Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)
| "Funkin' for Jamaica" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Her Silent Smile" |
| Alternative cover | |
"Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter Tom Browne. The single—a memoir of the neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised—is from his second solo album, Love Approach. Browne got the idea for the song while he was at his parents' home.[1] The vocals for the single were provided by Toni Smith (Thomassina Carrollyne Smith), who also helped compose the song. The song hit number one on the U.S. R&B chart for a month.[2] "Funkin' for Jamaica" peaked at number nine on the dance chart[3] and made the Top 10 on the UK singles chart, but it never charted on the Billboard Hot 100. It later became one of the most interpolated melodies in R&B with the chorus' chord sequence used by artists such as Johnny Kemp.
Covers and samples
- In 1981 British group the Evasions released a hit song titled "Wikka Wrap". This is a parody of UK broadcaster Alan Whicker, but also a parody (some might say sample) of "Funkin' For Jamaica".
- In 1995, Three 6 Mafia sampled "Funkin' for Jamaica" for their song "Porno Movie" on the album Mystic Stylez.
- In 1996, The song was sampled by Quad City DJ's for their song, "Quad City Funk" on the album "Get On Up And Dance"
- DJ Tōwa Tei released his remix cover version as a single in both 1999 and 2001, which featured Les Nubians on vocals, performing part of the song in French.
- In 2000, the song was featured on the Bob Baldwin album BobBaldwin.com with Tom Browne performing.[4]
- In 2001, the song's intro was sampled on the Mariah Carey single "Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)" for the soundtrack to Carey's film Glitter.[5] The song has also been sampled by N.W.A, EPMD, Snoop Dogg, Keith Murray, Smooth, Erykah Badu, Shaquille O' Neal, and The Black Eyed Peas.[6]
- In 2006, contemporary jazz guitarist Patrick Yandall covered the song from his album "Samoa Soul."[7][8]
References
- ^ "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)". Song Review Allmusic.com.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 88.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 46.
- ^ "Bob Baldwin Discography Page". Bobbaldwin-new.homestead.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 85.
- ^ "The Black Eyed Peas - What It Is". YouTube. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
- ^ "Samoa Soul overview". Allmusic.com.
- ^ "Patrick Yandall — Samoa Soul". SmoothViews.com.