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"Feeling Good"
Song
Published1964 by Musical Comedy Productions
Genre
Songwriters

"Feeling Good" (also known as "Feelin' Good") is a song written by English composers Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. It was first performed on stage in 1964 by Cy Grant on the UK tour.[1]

Nina Simone recorded "Feeling Good" for her 1965 album I Put a Spell on You. The song has also been covered by other famous artists, including American singer Sammy Davis Jr., English rock band Traffic, Canadian singer Michael Bublé, American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, American singer and actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, British singer George Michael, English pop singer Tony Hadley, American band Eels, American musician and singer Joe Bonamassa, Irish musician and singer Eden, English rock band Muse, British blues rock band Black Cat Bones, American DJ and electronic music producer Bassnectar, American singer and musician Sophie B. Hawkins, American rock musician Leslie West, Swedish DJ and music producer Avicii, American singer Chlöe, Palaver Strings & Kebra-Seyoun Charles, Victory, American rock music duo Sirsy (Melanie Krahmer), American rapper and singer Lauryn Hill, French DJ David Guetta, American singer Micah Dubitzky, and many others. It was also performed by American singer and pianist John Legend as part of the Celebrating America performance marking the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Early performances and recordings

[edit]

Although Bricusse and Newley shared songwriting credits, the words of the song are usually attributed to Bricusse, with the music by Newley.[2] The song was first performed in public by Guyanese-British singer and actor Cy Grant on the opening night of The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham on 3 August 1964. The show, directed by Newley, toured British provincial theatres, and was then taken to the US by theatre producer David Merrick. It opened on 16 May 1965 at the Shubert Theatre in New York City, where the role of "the Negro", who sings "Feeling Good", was taken by Gilbert Price.[3]

In the show, Price's character is asked to compete against the show's hero "Cocky"; but, as "Cocky" and his master "Sir" argue over the rules of the game, "the Negro" reaches the centre of the stage and "wins", singing the song at his moment of triumph.[2] It was described as a "booming song of emancipation",[4] and a Billboard review said it was "the kind of robust number that should have strong appeal".[5] The original cast recording of the show, featuring Price's version of the song, was released by RCA Victor in early 1965, before the show reached New York.

A version by Cy Grant with pianist Bill Le Sage – much jazzier than the original stage version – appeared on their 1965 album Cy & I.[6] Anthony Newley's own recording appeared on his 1965 album "Who Can I Turn To" and other songs from "The Roar of the Greasepaint".[7] One of the earliest recorded versions was a jazz treatment by saxophonist John Coltrane, which appeared on his album The John Coltrane Quartet Plays.... Recorded on 18 February 1965, it also features Art Davis, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner.[citation needed] Versions were also released in 1965 by Nina Simone, Jean DuShon, Julie London, Chris Connor, Billy Eckstine, Andy & The Bey Sisters and Sammy Davis Jr. On the March 26, 1966 episode of the variety show Hollywood Palace, Tammy Grimes performed a show-stopping performance of the song. Ed Ames recorded a version in 1966 on his album "It's a Man's World".

Traffic has a live version titled "Feelin' Good" on side two of their 1969 album Last Exit. Recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco on 14 March 1968, it is almost 11 minutes long.[citation needed]

Chart versions

[edit]

Nina Simone

[edit]
"Feeling Good"
Cover of the 1994 single release
Song by Nina Simone
from the album I Put a Spell on You
ReleasedJune 1965
RecordedJanuary 1965
Genre
Length2:53
LabelPhilips
Songwriters
ProducerHal Mooney
Nina Simone singles chronology
"My Baby Just Cares for Me"
(1987) 		"Feeling Good"
(1994) 		"Sinnerman"
(2003)

Nina Simone's version, arranged and produced by Hal Mooney, was recorded in New York in January 1965 and appeared on her album I Put a Spell on You. It was not released as a single at the time. In 1994, Simone's recording was used in a British TV commercial for Volkswagen, and became popular. Released as a single, it reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1994.[8]

Simone's version was remixed by Joe Claussell in 2002 for the first volume of the Verve Remixed series.[9]

The vocal track by Nina Simone and the music of "Feeling Good" have been sampled in numerous songs. In 1997, it was sampled in "Feeling Good" by Huff & Herb.[10] Other uses include "How I Feel" by Wax Tailor, from the 2005 album Tales of the Forgotten Melodies; "New Day" from the debut collaborative studio album Watch the Throne by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West in 2011; "How I Feel" by Flo Rida, from the 2013 album The Perfect 10; and, also in 2013, in the beginning of Bassnectar's Immersive Music Mixtape Side One.[11]

The track "About You" on Mary J. Blige's 2005 album The Breakthrough features an unusual take on the song. The bulk of the recording consists of new lyrics, composed by Mary J. Blige, will.i.am and Keith Harris; however, the chorus samples several lines from "Feeling Good" as performed by Nina Simone. Simone's original vocals are distorted so much that her voice is almost unrecognisable; for this reason, Simone receives a credit as a featured artist, and Newley and Bricusse receive credit as co-writers. "About You" is produced by will.i.am. The original instrumental track to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" was also used in the Swedish musician Avicii's song of the same name, used by Volvo.

The Bassnectar/Simone cover was used in "Chapter 6", a first-season episode of the television series Legion and in the television show Scandal.[12]

In 2022, American Songwriter ranked "Feeling Good" number one on their list of the 10 greatest Nina Simone songs,[13] and in 2023, The Guardian ranked the song number four on their list of the 20 greatest Nina Simone songs.[14]

An official music video for Simone's version was released on YouTube 56 years after the release of her recording in June 2021.[15]

Nina Simone's version appears in several films. It is featured in a scene in Walt Disney's 2021 film "Cruella". The song is used over the final scene and the closing credits of the 2024 film “A Quiet Place: Day One.” It's also used in the final scene of Wim Wenders’ 2023 movie “Perfect Days.”

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[16] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[17]
2009 release 		Platinum 100,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]
2004 release 		Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Muse

[edit]
Main article: Hyper Music/Feeling Good
"Feeling Good"
Single by Muse
from the album Origin of Symmetry
B-side"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"
Released19 November 2001
Recorded19 September – 14 November 2000
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:18
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Muse singles chronology
"Bliss"
(2001) 		"Hyper Music" / "Feeling Good"
(2001) 		"Dead Star" / "In Your World"
(2002)

The English rock band Muse recorded a version for their 2001 album Origin of Symmetry. It was released as a single also featuring the song "Hyper Music".

In a poll by Total Guitar about best cover songs, Muse's version came fifth.[21] In September 2010, NME readers voted it the greatest cover song of all time, over "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles and "Hurt" by Johnny Cash.[22] A BBC poll in 2014 placed it ninth.[23]

Muse's version reached No. 137 on the singles chart in France, and No. 24 on the singles chart in the UK.[24][25]

Michael Bublé

[edit]
"Feeling Good"
Single by Michael Bublé
from the album It's Time
Released4 April 2005
StudioChartmaker Studios (Malibu, CA)[26]
Genre
Length3:57
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Michael Bublé singles chronology
"Spider-Man Theme"
(2004) 		"Feeling Good"
(2005) 		"Home"
(2005)
Music video
"Feeling Good" on YouTube

"Feeling Good" was covered by Canadian singer Michael Bublé as the lead single from his album It's Time. The single was released on 4 April 2005. The song was the opening track on his live album Caught in the Act and has appeared in television advertisements, ESPN's 2005 World Series of Poker tournament, and the 2010 NBA draft broadcast. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani uses the Bublé’s version of the song as his walk-up music during home game at-bats.

Chart performance

[edit]

The single peaked at No. 162 in the United Kingdom, No. 70 in Australia, No. 36 in Germany, No. 66 in Austria, and No. 14 in Poland. The song has become one of his most popular singles and appearing on the UK singles chart in May 2010, when it reached No. 69 on the UK Singles Chart after it was featured in British advertisements.

Chart (2005–2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 70
UK Singles Chart 69
Polish Singles Chart 14
Austrian Singles Chart 66
Netherlands Singles Chart 61
German Singles Chart 36

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[28] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[29] Gold 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Music video

[edit]

A music video was released to accompany the single. It features Bublé in a nuclear power plant, reminiscent of James Bond and other 1960s secret agent movies.

The Pussycat Dolls

[edit]
"Feelin' Good"
Song by the Pussycat Dolls
from the album PCD
Released12 September 2005
Recorded2004
Genre
Length4:19
LabelA&M
Songwriters
Producers

American girl group the Pussycat Dolls recorded "Feeling Good" for their debut studio album, PCD (2005). The song was sung entirely by the Dolls' lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger.

Reception

[edit]

The Pussycat Dolls' version of "Feelin' Good" received mixed reviews from critics. Nick Butler of Sputnikmusic wrote that the song's inclusion on the album serves as "a pretty pointless vocal workout for Nicole".[31] John Murphy from musicOMH gave a negative review, writing: "All the emotion and melodrama of the original is ripped out of the heart of the song and we're left with a pointless, faux-jazz version. They may as well have strutted over to [Nina] Simone's grave and performed a stiletto clad dance upon it."[32] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that the "rendition of 'Feelin' Good' [...] is misguided at best".[33] In contrast, Spence D. of IGN praised the song for returning to the "retro vibe with wondrous results".[34] On the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart, the song peaked at number 23, becoming The Pussycat Dolls' only song to appear on that chart.[35]

Live performances

[edit]

The song is included on their 2006 Live from London as the fourth track of the DVD.[36] The song is performed solely by Scherzinger.[36] The song was also included on their first headlining tour, PCD World Tour. While delivering an a cappella version of the song, Scherzinger wore a "virginal hoodie-cum-headscarf", reported Helen Pidd of The Guardian.[37]

George Michael

[edit]
"Feeling Good"
Promotional single by George Michael
from the album Symphonica
Released11 August 2014 (2014-08-11)
Length3:15
LabelAegean
Songwriters
Producers
George Michael singles chronology
"Going to a Town"
(2014) 		"Feeling Good"
(2014) 		"Fantasy"
(2017)
Music video
"Feeling Good" on YouTube

George Michael performed "Feeling Good" during his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour and included it on the Symphonica album (2014). The music video was released on 6 May 2014, and "Feeling Good" was sent to radio on 11 August 2014. The release of "Feeling Good" coincided with the issue of Symphonica on the vinyl format. It became his final single before his death in 2016.

The studio version of "Feeling Good" was recorded by Michael in 2008 (with actress Loretta Devine featured prominently on backing vocals) and included on the US edition of his Twenty Five compilation. He also performed it during the 2008 legs of his 25 Live tour and the 2010 George Michael Live in Australia concerts.

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various 11 August 2014 Contemporary hit radio Aegean [38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Feeling Good

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Feeling Good" (also known as "Feelin' Good") is a song composed by English songwriters and for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, where it was performed by the character representing an oppressed figure emerging into freedom. The lyrics evoke a profound sense of renewal and liberation, with imagery of natural rebirth—"It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me"—intended to capture euphoria following hardship. First staged in the UK with portraying the role and later on Broadway by Gilbert Price, the song received limited initial attention until Nina Simone's transformative 1965 recording on her album I Put a Spell on You, arranged by Hal Mooney with prominent jazzy horns and her distinctive vocal intensity, which elevated it to an anthem of personal and collective emancipation amid the civil rights era. Simone's version, emphasizing Black resilience and optimism against societal turmoil, has endured as the definitive interpretation, influencing covers by artists including , , , and (whose 2001 rendition incorporated electronic elements), and appearing in films, commercials, and sports events for its uplifting yet defiant tone. Despite its origins in a modestly successful musical critiquing class and racial divides, the track's versatility has ensured its status as a cultural staple, though some analyses note underlying tension in Simone's delivery that underscores unresolved struggle beneath the proclaimed joy.

Origins and Composition

Writing and Musical Theatre Context

"Feeling Good" was written by English songwriters Anthony Newley, who composed the music, and Leslie Bricusse, who penned the lyrics, as part of their collaborative musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. The work, which Newley also directed, satirizes British class structures through an allegorical narrative featuring two primary characters—"Sir," representing the privileged upper class, and "Cocky," embodying the working class—engaged in a game-like contest dictated by arbitrary rules. A third character, "The Negro," serves as an outsider who disrupts this dynamic, symbolizing broader themes of social exclusion and challenge to established hierarchies. The song originates from this character's entrance into the fray, where it conveys a triumphant sense of personal liberation and amid , reflecting the musical's exploration of inequality. Bricusse later recalled composing it as a relatively understated number for this peripheral figure, initially viewing the overall production—with its cumbersome title addressing heavy —as unlikely to achieve major success. The musical began its run with a pre-London tour premiere on August 3, 1964, at the Theatre Royal in , before transferring to Broadway, where it opened on May 16, 1965, at the Shubert Theatre and ran for 231 performances. In the original staging, "Feeling Good" was first performed by , who portrayed The Negro during the 1964 UK tour, marking the song's stage debut as an expression of defiant renewal within the production's framework. On Broadway, the role and song were taken by Gilbert Price, underscoring the number's role in highlighting themes of outsider agency against systemic constraints. Despite the musical's modest commercial impact, the song's integration into this theatrical context established its foundational identity as an anthem of , distinct from later interpretations.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of "Feeling Good," authored by and for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, emphasize and personal renewal through a series of vivid, declarative images. The opening verses evoke natural elements—"Birds flying high, you know how I feel / Sun in the sky, you know how I feel / Breeze driftin' on by, you know how I feel"—building to the recurring chorus: "It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me / And I'm feeling good." Subsequent stanzas extend this imagery to aquatic and floral motifs—"Fish in the sea, you know how I feel / River running free, you know how I feel / Blossom in the tree, you know how I feel"—culminating in assertions of : "Stars when I fall from grace... / Liberty! / Freedom is mine." The alternates between these observational lines, which affirm the singer's emotional alignment with the world, and the triumphant refrain, reinforcing a cyclical progression from contemplation to exaltation. Thematically, the song conveys derived from liberation and self-assertion, reflecting the musical's allegorical exploration of class conflict and individual agency. In The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, which pits a wealthy "Sir" against an impoverished "Cocky" in a game symbolizing societal hierarchies, "Feeling Good" is performed by the underprivileged character upon gaining temporary dominance, symbolizing a break from subjugation. Newley and Bricusse intended the lyrics to capture the "particular kind of " accompanying release from , using as a for unencumbered and rebirth rather than mere . This aligns with the show's satirical critique of inequality, where fleeting triumphs underscore resilience amid systemic constraints, prioritizing causal triumph over passive contentment.

Musical Structure

"Feeling Good" is written in the key of , employing a framework typical of mid-20th-century musical theater with inflections, including seventh chords and modal mixtures for emotional depth. The verses feature a recurring —such as Gm–Gm7/F–E♭maj7–D♭7—that descends stepwise, evoking a sense of gradual liberation through tension and release, while the resolves on the tonic with emphatic repetition of the . This , spanning roughly eight bars per verse, supports lyrical imagery of natural rebirth, with the harmony underscoring themes of renewal via pulls and dominant resolutions. The song's form follows a verse-refrain pattern, lacking a traditional chorus-bridge alternation common in pop structures; instead, it builds cumulatively through successive verses (e.g., birds and sun, then in the and stars) leading into the anthemic "It's a new dawn / It's a new day / It's a new life for me / And I'm feeling good." This strophic-like repetition, with instrumental interludes for dramatic swells—often featuring brass or orchestral builds in arrangements—facilitates vocal improvisation and intensifies the climactic "freedom is mine" assertion. Set in 4/4 time with a swung subdivision, the composition maintains a deliberate pace around 79 beats per minute, allowing for rubato expression in performance. Composed for solo voice with or orchestral , the emphasizes dynamic contrast: sparse openings in verses expand to fuller in , mirroring the lyrical progression from to triumph. Newley and Bricusse's design prioritizes melodic simplicity—a stepwise ascending line in the peaking on the dominant—paired with rhythmic to convey euphoric release without overt .

Nina Simone's Version

Recording and Release

Nina Simone recorded her version of "Feeling Good" in New York in January 1965, arranged and produced by Hal Mooney. The session featured Simone on vocals and , with Rudy Stevenson on guitar, and arrangements conducted by Mooney and . This rendition, characterized by its dramatic orchestral buildup and Simone's powerful delivery, was included as the opening track on her album I Put a Spell on You. The I Put a Spell on You was released in 1965 by , marking Simone's ninth studio and showcasing a mix of standards, originals, and covers with elements. "Feeling Good" was not initially issued as a single from the but gained prominence through the LP's promotion and later reissues. The recording captured Simone during a transitional period in her career, blending , , and emerging soul influences amid her growing civil rights activism.

Chart Performance

Nina Simone's recording of "Feeling Good," released as a single in 1965 from the I Put a Spell on You, achieved modest commercial success initially, peaking at number 23 on the Hot R&B Singles chart but failing to enter the Hot 100. The track received limited promotion as a standalone single at the time, contributing to its absence from major pop charts. The song experienced a significant revival in 1994 after featuring in a British Volkswagen commercial, prompting its re-release in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 40 on the UK Singles Chart and spent several weeks in the top 75. This resurgence highlighted the enduring appeal of Simone's interpretation but did not lead to comparable charting in the United States during that period.
YearChartPeak Position
1965US Billboard Hot R&B Singles23
1994UK Singles (Official Charts Company)40

Initial Reception and Certifications

Upon release as a track on Nina Simone's album I Put a Spell on You in June 1965, "Feeling Good" earned praise for its dramatic orchestral buildup, featuring bold brass and Simone's commanding that conveyed and liberation. The album overall garnered critical acclaim for its ambitious fusion of standards, pop elements, and sophisticated arrangements under producer Hal Mooney, positioning Simone as a multifaceted artist beyond traditional confines. Though not released as a standalone single in 1965, the track contributed to the album's reputation for impassioned performances and thematic depth, with reviewers noting its role in showcasing Simone's interpretive strength amid tracks exploring and resilience. Initial commercial impact was modest, as the song's enduring appeal emerged gradually through reissues and media exposure rather than immediate chart dominance. The Nina Simone recording of "Feeling Good" received its first RIAA certification decades later, awarded 2× Platinum status on September 19, 2025, for 2 million equivalent units in sales and streaming in the United States. This marked Simone's inaugural platinum-certified track, reflecting cumulative global resonance rather than contemporaneous sales metrics from 1965.

Notable Cover Versions

Pre-2000 Covers

In the years immediately following its composition, "Feeling Good" inspired a surge of covers, particularly in 1965, as jazz and pop artists adapted the song's empowering lyrics and ascending melody to diverse styles. Anthony Newley, one of the song's co-writers, released the first commercial recording in January 1965, predating Nina Simone's version and capturing a theatrical flair aligned with its musical origins. Sammy Davis Jr. recorded a swinging, upbeat rendition that same year for his live album The Sammy Davis Jr. Show with Surprise Guest Stars, emphasizing vocal charisma and big-band arrangement. Vocal interpretations proliferated in 1965–1966, including those by Gilbert Price (April 1965), (August 1965), with the Gerald Wilson Big Band (August 1965), (November 1965), (June 1966), and Jack Jones (July 1966), often highlighting the song's themes of renewal through intimate or orchestral delivery. Instrumental jazz covers were equally common, with , , , and and His Orchestra releasing versions in 1965 that showcased , , , and orchestral textures, respectively, underscoring the tune's versatility for . By the late 1960s, covers shifted toward live and soul-infused takes, such as Lou Rawls's soulful recording in February 1968 and Stevie Wonder's live performance in September 1968, which infused the track with rhythmic energy. British rock band Traffic delivered a raw, extended live version in May 1969, featured on their album Last Exit, blending psychedelic rock elements with the song's core structure for a gritty reinterpretation. Fewer notable covers emerged in subsequent decades, though Elaine Paige recorded a dramatic theatrical version in 1993, echoing the song's stage roots. These pre-2000 renditions, while numerous, rarely matched the commercial or cultural impact of Simone's 1965 recording, serving primarily to extend the song's presence in jazz clubs, theaters, and early rock scenes.

Muse's Version

Muse, the English rock band consisting of , , and , recorded a cover of "Feeling Good" for their second studio album, , which was released on June 17, 2001, by . The version transforms the original into a bombastic arrangement, beginning with subdued piano and building to explosive crescendos featuring distorted guitars, pounding drums, and orchestral swells from and keyboards. Bellamy's vocal performance includes his highest modal register note, B♭4, delivered in during the climactic sections, emphasizing themes of liberation through heavy instrumentation. The track was produced by , David Bottrill, and the band itself, with recording sessions spanning Ridge Farm Studios in , Real World Studios in , and additional work at Abbey Road Studios in , where elements like the megaphone vocal effect on the second verse were captured to heighten dramatic tension. Mixing was handled by John Cornfield and Muse, resulting in a polished yet intense sound that aligned with the album's themes of symmetry and chaos. The band had performed the song live since their early days, incorporating it into setlists before formal studio commitment, reflecting its organic fit within their repertoire of ambitious reinterpretations. "Feeling Good" was issued as the B-side to the double A-side single "Hyper Music / Feeling Good" on November 19, 2001, serving as the fourth and final single from . The release included a studio version, a live rendition, and B-sides like "Shine," alongside a directed by , filmed at Black Island Studios in , which depicted the band performing amid abstract, symmetry-themed visuals. On the charts, the single debuted at number one on both the Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart and the UK Indie Chart, though it did not achieve significant mainstream pop chart placement. Reception for Muse's cover has been overwhelmingly positive, with critics and fans praising its reinvention of the standard into a high-energy rock staple. In a 2010 NME poll, readers selected it as the greatest of all time, citing Bellamy's emotive delivery and the track's anthemic build as transformative elements. Publications like Radio X have described it as a "rock classic," highlighting its enduring appeal in live settings where it often closes shows with improvised extensions. A poll ranked it fifth among the best cover songs, underscoring its technical vocal and instrumental prowess. No major certifications were awarded specifically to the single, but its inclusion on the platinum-certified album contributed to its long-term popularity, with over 94 million streams reported by 2021.

Michael Bublé's Version

Michael Bublé's cover of "Feeling Good" appears as the opening track on his third studio album, It's Time, released on January 24, 2005, by 143/. The recording features Bublé's arrangement, emphasizing swing rhythms and orchestral swells with contributions from a full ensemble including horns and strings, produced by and . It was issued as the album's on April 4, 2005, in multiple formats including CD and digital download. Commercially, the single achieved moderate chart success in , peaking at number 36 on the German Singles Chart during a 17-week run. In the , it was certified gold by the on December 11, 2020, for sales and equivalent streams surpassing 400,000 units. The track's inclusion on It's Time, which sold over 10 million copies worldwide, bolstered Bublé's mainstream breakthrough, with the album reaching number one in , the , and several European countries. Critically, Bublé's rendition was praised for its polished, upbeat delivery that contrasted the original's brooding tone, aligning with his retro jazz-pop style and helping establish him as a contemporary standards interpreter. The single's accompanying , directed by Noble Jones, depicts Bublé performing in a stylized, high-contrast black-and-white setting evoking mid-20th-century glamour. Bublé has frequently performed the song live, including during his 2005-2006 It's Time tour and subsequent residencies, often incorporating it as a high-energy closer.

Other 2000s and Later Covers

In 2005, the recorded a pop-infused cover titled "Feelin' Good," which showcased their vocal harmonies and was performed during live sets and included in promotional materials. released a soulful studio version on the U.S. edition of his 2008 Twenty Five, emphasizing smooth vocals and orchestral backing that paid homage to the song's roots.) The track, previously performed live by Michael, highlighted his affinity for standards. guitarist delivered a gritty, guitar-driven interpretation on his 2009 album The Ballad of John Henry, infusing the tune with phrasing and extended solos. Swedish DJ produced an electronic remix-cover in 2015, featuring on vocals, with pulsating synths and a build-drop structure tailored for a advertising campaign. Other renditions from the period include Eels' live take in 2000 and Gregory Porter's vocal version in 2010, demonstrating the song's versatility across genres.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Analysis

"Feeling Good" employs vivid natural imagery—birds flying high, fish in the sea, stars in the sky—to symbolize personal renewal and triumph over adversity, structured around repetitive affirmations of a "new dawn" and "new day." The lyrics, declarative rather than narrative, emphasize causal transformation from constraint to freedom, with the protagonist asserting control over liberty: "Freedom is mine / And I know how I want it." This first-person empowerment aligns with the song's origins in the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, where it represented the underdog's euphoric escape from systemic subjugation. Nina Simone's 1965 interpretation on I Put a Spell on You intensifies this through her contralto voice, which begins subdued and ascends to forceful crescendos, incorporating jazz-inflected scatting and dramatic pauses that build tension and release. Her arrangement features orchestral swells and syncopated rhythms, blending soul, jazz, and blues elements to evoke both struggle and resolve, with chord progressions exhibiting above-average complexity via modal mixtures and extensions. Critics note Simone's delivery conveys raw emotional depth, transforming the track from theatrical optimism into a visceral declaration of resilience, particularly resonant amid 1960s civil rights upheavals. Interpretations often frame Simone's version as an anthem of Black empowerment, reflecting her , though the ' universality cautions against over-politicization; the song's causal logic of renewal applies broadly, not exclusively tied to racial . Some analyses highlight potential irony in Simone's life of personal turmoil, yet her prioritizes affirmative triumph, as evidenced by the unyielding vocal in lines like "And I'm feeling good." Musically, the track's —verses escalating to a liberating chorus—mirrors thematic rebirth, underscoring effective fusion of without reliance on overt . This renders it a in interpretive vocal artistry, prioritizing experiential authenticity over literal narrative.

Cultural Impact and Media Usage

Nina Simone's 1965 recording of "Feeling Good" emerged amid the civil rights era, embodying aspirations for and renewal that aligned with the movement's push against systemic oppression. Its lyrics of rebirth—"It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me"—transformed the original musical theater composition into a of optimism and defiance during turbulent times. The track's themes of have sustained its cultural resonance, influencing hip-hop through sampling—such as in Kanye West's early works—and inspiring covers that adapt its triumphant tone for contemporary contexts. Simone's version, with its raw vocal intensity, contrasts lighter interpretations, underscoring debates over its politicized versus apolitical readings. In , "Feeling Good" frequently conveys vitality and aspiration. Nina Simone's rendition featured in a 2020 Peloton holiday commercial depicting family exercise routines, amplifying its association with physical and emotional uplift. A Chris remix appeared in a 2021 Toyota Tundra advertisement, "Born From Invincible," to evoke resilience in vehicle promotion. Covers have also proliferated: Muse's 2001 rock rendition soundtracked a 2010 Virgin Atlantic campaign mimicking James Bond aesthetics for luxury travel appeal. Azure Ryder's 2021 acoustic take promoted tourism via Destination NSW, targeting experiential renewal. Television spots have leveraged the song for products, including Trelegy's 2022 campaign stressing 24-hour respiratory relief and Orgain's 2022 ad portraying active family life with nutritional shakes. Muse's cover sparked litigation against and in 2003 for unauthorized commercial use, highlighting tensions in media licensing. Such placements have revived the song's visibility, often prioritizing its uplifting hook over Simone's original socio-political undertones.

Interpretations and Debates

The song "Feeling Good," written by and for the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, originally conveyed the of from systemic . In the production, a critiquing England's class structure, the number is performed by the underdog character—referred to as "The Negro"—following a victory in a rigged game against the aristocratic "," symbolizing triumph over racial, class, and power imbalances. This context frames the lyrics' imagery of natural rebirth—"Birds flying high you know how I feel / Sun in the sky you know how I feel"—as a defiant assertion of agency after subjugation, rather than mere personal uplift. Nina Simone's 1965 recording, arranged by Hal Mooney with a swelling big-band , reinterpreted the piece as a civil rights era emblem of Black resilience amid escalating racial violence, including the 1963 Birmingham church bombing and 1964 Harlem riots. Simone's vocal delivery, marked by improvisational scatting and escalating intensity from hushed verses to explosive choruses, infused the track with a sociopolitical urgency, transforming it into an of collective liberation and hope for a "new dawn" in the face of ongoing disenfranchisement. Scholars note this version aligns with Simone's , positioning the song within her repertoire of protest-adjacent works that channeled anger into empowered resolve, though some analyses highlight its role in tempering rage with optimism during turbulent recordings like I Put a Spell on You. Interpretations diverge on the lyrics' emotional core, with some viewing the repeated —"And I'm "—as unalloyed and inner impervious to external hardships, while others detect underlying defiance or irony in Simone's , interpreting the building as unresolved tension mirroring persistent . Subsequent covers amplify these variances: Muse's 2001 rock rendition emphasizes raw aggression and alienation, Michael Bublé's 2005 swing style stresses romantic renewal, and Adam Lambert's 2009 performance has been read as a gay pride declaration of . Elizabeth Gould, in academic discourse on , argues such reinterpretations reflect listeners' projections, debating whether the song's universality dilutes its original specificity to marginalized struggle or enriches it through adaptive narratives. These debates underscore the track's elasticity, from structural critiques of inequality to individualized triumphs, without consensus on a singular "true" intent beyond its foundational theme of post- release.

References

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