Steve Lacy, the feeling | Song Review

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Steve Lacy strikes gold once more with “the feeling,” the lead single from his third LP, Oh Yeah?.

That is personal, Steve Lacy.  The personal narrative is intentional on “the feeling”, the lead single and third track from his third studio album, Oh Yeah?.  He adds in the first verse, “Oh, I can’t be without you.” Oh, snap! The song was written by Lacy, Alice Smith, and Matthew Castellanos.  Lacy produced it.

“The feeling” is a vibe from the get-go.  It features an intimate, warm, and easygoing sound.  Even so, it’s also rhythmic, especially thanks to its ‘active’ groove. The production and instrument palette are fabulous. Also fabulous is Steve Lacy, who delivers expressive and nuanced vocals. His tone is incredibly pure – lovely to the nth degree.  With his delightful pipes, he keeps things melodious throughout. Also, he brings it with these personal, relatable deets lyrically and thematically. “The heart wants what it wants,” he sings in the pre-chorus, and continues, “I’m not scared to bleed, you know our history.” Word. Even with increased rhythm and a more melodic rap cadence and flow during the second verse, the tunefulness remains.  “Staring at your pictures, wishing that I was with you / Drunker than a bitch, sure’d be nice to kiss you,” he admits in the second verse, adding, “I can’t let you go, I’m in love with you.” In the chorus, he asks, “Am I your baby?” I felt that. Beyond Lacy’s smooth pipes leading the charge, singing these vulnerable love-driven lyrics, the vocal arrangement, with its layered background vocals, further ups the ante.  In short, “the feeling” is a stellar Steve Lacy joint.  Is this surprising in the least? No. Lacy has quite the knack for this music thing, and once more, he strikes gold with this mesmerizing gem.

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Steve Lacy » Oh Yeah? » RCA Records / L-M Records » 7.17.26 [📷: RCA Records / L-M Records]

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