Sylvester, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) | DANCE GEMZ

In the 10^th edition of DANCE GEMZ (2023), we totally get down with Sylvester performing the danceable gem,  “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).”

“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…” Prepare to take it to the dance floor, folks! DANCE GEMZ is a column that celebrates awesome dance songs from the past and present.  The records that grace DANCE GEMZ aren’t merely limited to music explicitly characterized as dance.  That means all genres of music – electronic, pop, rock, disco, etc. – are welcome as long as the particular song is associated with dance. In the 10^th edition of DANCE GEMZ (2023), we totally get down with Sylvester performing the danceable gem, “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”.

via GIPHY

“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 “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” a top 40 pop hit .

“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.  

Appears in :

• 19 Songs That Reference Coming Out (2019)
• A Compendium Comprised of 100 Notable LGBTQ+ Songs (2020)
• 15 Gay Anthems That Exude Joy (Vo1. 1) (2021)

Sylvester •   Step II • Concord Music Group • 1978 

Sylvester, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real): Dance Gemz No. 10 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Concord Music Group; Beatriz Braga, Dhemer Gonçalves, Niko Twisty, via Pexels]