Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
B-side
  
"Her Silent Smile"

Genre
  
Funk, Jazz, R&B, Disco

Released
  
July 1980

Label
  
GRP/Arista

Length
  
3:44 (Single Version) 4:43 (Album Version)

Writer(s)
  
Tom Browne, Toni Smith (Thomassina Carrollyne Smith)

"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. 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. "Funkin' for Jamaica" peaked at number nine on the dance chart and made the Top 10 on the UK singles chart.

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 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.
  • 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. 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.
  • In 2006, contemporary jazz guitarist Patrick Yandall covered the song from his album "Samoa Soul."

    • References

    Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA