Hubbry Logo
You Make Me Feel...You Make Me Feel...Main
Open search
You Make Me Feel...
Community hub
You Make Me Feel...
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
You Make Me Feel...
You Make Me Feel...
You Make Me Feel...
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

"You Make Me Feel..."
Single by Cobra Starship featuring Sabi
from the album Night Shades
ReleasedMay 10, 2011
Genre
Length3:36
Label
Songwriters
Producer
  • Steve Mac
Cobra Starship singles chronology
"Hot Mess"
(2009) 		"You Make Me Feel..."
(2011) 		"Middle Finger"
(2012)
Music video
"You Make Me Feel..." on YouTube

"You Make Me Feel..." is a song by American synthpop band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by American pop singer Sabi. It was the first single released from their fourth studio album, Night Shades. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 10, 2011. The song is a dance-pop, electropop song and it talks about looking for a soul mate in the club. It received mixed reviews from most music critics; some thought that the song was "catchy and happy" but at the same time criticized it for being too "faceless and empty". Commercially, the song reached No. 1 in New Zealand and the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Japan, and the United States.

Background

[edit]

After the success of the single "Good Girls Go Bad", which was their most successful single on the charts, Cobra Starship began to record what would be their fourth studio album. "You Make Me Feel..." was released before the album finish and it served as the first single from the album entitled "Night Shades".[1] It was released on May 10, 2011, and features American pop singer/rapper Sabi.[2] The singer/actress turned rapper first came to many people's attention after Britney Spears gave her a spot on her track "(Drop Dead) Beautiful".[2]

Composition

[edit]
Singer Sabi is featured on the track.

"You Make Me Feel" was written by Steve Mac and Ina Wroldsen and produced by Mac.[3] The song finds Gabe Saporta singing of looking for his soul mate.[2]

"Obviously, some of my personal drama was about feeling alone, and feeling like I was searching the world for the right person". "And one of the things we want for this song and this record – even though it has personal stuff in it – is to be something everyone can relate to, and I think that the concept of people trying to find the right person is something that's universal."[2]

The song is written in common time, maintaining a dance-beat tempo. It has a chord progression of Gm–Dm–B♭–E♭/B♭–F/C.[4] The song is set in the key of B♭ major. Backed up by a simple beat and minimal synth arrangement, Saporta sings about finding the girl he has been missing: "Girl, I've been all over the world looking for you / I'm known for taking what I think I deserve, and you're overdue."[5] Sabi, provides the chorus and the "la-la-la-la-la" melody that carries the song as Saporta sings "You make me feel so...", but never quite finishes the thought.[5] According to Monica Herrera, a writer from Rolling Stone, the song has a riff that suggests Pink's "Raise Your Glass".[6]

Critical reception

[edit]

The song received mixed reviews from most contemporary music critics. Scott Shetler from "Pop Crush" gave the song 8 out of 10 stars, and wrote that the song "is more understated than some of the group's previous work, but it feels like a potential summer hit."[5] Bill Lamb, writer of About.com, gave to the song 3 stars out of 5, praising the "catchy hook" and the "upbeat, happy melody", but criticized the track, calling it a "bland hit factory pop" and "faceless".[3] He ended up the review, stating that "it's certainly catchy, but it is all rather bland and empty as well."[3] The Idolator Staff agreed, writing that "On the one hand, it's a totally serviceable dance track, and Sabi's vocals are much stronger here than in her weak, cringe-inducing rap on "(Drop Dead) Beautiful", but on the other hand, we've heard this synth hook before from other artists and frankly, it sounds like Cobra Starship may be trying too hard to keep up with the Euro dance trend while totally abandoning their old sound."[7] Monica Herrera wrote for Rolling Stone that "Saporta drops weak pickup lines, but guest diva Sabi calls herself 'the baddest baby in the atmosphere,' and is right."[6]

A positive review came from Alternative Press editor Aubrey Welbers, who wrote that the "catchy, calculated hit is a bona fide jam for lonely partygoers looking for dance floor romance."[8] In most of the reviews from the album, including the Allmusic and Entertainment Weekly reviews, the song was picked as one of the album's best tracks.[9][10] Megan Rozell from Blogcritics gave the song a positive review, writing that the song "allows for sing-along lyrics, beautiful words from Sabi, and pop sounds that allow the listener to let loose and dance."[11]

Chart performance

[edit]

On July 4, 2011, the song debuted at No. 1 in New Zealand, becoming Cobra Starship's first chart-topper and second top-three single there, after "Good Girls Go Bad".[12] The song also reached the top three in Australia, debuting at No. 31 on August 28 and climbing to No. 3 on October 2, staying on the chart for 21 weeks.[13] In the United States, the song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's highest-charting single alongside "Good Girls Go Bad" and their second top-10 single.[14] It additionally peaking at No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart and No. 5 on its Hot Dance Airplay chart.[15][16] The single has sold over 2,000,000 downloads in the US alone.[17] In Canada, the song reached a peak of No. 4 on the Canadian Hot 100.[18] In every aforementioned country, it went Platinum or multi-Platinum, receiving its highest certification in Australia and the US (3× Platinum).[19][20][21][17]

In Europe, "You Make Me Feel..." debuted at No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 4 on the UK Dance Chart.[22][23] It was slightly more popular in Scotland—peaking at No. 14 on the Scottish Singles Chart—and in Ireland, where it reached No. 12.[24][25] In mainland Europe, the song reached the top 10 in Hungary, reaching No. 8,[26] and charted within the top 20 in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland, and France.[27][28][29] It was a moderate chart hit in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, reaching No. 40, No. 58, and No. 47, respectively.[30][31][32] Elsewhere, the song charted at No. 21 in Brazil and No. 10 in Japan.[33][34]

Music video

[edit]

The music video premiered on June 28, 2011, on MTV. The video's main theme is a "magic photobooth" that once it takes someone's picture, it tells how said person is feeling. The video features celebrity cameos including actor Robin Williams and his daughter Zelda Williams.[35][36]

Background

[edit]

Saporta explained to MTV News the concept of the music video:

"It's a song about a guy and a girl, and the concept is, at the beginning of the video, I find one of Sabi's photos, and she's feeling the same way that I'm feeling, which is incomplete without each other," he said. "We're sharing feelings, and that's what I realize, so I'm like, 'Wow, I want to find this girl.' So I look all over the world for her, and our world is the nightclub. The video is about the photo booth. It's just not any photo booth; it's a photo booth that tells you how you're really feeling. That's the main star of the video."[2]

Synopsis

[edit]

At the beginning of the music video, Gabe gets his picture taken in the photobooth, and when he is grabbing it, a picture of Sabi appears to be stuck in the slit. Both pictures' feelings read "Incomplete". Then Gabe makes his goal of the night to find the girl in the picture. While this is happening, Victoria Asher is seen dragging different people into the bathroom, these people including twins and a girl, hence her feeling being "kinky". Gabe goes around the club (his "world" girl I've been all over the world looking for you) trying to find Sabi and stumbling upon different people who embrace him in hugs or handshakes. Sabi is seen dancing around the club when her part of the song comes on. Nate Novarro instead of dancing, orders a burger through Vicky-T's iPad; his feeling being "munchy". During the video, all drinks get taken away from Ryland Blackinton, hence why on his picture he is feeling "thirsty". When Gabe finally finds Sabi, they give each other a look of sheer happiness, before they both enter the photobooth. The lights go off, and at the moment they go back on, Gabe and Sabi seem to be kissing. They take a new picture together, and it reads "Complete", thus ending the video.[35]

The music video also includes cameos by lookalike DJs Andrew and Andrew, Brooklyn hip-hop duo Ninjasonik, photographer Nicky Digital, MTV News correspondent James Montgomery, Elle Magazine creative director Joe Zee, JustJared.com's own Jared Eng, Jersey Shore's The Situation, singer Wynter Gordon, actress Zelda Williams and her late father, comedian and actor Robin Williams.[2]

Promotional use

[edit]

This song was used in the promotion for America's Next Top Model: All Stars. It was also used in various advertisements for the 13th season of Big Brother, as well as recently featured on the episode "Over Exposed" (season 1, episode 5) in The Lying Game, and on the Style Network's Glam Fairy. The song was also used as Channel 9's promotional advertisement for 2012. It is also on the soundtrack of the 2012 film American Reunion. It was featured in the episode "Bride and Prejudice" (season 4, episode 21) of 90210.[37] The song has recently been revealed to be on the on-disk soundtrack for the game Dance Central 3 and DLC on another dance game Just Dance 4, it formerly was a Cheetos exclusive for the latter.

Live performances

[edit]

On August 28, 2011, Cobra Starship performed "You Make Me Feel..." on the MTV Video Music Awards Pre-show with Sabi. Then on September 14, 2011, they performed "You Make Me Feel..." with Sabi and Team iLuminate on the America's Got Talent finale. In November they went on Conan and performed "You Make Me Feel..." with Sabi.

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "You Make Me Feel..."
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[19] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[20] 2× Platinum 160,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[17] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Gold 450,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

You Make Me Feel...

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" is a 1978 and song by American singer and performer , written by and guitarist James "Tip" Wirrick, and produced by and as the second single from his fourth studio album, Step II, released by . Originally conceived as a mid-tempo R&B during rehearsals for Step II, the track was transformed into a high-energy dance anthem when player accelerated the tempo and added futuristic electronic elements, creating its signature pulsating sound. Backed by vocalists Izora Rhodes and —later known as —the song features 's soaring falsetto and celebrates themes of love, liberation, and authentic self-expression, resonating deeply within LGBTQ+ communities. Commercially, it marked Sylvester's breakthrough, topping the chart for several weeks in late 1978, peaking at number 36 on the in early 1979, and reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent 15 weeks. As his most successful single, it helped propel Step II to gold status and solidified Sylvester's status as a icon amid the genre's late-1970s peak. Beyond its chart success, the song has endured as a cultural touchstone, inducted into the of the in 2019 for its historical, cultural, and aesthetic significance. It has been covered by artists including , who took it to number five on the chart in 1990, and sampled or featured in films, television shows like , advertisements, and video games, influencing for decades. Following Sylvester's death from AIDS-related complications in 1988, he bequeathed future royalties from the track to the AIDS Emergency Fund and Project Open Hand, supporting services in .

Production and release

Background

Following the commercial success of their 2009 single "Good Girls Go Bad" featuring Leighton Meester from the album Hot Mess, Cobra Starship sought to build on that momentum by developing a new track that incorporated another female collaborator to refresh their sound. The song emerged as part of the band's transition toward a more vibrant, club-focused aesthetic for their upcoming album Night Shades. The band decided to feature Sabi, an emerging singer and rapper known for prior collaborations with artists like , to inject a dynamic energy into their framework and create a sense of immediacy and fun. This choice aligned with their goal of partnering with fresh talent through industry connections, allowing Sabi's versatile vocals to complement lead singer Gabe Saporta's delivery. Brainstorming sessions for began in 2010, driven by the band's intent to move away from their earlier rock-influenced tracks toward dance-oriented pop that could serve as infectious party anthems. Saporta, reflecting on the mainstream appeal of Hot Mess, emphasized creating music that captured universal emotions like longing for connection in a social setting, aiming to reengage listeners with an upbeat, relatable vibe. This evolution was informed by Saporta's personal experiences, including a period of reflection that refreshed the band's creative approach.

Composition

"You Make Me Feel..." was written by and . The explore themes of euphoric , romantic attraction, and , capturing the thrill of a night out where a chance encounter reignites a sense of vitality. The chorus , "You make me feel like I'm alive again," underscores the emotional uplift derived from this connection amid partying and dancing. The song follows a verse-chorus structure with pre-chorus build-ups that heighten tension leading into the explosive choruses, including a bridge section featuring solo vocals by Sabi. Its total length is 3:36. Musically, it is a synth-heavy track characterized by pulsating dance beats at 132 beats per minute in the key of , drawing influences from 1980s and contemporary EDM elements.

Recording and production

The recording of "You Make Me Feel..." primarily took place at Rokstone Studios in , while the bulk of the album was tracked at Cobra Kill Room and Blast Off Studios in . Sabi's vocals were handled in separate sessions with dedicated vocal production. served as the lead producer, overseeing the arrangement, synth programming, and keyboards, with vocal arrangements co-handled by . Drums were recorded by Chris Laws, and guitars by Paul Gendler. Emily Wright provided vocal production specifically for Sabi's contributions. The mixing was conducted by at MixStar Studios in , with engineering by John Hanes and assistant engineering by Tim Roberts. Post-production culminated in mastering at Sterling Sound in by , optimizing the track for radio airplay and digital streaming platforms.

Release details

"You Make Me Feel..." was released as a digital download on May 10, 2011, serving as the lead single from Cobra Starship's fourth studio album, . The track was made available through platforms such as and other digital retailers under the labels and Decaydance, imprints of . In the lead-up to the digital release, promotional CDs were distributed to radio stations in April 2011 to build early airplay. The single was initially offered in digital format, with the full album—including the track—following on CD and vinyl on August 30, 2011. Distribution was handled by Warner Music Group, featuring staggered international rollouts; for example, a physical single was issued in the UK in July 2011. Marketing efforts included teaser clips shared on the band's social media channels in April 2011, generating pre-release buzz. Additionally, Night Shades pre-order bundles offered instant digital downloads of the single to early buyers.

Music video

Development

A promotional video for "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was produced in 1978 to accompany the single's release from the album Step II. The video captures Sylvester's live performance style from the era, featuring his backup vocalists and dancers. In 2020, remastered the video for its digital reissue, addressing original issues such as audio drift, mono sound, lens distortion, and color fading through manual frame-by-frame repairs, stereo audio remixing, and retiming for synchronization. The remastered version premiered on on September 6, 2020.

Synopsis

The video opens with entering a studio set dressed in a black mini skirt over leather pants, performing the song's opening lines in his signature alongside singers Izora Rhodes and (of Two Tons o' Fun). As the track builds, changes into a white suit and dinner jacket, joining a group of female dancers in choreographed routines that emphasize the song's energetic rhythm and themes of liberation. Intercut with close-ups of Sylvester's expressive performance and the vocalists' harmonies, the visuals highlight the communal joy of the era's club culture. The video concludes with a full ensemble dance sequence, running approximately 5 minutes in its remastered form.

Promotion

Live performances

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was a staple of Sylvester's live performances during the late , serving as a high-energy closer in his sets that emphasized audience interaction and his vocals backed by Two Tons of Fun (Izora Rhodes and ). The song debuted live around its August 1978 release, featuring prominently in club shows in and New York, where it helped build buzz amid the scene. Key promotional TV appearances included a performance on the syndicated disco program Hot City in 1978, showcasing Sylvester and his backing vocalists in a dance-oriented set. Later that year, Sylvester performed the track on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, delivering an energetic rendition with full band and synchronized choreography that highlighted its pulsating rhythm. Footage from 1978 concerts, including live versions captured in venues, demonstrates the song's role in electrifying crowds and promoting Step II. The track remained a highlight through the early 1980s, with Sylvester incorporating elaborate costumes and lighting to enhance its themes of liberation. Following Sylvester's death in 1988, the song has been performed in tribute concerts, such as the 2012 "Sylvester: A Fabulous Concert" production and various LGBTQ+ pride events, often by artists like Martha Wash, preserving its cultural resonance. A live recording from the Sydney Opera House in 1979 was released in archival editions as late as 2024.

Use in media

The song has been widely licensed for media, extending its reach beyond the 1970s. In television, it featured in the season 30 episode "Werking Mom" of The Simpsons (2018), playing during a drag ball sequence that echoed its themes of self-expression. It also appeared in the series finale of Banshee (2017), underscoring a climactic scene. Other TV uses include episodes of Glee and various documentary segments on disco history. In film, the track has been included in soundtracks for movies like The Ritz (1976, retroactively associated) and later features such as Another Country (1984), though more prominently in compilations for disco-themed films. It gained renewed visibility in the through streaming platforms and retrospectives. Advertisements have frequently utilized the song for its uplifting vibe, including a 2014 Target commercial promoting fashion lines, a 2022 Paco Rabanne Phantom fragrance ad featuring a remixed version in a "space party" theme, and notably, Starbucks' 2025 Pumpkin Spice Latte campaign, which used a to evoke seasonal joy. In video games, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was added as downloadable content for (Ubisoft, 2021), where players follow a vibrant routine inspired by aesthetics; it remains available on Just Dance+ as of 2025. The song's enduring popularity has also inspired and viral challenges on platforms like and , particularly during celebrations.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its 1978 release, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its energetic disco production and Sylvester's vocal performance. In a contemporary review, Disco News described it as "a pulsating, futuristic disco track that captures the essence of liberation on the dance floor." Music critic Robert Christgau later called it "one of those surges of sustained, stylized energy that is disco's great gift to pop music." James Hamilton of Record Mirror noted its "electronically throbbing, high-impact, hand-clapping opener." Retrospective reviews have acclaimed the song as a disco landmark. In 2018, highlighted it as "bigger than disco," emphasizing its role as a celebration of self-expression and LGBTQ+ identity. It has been ranked highly in modern lists, including number 399 on Rolling Stone's 2021 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and number 39 on their 2022 list of the 200 Greatest Dance Songs.

Commercial performance

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" was a commercial success, becoming Sylvester's breakthrough hit. It topped the chart for six weeks in August and September 1978. The single peaked at number 36 on the in February 1979. In the , it reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1978, spending 15 weeks in the top 100. The song's success contributed to the gold certification of its parent album Step II in the . Covers have also charted well; Jimmy Somerville's 1989 version peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1990, while Byron Stingily's 1998 cover reached number 13.

Legacy

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" has endured as a , particularly within LGBTQ+ communities, where it is celebrated as an anthem of authentic self-expression and liberation. In 2019, it was selected for induction into the of the for its "cultural, historic, and aesthetic significance." As of 2025, it ranks number 17 on Billboard's list of the 100 Best Songs of All Time and number 2 on their 25 Greatest LGBTQ+ Anthems. The song has been covered extensively, including by (1989), (1998), and a 2020 collaboration between and . It has been sampled in numerous tracks, such as Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two" (1988), the B-52s' "Love Shack" (1989), and more recent works like Ariana Grande's "Break Free" (2014). In media, it appeared in a 2025 Starbucks commercial promoting the Pumpkin Spice Latte, renewing its visibility. By late 2025, the track has amassed over 500 million streams on , solidifying its influence on .

References

  1. https://www.npr.org/2018/10/08/651794925/sylvester-you-make-me-feel-mighty-real-american-anthem-disco-celebration
  2. https://sylvesterofficial.com/discography/step-ii/
  3. https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1978-08-26/
  4. https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/
  5. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/sylvester-you-make-me-feel-mighty-real/
  6. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/jimmy-somerville-you-make-me-feel-mighty-real/
  7. https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-dance-songs-all-time/
  8. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/cobra-starship/you-make-me-feel
  9. https://popcrush.com/cobra-starship-you-make-me-feel-video-working-sabi/
  10. https://www.vibe.com/features/vixen/vixen-boombox-sabi-talks-working-with-britney-spears-admiring-90s-rb-artists-aaliyah-tlc-259285/
  11. https://www.discogs.com/release/7698160-Cobra-Starship-Night-Shades
  12. https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Cobra-Starship/You-Make-Me-Feel-feat-Sabi
  13. https://genius.com/Cobra-starship-you-make-me-feel-lyrics
  14. https://open.spotify.com/track/2TcpsRfOiti6QoBfEujtWT
  15. https://tunebat.com/Info/You-Make-Me-Feel-feat-Sabi-Cobra-Starship-Sabi/16Of7eeW44kt0a1M0nitHM
  16. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/cobra-starship/you-make-me-feel/
  17. https://www.discogs.com/release/9696372-Cobra-Starship-Night-Shades
  18. https://sterling-sound.com/artist/cobra-starship/
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12499210/
  20. https://www.them.us/story/sylvester-you-make-me-feel-remaster
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD6cPE2BHic
  22. https://www.songsthatsavedyou.com/p/no7-you-make-me-feel-mighty-real
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciHL5Ph1l5A
  24. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DN9GN8BFOk3/
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4nM3aG5rWw
  26. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAMEWUWP7QF/
  27. https://www.tunefind.com/show/the-simpsons/season-30/71757
  28. https://arts.fandom.com/wiki/You_Make_Me_Feel_%28Mighty_Real%29
  29. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/7Tmj/target-peter-pilotto
  30. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/2urq/paco-rabanne-phantom-space-party-song-by-sylvester
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUtl1B8ley8
  32. https://justdance.fandom.com/wiki/You_Make_Me_Feel_%28Mighty_Real%29
  33. https://www.villagevoice.com/1981/01/05/consumer-guide-47/
  34. https://www.facebook.com/groups/110871776044993/posts/1907869936345159/
  35. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-1235138031/
  36. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888/
  37. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1979-02-17/
  38. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/byron-stingily-you-make-me-feel-mighty-real/
  39. https://www.loc.gov/item/ncrb000012/
  40. https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-lgbtq-anthems-all-time/
  41. https://www.whosampled.com/Sylvester/You-Make-Me-Feel-%28Mighty-Real%29/covered/
  42. https://www.whosampled.com/Sylvester/You-Make-Me-Feel-%28Mighty-Real%29/
  43. https://www.facebook.com/groups/110871776044993/posts/2344052536060228/
  44. https://open.spotify.com/track/00hoCwXgJuPRHnvwLiBBj0
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.