Flashlight (song)

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"Flashlight"

Single by Parliament
from the album Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome
Released	1978
Format	Vinyl
Genre	Funk
Label	Casablanca
Producer(s)	George Clinton

"Flashlight" is a song by funk band Parliament, released in 1977 on the album Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome. This song was their first R&B number-one hit, and is frequently played at United States sporting events. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "Sabotage" #199 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Flashlight" marked a turning point in popular music, as it introduced the bass synthesizer into the forefront of its rhythm. Originally written as a song for Bootsy Collins, "Flashlight" was re-worked as a Parliament song with Bernie Worrell handling the outstanding keyboard action and lead vocals by bandleader George Clinton. Bootsy Collins, however, contributed to the track by handling drum duties. "Flashlight" continued the "Fake the Funk/Your nose will grow/Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk" concept that actually began with Bootsy's Rubberband's "The Pinocchio Syndrome."

[edit] In the media

Played in the 1999 movie Can't Hardly Wait
Played during the credits in the 1999 movie Muppets From Space
Played in the 2003 video game True Crime: Streets of LA
Played in the 2005 movie Roll Bounce
Played in an Episode of King of The Hill

[edit] Takeoffs

The band Brand Nubian made a self-tribute song called "Brand Nubian" which interpolated a small fragment of both beat and lyrics from this song (the other song they sampled was "Rigor Mortis" by Cameo).
Rapper Snoop Dogg made a song named "Stoplight" on his album, Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$, which has samples from "Flashlight".
Rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien used samples from "Flashlight" in the song "Sunny Meadowz" on his album I Wish My Brother George Was Here.
Rapper Redman samples used samples from "flashlight" on So Ruff from the Album Whut? Thee Album.