Uncle Jam
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Title of song: Uncle Jam
Artist: Funkadelic
Title of album: Uncle Jam Wants You
Year of first release: 1979
Trivia: The titular "Uncle Jam" is a parody of Uncle Sam.
The cover to the album proclaims the mission is to "rescue dance music from the blahs." This song is clearly a dance-oriented song, but is also excellent musically, with complex rhythms; it even seamlessly incorporates a traditional US Army marching tune.
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Songwriters: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Garry Shider, Bernie Worrell
Memorable Lyrics:
- "All you inductees fall out and form some kinda line or something/I want all you young ladies to stick your chests out/And get your hips to move!"
- "You said you'd be ready, if he called on you/Now he's a righteous kind of leader/Just demanding funk and groove from you"
Complete lyrics at the Motherpage (http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/motherpage/lyrics_funkadelic/lyr-unclejam.html#lyr-s-unclejam)
This is song from the point-of-view of Uncle Jam himself, the leader of the Funk Army (see P Funk mythology). The part is song by Philippe Wynne; he is the funkiest "thrill seargent" in the world and demands that his soldiers get Funky.
Personnel
- Lead Vocals: Philippe Wynne, George Clinton
Critical response: