Something He Can Feel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Template:Short description

Page Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.

"Something He Can Feel"
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found.
One of A-side labels of the U.S. vinyl single
Template:Infobox song/link by Aretha Franklin
from the album Music from the Warner Bros. Picture "Sparkle"
B-side"Loving You Baby"
ReleasedMay 5, 1976
RecordedApril 1976
StudioCurtom (Chicago, Illinois)
GenreSoul[1]
LengthScript error: No such module "hms".
LabelAtlantic
[[Songwriter|SongwriterTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Curtis Mayfield
[[Record producer|ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Curtis Mayfield
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:GetParameters' not found. singles chronology
"You"
(1976) 		"Something He Can Feel"
(1976) 		"Jump" / "Hooked On Your Love"
(1976)

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

"Something He Can Feel" is a song composed by American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer Curtis Mayfield for the 1976 motion picture Sparkle. The song, a love ballad in a Chicago-/Philly-soul style, became a number-one hit on the US Billboard's R&B singles chart in the United States twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by Aretha Franklin from the film's soundtrack (see 1976 in music), and a 1992 cover by girl group En Vogue (see 1992 in music).

Aretha Franklin original

In the original 1976 version of the film Sparkle, the song is performed by "Sister & the Sisters", with Lonette McKee on lead vocal, and Irene Cara and Dwan Smith on backing vocals. The version of "Something He Can Feel" present on the film's soundtrack album replaces the vocal tracks with those of Aretha Franklin and the Kitty Haywood Singers, with the instrumental tracks remaining the same.

Sparkle revolves around the lives of the members of Sister & the Sisters, a 1960s Motown-esque girl group, and "Something He Can Feel" is present in the film as part of their repertoire. Franklin's recording of the song was issued as the first single from the album. It was her seventeenth #1 hit on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, peaking at #28 Pop in Billboard and #30 Pop in Cash Box. It was Franklin's only pop Top 40 hit during the second half of the 1970s.[2]

Sparkle would be remade in 2012, as would "Something He Can Feel", this time performed by Carmen Ejogo on lead vocal with Jordin Sparks and Tika Sumpter on backing vocals. In an allusion to Aretha Franklin's version of the song and soundtrack, Sister & Her Sisters perform "Something He Can Feel" as part of a live TV performance headlined by Franklin.

Personnel

  • Aretha Franklin - vocals, piano

Usage in media

Franklin's version of the song was featured in the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, being performed by contestants Jujubee and Tatianna in a "lipsync for your life".

Charts

Chart (1976) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 28
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 1

Afrika Bambaataa feat. Boy George version

In 1988, hip hop artist, Afrika Bambaataa recorded a cover version of "Something He Can Feel". The cover was released on the album, The Light, a collaboration album with lead vocals on this song by Boy George.

En Vogue version

Page Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.

"Giving Him Something He Can Feel"
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found.
Template:Infobox song/link by En Vogue
from the album Funky Divas
ReleasedScript error: No such module "Date time".
RecordedLate 1991–January 1992[3]
Genre
LengthScript error: No such module "hms".
LabelEastWest
[[Songwriter|SongwriterTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Curtis Mayfield
[[Record producer|ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text]]
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:GetParameters' not found. singles chronology
"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)"
(1992) 		"Giving Him Something He Can Feel"
(589) 		"Free Your Mind"
(1992)
Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox".

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Fifteen years after Sparkle was released, American R&B group En Vogue recorded a cover version of "Something He Can Feel"—retitled "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"—produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster. The lead vocals are sung by Dawn Robinson and the background vocals are done by Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones. The En Vogue cover was released as the second single from the group's second album, Funky Divas (1992), in June 1992 by EastWest Records, and was also a successful hit.

The single peaked at number six on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and became the fifth En Vogue single in two years to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[6] In the United Kingdom, it was released as a double A-side single with "Free Your Mind" and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, while in New Zealand, it became En Vogue's highest-charting single, peaking at number two for two weeks. The music video was directed by Stefan Würnitzer. Nichole Cordova performed the En Vogue's version of "Something He Can Feel" on the season finale of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious where she became the first member of Girlicious.[7] She received high praise from the judges Robin Antin, Lil' Kim and Ron Fair.[7]

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard magazine complimented the song as a "lovely, retro-minded pop/R&B ballad", noting that their "remarkable trademark harmonies are always at the forefront of a musical environment that often recalls the early days of Aretha Franklin and Mary Wells." He added that the song is a "soothing interlude for all formats."[8] Glenn Kenny from Entertainment Weekly described it as "sultry", naming it the best En Vogue song.[9] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated that here, the group "do it up stunningly, uncovering this Curtis Mayfield creation and turning it into something beyond compare."[10] Everett True from Melody Maker said, "Effortless precision. En Vogue are the most perfectly manufactured group since Pan's People."[11] Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times felt the track "sees them singing low and cool, with that classic finger-snapping Motown R&B feel."[4] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel viewed it as "exemplary", remarking that the "four superb voices" of En Vogue "unleash full gospel fervor" on the song.[5] Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily declared it as "fabulous", adding, "No corn, just the sounds of sultry singing matched with sparse, yet solid, instrumentation."[12]

Retrospective response

In a 2017 retrospective review, Quentin Harrison from Albumism remarked that En Vogue's version restored the song to its girl group roots and brought it forward into a new decade, "reverently, but boldly."[13] AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis declared it as a "sophisticated" and "shimmering ghetto love fable", initially popularized by Aretha Franklin.[14] Another AllMusic editor, Rob Theakston, labeled the song as a "sultry rendition".[15] Daryl Easlea for BBC in 2009, described it as a "delicious cover".[16] In a 2020 retrospective review, Pop Rescue stated that "whilst it’d always be hard to out-do Aretha, En Vogue are definitely worthy of a credible challenge."[17] In 2007, Laura Checkoway from Vibe described the song as "alluring".[18]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Stefan Würnitzer.[citation needed] It begins with En Vogue putting on make-up. Then they perform for an audience of men in a club, standing on a stage in front of a blue curtain while wearing long red dresses. In the end, the men are giving a standing ovation for En Vogue.[19]

Charts

Page Template:Col-begin/styles.css has no content.

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000 

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 11, 1992 CD EastWest [31]
Japan July 25, 1992 Mini-CD [32]
Australia September 14, 1992 Page Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
  • CD
  • cassette
 [33]
United Kingdom October 26, 1992 Page Template:Hlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [34]

See also

References

Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.

  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (July 17, 2000). "The Wonder Years: Soul". Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 216.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Don't think I can make it. By Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Will Townsend, Pharoah Davis, Warren Robinson & Andre Zachary". Faqs.org. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Martinez, Gerald (November 15, 1998). "Top notch hits from Collins". New Sunday Times. p. 13. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (April 24, 1992). "En Vogue". Orlando Sentinel.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 189.
  7. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pussycat Dolls Present Girlicious: Season Finale "You Are Girlicious" Recap". Buddy TV. 23 April 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Flick, Larry (June 13, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 72. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kenny, Glenn (September 25, 1992). "En Vogue: Funky Divas". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sholin, Dave (May 29, 1992). "Personal Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 52. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.True, Everett (August 1, 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Coker, Cheo H. (April 16, 1992). "Hip-hop's four funky divas". Stanford Daily. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Harrison, Quentin (March 22, 2017). "Never Gonna Get It: Celebrating 25 Years of En Vogue's 'Funky Divas'". Albumism. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Promis, Jose F. "En Vogue - Funky Divas". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."En Vogue - The Essentials". AllMusic. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Theakston, Rob (2009). "En Vogue Funky Divas Review". BBC. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Review: "Funky Divas" by En Vogue (CD, 1992)". Pop Rescue. May 1, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Checkoway, Laura (June 1, 2007). "Essential En Vogue". Vibe. p. 134. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."En Vogue - Giving Him Something He Can Feel (Official Music Video)". January 24, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. August 22, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."En Vogue – Giving Him Something He Can Feel". top40.nl. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. August 29, 1992. p. 12. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 22, 1992. p. 20. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  25. ^ Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-28.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVI, no. 18. December 26, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  30. ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."En Vogue - Giving Him Something He Can Feel - Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."サムシング・ヒー・キャン・フィール | アン・ヴォーグ" [Something He Can Feel | En Vogue] (in 日本語). Oricon. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."New Release Summary – Product Available from : 14/09/92: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 137. September 13, 1992. p. 19.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 24, 1992. p. 21.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.

Retrieved from "https://cosmopedia.co/index.php?title=Something_He_Can_Feel&oldid=2798096"