The band's first taste of mainstream success came with the release of their fourth album Wild and Peaceful (1973), which contained the US top-ten singles "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Kool & the Gang subsequently entered a period of decline before they reached a second commercial peak between 1979 and 1986 following their partnership with Brazilian musician and producer Eumir Deodato and the addition of singer James "J.T." Taylor to the lineup. Their most successful albums of this period include Ladies' Night (1979), Celebrate! (1980), and Emergency (1984), their highest selling album with two million copies sold in the US. Their hit singles during this period included "Ladies' Night", the US No. 1 "Celebration", "Get Down on It", "Joanna", "Misled", and "Cherish". The band continues to perform worldwide, including as support for Van Halen in 2012 and their fiftieth-anniversary tour in 2014.
Kool & the Gang have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and, in 2006, a Music Business Association Chairman's Award for artistic achievement. As well the band has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and been bestowed with a MOBO Award for Outstanding Achievement, the Soul Train Legend Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, the band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. During 2018, the Bells, Brown, and Taylor were also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received their first-time nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. Their discography includes 23 studio albums and almost 70 singles. They have sold 7.5 million and 4.5 million RIAA-certified albums and singles, respectively, in the United States. Worldwide, they have sold 70 million albums.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool_&_the_Gang
Discography
Kool and the Gang (1969)
Music Is the Message (1972)
Good Times (1972)
Wild and Peaceful (1973)
Light of Worlds (1974)
Spirit of the Boogie (1975)
Love & Understanding (1976)
Open Sesame (1976)
The Force (1977)
Everybody's Dancin' (1978)
Ladies' Night (1979)
Celebrate! (1980)
Something Special (1981)
As One (1982)
In the Heart (1983)
Emergency (1984)
Forever (1986)
Sweat (1989)
Unite (1992)
State of Affairs (1996)
Gangland (2001)
The Hits: Reloaded (2004)
Still Kool (2007)
Kool for the Holidays (2013)
Perfect Union (2021)
People Just Wanna Have Fun (2023)
More Funky Stuff
Kool & The Gang Lyrics
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Funky stuff
Doin' it doin' it
The lyrics of Kool & The Gang's "More Funky Stuff" are primarily focused on the party anthem nature of the song. Kool & The Gang implore the listeners to groove and dance to the funky beats that they are producing. The opening line of "lawdy lawdy dah" is a reference to the African American spirituals where they used it to conjure up energetic emotions. The phrase was lateron adapted in various genres of music, including funk and soul, to emphasize the soulful and cheerful qualities of the music.
The repetition of the phrase "funky stuff" in the lyrics is an indication that the song is all about creating immersive, rhythmic beats. The call and response style of the chorus segment is reminiscent of a traditional gospel choir, with the band urging the audience to "do it," thereby creating a communal feel of the song. Moreover, the staccato rhythm and repetitive beats in the melody add to its catchy and infectious appeal, making it a classic dance-floor hit.
Line by Line Meaning
Lawdy lawdy dah
Oh my goodness, we are about to get funky
Funky stuff
We are playing some really cool and groovy music
Doin' it doin' it
We are fully committed to making this the funkiest experience possible and won't stop until we do
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD WESTFIELD, GEORGE BROWN, ROBERT E BELL, DENNIS THOMAS, ROBERT MICKENS, CLAYDES SMITH, RONALD BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind