The synth line that went around the world

Lipps Inc. was the studio project of Minneapolis songwriter and producer Steven Greenberg. In 1980 he released “Funkytown,” sung by Cynthia Johnson — a song about wanting to leave town for somewhere with more life in it.

Built on a bouncing synth riff and a robotic vocal hook, it went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in many countries around the world.

More than four decades later the riff is instantly recognizable, and the song still turns up wherever a scene needs a dance floor.