Top 40 funk songs that shaped music history

A list of the top 40 funk songs, voted on by UCR staff, highlights the genre's evolution from its mid-1960s foundations to the electronic embellishments of the 1980s. The genre's roots are traced back to James Brown, who emphasized the first beat of each measure in his R&B performances, establishing hallmarks like the downbeat and syncopated rhythms.

Featured tracks include Edwin Starr’s “War,” a politically charged song that reached number one during the Vietnam War protests, and Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady,” a soul-funk track from her album Young, Gifted and Black. The list also notes Sheila E.’s “The Glamorous Life,” which was written and produced by Prince in 1984.