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ONE HIT WONDERLAND: “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry

Todd in the Shadows | September 1, 2025



In 1976, Wild Cherry stood up for the funkiness of white boys everywhere, but what ever happened to them?

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Written by Todd in the Shadows

Comments

This post currently has 45 comments.

  6. @CocoHutzpah

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    My mom hated this band. The way she told the story, they were playing at a party she went to while in high school. This was before they hit it big. She said they played horribly at that party.

  13. @ManoloK3

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    The thing about Disco music and its universe, is that if you wanted to get laid, you had to dress up well, be sociable and know a few moves. This was unachievable (and resented) by the Dinosaur Rock crowd, who wore the same stupid uniform: Levy's jeans and pained jackets with the logos or album covers of Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin. Boring. Just look at the imbecile DJ who started that Disco Demolition Night and the crowd that attended that game. What woman would screw that guy? I was in my early teens at the time, and although I loved all types of music, didn't care what color they were – in fact for decades I thought Wild Cherry was a Black band – I never took on the uniform of either side. Taking "Saturday Night Fever" as an example, leisure suits and platform shoes were as equally stupid as the rock uniform. As a result, I didn't get laid until I hit 17, and only because my uncle paid her. As Steve Albnini said: "It's not that I wasn't into the music of Led Zeppelin. I just wasn't in to the PEOPLE who were into Led Zeppelin". . Then in the 1980s New Wave destroyed both genres. Later, hair metal arrived. See those Levy's people today at 80s music festivals on wheelchairs, fat, destroyed, and wearing jeans that make their legs look spindly. I'm a few points overweight but my genetic pool has been generous with me.

  17. @otaking3582

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    The confusion of how anyone could think they're black is itself confusing. If you only pay attention to the chorus, one would assume they're a black band addressing a white audience to play their records. At least that's what I always thought.

  19. @nicholassheffo5723

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    Wild Cherry later added future rock soloist Donnie Iris to their band in its original run after their big hit. Iris was originally a member of The Jaggerz, so maybe you'll finally do a One Hit Wonderland on their classic The Rapper.

  22. @stapler942

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    I distinctly remember the first time I heard "Play That Funky Music" and it was while watching the movie Evolution (2001), of all things. Somehow it had escaped my notice as a kid in the 90s. Anyway, I remember being a bit confused as I thought they were singing "play that fuckin' music" and that seemed unusually profane for the movie.

  29. @aquatarkus2022

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    As bad as this song is, and it's bad, you almost have to admire it's terminal awfulness. Despite it having a beat, a hook and some pretty good instrumentation, it sucks balls.
    The singer is probably the worst thing about the whole shebang. Fake "black" vocals that are clearly forced. No one sings like that naturally.

  30. @lsimon343

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    Listening to you sing has been a highlight of my drive home. I can’t even get over how much I enjoy this series. I’m sad because I’m gonna binge on it and then I’ll be waiting for more.😊

  37. @Bigones111

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    Should be noted that Wild Cherry had another guy who joined in 1978 in Donnie Iris. Guy had two hits in the 1980s with “Ah! Leah” and “Love Is Like A Rock”

  44. @CFTim

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    I feel like the whole segment about a "dance song with a rock edge" being unique completely ignores the entire existence of Funkadelic…

  45. @lwhack458

    September 1, 2025 at 7:14 am

    Late comment — Some of these guys went to the same high school as Lou Christie ( who had the one hit 'Lightin Strikes' and a couple of songs on the UK charts). I just find it odd that two one hit wonders went to the same school.

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