"Funkytown"
Single by Lipps Inc
from the album Mouth to Mouth
B-side	"All Night Dancing"
Released	1979
Genre	Disco Synthpop
Length	3:58/7:49
Label	Casablanca Records
Writer(s)	Steven Greenberg
Producer	Steven Greenberg
European release cover Casablanca Records Audio sample file info · help

"Funkytown" is a 1980 (released in January 1980) song performed 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". It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Dance charts in 1980,^[1] also reaching number 1 in Austria, Switzerland, Norway and The Netherlands.^[2] It reached No. 2 in the UK,^[3] Sweden and on the U.S. R&B chart. "Funkytown" is often considered to be one of disco's last stands. It was Lipps Inc's only U.S. Top 40 hit.

[edit] Cover versions

The original 45 of "Funkytown," released on Casablanca Records.

In 1981, it was covered by SNK in their licensed game Fantasy, released by Rock-Ola.

In 1986, it was covered by Australian band Pseudo Echo, who gave the song a different sound, less of early eighties' electronica and more of later eighties' rock, including a guitar solo in the middle. Pseudo Echo's version spent seven weeks at number one in Australia, (Lipps Inc's was at No. 1 for only two weeks in Australia), and was also a number-six US hit in July of the following year.

In 1995, it was covered by late Tejano singer Selena during her last televised concert before she was brutally murdered by her fan club president Yolanda Saldívar. The song was later released on the movie soundtrack.

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.

In 2009, the Swedish group Alcazar released a cover of "Funkytown", included on their album Disco Defenders.

[edit] In popular culture

• The Iranian Delegation to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games played the song during the opening ceremonies
• Featured in the video games Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA and the US version of Beatmania
• Featured in the films Shrek 2 and History of the World, Part I

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• "Funkytown" official website