Released: May 18, 1993

Songwriter: Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Janet Jackson

Producer: Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

[Hook]
And the band plays
And the band plays
And the band plays
And the band plays
And the band plays
And the, and the, and the band plays

[Verse 1]
People gather 'round at the Lennox Lounge
To hear the funky sounds, baby
The beat hits so hard
There's no cover charge
You have to feel the groove

[Chorus]
One thing is, you've got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
He who knows it feels it, got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
We who know it feel it

[Verse 2]
Harlem is the place, where you'll find the face
Of those, who feel the groove, yeah
It's not taught to thee
But it's born to we
Aww and I feel the groove

[Chorus]
One thing is, you've got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
He who knows it feels it, got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
We who know it feel it

[Hook]
And the band plays, from the big band
And the band plays, funky big band

[Interlude]
Funky, can you feel it? Oh funky, to be real
Funky, can you feel it? Oh funky, to be real

[Chorus]
Got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
He who knows it feels it, got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
We who know it feel it
We who know it
We who know it, feel it
We who know it, we who know it, feel this
Got to be real, we who know it, feel this
We who know it, feel this
We who know it, feel this

[Hook]
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays, and the band plays
And the band plays, and the band plays

[Chorus]
Got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
He who knows it feels it, got to be real
If you wanna hear the funky big band
We who know it, feel it, we who know it
We who know it, feel this
We who know it, we who know it, feel this
Got to be real, we who know it, feel this
We who know it, feel this
We who know it, feel this

Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an iconic R&B/pop artist who has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has amassed a number of awards in her illustrious music career.

Born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966, Janet is the youngest of the Jackson family, who rose to prominence a few years after her birth when they signed with Motown Records. Janet joined the family business when she appeared on The Jacksons variety show in 1976, leading to her role as Penny Gordon in Season 5 of the CBS sitcom Good Times. She released two overlooked albums in the early 1980s—Janet Jackson (1982) and Dream Street (1984)—and continued to act during this time, appearing in Diff'rent Strokes and Fame.

The legend of Janet was created after she connected with the legendary Minneapolis production duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to work on her seminal third album, Control. Control and her following album, 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814, featured several #1 pop hits and made her a worldwide superstar. The trio would go on work on Janet’s subsequent hit albums, including janet., The Velvet Rope, as well as her 2015 comeback album, Unbreakable.