n.SSign have promised three title tracks from their newest album, and they seem to be spreading them out. Funk Jam arrives over a month after they started promoting Happy & (a song that grew on me a lot, by the way). When I first saw the album’s track list, the combination of the words “funk” and “jam” immediately piqued my interest. Could we possibly be getting music in line with funk titans like Prince or Earth, Wind & Fire? In the tightly-structured and hyper-choreographed world of K-pop, could we actually see an idol group jam out?
Well… no and no. Honestly, I feel duped and it’s probably my own fault for getting my hopes up. In this case, both “funk” and “jam” feel like lip service. Yes, the song is a bit funky (and jazzy) in places, but delivered in a subdued style that veers much closer to K-pop stereotypes. The beat gets my head nodding but misses the extra syncopation that truly sets funk music alight. The rhythm plods where it should dance, leaving the vocals to do most of the heavy lifting.
Thankfully, those vocals are quite enjoyable. n.SSign continue to be more engaging performers than most of their music lets on, and they clearly have the skill to blow a song like this wide open. Why, then, does Funk Jam feel so constrained? If you’re going to keep the energy this steady, you might as well let the guys showboat and bend the melodies to their will, old-school EXO style.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
More funk like a smooth jazz funk than a James Brown funk, more like Richard Bona or Stevie Wonder jazz funk, like SM Station’s “Coffee Break” from some years ago. The pre-chorus and certain lines of the chorus are all Stevie style chords.
But I get it, it didn’t hit me at first until the third or fourth listen, then it hit. It grew on me quick. I’d give it mid-8’s.
For the kids here:
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I was not feeling it as much and then I thought of the advice you give here once in a while, and played it at 0.5
Much better
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Interesting, I would not have thought to slow it down. Yasssssss.
1.15 or 1.2x is about perfect for me. Closer to “Coffee Breaks” spritely speed.
Slowing it down to 0.85x makes it closer to a slow jam. A rather nice slow jam, actually. The chorus just boogie-in-the-office-chair rocks out at 0.85x, the verses kind of lag with this mostly synth instrumental. Now if were better musicians live to tape in a studio, 0.85x could be all fantastic.
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I don’t often play around with speed changes the way you guys do, but this had me curious and… yep, that chorus kind of slaps at 0.85x. Who woulda thought?
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Lol, I meant 1.25, I don’t know where my head was at at the time. Sounds a little strange listening to it in 0.5 doesn’t it? haha
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Ohhh, I loved this! Maybe that’s the result of me going in blind instead of any having any expectations. IMO, totally thought this sounded like it could be an ONF b-side. Which is pretty complimentary in my books.
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I totally get what you said, sound like an ONF b-side ! As for you I didn’t had any expectation as well that’s probably why we enjoyed it.
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