WILD CHERRY "PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC" REACTION | Asia and BJ

[@bostonvair]

This song was based on a true story. Wild Cherry was a rock and roll band in Ohio and was playing a club in Cleveland. The audience was hoping for something more funkadelic and a brother in the audience shouted the now-famous line at the band. The rest is history.

[@hovis62]

TIL thanks!

[@tarrakieran2057]

@@hovis62 Me too! I never knew this!

[@jackjohnson7714]

There wasn't a roller rink in the United States that wasn't playing this song 10 times a night.

[@j.jmcquade5278]

I was just starting to FSU when this song came out! I was the Roller Skating rink LEGEND! Great memories.

[@reneeharrison1924]

We had the absolute best music on the 70s and 80s, it was an awesome time to be alive!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@christinerenee]

My uncle played the guitar for this band for years.

[@Mishy555]

Yessssss😊

[@woodymoore6312]

@christinerenee Very cool. What's his name?

[@crsounddoctor4937]

This 'Banger" by Wild Cherry was the "JAM" back in the day, guaranteed to get everybody up on the dance floor whenever & wherever it was played!!! I mean people of all races, nationalities, skin colors and all walks of life jammed to this!!!

[@stacymoore7348]

I can remember popping that 8 track into my player and rocking out in my mile long Cougar and cruising around town. Cool car and cool song. Growing up in the '70's was just fun. You guys are so fun to watch.

[@brinalea7778]

Yes I agree! The seventies were the best! I miss it

[@markherring3513]

This was my first 45 record I ever owned. I was 6 yrs old and loved that song. Three years later my cousins band (Fandango) was opening for Wild Cherry & Dr. John in 1979 in Cleveland...my cousins band was opening act. I went back stage with my family and got to watch Wild Cherry play this song from the side of the stage. Even got to walk around their tour bus.

[@scottmesser4400]

My first 45 was bye-bye miss American pie.

[@michaelhoward142]

@@scottmesser4400My first LP -- as a midwest "white boy" in gradeschool -- was a Chuck Berry greatest hits album.

[@3912James]

I was 9

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

this was the jam the summer of '76 & I still have that album - PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS!

[@delaineymacphearson6850]

I graduated high school in 1976.

[@brinalea7778]

I was 12 yrs old when I first heard this, I loved it then and I love it now! Im 55 now

[@michaelasay6140]

Im 57...were gettin old

[@goldieschooch8512]

Same I’m 56 & have always loved it! Never gets old!🙂

[@michaelasay6140]

@@goldieschooch8512 ur beautiful!

[@neighborhoodcatlady6094]

I’m 69, LOVED dancing to this in the clubs. Still have the album.

[@corinnepmorrison1854]

I’m almost 76 and this was one of the songs I’d play while cleaning my house!! ❤️

[@Grumpy_Rabbit]

Most of us who heard the song repeatedly on the radio back in the late 1970s never did see the band actually perform...until KZbin came along.

[@alonzocoyethea6148]

The reason I quit playing music? I couldn't find any more funky white cats to play with anymore, and all the brothas switched to hip-hop and rap! Glad you guys enjoyed this-keep up the good work!

[@radioactive_sunflowerz2450]

Totally get that, I really hope funk makes a comeback because it's truly something else and was so fun😭

[@DashRiprock513]

I'll jam wicha man ..😎✌🎼🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@MrDiddyDee]

The world right now needs more funk, how can anyone stay still to this? Love you guys, BJ you're cool, Asia your smile and laughter is a ray of sunshine.

[@jamesdrynan]

Went to #1 in September 1976. Certified platinum with two and a half million sales in the US alone. A feel-good song for sure!

[@1234uz]

Rob Parissi is the lead singer in this video he and I are still Friends on Face Book . These guys played music after our band did in the Ohio Valley later in the 1970's . They were a group of very talented Musicians

[@rogerkelly7988]

My era of the 60s and 70s had the best music hands down of course I may be a little bias but it good to see you youngsters enjoying it

[@tommythompson9565]

I give a HANDS UP to your HANDS DOWN. No doubt about the supremacy of the 70's as far as the amazing quality and diversity of music.

[@TheJessicahammerly]

I also agree but I might be biased too because even though I was born in 88.. that's what I listened to growing up was my father's(and grandfather's) records and he would jam out and ask me what I thought about all the songs and what meaning it has and teach me about the bands and everything.. I miss him so much.. but when I listen to his records, I feel like he's here.

[@theodoreritola7641]

It happens to be true Late 60s and The 70s Baby

[@jamil2447]

This song topped the charts in the 70's. Along with Cut The Cake and Pick Up The Pieces. This is my first time hearing or seeing Wild Cherry. I always thought 'Play That Funky Music' was an original by the group AWB (Average White Band) Which has remained a prize addition to my 33rpm lp vinyls. Check it out full volume you're in for a real experience.

[@toodlescae]

Yeah. In 1976 it was hard rock, soft rock, funk and disco that we were all listening too. This was funk disco. I remember all the guys I knew wearing unbuttoned shirts, tight jeans with bell bottoms and puka shell necklaces and every guy who could get their hair to do it wore some type of afro or wore it like Barry Gibb....lol.

[@chrino21]

This made me remember “Will it Go Round in Circles?” by Billy Preston. You guys would LOVE that one. I think there’s a Midnight Special version.

[@jacobfulton8698]

The 5th Beatle. I saw Billy play with Clapton at the Hollywood bowl in like 2000 or around there no one new who he was except me and my brother until Clapton introduced him.

[@michaelasay6140]

@@jacobfulton8698 wow

[@Sharon46T]

You mention funk to anyone older and they know this song - it’s iconic! 👏 Damn right the singer had soul! 👍

[@bspks756]

I am from that era and have never seen a video of the actual singers, all we ever had at high school dances were DJs playing record albums. So this was cool, so much fun!

[@hallranch548]

I think this is the song of this generation, maybe two generations....seriously !!!! I played in a club band in the 80's 90's and 2000's..... so many years..... Every single time we played, which was mostly Thurs, Fri, Sat nights and Sun eves.... We played this song.....and everyone in the audience came alive during this song. Out of all of the songs we ever played, only two songs had this effect. This one and Brickhouse by Commodores. I hope these guys who wrote this song made a bunch off of it, because it lasted generations......Salute to each one of them !!!!

[@nathanmccloud3572]

Yes this one takes me back coming out of college 1976 i could tell you young folks the downtown disco's were on fire rolling around in my 72 impala,it was truly a magical time for music and this one made you hit the dance floor

[@rjh862]

I love that real musician played their music LIVE on tv back in the day even if it wasn't perfect. I liked the slight variations n ad-libs

[@djjonosborn1531]

Actually, I was at a Wild Cherry concert in those days. They were much better than people think. This song gets played every weekend here in Las Vegas. It's a part of Americana today.

[@jimhagberg6798]

True story & hilarious one from way back in the 70’s … on Iowa public tv, right before Christmastime they had a youth choir from one of the mostly-black churches in singing Christmas carols. Towards the end of the program the tv lady that was hosting it asked one of the soloist what his favorite song was (I’m sure, she was expecting him to say one of the Christmas songs); and he replied, “Play Your Funky Music White Boy”. Hahaha … caught her by surprise for sure but sure made for a fond memory associated with this song! Thanks for the response!

[@rogerkelly7988]

I remember in the 80s any bar or pub with a live band and a dance floor this was a must and sometimes more than once a night

[@KirbyPooh]

I love that you both are reacting to throwback songs!!! one of my fav songs!! I love the brass goin ham! hahahaha.

[@EShelby2127]

1976 - It's the year I graduated from high school! The Midnight Special was one of the only places where you could actually see the musicians (especially LIVE). Radio was still king, the transition from low fidelity AM to high fidelity FM. 8 track was the only portable (car) media to play what you wanted, when you wanted.

[@fredfarrellproductions1404]

I was a teen in the 70's, and I can tell you people had a lot of those plastic milk crates filled with albums of all types. I knew a couple of families that had entire bookshelves full of albums.

[@herschelrowe6026]

I was fresh out of high school running a Gulf station one of my friends turned me on to them 8 track music them and mothers finest was my two favorite groups still love it at soon to be 65

[@donotneed2250]

I was in South Korea on my first tour when that hit the AFRTS air waves. I still jam to it. It was good to dance to then and can still be danced to now. When I do stuff around the house or go walking this is some of the music I listen to.

[@markbranson3723]

I love you guys. I grew up to this song. Funk is in me. Its just there man. Can't wait to see your reaction.

[@Tampahop]

I lived through the 70s with its "unique" fashion choices. My senior picture had me in a blue plaid polyester suit with an orange bow tie, and two-tone blue/red platform shoes with 4 inch heels. It was not my finest hour.

[@foreveralive6949]

I was such a young kid when this song came out, and imagine the surprise in realizing this was a white guy singing this song. I was just a white kid living out in the country outside of ATL, and we ALL thought this was a black soul/funk group. We all loved this song, and then our jaws dropped to the ground when we saw the band who made this song. It was amazing.

[@BoxerRick]

You know, the singers hair actually started out straight. As his funk grew and grew, so did his Afro. By the end of the song it was banging, baby!

[@adamt1564]

Thanks for bringing back this cool song! Keep remembering!

[@scottmiller3452]

Story I heard was the lead singer was at an Average White Band concert when they first started playing in the states and a coloured gentleman next to him shouted this out.

[@Buddha-of8fk]

There was so many vibes in 76. Damn l miss those times. Music was awesome and all the bands toured all the time. The tickets and drugs was cheap. It was amazing.

[@Dear-John-Reactions]

Loved these guys, I was like 9 or 10 years old when this came out and I always thought is was black musicians and lead singer until my older brother brought the LP & 8-track home and was blown away that it was a "White Boy" singing with B&W musicians. And yes, the bell-bottom pants with a open satin jogger was it. That look stayed the same until the early 80's when bell bottoms went out but instead of jogger jackets the guys switched to 80's windbreaker jackets. But, Hip Hop ended up taking the 70's jumpsuits into the 80's with Adidas sportswear like the guys in Run DM-C, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Sugarhill Gang, ect.

[@chandrataylor2558]

I have this on vinyl - that is how old I am. Back then THERE WAS NO SAMPLING - YOU HAD TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT AND BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SING!!!!!

[@davidspicer4330]

Rob parissi lead singer. This is a one hit wonder from the 70s.it became a no ,1 record for them. Rob is millionaire living in Florida in a big mansion.he still performs.

[@beefyhobgoblin119]

I live in Steubenville OH! My aunt partys with this guy still when he's in town!

[@ronsandgren1]

I live close to Steubenville and my late uncle Wayne is the lead singer and lead guitarist Rob Parrisi's cousin but I've never met Rob and he lives in Florida now and has for years

[@lifeunedited6792]

I'm from Steubenville too. Live on 213. Hello neighbor. Lol😂 My parents were friends with them too, long ago. I remember hearing so many stories. Lol Same with my Grandparents and Dean Martin & Clark Gable. Kinda makes you wish you were around back then. Lol

[@beefyhobgoblin119]

@@lifeunedited6792 thats kick ass! Yea i like up on Beuna Vista Blvd

[@Sharon46T]

You need to go to theme nights where they play different eras/ genres - people go dressed for the time! You will become totally immersed! 😂

[@mickie-fielden5629]

The Lady that introduced them was Helen Reddy she had her own singing career also.. Back in the 70's Midnight Special was the one to watch at midnight on Friday nights after curfew... You had the best seat in the house, front and center. Great reaction. Rob Parissi is lead and yes that was his own hair..😂😂😂

[@robertkroberjr.157]

I remember buying this on a 45! This was played on AM radio back in the day! 😎✌️

[@ZoeyPaigeLunaPhD]

I wonder if this song beats up his voice. It sounds like all those characterizations he’s doing would put one through the wringer. Either way that’s a pretty damn impressive live rendition

[@alphasixty1316]

Thanks for the laughs. This was so cool back then and it was played on mid-western rock stations!

[@alfredstimoli2590]

Ah, the 70's, flared pants, body shirts, styled hair and platform shoes. And I was still in high school. LOL

[@kevinmarker-cz3bx]

LOVE the podcast..I'm 62..thanks for hipin me...stay true..stay solid..morals, ethics and principles..money is not a substitute for these..never bow down..think of the 300 and honest folks in your past.. I beg of you

[@hubrisnaut]

This is from back in the era that I grew up in. We were having fun, rockin' an' funkin', discoing out. It's so sad it feels like like we have gone backwards. I hope these "reactions" from you and others are somehow going to bring us back to what felt like better times. Thanks, kids. (yeah, you are kids to me, lol) Sending Love.

[@jappperon7012]

since you also love this check out "DJ Cummerbund - Play That Funky Music Rammstein" a awesome mashup of Rammstein, Wild Cherry, Metallica, Randy Savage, Megadeth

[@donakmarie]

Absolute must see! Amazing editing on this one.

[@realjaxon]

I had some Angel Flight bell bottom pants and the platform shoes too. I didn't like disco music, but I had a close buddy who was a DJ in Studio 54. He was a disco demon ! LOL.

[@georgemoore8832]

The guy playing that hard 🎸 now is in a rock group FOGHAT AND HE STILL JAMS THIS SONG.

[@ChanelStuff]

That's the definition of the 70's 😂 no shirt, flashy jacket, hairy chest, and cheesy gold necklace with a wannabe "fro".... with Caucasian hair no less 😂 I've always loved this song. It came out when I was still in diapers LOL and they still play it in mixed genre clubs in this area Oh, and I always thought they were a black group. It confused me a little why they kept telling the white boy to play that funky music lol

[@TheDivayenta]

Hold on now! Many of us Jews had Jewfros, too! Naturally curly hair!

[@65cj55]

This Song was wildly requested at the Roller Skating Halls, best Decade ever.

[@soofitnsexy]

80s were great too! then everything started to suck ass

[@melbahickox5625]

This is just the music 🎶I grew up in and I am now 66 years old still dancing 🕺❤🎶

[@davidcopple8071]

This song along with the Hustle, the Bump, Carwash, and many more 70s hits were the literal soundtrack of my Junior Highschool years. Not only because they were playing constantly on the radio but we also had a jukebox in the lunchroom of my Junior Highschool and I heard all these, now classics when they first came out. They always bring me back to that lunchroom.

[@sirgalahad3574]

Am I the only one who thinks the brothers with the horns completely make the video?

[@amandawade6148]

This was mid seventies!! Really good album!! Check out more songs by Wild Cherry!! I was jamming to them. Had the 8 track❤️

[@tomh5006]

Roller skating music back in the 70's and 80's, oh yeah! Takes me back!

[@theNOVEMBERman1116]

This makes me think of my childhood the bbq old school jams playing on the record player the cards games and everybody having a good time

[@jasongilbert2379]

KC and the Sunshine Band… Boogie Man!!!

[@mickeymayfield4192]

I remember seeing this when it 1st came on, midnight special was must see 📺

[@kelliej200]

Yes!

[@shevawn1973]

We had FUN back in the day. I graduated high school in '73. Everybody's M.O. was to have a good time...period. No fights, no guns, no attitudes. Drivebys didn't exist. We went out with the goal to dance, and party until we couldn't anymore. We'd go home happy, and tired. Wake up the next day to do it again. I wouldn't trade those times, and memories with today for the World.

[@AllieJ123]

My mother always thought they were singing something other than FUNKY music. She wasn't very happy about it either LOL

[@mikefetterman6782]

For more of Elvin Bishop, the leader here, check out, FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE, one of his where someone is the Lead singer. Mickey has a classic, perfect voice on that one.

[@pirobot668beta]

Ah, the 1907's! There was a feeling, a Groove if you will, that everyone was gonna dance all their cares away inna giant Party! Musical genres were getting funky and experimenting with all sort of influences. Cross-over bands, Rock Stars jamming with Funk-masters with Bluegrass accompaniment...all good! Now we have narrow, uber-specialized musical sub-genres jealously guarded by rabid fans.... You could get inna bad way, mistaking one Artist for another these days! I miss the FUN!!!

[@Zekerose]

I was 12 years old and I remember the video. I fell off my chair laughing when she said it looked like she could pet him. Thanks for the laugh

[@efakter1]

Time to play “ Pick up the Pieces” by The Average White Band.

[@Cyclone74]

Candy Dulfer does a decent version of Pick Up the Pieces with her saxophone.

[@jhcolebank]

Another from this time is the weight from the band with the staples. It's from the album the last waltz.

[@pugowner1347]

LOL. I saw this when it aired. This was one of the very few times they let the band actually play the song instead of lip-syncing it. The base line is great. I still have my Sherwood receiver, Marantz turntable and my Bose 301 speakers that I bought in 1977 set up in my den. Along with 742 of those "big-ass" vinyl albums. AC/DC to Warren Zevon.

[@jimwagner9522]

LOL, I love watching first time reactions to this. The hair, clothes and hairy chests every time. You guys should do a Disco "live" one of these nights.

[@that1mamalady]

I actually have a few pairs of brand new disco platform shoes. I cleaned out mom's attic after she died. She still had these shoes from when she had a shoe store, back in the day

[@kdm71291]

That's an all-time, cool '70s cool funk jam!

[@stratcat3216]

"I could pet him..." LMAO that's the funniest comment EVER!!! I had to sub :)

[@scott3605]

Something I listened to back in the 70s

[@TheJessicahammerly]

Back when music was talent all the time not just sometimes

[@nooceluap7760]

Dang BJ, your uncles still have their platform shoes in the closet! So funny. Love you guys.

[@germangobel7376]

Love you guys! I could watch your reactions for hours.

[@debbiegarrison1944]

Guy in the audience liked them enough to shout the now famous line... Play that funky music white boy. Who knew it would make such an ironic song

[@drew65sep]

Lol...this wasn't too long before the "death of Disco" where radio stations nationwide did a promotion wanting everybody to take all of their Disco LP's, cassette, and 8-track tapes to the local sports stadiums, pile em all up, and set em on fire lol...True story. It really happened.

[@LanceG24]

Ayyy this song is lit!

[@loadedorygun]

PS this is basically Ohio’s version of Sly and the Family Stone-but no joke, multiracial bands fusing rock and R&B and coming out with funk on the other end were rare gems on the landscape. (This was basically their only hit tho; Sly ruled the world for a couple years and may have influenced more music than anyone besides the Beatles.

[@melaniejordan1199]

Gosh, that brought me back! LOL First, I just have to say that I never knew that was a white dude singing!!! :o BJ, your face was awesome through that! LOVE YOU GUYS!

[@MechThe1]

This song is the equivalent of playing at the Apollo. You better bring it.

[@LatinCuz]

I was 10 yrs old when this song was out. I also think about The Dennis The Menace Movie: The Dance off scene between Don Rickles & George Kennedy.

[@thedealer777]

Man, dig that aluminum foil jacket. He looks like an hairy old-style TV dinner from the 70s!

[@benlaw4647]

Aaah, my teen years, remember this one well...."white boy got soul" ,haha....I think I still got some clothes from back then ....haha

[@dannyworten5876]

Nothing from nothing leaves nothing by Billy Preston

[@marinamartinez6886]

Oh yes, at the height of the Disco days. Perms ruled. It was all about dancing back then, clubbing was fun and safe. The worse that would happen is some guys pushing and fighting.

[@michaelwheeling8427]

Lord, I'm having a flashback to A skating rink in the seventies.

[@eddieb7001]

This is when the media did not try to divide! They were all getting along and accepted each culture as equal.

[@GeoffNelson]

Asia asks "is this 70's?" That's like asking if George Washington was American.

[@miketike3246]

Asia's reaction to the two guys in the background is hilarious!

[@deneendipippo6967]

You guys are hilarious! Love it!

[@XA351GT]

The guy twirling the trumpet reminded me of Morgan Freeman on the Electric Company.

[@kennyanderson404]

Yeah I've listen to these guys in the seventies Wild Cherry play that funky music white boy it was on the radio they played it all the time then you got to listen to AWB Average White Band that band is great too

[@garywildgoose767]

Cha... chia....classic....lmao

[@TheOriginalFILIBUSTA]

I heard, "Fur piece!". I Said,"Clip on tail!". But then..."Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!". Dude, you leveled the field...

[@josephmorago8402]

Thanks For The Memories!!!! This Was The First 8-Track I Bought With My Allowance @Tower Records!!!!!

[@deanmyler9152]

Seen them as a house band month later one hit wonder

[@markherring3513]

Same thing with me and guns and roses. Seen them open for Motley Crue and no one cared or head of them. You heard crickets between each song......literally one week later they release Sweet Child O Mine on the radio and they exploded! No lie..it was 7 days, from "never heard of ya" to "OH MY GOD! ITA GUNS n ROSES!!!!!!!!"

[@ravenfeader]

Lucky enough to grow up in this amazing era of music if you only listen to the music and not see the video of any of these classics try find hate you can't .