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Feel So High

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"Feel So High"
1991 original single cover
Single by Des'ree
from the album Mind Adventures and I Ain't Movin'
Released19 August 1991
Genre
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Des'ree
  • Michael Graves
Producer(s)Ashley Ingram
Des'ree singles chronology
"Feel So High"
(1991) 		"Mind Adventures"
(1992)
Alternative cover
US 1995 single cover
Music video
"Feel So High" on YouTube

"Feel So High" is a song by British singer-songwriter Des'ree, released in August 1991 as the first single from her debut album, Mind Adventures (1992). The song was co-written by Des'ree with Michael Graves and received critical acclaim, peaking at No. 13 in the UK and No. 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Three different music videos were produced to promote the single.

Details

"Feel So High" was the song that got Des'ree signed to a major label, as it was the song that was on the demo tape she sent to the label. She specifically sent the tape to Lincoln Elias of the Sony label to sign her because it was him who had signed Terence Trent D'Arby and felt only he and his label would understand her music approach.

Ashley Ingram, who eventually produced "Feel So High" and most of the album, said that "[Elias] played me a very rough demo of the song that later became 'Feel So High.' It's not often that a singer can present a demo tape and expect the powers-that-be to acknowledge the full wonders, but on a creative level she shone. She leapt out of the cassette."[1]

Release

Europe

The single was released in August 1991, a mere 12 weeks after the label had signed her, giving Des'ree a record of shortest time between signing to a label and releasing a record. Initially, the record failed to have much success, peaking at a low No. 51 on the UK chart. In January 1992, while Des'ree was still recording her debut album, the song was re-released with a different mix and this time it became a hit, peaking at No. 13 on the UK chart. When released worldwide in 1992, it was a moderate hit around Europe, peaking within the top 40 in most countries, with a best showing in Sweden, where it became a top 10 hit peaking at No. 9.

US

In the US, "Feel So High" had been only released as a promo single and her debut album went unreleased there. Since American people were unfamiliar with the song, Sony decided to include the track as a bonus song on the US edition of Des'ree's second album I Ain't Movin'. With most music reviewers singling out the song, Des'ree's American label decided to issue "Feel So High" as the follow-up to her US top ten hit "You Gotta Be" in March 1995. The single failed to catch on as her previous single, and stalled at No. 67 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Des'ree's last appearance on the chart. Eventually, Mind Adventures was released in the US in 1995, but it excluded "Feel So High" from its track list as it had been included on her second album.

Critical reception

The song received good reviews from music critcs, and Des'ree drew comparisons with American singer Anita Baker for her deep voice and her music style. AllMusic editor Tom Demalon described it as a "slinky, mid-tempo" song and noted further that Des'ree "possesses a pleasing vocal delivery".[2] Larry Flick from Billboard said the newcomer "exudes a unique and refreshing style that is at first introspective and folkish, and then sophisticated and jazzy."[3] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "Once again, Des'ree's soothing style compliments the music, giving the listener reason to feel good."[4] Jim Arundel from Melody Maker remarked that her voice "has grace to spare, and a languidly divine tone." He concluded, "Seriously, this is a song so apart from mundanity, it qualifies as Fine Art."[5]

A reviewer from Music & Media felt that the singer-songwriter is a "real asset to the genre. Her soulful debut single could give her the same quick start as Tracy Chapman." Head of programmes Keith Pringle on Piccadilly Radio/Manchester said, "It's a classy record with a great hook. The sound fits the station, as we found out by testing the record with a phone panel. Just like Beverley Craven, it will take some re-releases before it will be a hit, but we're giving this single the lifetime of a hit."[6] John Kilgo from The Network Forty remarked the "smooth polished vocals and a subtle hook that entices you to sing along after just one listen."[7] Michael Odell from NME wrote, "The folky, sandal-wearing vibe of her vocal finds an oddly effective counterpoint in a shuffling dance beat. "Feel So High" has all the makings of one of those inexplicable 'Where'd that come from?' late summer hits."[8] Mark Frith from Select viewed it as a "beautifully haunting gospel-like track".[9]

Music video

Three music videos were shot, the first two for the original release and the 1992 re-release, and a new one was filmed for the US release in 1995. The original video features Des'ree walking around a botanical garden with female friends with dancers on the background. There's also shot of Des'ree singing surrounded by candles and shots of Des'ree with a man in a bed and then singing with him embracing her. The video for the 1992 re-release shows Des'ree painting a portrait of a man. Eventually, she enters the portrait to meet the man. The video for the 1995 US release shows Des'ree singing in a desert.

Track listings

Charts

Samples

In 1997, "Feel So High" was interpolated into the Janet Jackson song "Got 'til It's Gone" from Jackson's CD The Velvet Rope without due credit to Des'ree as a contributor. The maxi single, released in 2000, lists Des'ree and Michael Graves as two of the song's writers.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Des'ree: Singer, songwriter". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. ^ Demalon, Tom. "Des'ree – I Ain't Movin'". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (26 September 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 96. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ Sholin, Dave (10 March 1995). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 62. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  5. ^ Arundel, Jim (4 January 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 28. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 October 1991. p. 23. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. ^ Kilgo, John (10 March 1995). "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 22. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ Odell, Michael (21 September 1991). "Ree-Markable". NME. p. 49. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  9. ^ Frith, Mark (1 March 1992). "Reviews: New Albums". Select. p. 64. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  13. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. 15 February 1992. p. 29. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Des'ree". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Des'ree – Feel So High". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 January 1992. p. 24. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Des'ree Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Des'ree Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  27. ^ Q Magazine, July 1998.
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