Something He Can Feel
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"Something He Can Feel" is a song composed by
Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.
for the 1976 motion picture ''
Sparkle Sparkle may refer to: * Sparkle (catamaran), a catamaran designed by Angus Primrose * Sparkle (drink), a lemon-flavored soft drink * Sparkle, a brand of paper towels owned by Georgia-Pacific * Sparkle Plenty, a character in the ''Dick Tracy'' c ...
''. The song, a love ballad in a
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
-/
Philly Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
-soul style, became a number-one hit on the ''Billboard's'' R&B singles chart in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by Aretha Franklin from the film's soundtrack (see
1976 in music A list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1976. __TOC__ Specific locations * 1976 in British music *1976 in Norwegian music Specific genres *1976 in country music * 1976 in heavy metal music * 1976 in jazz Events Janu ...
), and a 1992 cover by girl group
En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...
(see
1992 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992. Specific locations *1992 in British music * 1992 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1992 in country music * 1992 in heavy metal music * 1992 in hip hop music * 1992 ...
).


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 Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and actress of Black, Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. Cara rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film '' Fame'', and f ...
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, and became a number-one hit on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, peaking at number twenty-eight on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Aretha's only pop Top 40 hit during the second half of the 1970s. ''Sparkle'' would be remade in 2012, as would "Something He Can Feel", this time performed by
Carmen Ejogo Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo (; born 22 October 1973)
on lead vocal with
Jordin Sparks Jordin Sparks-Thomas (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2007 after winning the sixth season of ''American Idol'' at age 17, becoming the youngest winner in the series' history. Her self-titled debu ...
and
Tika Sumpter Euphemia LatiQue Sumpter, better known as Tika Sumpter, is an American actress, singer, producer, television host, and model. Sumpter began her career as the host of '' Best Friend's Date''. From 2005 to 2010, she appeared in the daytime soap ope ...
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


Charts


Afrika Bambaataa feat. Boy George version

In 1988, a rap and Hip Hop artist, Afrika Bambaataa recorded a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of "Something He Can Feel". The cover, released on the album, '' The Light'', a collaboration album with lead vocals on this song by
Boy George George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer, songwriter, DJ, author and mixed media artist. Best known for his soulful voice and his androgynous appearance, Boy George has been the lead singer ...
.


En Vogue version

Fifteen years after ''Sparkle'' was released, R&B group
En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...
recorded a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of "Something He Can Feel" (titled as "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"), produced by
Thomas McElroy Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob. They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! T ...
and Denzil Foster. The lead vocals are sung by
Dawn Robinson Dawn Sherrese Robinson (born November 24, 1966 or 1968) is an American singer best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Following her departure from En Vogue, Robinson ...
and the background vocals are done by Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones. The En Vogue cover, released as the second single from the group's second album, ''
Funky Divas ''Funky Divas'' is the second studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released by Atlantic Records division East West on March 24, 1992 in the United States. Conceived after the success of their Grammy Award–nominated debut album '' ...
'', was also a successful hit. The single peaked at number six on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and became the fifth En Vogue single in two years to peak at number one on the ''Billboard''
Hot R&B Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart. In the United Kingdom, it was released as a double A-side single with "
Free Your Mind Free Your Mind may refer to: * ''Free Your Mind'' (Cut Copy album), 2013 * ''Free Your Mind'' (Maliq & D'Essentials album), 2007 * Free Your Mind (MTV award) Free Your Mind is an award granted by MTV during its shows in order to award actions or ...
" and reached number 16, while in New Zealand, it became En Vogue's highest-charting single, peaking at number two for two weeks. Nichole Cordova performed the
En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...
's version of "Something He Can Feel" on the season finale of '' Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious'' where she became the first member of
Girlicious Girlicious was an American girl group originally formed by Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls, from The CW reality TV show '' Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious''. The group was originally signed to Geffen Records and composed of membe ...
. She received high praise from the judges.


Critical reception

Quentin Harrison from Albumism said the
En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...
's version "restored the song to its girl group roots and brought it forward into a new decade, reverently, but boldly."
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
editor Jose F. Promis called it "sophisticated" and "shimmering", noting it as a "ghetto love fable" initially popularized by Aretha Franklin. Another editor, Rob Theakston labeled the song as a "sultry rendition". Daryl Easlea for
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...
described it as a "delicious cover". Larry Flick from '' Billboard'' deemed it a "lovely, retro-minded pop/ R&B
ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
", 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 Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with The Supremes, The Miracles, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the F ...
." He added that the song is a "soothing interlude for all formats." Also Glenn Kenny from ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' described it as "sultry", picking it as the best En Vogue song. Dave Sholin from the '' Gavin Report'' stated that they "do it up stunningly, uncovering this
Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.
creation and turning it into something beyond compare." Gerald Martinez from ''
New Sunday Times The ''New Straits Times'' is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print (though not the first), having been founded as ''The Straits Times'' on 15 July 1845. It was relaunched as the ' ...
'' said the track "sees them singing low and cool, with that classic finger-snapping Motown R&B feel." Pop Rescue stated that "whilst it’d always be hard to out-do Aretha, En Vogue are definitely worthy of a credible challenge." Cheo H. Coker from '' Stanford Daily'' called it "fabulous", adding "no corn, just the sounds of sultry singing matched with sparse, yet solid, instrumentation." Laura Checkoway from ''
Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
'' described it as "alluring".


Music video

A
music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
was produced to promote the single, directed by Stefan Würnitzer. 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. The video was later published on the group's official
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channel in January 2020. It has amassed more than 4,2 million views as of October 2021.


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


See also

* List of number-one R&B singles of 1976 (U.S.) * List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)


References

{{Authority control 1976 singles Curtis Mayfield songs Aretha Franklin songs 1992 singles En Vogue songs Songs written by Curtis Mayfield 1976 songs 1992 songs Atlantic Records singles East West Records singles Elektra Records singles Song recordings produced by Curtis Mayfield Rhythm and blues ballads Soul ballads 1970s ballads