A Funky Space Reincarnation
Encyclopedia
"A Funky Space Reincarnation" is a 1978 funk
single recorded and released in 1979 by Marvin Gaye
on the Tamla
label.
In this song, he described a parallel universe where in the future, he's a captain of a "space bed" and he meets a woman that reminds him of his first wife, Anna
.
He then tells the woman that they'd probably get "married in June" and tells her to "smoke a joint from out of Venus
".
The song, like many of the tracks on Here, My Dear, doesn't have a distinctive melody, hook or a chorus and was obviously inspired by the likes of funk musicians such as Parliament-Funkadelic
and Earth, Wind & Fire
. The song's bridge is a reprise of his song "Anger," found earlier on the album.
The song became a modest hit on the R&B charts
, where it peaked at number twenty-three there. Marvin cut his very first music video with this song where surrounded by his band and a duo of sexy female dancers, he danced and lip-synched the song in a flashy red outfit.
The song has been recently used in the advert for the Dior
perfume J'adore starring Charlize Theron
.
Singer Musiq Soulchild recently sampled the song in his song, "Until", featured on his OnMyRadio album, in 2009.
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
single recorded and released in 1979 by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
on the Tamla
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label.
In this song, he described a parallel universe where in the future, he's a captain of a "space bed" and he meets a woman that reminds him of his first wife, Anna
Anna Gordy Gaye
Anna Gordy Gaye is an American songwriter and composer, known as the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the first wife of soul legend Marvin Gaye, who used their troubled marriage as the focal point of his critically acclaimed 1978 effort, Here, My Dear, an album from which Gordy...
.
He then tells the woman that they'd probably get "married in June" and tells her to "smoke a joint from out of Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
".
The song, like many of the tracks on Here, My Dear, doesn't have a distinctive melody, hook or a chorus and was obviously inspired by the likes of funk musicians such as Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
and Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
. The song's bridge is a reprise of his song "Anger," found earlier on the album.
The song became a modest hit on the R&B charts
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, where it peaked at number twenty-three there. Marvin cut his very first music video with this song where surrounded by his band and a duo of sexy female dancers, he danced and lip-synched the song in a flashy red outfit.
The song has been recently used in the advert for the Dior
Dior
Dior can mean:* Christian Dior SA, a French clothing retailer* In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium:**Dior Eluchíl, a Half-elven of the First Age**Dior , a Steward of GondorDior is a surname, and may refer to:...
perfume J'adore starring Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
.
Singer Musiq Soulchild recently sampled the song in his song, "Until", featured on his OnMyRadio album, in 2009.
Personnel
- All vocals, keyboards and synthesizers by Marvin Gaye
- Produced, written, arranged and composed by Marvin Gaye
- Drums by Bugsy Wilcox
- Guitar by Gordon BanksGordon Banks (musician)Gordon Banks , aka Gordon 'Guitar' Banks, is an American guitarist, producer, writer and musical director. He was voted one of the top 100 guitarists in America in 1985.Banks played an important part in Marvin Gaye's later years...
- Bass by Frank Blair
- Trumpet by Nolan Smith