Mark Ronson Calls Up Mary J. Blige, George Clinton & Grandmaster Flash For "Uptown Funk"
"Uptown Funk" isn't going anywhere, and we've got no complaints about it. Friday evening its composer and life-giver, Mark Ronson, held what amounted to an "all stars of funk" session at Glastonbury festival as he brought out Mary J. Blige, George Clinton and Grandmaster Flash--all to perform his stratospheric hit.
As those unmistakable "Uptown Funk" handclaps kept time, Ronson first brought out Grandmaster Flash, assuring the crowd "Without him I wouldn't be here on this stage." Flash took control of a pair of decks and then--Mary J. Blige. Blige handled the track's lead vocals, filling in handily for Bruno Mars, and combined with the stage's massive light show, airtight band, double-dutch jumpers and, of all things, Grandmaster Flash taking a damn cell phone video, the Glastonbury performance seemed to have thousands of people rocking forth and back like it was 1985 all over again.
But there was one more legend to introduce--one man that, without whom "Uptown Funk" would just be plain uptown. As the bridge hit, Ronson introduced the P-Funk president himself George Clinton to thunderous applause. Clinton filled in on supporting vocals as Ronson let the groove go 'round, treating the crowd to a session that spanned numerous generations. Ronson reportedly brought out a number of other special guests during his festival set, including Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, Theophilus London and Boy George, who joined him for a reggae take on the Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" Ronson got emotional mid-set as he introduced his Amy Winehouse collaboration "Valerie," telling fans "We've tried this song a bunch of different ways but tonight it feels right to play the original vocal that we recorded together. Her music lives on. This is a celebration of that. Sing along, sing to the heavens. Nobody will ever top this vocal." Watch the "Uptown Funk" madness in its entirety below.