Parliament “Flashlight”

I’ve never been confused with someone who is funky. But I can always dream, right?

A few years ago, we visited the Experience Music Project in Seattle, an interactive music museum. On top of having some pretty cool exhibits (dozens of Hendrix guitars; Gene Simmons outifits; footage of the Beatles only visit to Seattle), the whole third floor was like a Children’s Science Museum, for music loving adults. It's called The Sound Lab.

There were interactive guitars, and DJ scratch turntables, and keyboards and mixing boards. You could mix the vocals on The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations,” and pull up or down each different vocal part. There was a harmony singing station, where you went in a soundbooth, with microphones and headphones, and followed a video hosted by the women of Seattle’s own Heart. Ann led my wife on the lead vocal line for “Crazy On You” and Nancy showed me the harmony. Then we put them together.

But the Highlight, was “Flashlight.”

In a small, closetly room, was a large drum kit, with a couple of drumsticks, and a big button that said “Start.”

On “Start” the room lights go down, and a big, bassy, baritone starts the instruction:

“Today, we’re going to learn how to play ‘Flashlight’ by Parliament/Funkadelic.”

Suddenly, the whole kit rumbled to life, with a music track on the speakers, the drum kit started playing itself, banging out the funky beat of “Flashlight.”

“Okay, that’s ‘Flashlight.’ Now you’re going to do it. This big drum at your feet is the kick drum.” The kick drum lit up, and banged out a few beats. “Hit the kick drum on the 1 and the 3. Ready? ONE, two, THREE, four, ONE, two, THREE, four.Good! Now with your right hand, you’re going to hit the snare on the 2 and the 4. Ready? One, TWO, three, FOUR, one, TWO, three, FOUR. Now let’s put it together.”

The tutorial went on for several minutes, breaking down the parts of “Flashlight” then slowly putting them together, until, What do you know? I’m giving up the Funk!

Amazing!

Hear Parliament “Flashlight”

See the George Clinton perform "Flashlight" in 1978, here

See a kid trying to learn "Flashlight" at the Experience Music Project, here