In the documentary film We Want the Funk, Award-winning film directors Stanley Nelson and Nicole London have done a wide and deep dive into the groove. They take the viewer on a joyous journey with the creators, pioneers, innovators, and groundbreakers of the genre and explore how funk music affects humans in physical, emotional, and cerebral ways. It’s an irresistible and danceable expression of freedom.
The film explores the beginnings and growth of funk music and how it represented the socio-political movement of the time through music and lyrics that encouraged everyone to dance, and also to band together. The energy and excitement of funk music and its artists especially jump-started the youth to stand up and be proud. This unifying call influenced a generation raised on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, and continues to be a source of strength for the generations that followed.
Nelson and London break it all down from that initial physical response to funk music that makes you want to move, to how the genre continues to elevate people on levels from the base (and bass) to the transcendent. The groove syncs up the rhythm, the music, and a core response to bring everyone together.
KALW’s Janice Lee spoke with Directors Nelson and London for more insights into the backbeat of this film.
Why a funk documentary? How did this come about?
Nelson: We had just finished a documentary on Miles Davis, Birth of the Cool. We were having a big dance party at Sundance, the music was really loud. A couple people who sponsored Birth of the Cool asked, “Hey – this is great! What do you want to do next?” The funk music was blaring and the only thing I could think of was “Funk!” And as I thought more about it, it felt like a really good idea – to take funk as something very serious in some ways, and also very fun and funny, and we hope that’s what the film is.
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