The Jackson 5

Released: September 8, 1970

Songwriter: Willie Hutch Richard Hutch Lester Lee Carr

Producer: Hal Davis The Corporation

[Chorus: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Show me how funky
Is your chicken now (Can you do it, can you do it, can you do it)
Let me see you get away, get away
When the band starts kickin' now
Show me how funky
Is your chicken now (Can you do it, can you do it, can you do it)
Let me see you get away, get away
When the band starts kickin' now, yeah yeah

[Jermaine]
Oh, if you can do the funky chicken better than I can
I don't mind givin' in to the baddest man (To the baddest man)

[Jackie]
Ooh, but I said I (I said I) like competition (Like competition)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

[Jermaine]
'Cause a little competition now keeps me condition now

[Michael]
Oh, oh, oh so you better come on (Come on) come on (Come on)
Come on (come on), yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah (come on)

[Jermaine]
So get yourself in the groove and get ready to move, come on

[Chorus: Michael + (Jackson 5)]
Show me how funky
Is your chicken now (Can you do it, can you do it, can you do it)
Let me see you get away, get away
When the band starts kickin' now
Show me how funky
Is your chicken now (Can you do it, can you do it, can you do it)
Let me see you get away, get away
When the band starts kickin' now

[Jermaine]
You've been spreadin' rumors
You're the baddest on two feet
Let me tell you buddy
I'm ready to compete

[Jackie]
We're gonna have a showdown
I'm ready, how 'bout you?

[Jermaine]
Oh, we're gonna dance til the midnight hour
Or 'til the sun come shinin' through

[Michael]
Oh, come on (Come on) come on (Come on)
Come on, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Jermaine]
Put yourself in the groove and get ready to move, come on

[Michael]
We're gonna have a showdown
Gonna get the low down, yeah, yeah, yeah
Showdown
You ought to be around
Gonna have a showdown
We're gonna get the low down...

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.

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