solo ever. In real life I have always loved magic, and this tune must be pure magic too, because you can't stop listening to it.

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Fresh Idea - Deco

One of the absolutely best tracks of the 80's. No doubt about it. It's really rare, and at the same time so great. This song has everything. I can't name all the instruments, but together they create a superb sound. The vocals are great too, it's actually James Ingram's brother singing, so not surprising that the vocals are so great!

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