Yeah, I have no idea why a white singer saying white boy would be controversial at all. It's not that serious. They obviously had a lot of fun with the two black musicians pointing at him singing that line.
No, it wasn’t controversial, people were cool back then, it wasn’t about race, it was just about the MUSIC, the fun, and dancing and just chilling to cool music 🎶🎵
@@GoldenLady1007 Race relations are MUCH worse now. Thanks to leftist indoctrination ( division was the goal - worked like a charm) & SJWs constant victim Olympics.
Thank you! There was all kinds of racism back then, and if some black guys called someone a white boy in the wrong place and context, there could be some big problems. Not so much in entertainment, but on the streets.
You nailed it right on the head back in the 70s nobody give a shit about race. It was all about the music back then it was in the later part of the 80s when stupid shit changed.
Songs From 1976 so you where 20 i WAZ 16 And loving life in Kodiak Alaska i remember playing this song ON THE JUKEBOX in the BNB Bar my friends dad owend shooting pool I never for got that THEY GREAT TIMES FOR SURE,
Back in the day people weren't as uptight & high strung as they seem to be today. If the music is good it doesn't matter what color the people are making it & back then a lot of bands had both black & white members. Everybody danced & had a good time jamming to who ever was laying down the groove. Miss those days
Color was less important than the music was back in the day. Good music was good music, no matter who played it, no matter what they looked like. We want the funk!!!
Color was only less important to us white people. Black people were still having to deal with structural racism in the police, in the courts, in places of employment, from banks and mortgage lenders. But the song is light-hearted; it's poking fun at people who thought that only black people could play funky music.
@@cheerwhiner7829 For black musicians, it was always about race. Probably still is. I hate talking like this, because I'm white and it sounds like a white hero complex or something. But it's annoying having people condescendingly post about how it was all comfortable back in the day.
Your face when the chorus started! 😂😂😂😂 Yes, they're singing, "Play that funky music, white boy," and nobody thought anything about it at the time. Kind of like the movie, "White Men Can't Jump." GREAT song! Greater reaction! ❤️❤️❤️
No people weren't as sensitive as they are now. It was a much better time. That sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me was how we grew up. Keep at it, your reactions are great
I lived this generation! Although I'm in Canada, I went to discos and danced to this song plenty. There were no controversies that I remember, just everyone dancing and having a good time! Those were the good ole days in many aspects, IMO!
Being from "back in the day", this song was delightful. Funk music was loved by all, but largely performed by black bands. The fact that this, predominantly white, band was playing funk with a few black backup musicians was really odd. The fact that this song was poking fun at themselves, all while laying down a super catchy beat, was just perfect. This music was the kind of stuff that brought racial divides to our attention, and mocked us for it, all while we couldn't keep our feet from dancing. It was wonderful. This video, with the black horn players pointing at the white bandmates during the chorus still makes me laugh every time.
Yes! Back then the song was exciting, a little bit titillating - since it brought up taboo ideas like calling someone "boy" - and it was just plain fabulous in that it instantly made you want to dance! My first time seeing the video, though - such fun!!! Thanks for featuring this one! Love your channel!
When you look at that decade you will see that people of all backgrounds played amazing music together. Things are much more divided now, by design. Channels like this are bringing us back to the good ole days.
The band gave an interview once about the origin of this song. they were playing a show and someone from the audience yelled out, " play that funky music, white boy". So it spawned an idea that lead to this song
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Great trivia! I did not know that and my ex husband’s brother-in-“law was actually IN the band and I he never shared that with us! Thank you for posting this!
Back in the day if someone didn't like something they just moved on..... they didn't try to have all things offensive outlawed like today. It was a more common sense era and I loved it....and the music. Great reaction!
That’s simply not true. My husband was a black man that grew up in the 70s and was called the N-word all the time chasers neighborhood and going home from school on his bike was traumatized constantly. The only difference between then and now is that people have social media to speak out about it who was he going to tell? Who cared ?? nobody.
@Ann Brooks That is terrible, Ann. However, my comment was alluding to oversensitivities in general, not racial devide or inequality specifically..... which most certainly did exist, though. I'm speaking more about the cancel culture in todays society. How people seek to ruin someone who has a different political or social view than they do.....or that they just plain don't like them. It can include racism but certainly is not limited to it. Even the news media was different back then. It wasn't a media that sought so much to devide Americans 24/7/365. These days we here the word racist being used very loosely over and over again in an attempt to ruin someone's reputation. It's been very effective, too. But my point was that from my boyhood until now in my 60's, I have seen a great increase of oversensitivity in society. It's not healthy. It leads to strife and conflict. It leads to a society of people more unconnected in general.
@@richardmodglin3900 I know exactly what you mean about that era, Richard. I was in high school when this song was a hit, and it was a staple at every school dance, and on every hand-held radio around campus (as with many other funk and soul hits of the time). This was a school of about 1,000 in rural southeastern Kentucky, so not what you'd consider to be a multicultural mecca. But we all still got along very well. Due to the population of the area, we only had a handful of black kids in our mostly white school, one of whom was somewhat of an all-star celebrity due to going out for every sport he could. From football to basketball to wrestling, this guy dominated. The cool kids for us were the jocks and the cheerleaders, and no one more popular than this guy, who was looked up to and respected by his mostly-white team mates and fellow students alike. And this wasn't any kind of cynical tokenism, as some might suggest today. We all genuinely liked each other and had a great time, and any differences were the same ones you'd see if the student body were all one race, with cliques and such. There was one sister in our church choir whose voice could rival Aretha's, and we were all uplifted whenever she sang a special. I still fondly remember the faces of all my friends from back then, whatever their color, it just didn't matter. And was there racism? Of course there was. Not systemically, but among certain individuals certainly. There were even whisperings that the Klan might still have its fans in certain ignorant areas and among a few older people, but I never knew of such personally, because that was all generally regarded as shameful and pathetic. All we knew at school and at our age was that 10 years earlier Dr King had a dream, and at least for our generation (if not all our parents'), we felt like we'd achieved it, and no big deal really, it was all just people, and we were happy in that. All of us.
@@anniebananieusa Ann, I am very sorry your husband had that experience! It's awful, and such haters would have been hard-pressed to have found any friends or have been accepted themselves, if they'd lived where I grew up in that era. They'd have had to change, or keep it under wraps, or have been a part of a very small and ignorant minority themselves. If someone had tried to do something like that to one of my black friends, they'd have had to get through me first. And I was not alone in that sentiment, not by a long shot.
@billparrish4385 Sounds like we are about the same age. I was about 15 when this song hit the radio and things were different back then In many ways. I enjoyed reading your comment and how your community lived back then. I wish today's youth could see how things were back when. Thank you for taking the time to reveal your childhood experiences to me. Peace to you my friend.
Love this song! When it came out, we played the 45 over and over again. No controversy at all. In fact the song was a huge hit! It topped the charts, was nominated for two Grammy’s and won an American Music Award. More funk please!!
They said white boooy. An example of this is in the group War where Lee Oskar the harmonica player it's done. Check them out. The group is up mostly minority players and me Oskar stands out some of the tones
Tim, this was the JAM back in the day! Yes, they said/sang, "Play that funky music, white boy!" People didn't seem to have a big issue with the lyrics, at least not where I was. People were too busy dancing and singing! ❤
In the Summer of 1976, "Play That Funky Music" was the JAM! 🎶☀ It went to #1 Pop and #1 R&B, and won the American Music Award for Top R&B Song of the Year! ⭐ You're right, Tim: Wild Cherry's lead singer Rob Parissi's voice is cool! And you're right that he sings "WHITE boy". Back then, I and all my friends (Black or White) thought that was fun and cool. 😀
It was the best of times back then. It’s unfortunate elites have spent a lifetime keeping us turned against each other. Socially and politically. We’re too strong together- they can’t stand it. One love for all♥️💋
Wiki: "While playing at the 2001 Club on the North Side of Pittsburgh to a predominantly black audience, a patron said to band member Beitle during a break, "Are you going to play some funky music, white boys?" Parissi grabbed a pen and order pad and wrote the song in about five minutes. The lyrics literally describe the predicament of a hard rock band adjusting to the disco era"
Sly and the Family Stone is a MUST when exploring popular Funk of late 60s early 70s. They were one of the first integrated bands defying stereotyping by having women playing horns. "Dance to the Music" "Everyday People" "Thank You" "Hot Fun in the Summer Time" ALL BANGERS.
He says "just when it hit me" - like he just realized he was the only white boy in the club and then somebody yelled it out. Funny and cool. He can sing like a black funk singer. Lol
Neither my black husband nor I (he's 89, I'm 77) were offended then and we're not offended now. For anyone looking for offense, they might consider this in a pinch. Too bad. It's just a song.
Disco clubs brought a LOT of people together, and this song was a massive hit at the clubs. EVERYBODY got out on the floor to dance together when it was played. EVERYBODY!
Good music was good music, and we listened! All we had was radio. We couldn't see the artists, but that didn't matter. Good music was good music...and we listened!
Thanks Tim. Great song! It was released in 1976. At the time rock clubs were closing down as disco clubs became popular. Wild Cherry was having difficulty booking gigs with the changing times. The song tells of their struggles. They needed to change up their style. They were playing a new gig when some black folks came into the club. The story goes…. One of the blacks jokingly asked , “Are you white boys gonna play some funky music?” Which turned into .. Play That Funky Music White Boy. The song was a such major hit that the lead singer was retired by forty years old! Keep the hits coming! 🎉
The back story of this song is they were playing a gig and on a break someone came up and said play some funky music. They made up the song right then with the words and guitar riff. It was one of their biggest hits. True story.
music fans love good music and when 'the folks' heard Wild Cherry, they knew they were hearing funky greatness from a non-traditional source and they acknowledged it... 'go on wit cho bad self, white boy....!' this was the HIGHEST praise! 🤩😍🥰
Thanks for finally reacting to this, I've been waiting a long time 😁 I had the 8 track tape (whoever is old enough, like me, to remember those) and remember the cover picture more than anything - the lips and the cherry. Played that tape until it broke.
I was in high school when this song came out. Every one of my classmates both black and white LOVED thi song. At school dances everyone danced and sang along at the top of our lungs. Miss thse days and I miss that music. Thanks for sharing.
This is played by every wedding band to get the chairs up and moving - and oh boy the Grandma's have got the moves! You can get up solo because everyone partners with this one.
They’re saying WHITE boy. I’m very white (pale blue 😂) from Scotland and this never offended me I just loved the song! Check out Average White Band they’re from Scotland too and funky as heck!
I'm so glad you reacted to this song. It was definitely WHITE BOY and it was a huge hit. No complaints and no negative reactions. You are so much fun. I LOVE the shirt!
They were a hard rock band that had to adjust to the times when funk and disco were bread and butter. The song is literally about how they had to go funky!
6:11 --- In all my years.. I have NEVER seen a performer spin a trumpet like that.. I'm not sure who that was.. But my GOD did that man have TALENT....
That's exactly what they said, and why would it be controversial? He's a white boy. Obviously not everything was better in the past, but we did save on controversy in the 70s. Classic tune, great for dancing. Definitely earned its place on the charts. Glad you reacted to it.
These guys were from Steubenville, Ohio and started on Cherry Street, I once met the lead singer and worked with his son. This is a song that stands the test of time.
Hey Tim, loved your "REACTION!"😂 After all, this is why you do what you do! Yes you heard right, he said "white boy." It was and is a funky song, a major hit! Everyone was movin' and groovin' to this song. It was all fun. Sometimes people just need to have fun and not get caught up in the race thing. Look who's singing it. He clearly was not caught up. Thanks Tim, a funky good one!
Lol, Tim you're so funny, I could watch you all day!!! Yep, that's what they said "White Boy" & that's when there weren't many problems, controversial ones. Some of my closest friends were black!!! I'm white as a ghost, lol, we just didn't fight with each other!!! We came together as one, the way it should be now!!! Loved your reaction, Tim!!! Another fun song to dance to. 💃 😎👍🏼☮️❤️
@L Singletary Superiority? You are apparently projecting YOUR own feelings of inferiority onto me. I pointed out the fact that racism existed then, as it does now. How that translated into "superiority" for you is a mirror issue. The fact that you bristled when asked to define a term that YOU used means you apparently don't know what it means and are parroting something you heard.
This was the jam! You can't sit still when this song comes on. Check out Sly and the Family Stone, "Dance to the Music". They are a funk band from the '70s.
It's most definitely "white boy". This was one of the best songs ever, everybody loved it. I don't know if it was controversial, but it wasn't controversial for me. I just like the song.
your gonna LOVE Wild Cherry! 💪💜 YES, they are saying : play that funky music WHITE BOY! 😂 Actually? back-in-the-day IF a WHITE Band? heard that in a club by Non-White-Boy'z.... it was Considered an Honor. People Didn't TRIP about stuff like they do today ... Cool Reaction! your face when you heard it the- First "hook", then you kept hearing it over and over...And "Your Face" LOL 😂😆👏👏👏👏 🤔 HA! then? You Looked It Up 😂😆👊
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Music was for everyone back then. This song got EVERYBODY out in the skating rink in 1978-79. Trends and color lines were completely blurred from the early 70s through the early 90s club & hip hop scene. Fantastic days, wish you were there ❤
Oh oh oh....just thought of it...gotta check out the band WAR for more great Funk. "Spill The Wine", "Low Rider" "Why Can't We Be Friends" All bangers, for sure. Also, Average White Band was mentioned by a fan. "Pick Up The Pieces" was a big big hit. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR REACTION TIM❣️ SOOO GLAD YOU ENJOY FUNK.
Play that funky music white boy. He went from playing rock and roll to funk. It was a beautiful thing. No controversy, just fun, easy to listen to and dance to.
Yeah, you really didn't even know what a group looked like unless you caught them on Midnight Special or saw the album cover in the Record store. But in any case, all you cared about was the music anyway.
Your mind is open now, This was back in the day when people didn’t take anything seriously, People have different colors, coexist together, laugh together, and played that funky music together.
A group of guys from the Washington Redskins band would dance to this in the end zone (I think between the third and fourth quarters). They were called the Funky Four and were as big as the players. It was one of my favorite parts of being in the stadium on game day. You can find clips of them on you tube. This song always brings me back to that performance.
Love your reaction!! "Play that funky music, white boy, lay down the boogie & play that funky music till you die..." Great song to dance to back in the day.
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
That's the way we rolled back in the day 😂 Wild Cherry is from the area I grew up. Listened to them at the Aquanaut Lounge before they became famous ❤️ Color wasn't a big deal back then. If the music sounded good we jammed to it
"Back in that day", we all got along, listened to the same music, played in bands together and generally respected each other. All this division and tension between races we have now has been instigated by politicians.
Back in the day like right after Jim Crow and during the civil rights movement? It seems nostalgia makes people forget. The whole point of the song was that it was a novelty that they were white, and he was initially very uncomfortable in the environment. Because it wasn’t all unified.
@@brynneholt1990 You obviously weren't alive back then and only know the revisionist history preached by those who wish to divide. Yes of course there were racists, but in general, people on the street got down together or at the very least didn't hassle each other. For teenagers in the 70s, race was hardly an issue at all, things are far worse now. Many of the top funk, soul and pop bands of the 70s were racially mixed and so were the audiences.
@@HashiAkitaPuppy - this funky white boy was there (63 yo). I was well into the whole hippie scene. It was about peace and love. But outside of that movement was a great deal of racism. It wasn’t all puppy tails and cat meows. It’s revisionist on your part to say otherwise.
This was one fun song and I remember the enthusiasm and get up and dance feeling so many and nice job presenting this reaction . Reactions by those who do it well , adds to the music 🥰
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Yep! It’s “white boy”. It was all good and we loved it! We weren’t snowflakes in the 70s! Haha Roller skated to it Friday and Saturday nights! Thanks for playing it and reacting! It’s like hearing it for the first time again watching your video.
Call up the Lyrics and You will see! Back in the Day, Most Albums had The Songs Lyrics on The Sleeve inside ( That's The Paper that held the Record inside the Jacket, Which was called The ALBUM COVER.) By the way, I still have this Album, It's still in Mint Condition☮✌
White Boy! Your reaction was the same one I had back in the day. But there were lots of similar groups with some hot funk and jazz like AWB- Average White Band; War, Tower of Power. All of which led the world into the Disco era.
@bekindandrewind1422 0 seconds ago I am so glad that you enjoyed it.. Dear God do I miss the 70s and early to mid 80s when everyone enjoyed music without being divided into "our" music vs "their" music.. and what I wouldn't give to go back to that... When EVERYONE could just be who they were and enjoy what they liked... Much love and respect for you young fella.. Just diggin the tunes is what it was all about...
rock and roll is born through rhythm and blues. live music. British artists came to American black clubs to get an approval that they were good. The greatest today were beginners then. He was getting approved for his artistry and he wrote about it and made a very popular song. I heard this song as a kid. I'm way older than you guys but It surprises me how much music young people haven't heard. Great Job!! So many amazing songs out there. Still so much we miss.
You've got to hear the studio version of this that we all heard on the radio all the time. It's a way better mix and it's a little slower and funkier. It's fantastic.
I was a kid, around 1st or 2nd grade, when this came out. It was big! Most of the kids I knew, knew this song, and we loved it! Black or White it didn't matter. Perhaps it was a little avant-garde but definitely not controversial, in our minds.
Music is universal, everyone loved this, and still do!🤣🤣❤️🎶🎶🎶Nothing controversial, the 70’s, and music in general brought everyone together, and music will always have that power to override, no one was easily offended…Great times!
It's white boy. Everyone loved the song. It's wasn't a big deal. Your reaction is so surprising 💕
Sign of the times....sadly
Also, kinda expected. OMG. This is funny
Its so sad how shocked he is by this. What a horrible time these kids are having
Yeah, I have no idea why a white singer saying white boy would be controversial at all. It's not that serious. They obviously had a lot of fun with the two black musicians pointing at him singing that line.
Even the white boys took no offence!
No, it wasn’t controversial, people were cool back then, it wasn’t about race, it was just about the MUSIC, the fun, and dancing and just chilling to cool music 🎶🎵
That's not true at all. Not even close to true.
@@GoldenLady1007 Race relations are MUCH worse now. Thanks to leftist indoctrination ( division was the goal - worked like a charm) & SJWs constant victim Olympics.
We need to go back to this time. We all converged on the dance floor.
I long for those times!
Thank you! There was all kinds of racism back then, and if some black guys called someone a white boy in the wrong place and context, there could be some big problems. Not so much in entertainment, but on the streets.
No no one was upset about the lyrics it was a time of brotherly Love and we was all partying
I keep hoping the pendulum swings back to that brotherly love and I hope I see it in my lifetime. Our society could use some carefree uplifting,
You nailed it right on the head back in the 70s nobody give a shit about race. It was all about the music back then it was in the later part of the 80s when stupid shit changed.
THE recorded version is way better than this
WHITE BOY, this was a staple at every house party. We had White, Black, Asian friends nobody got offended. I was 18 in 1974, good times.
So true . Different time
Songs From 1976 so you where 20 i WAZ 16 And loving life in Kodiak Alaska i remember playing this song ON THE JUKEBOX in the BNB Bar my friends dad owend shooting pool I never for got that THEY GREAT TIMES FOR SURE,
Back in the day people weren't as uptight & high strung as they seem to be today. If the music is good it doesn't matter what color the people are making it & back then a lot of bands had both black & white members. Everybody danced & had a good time jamming to who ever was laying down the groove. Miss those days
Color was less important than the music was back in the day.
Good music was good music, no matter who played it, no matter what they looked like.
We want the funk!!!
Color was only less important to us white people. Black people were still having to deal with structural racism in the police, in the courts, in places of employment, from banks and mortgage lenders.
But the song is light-hearted; it's poking fun at people who thought that only black people could play funky music.
@@BenjWarrant We’re talking about music, not politics. 🙄
@@cheerwhiner7829 For black musicians, it was always about race. Probably still is. I hate talking like this, because I'm white and it sounds like a white hero complex or something. But it's annoying having people condescendingly post about how it was all comfortable back in the day.
@@BenjWarrant Sure. 🙄
@@BenjWarrant I will say radio playlists were much more mixed back in the 70s, you could hear Motown, and Black Sabbath on the same station.
Your face when the chorus started! 😂😂😂😂 Yes, they're singing, "Play that funky music, white boy," and nobody thought anything about it at the time. Kind of like the movie, "White Men Can't Jump." GREAT song! Greater reaction! ❤️❤️❤️
No people weren't as sensitive as they are now. It was a much better time. That sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me was how we grew up. Keep at it, your reactions are great
How many of us were waiting for his reaction to the chorus? 🤣
Me
🤭✋🏻ME!!!!!😂
raising my hand 👆
🤣🤣🤣
🙋♀️
I lived this generation! Although I'm in Canada, I went to discos and danced to this song plenty. There were no controversies that I remember, just everyone dancing and having a good time! Those were the good ole days in many aspects, IMO!
Being from "back in the day", this song was delightful. Funk music was loved by all, but largely performed by black bands. The fact that this, predominantly white, band was playing funk with a few black backup musicians was really odd. The fact that this song was poking fun at themselves, all while laying down a super catchy beat, was just perfect. This music was the kind of stuff that brought racial divides to our attention, and mocked us for it, all while we couldn't keep our feet from dancing. It was wonderful. This video, with the black horn players pointing at the white bandmates during the chorus still makes me laugh every time.
first time actually seeing this and yes it is very funny....lol
grew up listening to this
Great explanation of the times. As I white girl I was glad to be included in the funk community.
KC and the Sunshine Band, too.
Yes! Back then the song was exciting, a little bit titillating - since it brought up taboo ideas like calling someone "boy" - and it was just plain fabulous in that it instantly made you want to dance! My first time seeing the video, though - such fun!!! Thanks for featuring this one! Love your channel!
When you look at that decade you will see that people of all backgrounds played amazing music together. Things are much more divided now, by design. Channels like this are bringing us back to the good ole days.
The band gave an interview once about the origin of this song. they were playing a show and someone from the audience yelled out, " play that funky music, white boy". So it spawned an idea that lead to this song
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Great trivia! I did not know that and my ex husband’s brother-in-“law was actually IN the band and I he never shared that with us! Thank you for posting this!
They said white boy because people thought the band was black. The audiences were surprised when they saw the white folks performing funk
Yes! That was it! O remember after reading this! Thank you! 😄
Great story, great song. When it comes to the hook, everyone would be dancing and singing along!
Back in the day if someone didn't like something they just moved on..... they didn't try to have all things offensive outlawed like today. It was a more common sense era and I loved it....and the music.
Great reaction!
That’s simply not true. My husband was a black man that grew up in the 70s and was called the N-word all the time chasers neighborhood and going home from school on his bike was traumatized constantly. The only difference between then and now is that people have social media to speak out about it who was he going to tell? Who cared ?? nobody.
@Ann Brooks
That is terrible, Ann. However, my comment was alluding to oversensitivities in general, not racial devide or inequality specifically..... which most certainly did exist, though. I'm speaking more about the cancel culture in todays society. How people seek to ruin someone who has a different political or social view than they do.....or that they just plain don't like them. It can include racism but certainly is not limited to it. Even the news media was different back then. It wasn't a media that sought so much to devide Americans 24/7/365. These days we here the word racist being used very loosely over and over again in an attempt to ruin someone's reputation. It's been very effective, too. But my point was that from my boyhood until now in my 60's, I have seen a great increase of oversensitivity in society. It's not healthy. It leads to strife and conflict. It leads to a society of people more unconnected in general.
@@richardmodglin3900 I know exactly what you mean about that era, Richard. I was in high school when this song was a hit, and it was a staple at every school dance, and on every hand-held radio around campus (as with many other funk and soul hits of the time). This was a school of about 1,000 in rural southeastern Kentucky, so not what you'd consider to be a multicultural mecca. But we all still got along very well. Due to the population of the area, we only had a handful of black kids in our mostly white school, one of whom was somewhat of an all-star celebrity due to going out for every sport he could. From football to basketball to wrestling, this guy dominated. The cool kids for us were the jocks and the cheerleaders, and no one more popular than this guy, who was looked up to and respected by his mostly-white team mates and fellow students alike. And this wasn't any kind of cynical tokenism, as some might suggest today. We all genuinely liked each other and had a great time, and any differences were the same ones you'd see if the student body were all one race, with cliques and such. There was one sister in our church choir whose voice could rival Aretha's, and we were all uplifted whenever she sang a special. I still fondly remember the faces of all my friends from back then, whatever their color, it just didn't matter. And was there racism? Of course there was. Not systemically, but among certain individuals certainly. There were even whisperings that the Klan might still have its fans in certain ignorant areas and among a few older people, but I never knew of such personally, because that was all generally regarded as shameful and pathetic. All we knew at school and at our age was that 10 years earlier Dr King had a dream, and at least for our generation (if not all our parents'), we felt like we'd achieved it, and no big deal really, it was all just people, and we were happy in that. All of us.
@@anniebananieusa Ann, I am very sorry your husband had that experience! It's awful, and such haters would have been hard-pressed to have found any friends or have been accepted themselves, if they'd lived where I grew up in that era. They'd have had to change, or keep it under wraps, or have been a part of a very small and ignorant minority themselves. If someone had tried to do something like that to one of my black friends, they'd have had to get through me first. And I was not alone in that sentiment, not by a long shot.
@billparrish4385
Sounds like we are about the same age. I was about 15 when this song hit the radio and things were different back then In many ways.
I enjoyed reading your comment and how your community lived back then. I wish today's youth could see how things were back when. Thank you for taking the time to reveal your childhood experiences to me.
Peace to you my friend.
Love this song! When it came out, we played the 45 over and over again. No controversy at all. In fact the song was a huge hit! It topped the charts, was nominated for two Grammy’s and won an American Music Award. More funk please!!
I still have that 45 !!!!!
They said white boooy. An example of this is in the group War where Lee Oskar the harmonica player it's done. Check them out. The group is up mostly minority players and me Oskar stands out some of the tones
I have the 45. Loved this song.
🔥Born in 1950s👩🏾🦳. This song is FORTY-SIX years old. Almost half century + I STILL remember ALL the lyrics! We danced our butts off💃🏽💃🏽
Tim, this was the JAM back in the day! Yes, they said/sang, "Play that funky music, white boy!" People didn't seem to have a big issue with the lyrics, at least not where I was. People were too busy dancing and singing! ❤
Yes, well said!
And movin to the groovin.
@@l-bird
Thank you!
@@jetsersjets2638
That's right!
This song rocked! No controversy at all! Get your groove on!
No controversy we just danced and had fun.
Those of us of a certain age miss those days
@@terrorzilla yes we do!
@@terrorzilla Oh yes ✌️💯
Absolutely, to bad it can’t be that way now
Drop some acid and trip out to this back then. 😁
It just was. It was about the music, fun, and dancing. It wasn't about race or anything negative. Everybody was dancing.
He said, "white boy".....no problem 😃 It's great music, and he's white! Read the story about how they came to write the song. Glad you reviewed it 💕
In the Summer of 1976, "Play That Funky Music" was the JAM! 🎶☀ It went to #1 Pop and #1 R&B, and won the American Music Award for Top R&B Song of the Year! ⭐ You're right, Tim: Wild Cherry's lead singer Rob Parissi's voice is cool! And you're right that he sings "WHITE boy". Back then, I and all my friends (Black or White) thought that was fun and cool. 😀
I grew up in the 60's and 70's and I think we were good at celebrating people differences and trying to love one another! peace and love from Canada
So true! We lived life together back then. Everyone was the same. I sure miss those days.
It was the best of times back then. It’s unfortunate elites have spent a lifetime keeping us turned against each other. Socially and politically. We’re too strong together- they can’t stand it.
One love for all♥️💋
Wiki:
"While playing at the 2001 Club on the North Side of Pittsburgh to a predominantly black audience, a patron said to band member Beitle during a break, "Are you going to play some funky music, white boys?" Parissi grabbed a pen and order pad and wrote the song in about five minutes. The lyrics literally describe the predicament of a hard rock band adjusting to the disco era"
Sly and the Family Stone is a MUST when exploring popular Funk of late 60s early 70s. They were one of the first integrated bands defying stereotyping by having women playing horns. "Dance to the Music" "Everyday People" "Thank You" "Hot Fun in the Summer Time" ALL BANGERS.
Oh man, I was such a big Sly fan back in the day. 😎
YES!
@@felinespirits ME TOO❣️ He helped define an era.
I agree! You should check out the documentary "Summer of Soul" by Questlove which features Sly and The Family Stone. A must see documentary.
@@rroselynn1123 YES!! Great film.
He says "just when it hit me" - like he just realized he was the only white boy in the club and then somebody yelled it out. Funny and cool. He can sing like a black funk singer. Lol
Back in the day we weren't offended by everything, never even thought about it when I first heard this.
Exactly.
Neither my black husband nor I (he's 89, I'm 77) were offended then and we're not offended now. For anyone looking for offense, they might consider this in a pinch. Too bad. It's just a song.
Disco clubs brought a LOT of people together, and this song was a massive hit at the clubs. EVERYBODY got out on the floor to dance together when it was played. EVERYBODY!
Sam. Danced to it all the time. I don't remember anyone thinking anything of it except how cool it was.
Good music was good music, and we listened! All we had was radio. We couldn't see the artists, but that didn't matter. Good music was good music...and we listened!
Thanks Tim. Great song! It was released in 1976. At the time rock clubs were closing down as disco clubs became popular. Wild Cherry was having difficulty booking gigs with the changing times. The song tells of their struggles. They needed to change up their style. They were playing a new gig when some black folks came into the club. The story goes…. One of the blacks jokingly asked , “Are you white boys gonna play some funky music?” Which turned into .. Play That Funky Music White Boy. The song was a such major hit that the lead singer was retired by forty years old! Keep the hits coming! 🎉
One of the biggest one hit wonders of all time. A radio mainstay for over 40 years
Still is.
It was the 70's nothing but peace,love,and music that brought us all together no matter what race
Nothing like funk from the 70's to make you move with a smile as you clean the house. Thanks for this great one!
I have a house cleaning play list and it's all 70's funk. Even makes washing dishes fun. Just picture a 60 year old grandma dancing with my mop.
The back story of this song is they were playing a gig and on a break someone came up and said play some funky music. They made up the song right then with the words and guitar riff. It was one of their biggest hits. True story.
music fans love good music and when 'the folks' heard Wild Cherry, they knew they were hearing funky greatness from a non-traditional source and they acknowledged it... 'go on wit cho bad self, white boy....!' this was the HIGHEST praise! 🤩😍🥰
You're so right!
This right HERE!
Righteous!
Thanks for finally reacting to this, I've been waiting a long time 😁 I had the 8 track tape (whoever is old enough, like me, to remember those) and remember the cover picture more than anything - the lips and the cherry. Played that tape until it broke.
Bro, this song was so hot the whole club hit the dance floor.
Yep.💃💃
I was in high school when this song came out. Every one of my classmates both black and white LOVED thi song. At school dances everyone danced and sang along at the top of our lungs. Miss thse days and I miss that music. Thanks for sharing.
🎵"Lay down and boogie and play that funky music til you die!!!" 🎶
This is played by every wedding band to get the chairs up and moving - and oh boy the Grandma's have got the moves! You can get up solo because everyone partners with this one.
They’re saying WHITE boy. I’m very white (pale blue 😂) from Scotland and this never offended me I just loved the song! Check out Average White Band they’re from Scotland too and funky as heck!
Oh man! Those were fantastic times! And no, it was not controversial LOL. Mid to late seventies we're awesome!
This was in 1976. Great year for music and movies.
And FUNK 🥰
Absolutely!!
I'm so glad you reacted to this song. It was definitely WHITE BOY and it was a huge hit. No complaints and no negative reactions. You are so much fun. I LOVE the shirt!
They were a hard rock band that had to adjust to the times when funk and disco were bread and butter. The song is literally about how they had to go funky!
Worked out ok for them. lol
6:11 --- In all my years.. I have NEVER seen a performer spin a trumpet like that.. I'm not sure who that was.. But my GOD did that man have TALENT....
That's exactly what they said, and why would it be controversial? He's a white boy. Obviously not everything was better in the past, but we did save on controversy in the 70s. Classic tune, great for dancing. Definitely earned its place on the charts. Glad you reacted to it.
These guys were from Steubenville, Ohio and started on Cherry Street, I once met the lead singer and worked with his son. This is a song that stands the test of time.
Always was a FAVORITE! Such a great beat! Everyone danced to this back in the day! No one cared. They just danced! 😊
No controversy at all. People just loved the music.
This used to PACK the floor at the local disco! Every single person there sang it at the top of their lungs!
Hey Tim, loved your "REACTION!"😂 After all, this is why you do what you do! Yes you heard right, he said "white boy." It was and is a funky song, a major hit! Everyone was movin' and groovin' to this song. It was all fun. Sometimes people just need to have fun and not get caught up in the race thing. Look who's singing it. He clearly was not caught up. Thanks Tim, a funky good one!
Nobody got Mad they just Grooved to The Groovy Back-up Singers, and Funky Band, What More can you ask for !!!
They did say Funky white boy. I don’t recall any kind of negative comments about this.
Yup. Play that funky music 🎶 white boy. Love this song. 😎 whoever recommended it. Thanks
Lol, Tim you're so funny, I could watch you all day!!! Yep, that's what they said "White Boy" & that's when there weren't many problems, controversial ones. Some of my closest friends were black!!! I'm white as a ghost, lol, we just didn't fight with each other!!! We came together as one, the way it should be now!!! Loved your reaction, Tim!!! Another fun song to dance to. 💃 😎👍🏼☮️❤️
That's that blue-eyed funk right there, yes!!! 😊Nobody was trippin' on color when it came to music, just great music back then!!!!! ❤
We used to jam of this song. Race didn't matter back then, a good song was a good song.
What world were you living in? You must not be Black. There has NEVER been a time in this country when race didn't matter.
@L Singletary Not even close to true.
@L Singletary Question. What are "race baiters"?
@L Singletary Superiority? You are apparently projecting YOUR own feelings of inferiority onto me. I pointed out the fact that racism existed then, as it does now. How that translated into "superiority" for you is a mirror issue. The fact that you bristled when asked to define a term that YOU used means you apparently don't know what it means and are parroting something you heard.
The Seventies had their moments for sure. They had lots of funky music. It was an awesome time.
This was the jam! You can't sit still when this song comes on. Check out Sly and the Family Stone, "Dance to the Music". They are a funk band from the '70s.
Yaaaaaasssss !!!!!
Back then no one batted an eye at something like this. It was just a great song. People didn't get uptight the way they do today
It's most definitely "white boy". This was one of the best songs ever, everybody loved it. I don't know if it was controversial, but it wasn't controversial for me. I just like the song.
Yes they said it and no we weren't mad. This was and still is a hit for me. Still on my playlist. I'm a 62 yr old granny.
your gonna LOVE Wild Cherry! 💪💜 YES, they are saying :
play that funky music WHITE BOY! 😂 Actually? back-in-the-day IF a WHITE Band? heard that in a club by Non-White-Boy'z.... it was Considered an Honor. People Didn't TRIP about stuff like they do today ... Cool Reaction! your face when you heard it the- First "hook", then you kept hearing it over and over...And "Your Face" LOL 😂😆👏👏👏👏 🤔 HA! then? You Looked It Up 😂😆👊
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Music was for everyone back then. This song got EVERYBODY out in the skating rink in 1978-79. Trends and color lines were completely blurred from the early 70s through the early 90s club & hip hop scene. Fantastic days, wish you were there ❤
Oh oh oh....just thought of it...gotta check out the band WAR for more great Funk. "Spill The Wine", "Low Rider" "Why Can't We Be Friends" All bangers, for sure. Also, Average White Band was mentioned by a fan. "Pick Up The Pieces" was a big big hit. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR REACTION TIM❣️ SOOO GLAD YOU ENJOY FUNK.
Play that funky music white boy. He went from playing rock and roll to funk. It was a beautiful thing. No controversy, just fun, easy to listen to and dance to.
And yes they say White Boy . I didn,t know it was a white singer untill i saw the clip like 20 years later hahahaha .Love the funk
Yeah, you really didn't even know what a group looked like unless you caught them on Midnight Special or saw the album cover in the Record store. But in any case, all you cared about was the music anyway.
Your mind is open now, This was back in the day when people didn’t take anything seriously, People have different colors, coexist together, laugh together, and played that funky music together.
A group of guys from the Washington Redskins band would dance to this in the end zone (I think between the third and fourth quarters). They were called the Funky Four and were as big as the players. It was one of my favorite parts of being in the stadium on game day. You can find clips of them on you tube. This song always brings me back to that performance.
You got back to what made you big in the first place, old school music. Good job. Look at the views.
70's funk...the best!! 🔥🔥 ✌❤
Love your reaction!! "Play that funky music, white boy, lay down the boogie & play that funky music till you die..." Great song to dance to back in the day.
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
AWB remains fire.
That's the way we rolled back in the day 😂 Wild Cherry is from the area I grew up. Listened to them at the Aquanaut Lounge before they became famous ❤️
Color wasn't a big deal back then. If the music sounded good we jammed to it
This song so huge. It was playing everywhere all the time.
This song is such a classic jam!! Perfect funk/rock/disco groove
"Back in that day", we all got along, listened to the same music, played in bands together and generally respected each other. All this division and tension between races we have now has been instigated by politicians.
Back in the day like right after Jim Crow and during the civil rights movement? It seems nostalgia makes people forget. The whole point of the song was that it was a novelty that they were white, and he was initially very uncomfortable in the environment. Because it wasn’t all unified.
@@brynneholt1990 You obviously weren't alive back then and only know the revisionist history preached by those who wish to divide. Yes of course there were racists, but in general, people on the street got down together or at the very least didn't hassle each other. For teenagers in the 70s, race was hardly an issue at all, things are far worse now. Many of the top funk, soul and pop bands of the 70s were racially mixed and so were the audiences.
@@HashiAkitaPuppy you weren't there. WRONG
@@HashiAkitaPuppy - this funky white boy was there (63 yo). I was well into the whole hippie scene. It was about peace and love. But outside of that movement was a great deal of racism. It wasn’t all puppy tails and cat meows. It’s revisionist on your part to say otherwise.
Just know this was awesome music and we danced without prejudice in those days.
If you love Funk, play the Blackbyrds- Rockcreek Park 🔥
Slave- Slide and Just a Touch of Love 💯
Lakeside- Fantastic Voyage 👏🏽
Fantastic Voyage is a classic
The guy twirling the trumpet 🤣🤣 Love this song. We used to play the 45 growing up in the 80s
What a fun reaction. I also love Funk, this brings back so many memories
back in these days ... people did not argue about everything . just fun music
Argue, nope, we were having too much fun!
This was 🎵 song,played on R&B stations Pop Station.Played that music White Boys jamming in college,1975
Tim, you & Fred always make my day. Cheers
They were in concert with K C and the Sunshine band 😊 look them up.,..
Man, when that song came on… all you thought about was getting on the dance floor!!!
"White Boy"...Nobody was mad...too busy partying!...lol
This was one fun song and I remember the enthusiasm and get up and dance feeling so many and nice job presenting this reaction . Reactions by those who do it well , adds to the music 🥰
Yes...White Boy ! Saw them in concert 🙃
And when Wild Cherry said that in their song, "play that funky music WHITE BOY, that year they got their answer bk by a group that to this days is still the most famous white funk music band to come out by the name "THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND" and from all of places, Scotland, yes! that Scotland.
Yep! It’s “white boy”. It was all good and we loved it! We weren’t snowflakes in the 70s! Haha Roller skated to it Friday and Saturday nights! Thanks for playing it and reacting! It’s like hearing it for the first time again watching your video.
Call up the Lyrics and You will see! Back in the Day, Most Albums had The Songs Lyrics on The Sleeve inside ( That's The Paper that held the Record inside the Jacket, Which was called The ALBUM COVER.) By the way, I still have this Album, It's still in Mint Condition☮✌
That unity and one love mentality needs to rise again! GenX white boy. Great reaction young brother!❤
Great song! Great reaction!! We had fun back then!
LOL, that record was a favorite back in the day, white boy and all!
White Boy! Your reaction was the same one I had back in the day. But there were lots of similar groups with some hot funk and jazz like AWB- Average White Band; War, Tower of Power. All of which led the world into the Disco era.
@bekindandrewind1422
0 seconds ago
I am so glad that you enjoyed it.. Dear God do I miss the 70s and early to mid 80s when everyone enjoyed music without being divided into "our" music vs "their" music.. and what I wouldn't give to go back to that... When EVERYONE could just be who they were and enjoy what they liked... Much love and respect for you young fella.. Just diggin the tunes is what it was all about...
It was a different time young brother. We just didn’t trip as much about some things. It was a great time to be alive.
rock and roll is born through rhythm and blues. live music. British artists came to American black clubs to get an approval that they were good. The greatest today were beginners then. He was getting approved for his artistry and he wrote about it and made a very popular song. I heard this song as a kid. I'm way older than you guys but It surprises me how much music young people haven't heard. Great Job!! So many amazing songs out there. Still so much we miss.
The 70's was all fun and games!🤩
You've got to hear the studio version of this that we all heard on the radio all the time. It's a way better mix and it's a little slower and funkier. It's fantastic.
I was a kid, around 1st or 2nd grade, when this came out. It was big! Most of the kids I knew, knew this song, and we loved it! Black or White it didn't matter. Perhaps it was a little avant-garde but definitely not controversial, in our minds.
same
Music is universal, everyone loved this, and still do!🤣🤣❤️🎶🎶🎶Nothing controversial, the 70’s, and music in general brought everyone together, and music will always have that power to override, no one was easily offended…Great times!