Originally named Project Soul, the group became a backup band for the Stax Records artists The Soul Children in the early 1970s Renaming themselves Confunkshun, the group moved to Memphis, Tennessee and became one of the label's most sought-after studio bands. They supported themselves by performing throughout the mid-South and Japan at clubs and colleges, along with such bands as, Brief Encounter, Chocolate Funk, Brick, The Dazz Band, and The Mighty Majors. They came to the attention of Estelle Axton and recorded an album and several singles on her Fretone Records label.
By 1976, Con Funk Shun, was one of the most popular groups in the South but still had not secured a major recording deal. That all changed in July 1976 when Mercury Records A&R man Jud Phillips finally signed the group to a major recording contract. By that time, drummer Louis McCall's wife, publicist/songwriter Linda Lou McCall, had "tweaked" the spelling of the band's name (originally "Confunkshun"), and their first album, "Con Funk Shun", was released later that year.
The band's second album Secrets was released in 1977 to critical and commercial success. Their first hit single was "Ffun", written by Michael Cooper rose swiftly up the charts and landed at "#1 With A Bullet" on Billboard magazine's Top Soul Singles chart in July 1977. Over the course of 10 years, Con Funk Shun recorded 11 albums with Mercury, with five of them achieving "Gold album" status (selling in excess of 500,000 units). The band performed to sold-out coliseums all over the country. They had numerous Top 40 hits including "Chase Me", "Love's Train", "Straight From The Heart", and "Shake & Dance With Me". They recorded their milestone album, "7" in 1981, the seventh album for seven bandmembers who had been together since their teens. It included "California 1", "Straight From The Heart", "Body Lovers" and the Billboard Top 20 Soul Single, "Bad Lady".
In the early 1980s, sagging sales and poor support from their record company was beginning to cause tension between the boyhood friends. In addition, lead singer/songwriters Michael V. Cooper and Felton Pilate began to try to assert more control over the band. Co-founders McCall and Cooper were often at odds with each other. Cooper, an excellent musician and writer, had always resented McCall's business acumen and negotiating skills (McCall and his wife, Linda Lou McCall, were responsible for booking the band's first major tour in 1977, which resulted in the group's national success and the first of their numerous gold albums). While McCall usually deferred to Cooper on artistic issues, he did not get the same support from Cooper on business decisions. McCall had frequently been voted group leader by the other members, each time causing the chasm between Cooper and the other members to grow wider. Pilate often sided with Cooper but since the band operated on the quorum principle of "participatory democracy", their suggestions were often out-voted by the other members.
"Burning Love", Con Funk Shun's last album with Mercury, was recorded without lead singer/songwriter, Felton Pilate, who left the group in 1986 after a physical altercation with McCall. Melvin Carter, a frequent collaborator of Con Funk Shun, replaced Felton for their final album, "Burning Love". The same year, the original group was essentially disbanded with Michael V. Cooper leaving for a solo career. Louis McCall also left to become a consultant and event producer with clients such as M.C. Hammer, Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte, and to join his wife in marketing such contemporary artists as Eminem, Puff Daddy (now "Diddy"), Mya, and the Black Eyed Peas. Con Funk Shun officially disbanded after their last album with Mercury in late 1986. Cooper went on to release a few solo albums with Warner Bros. Sales were disappointing but he did manage to have a few hits with "Prove My Love" and "Shoop Shoop". One of the first musicians ever to have a home studio, Felton Pilate went on to become a successful producer and musical director for rap phenom, M.C. Hammer. He was later nominated in 1991 for a Grammy for co-producing Hammer's hit record "U Can't Touch This" and an Oscar in 1992 for "Addams Groove" on the ""Addams Family"" soundtrack. He, too, made several attempts at solo projects which went nowhere. However, he is still sought out as a producer and consultant.
In the 1990s, lead singers Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate began performing under the group's name with sidemen in place of their former bandmates. They often include original members on brass, Paul Harrell (sax and flute) and Karl Fuller (trumpet). Although missing the tightness of its legendary rhythm section of McCall (drums), Thomas (keyboards), and Martin (bass), the reconstituted group still performs at "old school" concerts and festivals throughout the country under the moniker "Con Funk Shun, featuring Michael Cooper & Felton Pilate", making no mention of long-time bandmates Harrell and Fuller. The original band's music can still be heard in such recent films as "Gone In 60 Seconds", "Next Friday", and "American Pimp", which was featured at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Ironically, one of the memorable characters in "American Pimp" was John "Rosebudd" Dickson, a childhood friend of drummer, Louis A. McCall. They played in the Vallejo High School band together and remained friends for life.
Tragically, co-founder/drummer McCall was murdered on June 25, 1997 in Stone Mountain, Georgia in a home invasion robbery. The case is still unsolved. With the exception of Felton, all of the other members of Con Funk Shun still reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Shake And Dance With Me
Con Funk Shun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, sugar, come on go it my way
And I'm goin' to a place where funky people play
Oh, honey, we'll sing sho'nuff dance the night away
Girl, you got that sexy smile
You move, it's driving me wild
Girl, I kinda kinda like your style
Shake and dance with me (Ooh, baby)
Every night and day (Yeah, hey, hey, hey)
Shake and dance with me
Where funky people play
Oh, sugar, you got honey drippin' off the walls
We might be trippin', skinny-dippin', makin' love in the halls
Oh, honey, your mind'll never be the same
No, darlin', you don't have to be ashamed
Groovin' is the game we play
Girl, we'll dance the night away
They'll be comin' day by day
You'll always hear the people say, say, say, say
Shake and dance with me (Ooh, oh, ooh, ooh, yeah, well)
Every night and day
Shake and dance with me
Where funky people play (Ah, play it again Sam)
One more time
Shake and dance with me (Ooh, oh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Every night and day (Yeah, well)
Shake and dance with me
Where funky people play
Shake and dance with me (Girl, shake your body, well, well)
Every night and day (Go on, baby)
Shake and dance with me
Where funky people play
Shake and dance with me
Every night and day
The lyrics of Con Funk Shun's "Shake and Dance with Me" call for a lively and energetic dance party as the singer seeks to woo his love interest with his smooth talk and dazzling moves. The song begins with an invitation to his love interest to join him at a funky dancehall, urging her to come along with him and leave her current path behind. He then goes on to compliment her sexy smile and how her moves are driving him wild. He seems to be really taken by her and even says that he would walk a country mile for her. The chorus of the song calls for his love interest to shake and dance with him every night and day, in a place where funky people play.
The second verse takes an even more romantic turn, with the singer implying that they might be making love in the halls and that her mind would never be the same. But despite all this, he assures his love interest that she doesn't have to be ashamed of anything they do, implying that their love is pure and genuine. He then ends the song by reiterating his invitation for her to shake and dance with him every night and day, in a place where funky people play.
Overall, "Shake and Dance with Me" is a fun and upbeat song that uses catchy lyrics to call for a wild and passionate dance party. The lyrics are delivered with an energetic and charismatic style that perfectly captures the spirit of the funky dancehall.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, baby, why you goin' that way
Asking why the person is going a certain direction
Oh, sugar, come on go it my way
Encouragement to come with them
And I'm goin' to a place where funky people play
Heading to a place where they can dance and have fun
Oh, honey, we'll sing sho'nuff dance the night away
Promising to dance and enjoy the night together
Girl, you got that sexy smile
Complimenting the person's smile
You move, it's driving me wild
The way they move is exciting and attractive
Girl, I kinda kinda like your style
Appreciating their unique style
For you I'd walk a country mile
Willing to go the extra mile to be with them
Shake and dance with me (Ooh, baby)
Invitation to dance together
Every night and day (Yeah, hey, hey, hey)
They can dance anytime, anywhere
Where funky people play
A place where they can find people who enjoy funky music
Oh, sugar, you got honey drippin' off the walls
Metaphor for the person being incredibly attractive
We might be trippin', skinny-dippin', makin' love in the halls
Imagining a wild, adventurous night with the person
Oh, honey, your mind'll never be the same
Proposing an unforgettable experience
No, darlin', you don't have to be ashamed
Assuring the person they have nothing to be ashamed of
Groovin' is the game we play
Playing around with words to describe having fun dancing
Girl, we'll dance the night away
Continuing to dance together all night long
They'll be comin' day by day
Expecting to see more and more people
You'll always hear the people say, say, say, say
People will always be talking about their dancing
Every night and day
Reiterating that they can dance anytime
Ah, play it again Sam
Reference to a popular movie quote asking for more music
One more time
Asking to dance one more time
Girl, shake your body, well, well
Encouraging their dance moves
Go on, baby
Further encouragement to dance together
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@coreybrewer6278
Con Funk Shun was one of the best funky soul bands ever. This song "Shake And Dance With Me" is totally awesome
@kirkindog
I was 15 and it was the summer of ‘78 and this song, along with Confunkshon, was in constant rotation on the radio. Miss those days…😢
@Prez-yh5bh
Yea, we used to strive off of dis, me my brother, Larry fountain, tubby, Eddie Denny, juz to name a few, (Prez) said dat !!!!!
@josefigueroa778
I am 60 years old and the song still bring back good memories.....
@sunshinerobinson1123
Yep. I b 60 this year 2023🍾🍾🍾
@rickharris1709
We made it! 1964 for me.
@caligrownmusic6671
The most underrated band in the sorted history of music .
@henryharris7926
Old school for real love this song it makes me want to dance! Much love to Michael Cooper Confunkson rocks!
@GG-gb2ho
Yasssss!! I grew up listening to this song.🕺🏾 My dad played it sooo much!!! It was like a theme song for our family.
@geovanniarochemendoza4007
HACE SHO PISADO.