Chaka makes her best and funkiest album for over two decades, and her powerful voice -- that first hit the airwaves with Chicago funk band Rufus in the 1970s and punched out the mighty "Ain't Nobody" and "I'm Every Woman" in the 1980s-- on this recording shines throughout.
"Funk This", which debuted at number 15 on America's top 200 album chart - her highest chart position since her first solo album in 1978 peaked at number 12 - is a return to Khan's purity.
Recorded in analogue, it's how she sounded before the "I Feel for You"-style disco anthems of the '80s.
The album opens with an autobiographical song she co-wrote with Terry Lewis. Over the slap-wristflick of retro-funk, Chaka recalls growing up fast in "Chi-town" where her "Momma was strict about them kids".
The vocals are tight and scratchy-raw. They capture the pent-up frustrations of a young girl whose curfew meant she was "Missing the funk of the night".
The mid tempo dancer "Back In The Day" has that Rufus sound to it, and that is also evident in the covers of two Rufus classics "Pack'd My Bags/You Got The love" featuring Tony Maiden.
The funky mid tempo dancers "Superlife" , "Sign Of The Times" and "Hail To The Wrong" keep up the pace, whilst the melodic mid tempo floater "One For All Time" is also classy.
Most of Khan's musical heroes are women: she's particularly effusive on the subject of her friend Joni Mitchell, who she says is "a genius and always just a beat away from funk." The new album features a cover of Mitchell's "Ladies' Man", on which Khan pours the ache of personal experience into lines such as: "Couldn't you just love me like you love cocaine?"
The beat ballads "Angel" and the raunchy version of "Foolish Fool" are also good. On "Angel", Chaka works through of her own drug use. "Troubled little angel," she sings "inconsistent flying blind most of the time/ Drama Queen/ Preening and untangling the feathers in her wings/ Captured by her dreams desperately she sings".
"Funk This" is a mixture of originals and covers of some of the best Rhythm and Blues, Funk, Blues, and Soul music from the past thirty to forty years.
One of the songs to show off her delicacy of touch is her cover of the Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made Of Sand". A mid-tempo song about the impermanence of dreams and the dangers of living in a fantasy world, where Ms. Khan utilizes her voice to help generate a mood appropriate to the song.
This song is also a good example of her ability to put the song ahead of her ego instead of making it about her and her talents. While younger, less mature singers will look for any excuse to unload pyrotechnics and show off their abilities, Chaka is content to let the mood of the song dictate her performance. Listening to her duet with up- and-coming powerhouse singer Mary J. Blige on the most exciting track of the album "Disrespectful" that difference is made perfectly clear. The song is a Blige composition.
"It's the kind of song two women can really sing together," says Khan, who admits that when she listens to the track now she can hardly tell where her voice ends and the younger singer's begins.
You certainly wouldn't want to be the man on the receiving end of this duo. As the jerky beat smacks you round the face, Blige and Khan take total control of the song and the relationship it describes. "You can't make me lose my mind," they roar. "I'm too strong for you".
Also amazing is Chaka's versatility as a singer as demonstrated by the range of material that "Funk This" has to offer : from the full throttle Funk of the opening track "Back In The Day" to the ballad "Angel".
She shows that slowing the pace down does nothing to detract from her sincerity as a singer.
Too often people with strong voices become stentorian when faced with a ballad and equate emotion with loudness and straining for the upper regions of the scale.
Music icons like Chaka Khan are often stifled by the pressures of delivering a successful album to their fans.
"Funk This" is an album for all skeptics.
Through the preparation for this album, Chaka has admitted that she has "been on a little journey in the last few years".
Sometimes the path to re-discovery leads us back to where originally we began. Chaka Khan's "Funk This" reminds us why we fell in love with her over 30 years ago.
The reason is because she's hopelessly...FUNKY !

Every song on this album reminds of Chaka back in the day when she was with Rufus. Unbelievable this Album is great!!!!

"Funk This" is Chaka's Grammy-winning return to the music scene, her first studio album in almost 10 years. I am one of Chaka's biggest fans and was really looking forward to this. I must say, it's not nearly as good as the rest of her solo catalog. Chaka does not possess the kind of pipes she had on "The Woman I Am" so the performances on "Funk This" come off a bit restrained. Most of the stand-out cuts here happen to be the original material. "Angel" is quite simply stunning! "Will You Love Me" and "Hail To The Wrong" are terrific little dance dittys. "Disrespect", however, finds Chaka out of her zone. Clearly, this was produced with Beyonce in mind. She and Mary J. Blige yell through the entire song. And why Chaka would want to make a Beyonce-sounding record is beyond me.

The other half of the CD include cover songs, which really drag the CD down. The only standout is her duet with Micheal McDonald on "You Belong To Me". Originally a boring ballad recorded by Carly Simon and later by Anita Baker, Khan and McDonald kick it up a notch and turn it into a foot-tapping, midtempo tune. "Sign Of The Times" is an interesting remake but the lyrics are very out-dated. The rest of the covers are simply not that good. The remake of her own classic "You Got The Love/Pack'd My Bags" was okay, but when an artist starts remaking their own songs, it's usually a sign of a career that is in trouble.

Another issue I had with this CD is some of it sounded really old-fashioned with the 'wah-wah' voice box or whatever they call it. That kind of stuff played out in the early 80's. Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad album in any way. It's just not one of her better ones. However, I am glad that it finally put her back on the charts (after a serious mis-step with 2005's "Classikhan") and added a couple more awards to her mantle.

This will end up in your funk favs for sure. Still one of the most original soul vocalists to ever record.

This new and long waited CD of Chaka Khan is something to her devoted fans. Her vocals sound as good as her " Masterjam "times in the 80`s.

I was not very thrilled to featured artists like Michael Mcdonald or Mary J. Blige because they don`t support overall impression.

But I like Chaka and her style. Good music. One of her best albums, I think.

After hearing the song "Angel" I figured at least 99% of the cd would be the bomb. I've always been a big Chaka fan but this cd did not do anything for me, except "Angel".

One of my favorite R&B vocalists for the past three decades, Chaka Khan shows that at age 54, she is even more of a powerhouse now than she was in her salad days with Rufus. Khan's unique gift is in the way she modulates her commanding lung power to fit the musical genre, whether it's jazz, power ballads, or pure funk. After a decade-long reprieve from recording, she comes back strong with the assistance of Janet Jackson's former producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, along with James "Big Jim" Wright, on a mix of original songs and covers that lives up to the album's title. In fact, the new material shows how relevant Khan still is now, for example, the quiet storm styling of "One for All Time", the poignant "Angel", the percolating swing of "Hail to the Wrong", and the wah-wah groove of "Super Life".

"Back in the Day" opens the disc with a twangy paean to her hometown of Chicago ripened with Khan's full-out belting. She goes old-school with her sauntering cover of Dee Dee Warwick's 1969 "Foolish Fool", while "Will You Love Me?" is straight-ahead funk wrapped in a beat-heavy chorus. Khan's cover of Prince's "Sign `o' the Times" shows her to be a true kindred spirit to the Purple One as she dexterously manages his complicated lyrics over a loping beat. A wave of welcome 1970's-era nostalgia wafts over the medley, "Pack'd My Bags/You Got the Love" split quite discretely and sounding very much like vintage Rufus replete with former group member Tony Maiden on guitar. She tackles Joni Mitchell's jazz-oriented "Ladies' Man" (from Mitchell's 1982 Wild Things Run Fast album) with surprising aplomb and a sharp affinity with the scabrous lyrics.

The album stumbles a bit on the inevitable star duets. She pairs up with Michael McDonald on his old chestnut, "You Belong to Me", written when he was fronting the Doobie Brothers and covered successfully by Carly Simon in 1978. While both sing effectively with their signature voices, the arrangement lacks any surprise as it's basically the same as before save for a few funk flourishes. Khan also duets with Mary J. Blige on the latter's James Brown-inspired "Disrespectful", though I wish more effort was placed on melding their competing voices more seamlessly. While the song jumps and swings, it unfortunately feels like Blige and Khan are in two different rooms. By herself, Khan covers Jimi Hendrix's classic "Castles Made of Sand" with her trademark sass, although she inexplicably moves in and out of a marginal sing-speak approach. Overall, it's a welcome return for a legendary singer well missed.

Chaka Khan hasn't lost a thing where her talents are concerned. Her voice is strong, funky, and raw as ever. As a true artist, she refuses to stay stagnant and with this cd reaches to a new height, not only with her vocals, but with her song-writing (Every one is hot!). No wonder she received the Grammy award for best R&B album!!

The opening number "Back In The Day" (written by Chaka) smolders with a heated groove. "Foolish Fool" takes a blues song, originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick, and turns up the heat to red-hot. "Angel" (written by Chaka) is the anthem of the album! Her vocal rips with passion!! Equally for Chaka fans and/or Hendrix fans, enjoy her tribute with "Castles Made Of Sand". Believe it--- Jimi would be proud! And Jesse Johnson on guitar does justice to this version. "Disrespectful" written by Mary J. Blige (Chaka duets with Mary J.) deservedly won the R&B song for Grammy 2008. This song will burn up your cd player! Chaka pays tribute to Prince in his song "Sign 'O' The Times"... Wow! Could Joni Mitchell have envisioned her song "Ladies Man" being sung with such raw soul? Chaka's duet with Michael McDonald on "You Belong To Me" breathes new heat into an old favorite.

Chaka Khan vocally pays tribute to some of the best in the business and reaches new heights with her song writing. Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have created a winner! If you are a true Chaka fan and only stop listening after you hear "Angel", you deserve to give this cd another chance. These songs are worth an encore (and then some). The more you play it, the more you'll love it! Enjoy!!!

I'm a HUGE Chaka fan. This lady doesn't get her proper respect. She's the queen of "sexy soul funk." On "Funk This" the music is definitely funky but I'm disappointed because I can barely understand the lyrics. No one can touch her style for brave inflections, she won't be denied!... she's Chaka. I know that's her signature singing style but the lyrical slurs really kill the CD. I feel cheated because when the music is "blah" some good lyrics would surely sweeten the deal. And vice versa, when the lyrics are clear, the melogy and singing are over the place! The first few times listening to this CD, I could only listen to the first 5 tracks before I was no longer really listening. The best songs are "Angel", "Will You Love Me", "Foolish Fool" and "One for All Time. "Sign O the Times" and "You Belong To Me" are classics that are too "80's" for a comeback CD and seem to be thrown in as fillers. Still love ya Chaka!

I adore Chaka Khan. She is one independant woman with guts. Just look at her track record.
She left Warner Bros and started her own record label in 1998, and recorded (with the help of Prince) "Come to My House", which was hailed by the critics and justly so. It was criminally buried because there was no promotional backing (being her own small record label).
Forward 9 years or so, CK signs to Sony. Funk This is a brilliant CD don't get me wrong, but I'm strangely suspicious that it has won two grammy's when "House" was a far superior record.
All hail Chaka anyway, because for me, she has finally gotten the grammy's she should've had 10 years ago........

This is not a bad CD, I was expecting a much better CD considering the level of talent that appears. Chaka's voice is still the most amazing in the business, but these song truly demonstrate the lack or creativity That plagues the music industry.

On Tuesday, February 5th, I was cruising home late from work when I heard the song, "Angel" for the first time. I caught the last minute of the song and said to myself, "This song is jamming!" This is the closest thing to the ballads that Chaka Khan would belt out (as part of Rufus) back in the 70's. I ordered it the next day and shelled out the bucks to get '1' day delivery (I'm a member of Amazon Prime!). I've since loaded the song on my PC at work and have been grooving ever since. The rest of the album? Not bad. However, "Angel" is definitely the track for me! My rating for the CD: '4' stars. For the track "Angel:" 10 stars (If Chaka could only have more material like this to work with - she'd really be back on top!!!!)

On Tuesday, February 5th, I was cruising home late from work when I heard the song, "Angel" for the first time. I caught the last minute of the song and said to myself, "This song is jamming!" This is the closest thing to the ballads that Chaka Khan would belt out (as part of Rufus) back in the 70's. I ordered it the next day and shelled out the bucks to get '1' day delivery (I'm a member of Amazon Prime!). I've since loaded the song on my PC at work and have been grooving ever since. The rest of the album? Not bad. However, "Angel" is definitely the track for me! My rating for the CD: '4' stars. For the track "Angel:" 10 stars (If Chaka could only have more material like this to work with - she'd really be back on top!!!!)

The CD was just OK for me.

After hearing "Angel" on the radio, I thought maybe the 'ole Chaka was back. Although She is back,I felt the songs did not reach out and grab me like "Angel."

I've been a fan of Chaka's since the `70s - her vocal agility is intact on "Funk This," but I find some of the songs to be weak. I'm not sure why she would re-cut "You Got the Love"... her pipes sound a little shrill at times, too. Still, a few gems are on here, and - she IS Chaka.

Not as good as GHAKA CD that I enjoyed the entire CD I just cant stop playing.This CD had only two sets that i liked.

I have been a fan of Chaka since the days of Rufus (Whoever Is Thrilling You Is Killing Me). I have been to every New York/New Jersey concert with the group and without. When I saw that she decided to do a cover of Dee Dee Warwicks 'Foolish Fool' I was hooked. I have the original version of the song and I always thought that Dee Dee was the better singer than Dionne. But Chaka is clearly in a good place in her life. You can hear it in her vocals. The only songs I wasn't really crazy about was her version of Prince's Sign 'O' the Times and You Belong to Me. Other than that, I LOVE this cd. It is worth every penny if you are a true fan of a REAL vocalist.

This release is the closest that CK has gotten to classic Rufus/early CK, in my opinion. If funk is what you want, you'll find it here. If you want to hear arrangements that are worthy of her vocal ability, FINALLY!!!, buy this CD. And if you've ever had a relationship go wrong (and especially if it's a recent event), you'll want to listen to "Disrepectful" over and over again. (I do!)

Khan belts out the best funky music ever. Good background music and singers makes this a very enjoyable CD.

Chaka is in a much better place on this cd. Smooth, sultry and totally Chaka. Nice Cd

Chaka Kahn, Ckaka Kahn, Home-girl is back with a vengeance. The new CD entitled "Funk This" is out and Chaka is literally Funkin'
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis help Chaka get her Funk-on and some of these cuts are truly Funked-up!!!
I have read that Chaka's intent was to make this a funky CD. She has definitely achieved her objective.
Chaka is an artist with a big voice and wide range which is displayed thoughout this CD. She sounds at her best when she is in the lower range and under control. Her voice sounds a little grittier but is as sensual and full as it was twenty years ago.
The single that is being played on the radio is "Angel" This song is vintage Chaka, low and under control then she unleashes the "voice". I really like this song, but my favorite song from this Cd is "Will You Love ME" this song totally rocks. It is Funk incarnate. This song has a funky groove, Jimmy Jam is on the keyboards and Chaka is Chaka...nuff said. I need to mention that there is a song called "Disrespectful" which features "Mary J Blige" I have one word for this song......Awful...Mary can't compete with Chaka range- wise and the song appears to be recorded at a higher level with Mary and Chaka shouting the lyrics, what were they thinking? The song simply does not work, they would have been better served to have recorded some type of ballad that would have show-cased their talents, but somehow, sticking with the funk and up-tempo theme they blew it.
Two more songs worth mentioning; There is a remake of Prince's "Sign Of The Times" very nicely done. "You Belong To Me" is a song written by "Michael McDonald" and "Carly Simon" This is very nice I'm a big fan of Mr. McDonald and this rendition with Chaka is just "groovy"...ha-ha
The more I listen to this CD the better I like it. IMO, this CD is worth the price of admission.

Legendary singer Chaka Khan is red-hot & fiery in this tremendous collection of stunning vocal performances that are among her best ever & opening with a self-penned funky grinder "Back In The Day", it is obvious the legendary lady is back in peak form in a grandiose & inspired production...late legendary singer/songwriter Ed Townsend's timeless "Foolish Fool" is definitive here featuring a gritty raw performance from Chaka that is soul-deep and satisfying.
Something very special about "Funk This" are winning self-penned keepers like the unique & rhythmic complex "One For All Time" and numerous others which show Chaka to be a wonderfully accomplished songwriter/composer making it easy to why this masterful & tremendous collection earned Chaka Khan two Grammy Awards...BRAVO CHAKA!
Chaka is back better than ever and a classic Khan performance is always a joy to behold so sit back and listen in wonder to "Angel" and be stunned by a performance of great depth and beauty...be enthralled by an artist at the peak of her wondrous ability to take the listener to another dimension in a haunting and brilliant way.
"Will You Love Me?" is exotic & mesmerizing with another brilliant Kahn vocal hitting scorching heights while a fascinating Jimi Hendrix original "Castles Made Of Sand" is an engrossing rocker then hold on for the Grammy winning duet with Chaka & Mary J. in awesome from making "Disrespectful" the greatest DIVA DUAL in many years while in better musical times than this current musical drought, "Sign'O'The Times" penned by Prince would have been a huge #1 Blockbuster Hit like "I Feel For You"...magnificent in every way, this funky anthem will grow on anyone who loves a brilliant magical musical ride after a just a few spins...awesome arrangement and Chaka hits incredible vocal heights!
By now it is clear the amazing team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are the perfect match made in musical heaven for Chaka Khan as every song is unique and brilliant with totally inspired musicians giving it all they've got!!! Let's wish & hope this wondrous team goes in to the studio to produce another stunning musical masterpiece as this feel good music for the soul is as good as it gets!
Bravo Chaka & Co...you guys really rock and did it all this time!!!!!

I agree with many of the other reviews comments that Chaka's voice is up to quality we have come to expect over the last 3 decades. Mega!
On a first listen ALL the songs don't instantly grab you....although I can't think of a Chaka album where all the material is A1 anyway (maybe with the exception of Naughty).
Coming from a musician/producers perspective, I think it's a crying shame that Jimmy Jam and co. didn't use live drums (although the programming is fantastic)!! Which means the overall sound of the record sounds a bit 90's!! The saving grace was that "REAL" bass and percussion are used throughout which reminds me of the Naughty album.

Chaka Khan is back!
Anytime Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are involved you are going to have a great product.
A friend ask me how did they get her to sing like she use to?
R&B lovers this is a good one.

I found this album to be pure Chaka. She has returned in full voice.

Great CD.

Yes!!! I have been waiting for this. No wonder its selling so well and has a Grammy nomination. Tracks that really stand out on this album are Angel (that goes without saying), Back In The Day, Hail To The Wrong, You Belong To Me and oh what the hell..the whole CD is great. Its being in my player for a about 3 weeks now. Will there be a tour?

I am not impressed with this album at all. Not the same as her previous releases.

This project hearkens back to the days of Rufus & Chaka in songwriting & performance ! Songs are great, familiar & fresh all @ the same time ...that alone is worth the price of admission ! Buy it , give it out as presents, just don't download it ! :-)

Funk This is one of the best cd's of 2007.
Standout cuts are "Angel" , "Will you love me" and "One for all time".Young Divas should take note and FUNK THIS.....
CHAKA IS BACK.

CHAKA BRING THE HEAT, BACK! My wife knows what kind of music I love and this is one of them, Funk This is AMAZINGLY FUNKY! I am soooooo glad that artist from the 70's are bringing the MUSIC back. I DO love some Hip Hop and Metal music (you'll see my reviews) but FUNK is it for me. James Brown, Parliment Funkadelic, The Chambers Brothers, Slapbak, (Early) Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tower of Power, Fishbone, Weapon of Choice, etc. When Chaka sings, she does not have to struggle with hitting high notes because she's a master of it. Now all we need is for MORE 70's artist to come strong: like Tavares, Sly and the Family Stone, Rare Earth. Chaka's Back!

BROOKLYN S T A N D U P!
Cooper Park, Baby
50 Debevoise Ave

Have always loved Chaka and was really glad to see her appear once more. It's been 10 years since her last one.

This is one of Chaka's best works to date! I would definitely recommend it to any lifelong Chaka fan. She even does a respectable cover of Jimmy Hendrix Castles Made of Sand and adds new versions of a couple songs from her Rufus days. Listened to it last night and again in my car on the way to work today! A Must!

I purchased her first album in high-school back in the day, right about the time Stevie Wonder wrote one of her
first hits with Rufus. This is by far some her best work. Tracks" Will you Love me? and Disrespectul are instant
R and B Classics. We should all be thankfull that we are still able to enjoy the work of this very impressive artist.

Anyone that complains about this album, needs to clean out their ears, put down the ipods and listen to this
great album on a REAL STEREO with REAL Speakers.

I put this in CHAKA KHAN'S Top 5 albums.
R & B is here to Stay.

For the most part, this cd is most worthwhile, especially the song,"Angel" and the fact that Chaka Kahn is singing, some of the other tracks are less than stellar due to excessive screeching that Ms. Kahn does not have to do in order to appeal to the masses.

i was originally going to write: "this disc is worth it if only for the song 'disrepectul'..." but the more i listen to it (which has been A LOT), the more that title could be replaced w/ ANY song on this disc....this has got to be the most satifying solo ablbum she has put out (and that's even more than her first one or "in my house")...