Chaka Khan, "I Feel For You": Classic or Dud?

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Orgasm on wax, or opportunistic "street" effort by fatuous diva? Well?

― Michael Daddino, Saturday, 3 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Hm. Chaka Khan? Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought she sucked the big one, you know, like Andy Warhol.

― , Saturday, 3 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Definately classic, precisely because it was a glossy pop take on hip-hop. All the necessary bits are present for a great record: decent Prince song, great singer, cracking rap by Melle Mel, very agreeable harmionica by Stevie Wonder, ace gimmicky production (The faux "scratch" breakdowns- between intro rap and song, and amazing 5 second stop-start pre-coda section in the radio edit- are classic moments of 80s production) and terrific arrangment and programming, particularly on details like the strangely proto-Timbaland sounding duelling left/right percussion.

(I'd also like to put in a nice word for Chake Khan's other great 80s single, the electro/rock/soul melange of "Ain't Nobody". In fact, there's quite a few really ace 80s tunes from the soul end that seem to have been forgtten about as hip-hop and house started to take over. Stuff like Shannon's "Let The Music Play", Heart's "Change of Heart", loads of stuff by the SOS Band... Guess who's been listening to an old second-hand "80s club hits" compil recently... ;) )

Old Fart!!!!!

― Old Fart!!!, Saturday, 3 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

classic, classic, classic!! no doubt about it, that harmonica break leapt out of my crackly clock radio every time z100 spun that single. i still see rays of sunlight when i hear it now.

― maura, Saturday, 3 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Dud.

― the pinefox, Saturday, 3 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

In theory: classic.

In practice: dud.

― Omar, Sunday, 4 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like it even though I shouldnt.

― Michael Bourke, Sunday, 4 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

An absolute stone cold classic and the first single I ever stole from my sister and pretended that I had bought myself to bring reflected glory upon myself.

― Pete, Monday, 5 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

What nobody has mentioned is what a rubbish single it would have been if her name hadn't been "Chaka Khan" - the "ch-" sound and the double "k" made it really fun to do verbal 'scratching' on in the playground.

― Tom, Monday, 5 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Absolute classic! It is a decidedly glossy and poppy effort to take on hip-hip, but it does it with such style. It would *probably* make my personal list of favorite singles, if I were inclined to make lists.

― Nicole, Monday, 5 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Classic. I hated it when it first came out, though. I didn't like hip hop, so the "chakachakachakakhan" bits were impossibly grating to me. I think I learned to appreciate the melody beneath the goofiness and noise from hearing Prince's original. Then I learned to enjoy the goofiness.

― Patrick, Monday, 5 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

eight months pass...

I met a music student who described how Ahmet Ertegun came to his school and used this song as an example of how a hit was built based on combining proven forces (Stevie Wonder ) with upcoming trends (rap). Melle Mel does a riff on the same rap on a song called "Step Off" which is also a pretty good tune. I think the production is outstanding on this record and it's a pretty gratifying effort.

― G Maddux Inc., Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

It sucks that this song seems to be losing its floor power when I've played it out these days. WTF?

― PappaWheelie MMCMXL (PappaWheelie 2), Friday, 12 January 2007 22:29 (eighteen years ago)

this song NEVER loses its power.

― acid waffle house (dubplatestyle), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:17 (eighteen years ago)

in a few hours i'm goingo to dj a party, and i feel for you is on my playlist tonight, so i will see how much floor power it still has and report back. but i'm going to predict total sucess? just like the other 1209302931092 times i played it.

― flavio pessoa (flavio pessoa), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:45 (eighteen years ago)

oh man, what a bunch of typos.

― flavio pessoa (flavio pessoa), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:45 (eighteen years ago)

one song that lost its previous power around these parts is Buffalo Stance.

and it is all my fault! i overplayed it :(

― flavio pessoa (flavio pessoa), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:49 (eighteen years ago)

Fucking klassik. With two kays. Amazed there's any dissent.

― Adam Beales (Pye Poudre), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:53 (eighteen years ago)

if the escalating synth stab part was more extended on the Prince version, there would be almost no need for the Chaka Khan version.

― jambalaya backgammon (grady), Friday, 12 January 2007 23:59 (eighteen years ago)

I think Jackie Khan would've worked almost as well at least.

― reverto levidensis (blueski), Saturday, 13 January 2007 00:02 (eighteen years ago)

if the escalating synth stab part was more extended on the Prince version,

The bridge? That riff Prince lifted from the incredibly classic Dreaming of a Dream by Crown Heights Affair:

http://www.discogs.com/release/768256

Of course, one of the main reasons for the power of the Chaka Khan version is Reggie Griffin!

― PappaWheelie MMCMXL (PappaWheelie 2), Saturday, 13 January 2007 03:42 (eighteen years ago)

Total Classic, this song hasn't lost is power, but I use two copies to extend the into. A trick I stole from Greg Wilson.

― Jacob Sanders (LolVStein), Saturday, 13 January 2007 04:14 (eighteen years ago)

Total classic. One of my first introductions to hip-hop (breakdancing music, as we called it). Loved the melle mel bits more than the actual singing parts as a kid, but learned to love the rest later on.

Even prefer this version to Prince's by this much*

*three apples wide much.

― Viz (Viz), Saturday, 13 January 2007 04:43 (eighteen years ago)

Chaka Khan.

Chaka Khan let me rock ya. That's all I wanna do. Chaka Khan let me rock ya cause I feel for.

Classique!

Big WTF moment = "Fingertips" samples

― The Reverend Rodney J. Greene is false metal! (R. J. Greene), Saturday, 13 January 2007 06:15 (eighteen years ago)

'fate' is better.

― mikebee (heywood), Saturday, 13 January 2007 06:30 (eighteen years ago)

The bridge? That riff Prince lifted from the incredibly classic Dreaming of a Dream by Crown Heights Affair

Sorta, but he added a few chords in there too.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 13 January 2007 06:49 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah well if it WASN'T played over and over and over at my junior high school dances...it would easily be classic. But you know...enough is enough.

― White Dopes on Punk (Bimble...), Saturday, 13 January 2007 09:07 (eighteen years ago)

I adore Chaka (and Rufus), but this has never been one of my faves. Not a dud, but not a classic either.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 13 January 2007 12:47 (eighteen years ago)

Old fart OTM about "Ain't Nobody"; I'd add her Scritti Politti collaboration "Love of a Lifetime."

Oh, and classic.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 13 January 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, classic classic classic. Hey the Bimble: hate the overplayers, not the game!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Saturday, 13 January 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

Classic. Always reminds me of Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait" which is another resounding CLASSIC

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Saturday, 13 January 2007 15:54 (eighteen years ago)

five months pass...

none more classic

― That one guy that quit, Sunday, 1 July 2007 09:55 (eighteen years ago)

Classic (and great live)! People don't talk enough about how great Tony Maiden was (at least not that I can ascertain).

― Saxby D. Elder, Sunday, 1 July 2007 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

"I Feel For You"--classic.

"Ain't Nobody"--immortal.

― ellaguru, Sunday, 1 July 2007 17:06 (eighteen years ago)

i heard this the other day for the first time in ages - still classic

― gershy, Sunday, 1 July 2007 18:34 (eighteen years ago)

deathlessly classic.

― stevie, Sunday, 1 July 2007 19:25 (eighteen years ago)

spam email that I just got is titled "Singer Chaka Khan embraces funk, not GOP"

― haitch, Monday, 2 July 2007 00:01 (eighteen years ago)

I like this one, and "Ain't Nobody" too. Was back when hip-hop was still fun, and not opposed to originally composed tunes (well, OK, so "I Feel For You" was a cover)

― Geir Hongro, Monday, 2 July 2007 22:36 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

I just listened to "Ain't Nobody" and wanted to revive to say "classic" for Chaka Khan, not just for "I Feel For You" but that too. The keyboard riff on "Ain't Nobody" is so classic; Wikipedia says Quincy Jones wanted this song for Thriller but didn't get it; it would have been amazing on there.

― Euler, Saturday, 5 July 2008 20:32 (seventeen years ago)

I will love you anyway
Even if you cannot stay
I think you are the one for me
Here is where you ought to be
I just want to satisfy ya
Though youre not mine
I cant deny ya
Dont you hear me talking baby?
Love me now or Ill go crazy

Chorus:
Oh sweet thing
Dont you know youre my everything?
Oh sweet thing
Dont you know youre my everything?
Yes, you are

I wish you were my lover
But ya act so undercover
To love you child my who life long
Be it right, or be it wrong
Im only what you make me, baby
Dont walk away, dont be so shady
Dont want your mind, dont want your money
These words I say, they may sound funny, but...

Chorus

You are my heat
You are my fire
You make me weak with strong desire
To love you chile my whole life long
Be it right, or be it wrong
I just want to satisfy ya
Though youre not mine
I cant deny ya
Dont you hear me talking baby?
Love me now or Ill go crazy

Vamp:
Youre my heat, you are my fire
Youre not mine, I cant deny ya
Dont you hear me talking, baby?
Love me now, or Ill go crazy

― PappaWheelie V, Sunday, 6 July 2008 01:10 (seventeen years ago)

To love you chile
To love you chile
To love you chile
To love you chile
To love you chile

― PappaWheelie V, Sunday, 6 July 2008 01:11 (seventeen years ago)

Goddamnit I want to hear this song again, too.

How did you guys know I've been playing Chaka Kahn's "Ain't Nobody" lately?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA1IRDc5JXw

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 6 July 2008 02:01 (seventeen years ago)

"Feel For You" reminds me of junior high school. Or "middle school" as it was called. Lots of breakdancers there.

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 6 July 2008 05:28 (seventeen years ago)

I love both, but I always preferred "This Is My Night" to either. Just those big weird percussion sounds and stutters in the bridges, and those massive electronic bass drums. /startrekman

― Mackro Mackro, Sunday, 6 July 2008 05:38 (seventeen years ago)

Well shit I guess I've got some catching up to do, what with your post and Wheelie's. I haven't heard these songs.

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 6 July 2008 06:04 (seventeen years ago)

Ha! I've just got myself this 12" extended version of "This Is My Night". WOW. This makes me real happy.

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 6 July 2008 08:25 (seventeen years ago)

"Sweet Thing" is good, too, though.

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 6 July 2008 08:25 (seventeen years ago)

"This is My Night" is spectacular! Most of that album is that way, though.

― Eric H., Sunday, 6 July 2008 08:27 (seventeen years ago)

absolutely unfuckwithable. this was one of the (fortunately many) astounding singles of that time period that made you feel lucky to be listening to the radio.

― Lawrence the Looter, Sunday, 6 July 2008 20:52 (seventeen years ago)

Sounds like a million bucks, still.

― Bodrick III, Sunday, 6 July 2008 20:55 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

LOVE

― omarion's cousin, Monday, 11 January 2010 10:26 (fifteen years ago)

Kind of like the entire album it's taken from actually. 1984 was a fine year for electro.

― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Monday, 11 January 2010 16:23 (fifteen years ago)

three years pass...

I'm going to listen to "Clouds" and "Papillon" on loop all night.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 20 January 2013 04:40 (twelve years ago)

^^^

― the maybe of bâcon (clouds), Sunday, 20 January 2013 05:02 (twelve years ago)

this song NEVER loses its power.

― acid waffle house (dubplatestyle), Friday, January 12, 2007

me otm.

― let's go do some crimes (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Sunday, 20 January 2013 05:11 (twelve years ago)

Aaaaaaaaaand immediately I have this in my head!

Classic.

― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Sunday, 20 January 2013 05:52 (twelve years ago)

Her cover of Gary "Dream Weaver" Wright's 'Love Is Alive' from the same LP as 'I Feel For You' is a treat too

― Stormy Davis, Sunday, 20 January 2013 07:21 (twelve years ago)

"This is My Night" damn solid too.

― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 20 January 2013 12:42 (twelve years ago)

Classic. It's one of those thread titles, when it pops up, makes me think "surely nobody's going to say Dud?!"; but this is ILM and there's always somebody.

― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 20 January 2013 12:51 (twelve years ago)

three years pass...

Classic, of course!

"Chaka Khan?"

― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Sunday, 24 April 2016 07:44 (nine years ago)

people were a lot more fast and loose with their 'dud's in the olden ilx days huh?

― TARANTINO! (dog latin), Sunday, 24 April 2016 08:16 (nine years ago)

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