The song was inspired by a black audience member who shouted, "Play some funky music, white boy" while they were playing at the 2001 Club. Lead singer Robert Parissi decided they should, and wrote down the phrase on a bar order pad. They later recorded it in Cleveland with a Disco sound. Although the band was concerned about the lyrics, Parissi insisted on keeping them.
Originally, it was planned that the song should be released on the B-side of Wild Cherry's cover of the Commodores' "I Feel Sanctified;" however, when the owners of their record label heard the song, they suggested that the B-side become the A-side. The song sold over two million copies, but was Wild Cherry's only hit.
Vanilla Ice later released a cover of "Play That Funky Music", as the B-side of his single "Ice Ice Baby", which catapulted him to stardom. Vanilla Ice did not credit Parissi for the piece, leading to a lawsuit that ended in a large settlement for Parissi. Vanilla Ice's version hit #4 in the US, and was his second and last hit song.
A tribute version of the song was arranged and recorded by Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band on their 2006 record The Phat Pack. A spoken word version of the song, deliberately done in an unflattering manner, was used in the early 1990s in a Pioneer Electronics commercial for their automobile audio products.
Play That Funky Music
Wild Cherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once I was a boogie singer
Playin' in a rock and roll band
I never had no problems yeah
Burnin' down the one night stands
Then everything around me, yeah
Got to stop to feelin' so low
To disco down and check out the show
Yeah 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, oh yeah yeah
Well, I tried to understand this (yeah)
I thought that they were out of their minds
How could I be so foolish (how could I)
To not see I was the one behind
So still I kept on fighting
Well, losing every step of the way
I said, I must go back there (I got to go back)
And check to see if things still the same
Yeah 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 the boogie and play that funky music till you die
'Til you die, yeah
Oh 'til you die
(Gonna play some electified funky music, yeah)
(Hey, wait a minute)
Now first it wasn't easy
Changin' rock and roll and minds
Yeah, things were getting shaky
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
Oh, but now its 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 the 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
(You gotta keep on playin' funky music)
Play that funky music
(Play that funky music)
Play that funky music
(Want to take you higher, ya)
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right, yeah
"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry is a catchy, upbeat song that has remained a popular classic for generations. The song begins with the singer reminiscing on their past experience as a boogie singer, playing rock and roll music. However, they eventually hit a low point and decide to turn to disco, which leads them to discover a new sound that they describe as funky music. The singer seems to have reservations about this new type of music at first, but they eventually embrace it and never lose the feeling they got from learning that lesson.
The song is characterized by its funky guitar riffs, driving bassline, and high-pitched vocals. Throughout the song, the repetition of the chorus serves as a command to the listener to play that funky music, creating a powerful call and response effect. The use of "white boy" in the chorus has been a source of controversy, with some arguing that it perpetuates racial stereotypes. Still, others defend the song, pointing out that it is meant to empower all people to embrace funky music, regardless of racial identity.
Overall, "Play That Funky Music" is a song about the power of music to bring people together and the importance of embracing new sounds and experiences. It is a fun and infectious song that is sure to get people up and dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey do it now, yeah hey
Encouragement to begin playing the funky music
Once I was a boogie singer
The singer used to sing boogie music
Playin' in a rock and roll band
The singer was performing in a rock band
I never had no problems yeah
The singer thought he was doing fine
Burnin' down the one night stands
Performing with energy and passion
Then everything around me, yeah
The singer's surroundings began to change
Got to stop to feelin' so low
The singer started feeling down
And I decided quickly, yes I did
The singer made a fast decision
To disco down and check out the show
The singer decided to change his style and play disco
Yeah they were
The crowd was enjoying the disco music
Dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
The crowd was dancing and having fun
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
The singer was surprised when someone shouted something
Play that funky music white boy
The crowd wanted the singer to play funky music
Play that funky music right
The crowd wanted the singer to play funky music correctly
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music 'til you die
The crowd wanted the singer to play funky music until he stopped playing
'Til you die, oh yeah yeah
The crowd wanted the singer to continue playing funky music
Well, I tried to understand this (yeah)
The singer tried to understand why the crowd was enjoying funky music
I thought that they were out of their minds
The singer thought the crowd was crazy
How could I be so foolish (how could I)
The singer realized he was wrong
To not see I was the one behind
The singer knew he was responsible for not understanding the crowd's taste
So still I kept on fighting
The singer kept struggling to understand the crowd's taste
Well, losing every step of the way
The singer kept struggling to understand the crowd's taste and was failing
I said, I must go back there (I got to go back)
The singer realized he needed to go back and try to understand the crowd's taste
And check to see if things still the same
The singer wanted to see if the crowd was still into funky music
They shouted play that funky music
The crowd shouted for the singer to play funky music
(Play that funky music)
The crowd kept shouting for the singer to play funky music
(You gotta keep on playin' funky music)
The crowd wanted the singer to keep playing funky music
(Want to take you higher, ya)
The crowd was inspired and wanted more funky music
Now first it wasn't easy
At first, the singer struggled to adapt to the new style of music
Changin' rock and roll and minds
The singer had to change the crowd's taste and perception of music
Yeah, things were getting shaky
The singer was encountering some difficulties adapting to the new style
I thought I'd have to leave it behind
The singer considered giving up on the new style
Oh, but now its so much better (it's so much better)
The singer realized how much more fun this new style is
I'm funking out in every way
The singer enjoys every aspect of the funky music
But I'll never lose that feelin' (no I won't)
The singer will always remember this new and exciting feeling
Lyrics ยฉ CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert W. Parissi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bigal0172
Who else is listening to this on this Friday night March 2024??? Play that funky music white boy!
@losapriscos7258
Yes Sir!
Saludรญnes from Dallas, TX!
@callalily3607
Listening Sunday Night 3/17/2024โผ๏ธ
@jirosuwa
From Japan!
@kgray9419
It's a Tuesday night but my mate was listing to it earlier and it had been stuck in my head since - a Scottish insomniac
@ricktyuio283
3/19/24 after dinner jam
@dianaleal5183
How I remember that song sung by. Wild Cherry I love the 70โs Sure miss those days!
@judymcvey9005
I'm 83...had my 16 year old g-dayghter listen to it & now we're Wild Cherry fans together...I smile when I hear it! Always one of my favs!
@chuckupd
This song was hugely popular in "the hood" for a while and at its peak I happened to be on a bus full of black people in Baltimore and they all sang me this song (I'm white). Even the old ladies knew the chorus and they all made it into a delightful prank, of sorts. It was a very special experience which I cherish.
@drsunshineaod2023
That's heartwarming!