"Funkytown" is a song made by the disco band Lipps Inc. The song expresses the pinings for a metaphorical place that keeps "me movin', keeps me groovin' with some energy" and is considered to be one of the last hit songs of the disco era, as by the spring of 1980 disco's popularity was fading. It was a number-one hit in many countries.

History

The song was written and produced by Steven Greenberg. It was recorded in August 1979 by Fiona Ryan and engineered by David 'Z' Rivkin. An accomplished drummer, Greenberg played the percussion parts. Roger Dumas programmed the Oberheim and Moog synthesizers, and was responsible for suggesting and developing the Moog Vocoder voice effect that became the Funkytown signature sound. Dumas and Greenberg shared keyboard duties. Vocal tracks were performed by Cynthia Johnson and Greenberg (low Vocoder voice). It is unclear who performed the signature saxophone riff about midway through the song, although singer Cynthia Johnson was also an accomplished saxophonist, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that she is the one featured (uncredited) on the track. The Minneapolis-based touring band 'Lipps Inc.' consisted of Cynthia Johnson (singer), Terry Grant (bass), Ivan Rafowitz (keyboards), Peter Johnson (keyboards), Bobby Vandell (drums), Tom Riopelle (guitar), and Steven Greenberg (producer/writer). "Funkytown" reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and went platinum the following year. Lipps Inc. continued to record until 1985 with a changing line-up but never saw the success of that first hit. The song quickly came to symbolize the energetic, experimental Twin Cities music scene.

The song was later featured in Konami's Beatmania game for the U.S..

The song was a worldwide hit reaching number one in the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and West Germany. "Funkytown" reached #2 in the United Kingdom Singles Chart in the summer of 1980.

Cover versions

In 2007, it was covered by Alvin and the Chipmunks as their version appeared in the live-action/CGI film adaptation. Their version peaked at #86. It was also used in the video game Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 by Ubisoft for the music rhythm games.

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External links

• The Official Funkytown web site