Early lifeJohansen was born in the New York City borough of Staten Island, New York to a librarian mother and an insurance sales representative father. Johansen's family was Catholic. His mother was Irish American and his father was Norwegian American.
[edit] CareerJohansen began his career in the late 1960s as a lead singer in the local Staten Island band the Vagabond Missionaries and later in the early 1970s as the singer/songwriter in the protopunk band the New York Dolls. The Dolls only released two albums, their self-titled debut (1973), and Too Much Too Soon (1974). The bulk of the material was written by Johansen and guitarist Johnny Thunders. The Dolls were critics' darlings with a cult following, but their failure to break commercially may be due to their being ahead of their time in that their sound and image both anticipated and influenced aspects of the later 1970s' punk rock movement.
Drugs played a role in the departure of Thunders and drummer Jerry Nolan from the band in 1975. Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, along with Peter Jordan, Chris Robison and Tony Machine, continued on briefly, as their already booked gigs as the New York Dolls. Later that year, Johansen embarked on a solo career. His first two albums, David Johansen and In Style, featured several enduring originals. His fellow ex-Doll Sylvain Sylvain frequently performed with him, and his band covered many Dolls tunes in concert; his live albums Live It Up and The David Johansen Group Live document Johansen's reputation as an exceptional concert performer. The studio releases Here Comes the Night (which includes a signature number, "Heart of Gold") and Sweet Revenge again showcased his strengths as a writer of new material and featured a guest appearance by jazz saxophone player Big Jay McNeely. A number of the songs on "Here Comes the Night" were co-written with South African musician Blondie Chaplin.
In the late 1980s, Johansen achieved a commercial breakthrough under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter, accompanied by The Uptown Horns, performing a mixture of jazz, lounge, calypso, and novelty songs, and appearing as part of the house band on the television program Saturday Night Live. As Poindexter he scored his first hit song, "Hot Hot Hot," which in an interview on National Public Radio's Fresh Air he called "the bane of my existence," owing to its pervasive popularity. "Hot Hot Hot" was initially written and recorded by Montserratian Soca artist Arrow. As Poindexter, Johansen often appeared with his band The Banshees of Blue. The initial Poindexter releases combined an eclectic selection of cover versions with Johansen's own compositions. Johansen/Poindexter went on to issue Buster Poindexter's Happy Hour, a CD of songs thematically linked by their subject matter: alcohol. Probably his most obviously jazz-influenced release to date, it also leaned towards '50s rock and roll. Following that came Buster Poindexter's Spanish Rocket Ship, a Latin album.
Johansen acted in several films during the 1980s and 1990s, and had a brief role on the HBO drama Oz. He also appeared in the television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the episode "On Golden Pete," in which he played a park ranger. Among his more prominent roles are that of the wisecracking ghost of Christmas past in Scrooged as well as the part of 'Looney' in the movie, Let It Ride, playing opposite Richard Dreyfuss. He was also in the movie based on the old television series Car 54, Where Are You?. He can also be seen in the Jim White documentary film Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus in which he does a version of "Last Kind Words" (by Geeshie Wiley) while in a motel room.
Johansen then turned to the rendition of country blues with his back-up group, The Harry Smiths. The group was named in tribute to Harry Everett Smith, who compiled the Anthology of American Folk Music; "James Alley Blues" and some of the other songs covered on their eponymously titled debut come from the Anthology. Johansen's second album with the Harry Smiths is titled Shaker. He also had a supporting role with Mick Jagger and Emilio Estevez in the movie Freejack and a supporting role as Looney in the comedy Let It Ride.
Johansen is currently touring with a re-formed version of the New York Dolls. Owing to the success of the tour, in 2006 the Dolls released One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This, their first album in nearly thirty years. It was critic Robert Christgau's choice for album of the year.[3] Johansen hosts a weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio while continuing to write and perform.
In October 2007, Johansen participated in “The Staten Island Composers Project,” featuring work by three musicians who call the island home: Mr. Johansen; Vernon Reid, founder of the ’80s rock-metal pioneers Living Colour; and Galt MacDermot, best known as the composer of the musical Hair. The Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island commissioned the program and asked each artist to write 20 minutes of music conveying something of his connection to the island often referred to as New York City’s forgotten borough. Mr. Johansen’s opus, a cinematic and unabashedly romantic Adagio scored mostly for strings, is called “Mara Dreams the Moon Gate of Uncommon Beauty.” Inspired by The Moon Gate of Uncommon Beauty, a round portal between two rockscapes in the Chinese Scholar’s Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Gardens. In September 2009, he appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the Travel Channel TV program, in which he toured Staten Island with the program's host.
In addition to his own albums, Johansen contributed songs to the soundtracks of the films Times Square and The Aviator ("Flowers of the City" and "Ain't Cha Glad" respectively) and guests on About Them Shoes, a CD by veteran blues man Hubert Sumlin. Another non-album track of his, "Johnsonius", appears on the 1984 compilation A Diamond Hidden in the Mouth of a Corpse and "The Rope (The Let Go Song)", a track recorded during the sessions for his eponymous first album but not included on that, surfaced on the B-side of the single, "Funky But Chic".
An artist noted for his musical unpredictability and versatility, Johansen has been a consistent blues enthusiast since the earliest days of the Dolls, with covers of songs by Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson having been among their earliest numbers. The 2006 Dolls CD Private World : The Complete Early Studio Demos 1972/3 featured the Dolls performing songs by Otis Redding, Gary US Bonds, Chuck Berry, The Shangri-Las, and Muddy Waters in addition to versions of songs from their two Mercury albums. Also featured on the CD was a previously unreleased Dolls number, "Endless Party".
During a career that has seen many changes, Johansen nevertheless has worked consistently with certain musicians, including Sylvain Sylvain, drummer Tony Machine (a member of one of the later Dolls line-ups and a fixture in many David Johansen groups and throughout the Buster Poindexter period) and Brian Koonin, guitarist and banjo player with Buster Poindexter and The Harry Smiths as well as keyboard player with the New York Dolls for the reunion gig and the One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This CD & tour.
Funky But Chic
David Johansen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
You funky but, funky but, alright, alright, alright
I got a pair of shoes I swear that somebody gave me
My momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin’
I don't wear nothin’ not too fussy or neat
Hey come on baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic, I said now
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
I'll get down in any neighborhood I swear that my friends will take me
But the people there they all itch and bitch, oh lord
I swear they gonna break me, sure don't take me
I've got to fly just to get downtown I swear where everybody's crazy
And when I fly on down that street them girls stop acting lazy
I say, I don't wear nothin’ not to flashy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to fly down your street
Hey get on baby, who at the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic, I said now
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
I got a little car, come on baby let's get drivin’ 'round
I got a '56 Mercedes-Benz I had painted cocoa-brown
I don't drive nothin’ not to flashy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to drive down your street
Hey good news baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic I said now
Funky, funky but - oh chic
Funky, funky but - trash heap
Funky, funky but - what chic
You funky but, funky but, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
Got a pair of shoes I swear that somebody gave me
Momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin’, I'm getting strong now
I don't wear nothin’ not too fussy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to walk down your street
Hey get out of bed baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that is funky but chic
The lyrics to David Johansen’s song “Funky But Chic” express the singer’s desire to be fashionable without conforming to traditional norms of dress. The singer boasts of owning a pair of shoes that they were given, but that their mother disapproves of because they look “fruity.” The singer then declares their preference for “somethin’ baby to be able to walk down your street” in rather simple, unfussy clothing that is still funky and chic. The repeated phrase “funky but chic” reflects the singer's wish to be stylish and unique in their attire while still being functional enough to move through different social environments.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the singer's willingness to “get down in any neighborhood” and their confidence that their friends will take them anywhere. Still, the singer acknowledges the challenge of dealing with people who are overly critical. To deal with such negativity, the singer flies into the city where they can enjoy the freedom that comes with being fashionable and not having to care too much about what others think. However, the singer does not want to look too flashy, but rather prefers to maintain their signature funk and chicness. The song speaks to a countercultural style that looks beyond rigid social and class codes and affirms individuality as a position of strength, especially within urban environments.
Line by Line Meaning
Funky, funky but chic
The singer is describing their personal style as funky and chic.
You funky but, funky but, alright, alright, alright
The singer acknowledges that their style may not be for everyone, but they feel confident in it.
I got a pair of shoes I swear that somebody gave me
The singer received a pair of shoes from someone else, but they still like them despite their mother's opinion.
My momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin’
The artist's mother disapproves of their style, but the artist feels confident in their choice of jeans.
I don't wear nothin’ not too fussy or neat
The artist prefers a more laid-back style and doesn't like dressing too formally.
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to walk down your street
The singer wants to have a style that they feel comfortable wearing in public.
Hey come on baby, let's get on down to the boutique
The singer wants to go shopping to find clothes that fit their style.
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic, I said now
The artist wants to find clothing items that are unique and stylish, but not too over-the-top.
I'll get down in any neighborhood I swear that my friends will take me
The artist is confident in their style and feels comfortable wearing it in any location, with the support of their friends.
But the people there they all itch and bitch, oh lord
The artist encounters negativity and judgement from some people for their style choices.
I swear they gonna break me, sure don't take me
The criticism and negativity from others doesn't deter the singer from continuing to express themselves through their style choices.
I've got to fly just to get downtown I swear where everybody's crazy
The artist lives in a chaotic city and needs to travel to get to the shopping areas where they can find unique clothes.
And when I fly on down that street them girls stop acting lazy
The singer's unique style attracts attention from other people, especially women.
I say, I don't wear nothin' not too flashy or neat
The singer reiterates that they don't like to dress too formally and prefer a more casual style.
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to fly down your street
The singer wants to find clothes that fit their personality and style, that they can wear with confidence when they walk down the street.
Hey get on baby, who at the boutique
The artist is excited to go shopping to find clothes that fit their style.
I got a little car, come on baby let's get drivin’ 'round
The artist has a car and wants to go out to find new places to shop and explore.
I got a '56 Mercedes-Benz I had painted cocoa-brown
The singer takes pride in the fact that they own a vintage car and has customized it to fit their style.
Hey good news baby, let's get on down to the boutique
The singer is eager to go shopping and find something new and unique to wear.
Funky, funky but - oh chic
The artist's style is funky and unique, but also stylish and fashionable.
Funky, funky but - trash heap
This line seems to be a nonsensical deviation from the rest of the song, possibly meant to be comical or playful.
Funky, funky but - what chic
The artist seems to be playing with the idea of combining different styles to create something unique and fun.
Contributed by Xavier C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@StevenLessner
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
You funky but, funky but, alright, alright, alright
I got a pair of shoes I swear that somebody gave me
My momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin’
I don't wear nothin’ not too fussy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to walk down your street
Hey come on baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic, I said now
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
I'll get down in any neighborhood I swear that my friends will take me
But the people there they all itch and bitch, oh lord
I swear they gonna break me, sure don't take me
I've got to fly just to get downtown I swear where everybody's crazy
And when I fly on down that street them girls stop acting lazy
I say, I don't wear nothin’ not to flashy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to fly down your street
Hey get on baby, who at the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic, I said now
Funky, funky but chic
Funky, funky but chic
I got a little car, come on baby let's get drivin’ 'round
I got a '56 Mercedes-Benz I had painted cocoa-brown
I don't drive nothin’ not to flashy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to drive down your street
Hey good news baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that's a funky but chic I said now
Funky, funky but - oh chic
Funky, funky but - trash heap
Funky, funky but - what chic
You funky but, funky but, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
Got a pair of shoes I swear that somebody gave me
Momma thinks I look pretty fruity but in jeans I feel rockin’, I'm getting strong now
I don't wear nothin’ not too fussy or neat
I just want somethin’ baby to be able to walk down your street
Hey get out of bed baby, let's get on down to the boutique
Let's bring back somethin’ that is funky but chic
@etherealcatholic249
Should've been a top 10 hit! Haven't heard this in yrs,thank you David.
@Steez51
Woke up this morning and was hummin this tune on the way to the shower. Haven't heard it since I left Cleveland 34 years ago. Strange how the brain works.
@Lorddavud
I can't believe this doesn't have more views! The song rocks!
@dukefurst5741
Youngsters are clueless to the music of a previous era.
@anthonymitchell9793
People forget that even back in 1978 there were a lot of "rock" bands but not a lot of "rock and roll" bands. This has both the rock and the roll.
@dukefurst5741
In the same vein as old school J Geils. 🙌🏻
@etherealcatholic249
Nice catch!
@invisibleboy3997
This song reminds me of CBGB's...I miss being young.
@hankmobley
Saw him in Hulme in the 70s , met him when playing w Carmel at Montreux 1984, lovely bloke .
@bernicehenry9738
HEARD THIS IN THE 70S ON 2JJJ + BOUGHT IT! ONE OF THE LOST ALBUMS...IN MY MIND BRILLIANT!!!