What's Up with Uptown Funk?

Why does Uptown Funk Funk you up?

Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson's song "Uptown Funk" just booted Taylor Swift's song "Shake it Off" out of the number one spot on Billboard's top 100 this week. The retro beat and anthem-esque vocals have got everyone raving about yet another Bruno Mars smash. So what is it about this catchy tune that is making it so popular? We provide entertainment for huge parties all over the world and I can say from first-hand experience that people LOVE to dance to it. We'll get requests for our party bands and DJ's to play it multiple times in a night. So, it's captivating for sure; here's what I think all the hub-ub is about:

1.) Nostalgia 

I don't know about you but did anyone else feel like they were about to watch Ferris Buller's Day Off when you first heard those first few bars?

Bow Bow! Bow! Chic-a-chic-aaaaa! Perfect right? Ok, so we've got the cult 80's classic nostalgia seeping out of it. And then you're hit with.... that guitar riff that can only be described as PRINCE-esque. That funky rhythm that just makes  you want some extra time and your "insert guitar riff" ... KISS! The lyrics also elude to James Brown's famous line "jump back, I'm gonna kiss myself" Ok, so we've appealed to music snobs and Funk lovers and lovers of 80's pop icons (not to mention those who grew up on Skippy peanut butter). Who are we missing? Oh yeah, everyone else. That is where we find.....

2.) Modern Content

The lyrics, though reminiscent of a more innocent past, are dripping with the over-confidence and !@#$-the-haters mentality that defines our modern generation of pop music.  They also center around what has become thematic in the majority of modern hip-hop: living the high-life while in the "hood".

          "Julio, get the stretch"                 wearing "Saint Laurent" perfume

         "Am I bad 'bout that money"             "Saturday night and we in the spot"

The lyrics are also very sexually driven but I'm pretty sure no decade exclusively claim that theme (cough... Woodstock... hack... Aerosmith... )

3.) Great Video with Memorable Dancing

The video they put together for this song was sooo brilliant and simple it makes you want to watch it over and over. Bruno and the gang and perfectly in step with their cool and subtle steps you'd think they were doing something completely wild. 

DanceBands.com Musicians jamming to Uptown Funk at our Christmas Party

As a performer, I especially appreciated that they made it simple enough for the lay person to copy it. It's great dancing to choreography on stage, but it's even more fun when you can teach the steps to audience members. They also left a lot of room to play with it. Here is a clip of a bunch of our performers just goofing off at our Christmas party and playing with different steps:

 

4.) Don't Believe Me, Just Watch:

This article was written by Stephen Tobian, Manager at DanceBands.com