"Something He Can Feel" is a song composed by American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer

Curtis Mayfield Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the " Gentle Genius", he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious Afric ...

for the 1976 motion picture '' Sparkle''. The song, a love ballad in a

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Philly Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

-soul style, became a number-one hit on the ''Billboard's'' R&B singles chart in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

from the film's soundtrack (see

1976 in music Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

), and a 1992 cover by

girl group A girl group is a music act featuring two or more women in music, female singers who generally vocal harmony, harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female p ...

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 singl ...

(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 *1992 in South Korean music Specific genres *1992 in country music *1992 in heavy metal 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 Lonette Rita McKee (born July 22, 1954) is an American actress and singer. She made her big screen debut starring as Sister Williams in the original 1976 musical-drama film '' Sparkle''. McKee later appeared in films '' Which Way Is Up?'' (1977) ...

on lead vocal, and

Irene Cara Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress who rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film '' Fame'', and for recording the film's title song " Fame", which reach ...

and

Dwan Smith Dwan Smith (born January 22, 1944) is an American television and film actress, singer and model. Smith is perhaps best known for her role as Delores Williams in the 1976 musical drama film '' Sparkle''. Biography Early life and education Born on ...

on backing vocals. The version of "Something He Can Feel" present on the film's

soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...

replaces the vocal tracks with those of

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 Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

-esque

, 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 Franklin'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 (born December 22, 1989) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2007 after winning the American Idol (season 6), sixth season of ''American Idol'' at age 17, becoming the youngest winner in the series' history. He ...

and

Tika Sumpter Euphemia LatiQue "Tika" Sumpter (born June 20, 1980) is an American actress and producer. Sumpter began her career as the host of '' Best Friend's Date''. From 2005 to 2010, she appeared in the daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live''. In 2010, ...

on backing vocals. In an allusion to Aretha Franklin's version of the song and

soundtrack A soundtrack is a recorded audio signal accompanying and synchronised to the images of a book, drama, motion picture, radio program, television show, television program, or video game; colloquially, a commercially released soundtrack album of m ...

, 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 ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...

'', being performed by contestants Jujubee and

Tatianna Joseph Michael "Joey" Santolini (born December 1, 1987), better known by his stage name Tatianna, is an American drag queen, musician, and reality television personality from Washington, D.C. He is best known for competing on the second season o ...

in a "lipsync for your life".

Charts

Afrika Bambaataa feat. Boy George version

In 1988,

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

artist,

Afrika Bambaataa Lance Taylor (born April 17, 1957), also known as Afrika Bambaataa (), is a retired American DJ, rapper, and record producer. He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of ...

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 was 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 and DJ who rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. He began his solo career in 1987. Boy George grew up in Eltham a ...

En Vogue version

Fifteen years after ''Sparkle'' was released, American R&B group

recorded a

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 Dawn Sherrese Robinson (born November 24, 1966) is an American singer and actress 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, Rob ...

and the background vocals are done by

Terry Ellis Terry Lynn Ellis (born September 5, 1963) is an American singer. She is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue which formed in 1989. Biography Early life Born in Houston, her father was a truck driver and her mother ...

Cindy Herron Cynthia Ann Herron (born September 26, 1961), professionally known as Cindy Herron and sometimes credited as Cindy Herron–Braggs is an American singer and actress. Herron is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of ...

and

Maxine Jones Maxine Jones (born January 16, 1962), is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, 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. She sang lead vocals ...

. The En Vogue cover was 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 ...

'' (1992), in June 1992 by

EastWest Records East West Records (stylized as east''west'') is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in New York City. History After its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had its first hit wit ...

, and 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 chart. 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 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 ...

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 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 member ...

. She received high praise from the judges

Robin Antin Robin Antin is an American dancer and choreographer. In 1995, she founded the modern burlesque troupe the Pussycat Dolls. By 2005, she diversified into various media including a pop recording group with international hits, a Las Vegas nightclub ...

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after ...

and

Ron Fair Ronald Fair is an American record producer, record executive, musical arranger, recording engineer and conductor. A traditional record producer since 1970, Fair has been credited with orchestral production work on several commercially success ...

Critical reception

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the musi ...

from ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' complimented the song as a "lovely, retro-minded pop/R&B

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

", 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."

Glenn Kenny Glenn Kenny (born August 8, 1959) is an American film critic and journalist. He writes for ''The New York Times'' and '' RogerEbert.com''. Biography Kenny attended William Paterson University, where he majored in English literature.Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...

'' described it as "sultry", naming it the best En Vogue song. Dave Sholin from the ''

Gavin Report The ''Gavin Report'' was a San Francisco-based radio industry trade publication. The publication was founded by radio performer Bill Gavin in 1958. Its Top 40 listings were used for many years by programmers to decide content of programs. The ...

'' stated that here, the group "do it up stunningly, uncovering this

creation and turning it into something beyond compare."

Everett True Everett True (born Jeremy Andrew Thackray on 21 April 1961) is an English music journalist and musician. He became interested in rock music after hearing The Residents, and formed a band with school friends. He has written and recorded as The ...

from ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'' said, "Effortless precision. En Vogue are the most perfectly manufactured group since

Pan's People Pan's People were a British all-female dance troupe most commonly associated with the BBC TV music chart show ''Top of the Pops'', from 1968 to 1976. The group, founded and led by choreographer Felicity "Flick" Colby in December 1966, accompanie ...

." 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 a local offshoot of Singapore-based ''The Straits Ti ...

'' felt the track "sees them singing low and cool, with that classic finger-snapping

R&B feel." Parry Gettelman from ''

Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...

'' viewed it as "exemplary", adding that the "four superb voices" of En Vogue "unleash full

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

fervor" on the song. Cheo H. Coker from ''

Stanford Daily ''The Stanford Daily'' is the student-run, independent daily newspaper serving Stanford University. ''The Daily'' is distributed throughout campus and the surrounding community of Palo Alto, California, United States. It has published since the ...

'' declared it as "fabulous", adding, "No corn, just the sounds of sultry singing matched with sparse, yet solid, instrumentation."

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."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

editor Jose F. Promis declared it as a "sophisticated" and "shimmering ghetto love fable", initially popularized by Aretha Franklin. Another editor, Rob Theakston, labeled the song as a "sultry rendition". Daryl Easlea for

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

in 2009, described it as a "delicious cover". 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." In 2007, Laura Checkoway from ''

Vibe Vibe, alternatively '' vibes,'' is short for ''vibration''. A "vibe" is an emotional reaction to the aura or energy felt to belong to a person, place or thing. Vibe may also refer to: People * DJ Vibe (born 1968), Portuguese DJ * Lasse Vibe (b ...

'' described the song as "alluring".

Music video

A music video 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.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

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

Aretha Franklin original

Usage in media

Charts

Afrika Bambaataa feat. Boy George version

En Vogue version

Critical reception

Retrospective response

Music video

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

References