Reading Time: 19 min read

13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; cottonbro studio from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real features songs by Bentley Robles & Frankie Grande, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Madonna, The Kid LAROI, and Sylvester.

“But out here / On the dance floor / I FEEL so free.”
Madonna expressed her FEELINGS, PERIOD.  Bentley Robles & Frankie Grande also had some FEELINGS, and NOT just any kind: “Phantom FEELINGS / Haunt me every season / Choke me for no reason.” Ooh-wee, Bentley and Frankie.  With a couple of throwbacks gracing the playlist at hand, 13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real, the late Donna Summer passionately informs us, “I FEEL love,” while the late Sylvester sings, “You make me FEEL mighty real.” Oh, the FEEL, the FEEL, the – wait for it – FEEL!

 

Once again, we unleash the FEEL – the FEELINGS – on 13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real. 13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real follows up 13Songs Where the FEEL is Real (2023), which followed numerous feelings-driven music compendiums: 14 Songs Where Musicians Are ‘In Their Feelings’ (2018) and Emotional Songs Where It’s All About the Feel, Vol. 1 (2019). 13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real features songs by Bentley Robles & Frankie Grande, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Madonna, The Kid LAROI, and Sylvester. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in as these talented artists share their feelings!


~ Table of Contents ~

1. Madonna, “I Feel So Free”

Madonna, CONFESSIONS II [📷: Boy Toy Inc. / Warner Records]

2. Bentley Robles & Frankie Grande, “Phantom Feelings”

Bentley Robles, Phantom Feelings (Ft. Frankie Grande) [📷: Bentley Robles / ONErpm]

3. Donna Summer, “I Feel Love”

Donna Summer, I Remember Yesterday [📷: The Island Def Jam Music Group]

4. Reiley, “Feeling”

Reiley, Feeling [📷: Reiley]

5. Sylvester, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”

Sylvester, Step II [📷: Concord Music Group]

6. The Kid LAROI, “HOW DOES IT FEEL?”

The Kid LAROI, HOW DOES IT FEEL? [📷: Columbia]

7. Chaka Khan, “I Feel for You”

Chaka Khan, I Feel for You [📷: Warner]

8. Dixon Dallas, “Something To Feel”

Dixon Dallas, Something To Feel [📷: Dixon Dallas]

9. The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”

The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) [📷: Interscope]

10. Elton John, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”

The Lion King [📷: The Walt Disney Company]

11. Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills, “Feel The Fire”

Teddy Pendergrass, TP [📷: Sony Music Entertainment]

12. Rufus & Chaka Khan, “Do You Love What You Feel”

Rufus & Chaka Khan, Masterjam [📷: MCA]

13. James Brown, “I Got You (I Feel Good)”

James Brown, I Got You (I Feel Good) [📷: UMG Recordings, Inc.]

 


1. Madonna, “I Feel So Free”

CONFESSIONS II » Boy Toy Inc. / Warner Records » 2026

Madonna, CONFESSIONS II [📷: Boy Toy Inc. / Warner Records]

“But out here / On the dance floor / I feel so free.”
Noted, Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone). Madge, pushing 68, returned in 2026 with her 15th studio album, CONFESSIONS II. Leading the charge on her new LP is the opener, “I Feel So Free”. It was written by Madonna, Stuart Price, and Lil Louis (Marvin Louis Burns).  Madonna and Price produced it. “I Feel So Free” runs longer than most pop singles – north of five minutes in the two-and-a-half to three-minute age. She sets the tone with the enigmatic spoken-word intro excerpted earlier.  She’s accompanied by a vibrant, dance/electronic-pop backdrop, reminiscent of her “Hung Up” / Confessions on a Dancefloor era. The sound is nothing brand-new, but it slaps, nonetheless. Colorful synths and a hard-hitting, danceable beat never grow stale! The same could be said of Madonna’s voice.  She doesn’t surprise with her performance but sounds respectable. As always, she brings fierceness and personality to the track, particularly the spoken-word, talk-sung moments. Thematically, “I Feel So Free” is simple. She wants to dance, and on the dance floor, guess what? “I feel so free / I feel so free / I feel so free / I feel so free.” But also, dancing with someone special is key, too. “Come on, meet me on the dance floor,” she asserts in the refrain, and continues, “Come here, baby, I can give you much more tonight / Oh, baby, let’s do it right.” Do, huh? All told, “I Feel So Free” is an enjoyable electronic/dance-pop song from a legendary artist who has nothing else to prove. It’s not the second coming, but it’s pleasant and well-rounded.

~ Table of Contents ~

2. Bentley Robles & Frankie Grande, “Phantom Feelings”

Olympus  » Bentley Robles / ONErpm  » 2026

Bentley Robles, Phantom Feelings (Ft. Frankie Grande) [📷: Bentley Robles / ONErpm]So, what happens when you pair the talented, yellow-haired, tatted Bentley Robles and the fearless, theatrical Frankie Grande on the same track? “Phantom Feelings”, of course! Between these two gifted fellas, you get an infectious, irresistible, and unforgettable gay pop duet.  This sugar, honey, iced tea is serving, PERIOD! Robles and Grande came to slay on the penultimate track from the former’s debut album, Olympus. Robles wrote “Phantom Feelings” alongside producer FLORIO (Dominic Florio).  There is no way you don’t leave gagged with this one! Also, upping the ante is a spectacular music video with independent musicians sharing their feelings at Flopstars Anonymous.

Bentley Robles, Olympus [📷: Bentley Robles / ONErpm]“Phantom Feelings” gets off to a captivating start with a colorful, enigmatic wall of sound. After hearing the song in its entirety, the intro makes perfect sense as an excerpt from the epic chorus.  Following the striking intro, “Phantom Feelings” settles into sleek dance-pop. Bentley Robles draws first blood, singing the first verse radiantly.  His tone is spot-on, and his sincerity is undisputed as you lean into every note and lyric he utters.  The melody is tuneful, catching the ear and engaging the first time you hear it. From there, the listener is blessed with a soaring chorus.  The sound is gargantuan, filled with energy, passion, and even more tunefulness. Frankie Grande delivers his solo moment in the second verse. This includes dropping an f-bomb 🫢.  It fits perfectly as he keeps the same energy as his partner in crime.  Like Bentley, the vocals are giving sheer excellence, with Grande complementing and contrasting Robles.  Following another powerful chorus, the bridge distinguishes itself from the rest of the song. Here, our handsome and talented fellas trade lines, leading to the grandest chorus of them all.  The synergy is incredible, with Grande’s theatrical ad-libs coming off marvelously. Without a doubt, “Phantom Feelings” is a surefire pop bop! Bentley Robles and Frankie Grande ate and left no crumbs with their expressive and passionate vocal performance.  Their vocal chemistry is incredibly impressive, especially during the bridge and the outgoing chorus.

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~ Table of Contents ~

3. Donna Summer, “I Feel Love”

I Remember Yesterday  » The Island Def Jam Music Group » 1977

Donna Summer, I Remember Yesterday [📷: The Island Def Jam Music Group]

“Ooh, it’s so good, it’s so good / It’s so good, it’s so good, it’s so good.”
Agreed, Donna Summer! “I Feel Love”, the closing track on I Remember Yesterday, is SO GOOD.  The late Queen of Disco was an icon, and “I Feel Love” is a prime example of why. Even so, before Summer sings one “ooh,” the instrumental is iconic too.  Summer penned this top 10 hit alongside producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.  Moroder and Bellotte outdo themselves. “I Feel Love” begins enigmatically and softly. It crescendos into an ultra-groovy, electronic-driven disco cut. The rhythmic synths are insane. Reflecting on the music, it sounds ‘ahead of its time.’ Would  “I Feel Love” sound anachronistic in the 2020s? I don’t believe so.

Backed by such a scintillating instrumental, Donna Summer shines.  The lyrics are few. She keeps it simple, but the execution – the way she sings – is brilliant.  Continuing to “feel love” in the second verse, she sings, “Ooh, fallin’ free, fallin’ free /… Ooh, you and me, you and me…” The third verse is similar, all experiencing love.  To reiterate, “I Feel Love” was a top 10 hit – one of 14 top-10 hits by Summer.  It peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.  The word ‘vibe’ is used to characterize modern songs, many of which use less of a conventional form and fewer lyrics. “I Feel Love” is a prime example of a ‘vibe’ from the 1970s that remains fresh approaching 50 years later.

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~ Table of Contents ~

4. Reiley, “Feeling”

Feeling” » Reiley » 2026

Reiley, Feeling [📷: Reiley]

“Something about you makes it go away / And I’m desperate, so I’m willing to settle.”
Uh-oh, Reiley (Rani Johann Petersen).  While it’s great that this person makes you feel better, desperation and willingness to settle might not be ideal 😬.  Admittedly, via the pre-chorus of “Feeling”, Petersen asserts, “I don’t know what is real or what I’m making up / And maybe that’s the price of falling in love.” Maybe, my guy, maybe. Reiley wrote “Feeling” with Sesilia Jacobsen and producer Sakaris Emil Joensen.  The feels are real!

“Feeling” is not only emotional, but it’s a surefire vibe. Joensen puts in work behind the boards, crafting a warm, vibrant backdrop that supports Reiley.  Some of the sounds that catch the ear are the keys, synths, and the hard-hitting groove.  Of course, the star of the show is our confused Faroese pop star.  Reiley delivers the goods in the vocal department.  He is powerful, when fitting, while he is good for an incredibly ripe falsetto.  What is indisputable is the passion he brings as he sings about “only chasing a feeling.” He eats in the chorus, admitting, “And it’s the way you make me feel like I need it / Always there, always there on my mind.” Yeah, crushes, particularly if we perceive them to be fine shyt, will have that effect.  In the refrain, post-chorus, Reiley gives us more personal intel: “‘Cause it’s the emptiness that I find appealing / Oh, it’s a feeling.” True, but what kind of feeling is it, really? Food for thought.  Of course, see the second verse, and this savior is no good, standing Reiley up. How could you stand up this handsome, talented fella? By the bridge, Petersen confirms what we were all thinking – this is a no-good, very bad feeling.  We’ve all had ‘em, buddy.  The good news is that Reiley’s confusion and pain are our listening pleasure.  No, we don’t wish bad feelings or vibes on this gifted artist, but “Feeling” is a must-have on the listening rotation.  That boy doesn’t only sing; he SANGS!

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~ Table of Contents ~

5. Sylvester, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”

Step II » Concord Music Group » 1978

Sylvester, Step II [📷: Concord Music Group]

“And I’m still real hot / Then you kiss me there …”
Those sensual lyrics hail from the seminal disco classic, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by the late, great R&B artist Sylvester (Sylvester James, Jr., 1947-1988).  Sylvester was known for his androgynous style, overall flamboyance, and, of course, being an openly gay musician. Sadly, this talented man would die at the young age of 41 from AIDS.  That said, his legacy speaks for itself, specifically on the top 40 pop hit at hand.

“When we’re out there dancin’ on the floor, darlin’

And I feel like I need some more

And I feel your body close to mine

And I know my love, it’s about that time…”

“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” embraces the door being ajar as opposed to closed, if you catch my drift.  Perhaps it is how open that Sylvester was regarding sexuality itself, or the quick tempo coupled with a magnificent beat and otherworldly synths. Sylvester penned “Mighty Real” alongside James Warrick. He produced this dance gem with Harvey Fuqua. This iconic gay anthem feels like a ‘coming out’ party if there ever were one.  From the dancing in the first verse to the sex that’s suggested in the second, it feels like a true embrace of being true to self romantically and sexually.

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~ Table of Contents ~

6. The Kid LAROI, “HOW DOES IT FEEL?”

“HOW DOES IT FEEL?” » Columbia » 2025

The Kid LAROI, HOW DOES IT FEEL? [📷: Columbia]

“It’s different tonight, you looked in my eyes / And now, girl, you’re all that I see.”
Oh, snap!  On his brief single, “HOW DOES IT FEEL?”, The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard) embraces R&B-infused pop with successful results. Rogét Chahayed, Thundercat, Starship, Dopamine, and B. Lewis produced it. Notably, it samples multiple elements from the 2022 Doechii song, “Persuasive”. The sound of the record is marvelous.  The groove is electrifying, setting the tone from the jump. I love the robust bass guitar, the rhythmic guitar, as well as the colorful keys.  The Kid LAROI has a sickening backdrop to sing over.  And sing The Kid does, delivering smooth, easygoing vocals.  He never gets too high or too low. Some of his best vocal moments are the most rhythmic melodic ones. The sections to beat are the catchy, memorable, and tuneful pre-chorus and chorus!  “How does it feel that it’s me and you?” he asks in the pre-chorus, following in the chorus, “‘Cause if you came here to party / Then why you lookin’ down at your phone?” Legit question! All in all, “HOW DOES IT FEEL?” marks another winner for The Kid LAROI.

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7. Chaka Khan, “I Feel for You”

I Feel for You » Warner » 1984

Chaka Khan, I Feel for You [📷: Warner]

“Chaka, Chaka, Chaka, Chaka Khan / Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan.”
Word, Melle Mel! 10-time Grammy-winning R&B artist Chaka Khan scored a huge hit with “I Feel for You”, the sixth track from her 1984, platinum-certified album, I Feel for You. A cover song, it was originally composed and performed by Prince. Arif Mardin produced it.  It became the biggest solo hit of her career, matching the chart success she achieved with Rufus on “Tell Me Something Good”. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA.  Adding to the accolades, “I Feel For You” won the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female.

In “I Feel for You, ” Khan sings her face off, showcasing the dynamic, expressive, and powerful nature of her instrument.  She infuses ample personality. Before she ever sings a note, she is prefaced by rapper Melle Mel, the rare rap feature used in R&B at the time.  After the stuttering intro where Melle Mel ‘gasses her up,’ he drops a brief, relatively clean verse.  “I’ll make you more than just a physical dream / I wanna rock you, Chaka,” he spits, continuing, “Baby, ‘cause you make me wanna scream / Let me rock you, rock you.” From there, Chaka is on autopilot, making the Prince original hers.  “There’s something about the things you do / That keeps me satisfied,” she asserts in the first verse, adding in the pre-chorus, “It’s mainly a physical thing.” Ooh-la-la.  It leads to the satisfying sing-along chorus, “I feel for you, I think I love you.” Beyond her continual desire for this man, Khan is supported by a marvelous backdrop.  The music is funky, amplified by exuberant, high-energy synths, an inescapable groove, and a lit harmonica solo by the one-and-only Stevie Wonder.  No deep analysis is necessary for “I Feel for You”, one of the most epic R&B joints of the 1980s.  Chaka Khan did that!

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8. Dixon Dallas, “Something To Feel”

“Something To Feel” » Dixon Dallas » 2023

Dixon Dallas, Something To Feel [📷: Dixon Dallas]

“I need a man to lay me down and give me something to feel / Come pull me closer, bend me over, I’m just here for the thrill.”
Oh, shiitake mushrooms! Dixon Dallas excels at his role of gay cowboy, gay country music, and titillating by singing about gay sex. “Something To Feel” marks another record by the versatile Jake Hill to raise eyebrows, among other things.  Sexual themes + a countrified sound = lit-ness 🔥. Although brief, Hill sufficiently arouses us – “No strings attached, I’ll arch my back and let you do what you want.” Amplifying the lustful, sexual experience is a minor key.  Also, adding a bit more of modern touch is a hip-hop beat. Vocally, Hill sounds amazing.  It’s interesting that he characterizes Dallas as being a bottom – little spoon – yet he performs with this deep, incredibly masculine sound that is idiomatic of country music.  All told, “Something To Feel” is incredibly fun.  Maybe it makes heterosexuals feel some type of way about the likes of “Getting hot, you really got me cocked and loaded” or “I like it rough, it ain’t enough until I’m screaming your name,” but as for me, YEE HAW, GAY COWBOY 🌈 🤠!

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9. The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”

The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) » Interscope » 2009

The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) [📷: Interscope]

“I got a feelin’ / That tonight’s gonna be a good night / That tonight’s gonna be a good night / That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night.”
WOO! Black Eyed Peas were dominant throughout the 2000s.  Their 2009 multiplatinum album, The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) won will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo, and Apl.de.ap three Grammys.  One of the Grammys was for the most ubiquitous single from the album, “I Gotta Feeling” (Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals).  It spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, the single has been certified diamond by the RIAA.  An entertaining record, it radiates fun and positivity.

The positivity makes “I Gotta Feeling” a premier example of uplifting music. “I know that we’ll have a ball / If we get down and go out and just lose it all,” Fergie sings in the first verse, continuing, “I feel stressed out, I wanna let it go / Let’s go way out, spaced out, and losin’ all control.” Despite bad situations, particularly financially, BEP encourages us to relieve the stress and have a good time tonight.  Adding to the fun, is the refrain, where will.i.am asserts, “Fill up my cup, mazel tov / Look at her dancin’, just take it off / Let’s paint the town, we’ll shut it down / Let’s burn the roof.”  Hell yeah! Later, both will.i.am and Fergie encourage partying every day! “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Do it) / Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday (Do it).” The collective wants us to have fun, not be ‘down in the dumps.’  Ultimately, Black Eyed Peas dropped a pop banger for all time with “I Gotta Feeling”David Guetta and Frédéric Riesterer produced an epic gem for BEP, NO CAP!

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~ Table of Contents ~

10. Elton John, “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”

The Lion King » The Walt Disney Company » 1994

The Lion King [📷: The Walt Disney Company]

“There’s a calm surrender to the rush of day / When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away.” 
Those timeless, unforgettable lyrics hail from “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, one of the truly great songs from the 1990s.  Elton John recorded a masterpiece, plain and simple. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is the 12th and final track from The Lion King.  The film version, penned alongside lyricist Tim Rice, appears as the fifth track. The more sophisticated end title runs a minute longer, featuring a slower, more relaxed tempo. Although the song is associated with The Lion King, one of Disney’s greatest animated films, it is a marvelous standalone song. “Can” peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2018. Impressive. Beyond sales, streams, and chart success, John won his first Academy Award for Best Original Song (beating his other compositions  “Circle Of Life” and “Hakuna Matata”), and a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

Everything about “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” feels right.  It features a gorgeous, adult contemporary sound. This sound was prevalent in the 1990s. The orchestration is top-notch.  John delivers commanding, soulful vocals bringing Rice’s poetic, poignant lyrics to life. “There’s a time for everyone, if they only learn,” he sings in the second verse, adding, “That the twistin’ kaleidoscope moves us all in turn.” John didn’t compose the lyrics, but he penned the marvelous melodies and music. The musical underpinnings, specifically the harmonic progression, are part of the elite musicianship of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” The moment to beat is the chorus, among the most memorable of all time.

“And can you feel the love tonight? (Tonight)

It is where we are

It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer

That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight? (Tonight)

How it’s laid to rest?

It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds

Believe the very best.”

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” is nothing short of iconic.  Elton John has written many hits.  This Disney collaboration with Tim Rice is one of his greatest.

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~ Table of Contents ~

11. Teddy Pendergrass & Stephanie Mills, “Feel The Fire”

TP » Sony Music Entertainment » 1980

Teddy Pendergrass, TP [📷: Sony Music Entertainment]

“Free me, I want to feel the fire / Why do you want to play with my emotion?”
That is a legitimate request and inquiry, Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010) and Stephanie Mills (b. 1957).  This dynamic soul duo ate and left no crumbs on the five-and-a-half-minute love-centric ballad, “Feel The Fire”.  “Feel The Fire” is one of three duets between Mills and Pendergrass, and their second on Pendergrass’s 1980 platinum-certified album, TP. Grammy winner Peabo Bryson (1951 – 2026) originally recorded and wrote “Fire.” Dexter Wansel (1950 – 2026) and Pendergrass produced it.

“Feel The Fire” commences with a warm, sophisticated, and lush backdrop.  The musical accompaniment includes guitar and strings. Stephanie Mills draws first blood, impressing with her silky smooth pipes. “You wanted me to love you when you said,” she sings in the first verse, and continues, “Simply reach out and touch me, my love is in your hands.” Teddy Pendergrass enters the mix, harmonizing with Mills initially (italicized).  Mills and Pendergrass sound incredibly harmonious during the chorus excerpted above. Teddy takes the lead for the first time in the second verse. “And if I should lose your love / For any reason, any reason at all,” he sings, soulful to the nth degree and incredibly smoothly, “Then just let my record show / I gave you all of my love, I know. Additional background vocals complement the duo during the second iteration of the chorus. Following a brief bridge (“Feel it / I want to feel you / feel it,” Pendergrass digs in more during the third and final verse. Mills matches this energy in the following chorus.  Meanwhile, a nuanced, colorful saxophone solo ups the ante. An awesome modulation that takes the intensity to higher heights. By the end of the outro, Pendergrass is at his peak, exhibiting ample grit, oomph, and punch within his vocals.  Mills is impressive in her own right with her nuances and sublime ad-libs.  All told, Pendergrass and Mills exhibit epic vocal chemistry on “Feel The Fire”.  They bring their A-game to this once-in-a-lifetime, love-driven gem.

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~ Table of Contents ~

12. Rufus & Chaka Khan, “Do You Love What You Feel”

Masterjam » MCA » 1979

Rufus & Chaka Khan, Masterjam [📷: MCA]

“Do you love what you feel? / ‘Cause I love what you do to me / Do you love what you feel? / ‘Cause I love what you do to me.”
Ooh-wee! Grammy-winning funk collective Rufus and Grammy-winning R&B diva Chaka Khan delivered a surefire funk bop with “Do You Love What You Feel”. “Do You Love What You Feel” is the opening track from their 1979 collaborative album, Masterjam. Rufus and Khan earned another top 40 pop hit with “Do,” which peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent three weeks at number one on the R&B songs charts. David “Hawk” Wolinski (b. 1948) wrote “Do,” while the late, great Quincy Jones (1933 – 2024) produced it.

Musically, Do You Love What You Feel” is epic. The electrifying groove from the drums and percussion instantly gets the body moving. There are hella funky riffs from the keys, guitar, and bass. Upping the ante are the orchestral music cues: articulated, crisp-sounding horns and soaring strings.  Beyond the instrumental, the vocals are F-I-R-E.  Chaka Khan is on autopilot, wowing with her high-energy vocals. “Baby, when you’re holdin’ me / Somehow, you seem to set me free,” she sings in the first verse, continuing joyfully, “And when I dance with you / Romance with you is all I see.” Beyond Khan’s impressive pipes, the Rufus vocalists match her exuberance (“I’ve spent so many nights / Just picking fights within myself / Until you came to me / And held me like nobody else”).  The melodies are tuneful from the get-go, led by the infectious, unforgettable chorus (excerpted earlier). As the record progresses, we get outstanding riffing by the R&B chanteuse. All told, “Do You Love What You Feel” is one of the funkiest joints from the 1970s, PERIOD.  The vocals, songwriting, and production are flawless. It is impressive how tight this funk cut sounds, considering the number of rhythmic lines and instruments. I’m stunned this distinct cut hasn’t been sampled more.  SWV sampled it on “Do Ya” from their 2012 comeback album. Great taste! 

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~ Table of Contents ~

13. James Brown, “I Got You (I Feel Good)”

I Got You (I Feel Good) » UMG Recordings, Inc. » 1966

James Brown, I Got You (I Feel Good) [📷: UMG Recordings, Inc.]

“Wow! I feel good, I knew that I would now / I feel good, I knew that I would now / So good, so good, I got you.”
James Brown is the undisputed Godfather of Soul. One of Brown’s most revered songs is “I Got You (I Feel Good)”, which he performed with The Famous Flames. “I Feel Good” is the opener from Brown’s 1966 album, I Got You (I Feel Good).  The song was released as a single in 1965.  It marked Brown’s highest-charting single on the pop charts.  It peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  On the R&B charts, it reached no. 1.  Brown composed and produced the iconic classic.

“I Got You (I Feel Good)” is an infectious, feel-good song. What makes James Brown feel good? Her, of course! After Brown sets the tone with expressive, spirited vocals, the groove reveals itself in all its glory.  Those Famous Flames ‘bring the heat’ in the musical accompaniment.  The horns are locked in, with a brief but delightful saxophone solo.  Like most James Brown songs, the lyrics are minimal and repetitive.  The funkiness and the vibe take precedence, in addition to the energy ball that was Brown.  “Wow! I feel nice, like sugar and spice,” Brown asserts in the ‘second chorus,’ adding, “So nice, so nice, I got you!” In the bridge, filled with intensity, he sings, “When I hold you in my arms / I know that I can do no wrong / And when I hold you in my arms / My love won’t do you no harm.” Woo! Little needs to be written about “I Got You (I Feel Good)” – it is best experienced by listening to it! Notably, the ending is sweet, with the late, great icon giving his all: “Hey! Oh!”

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~ Table of Contents ~ » ~ intro ~
13 More Songs Where the FEEL is Real (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Bentley Robles, Boy Toy Inc., Columbia, Concord Music Group, Dixon Dallas, Interscope, MCA, ONErpm, Reiley, Sony Music Entertainment, The Island Def Jam Music Group, The Walt Disney Company, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Records; cottonbro studio from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

 

Categories: EvergreenLGBTQMusicPlaylistsPop Culture

the musical hype

The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.

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