"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
Single by Sylvester
from the album Step II
B-side"Grateful"
ReleasedOctober 1978 (U.S.)
Recorded1978
Genre
Length6:39 (album)
3:35 (single)
LabelFantasy
Songwriter(s)
  • James Wirrick
  • Sylvester James
Producer(s)
Sylvester singles chronology
"Dance (Disco Heat)"
(1978)		 "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
(1978)		 "I (Who Have Nothing)"
(1979)
Music video
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" on YouTube

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" is a 1978 song by American disco/R&B singer Sylvester. It was written by James Wirrick and Sylvester, and released by Fantasy Records as the second single from the singer's fourth album, Step II (1978). The song was already a largely popular dance club hit in late 1978, as the B-side of his previous single "Dance (Disco Heat)", before it was officially being released in December. It rose to the number one position on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Music critic Robert Christgau has said the song is "one of those surges of sustained, stylized energy that is disco's great gift to pop music".[1]

In 2003, Q Magazine included "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[2] In 2019, the song was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[3] In 2023, Billboard ranked it among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".[4]

Origins

The song was originally recorded as a mid-tempo piano-driven gospel song; however, after producer Patrick Cowley saw a rehearsal of the song at San Francisco's City Club, he offered to remix the song.[5] The result was one of the pioneering disco records using some electronic instrumentation and effects, following closely on "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer which heavily used electronic instrumentation ahead of its time. These 1970s songs using electronic instrumentation would have an influence on 1980s and 1990s dance music, which in turn, would have an influence on dance music in the next century.

Chart performance

The song was Sylvester's first Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at #8 on the UK Singles Chart in October 1978.[6] In Sylvester's home country, the single was his second Top 40 hit, peaking at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1979.[7] The song also reached #20 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. A 12" single was released in 1978, with "Dance (Disco Heat)" as the A-side and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" as the B-side, and these two extended dance mixes proved to be very popular in dance clubs at the time. The two songs held down the top spot on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart for six weeks in August and September 1978.[8] These two songs helped to establish Sylvester's career as a noted disco and dance music performer, both in the US and abroad.

Impact and legacy

Q Magazine ranked "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" number 677 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[2] Pitchfork Media featured the song in their list of "50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride" in 2018.[9] In 2019, the song was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[3] Daily Mirror listed "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" at number 13 in their ranking of "Top 50 Happiest Songs Ever" in 2020.[10] Rolling Stone included it in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at No. 399.[11] In 2022, they placed it at No. 39 in their list of "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time".[12] Time Out ranked it number eight in their list of "The 50 Best Gay Songs to Celebrate Pride All Year Long" in 2022.[13] Billboard ranked "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" number 428 in their "Best Pop Songs of All Time" in October 2023.[4] The magazine praised its "magic moment"; "In the song‘s intro, as the song’s main hook starts to gather steam, a laser synth sound rises from out of nowhere, as if the song’s about to zoom off into outer space. And then it does."[4]

Charts

Jimmy Somerville version

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
Single by Jimmy Somerville
from the album Read My Lips
B-side"Remix"
Released1989
Genre
Length3:57
Songwriter(s)
  • James Wirrick
  • Sylvester
Producer(s)Stephen Hague
Jimmy Somerville singles chronology
"Comment te dire adieu"
(1989)		 "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
(1989)		 "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)"
(1990)
Music video
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" on YouTube

British singer Jimmy Somerville, formerly of the bands Bronski Beat and Communards, released a cover of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in 1989. His version of the song also received substantial club play, and it peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart in January 1990.[6] To date, this is the highest-charting version of the song in the UK. Somerville's cover of this song appears on his first solo album, Read My Lips (1989). Steve McLean directed the song's music video.

Background

Somerville told in a 1990 interview with Billboard, that the track "was originally released during a period of time when the gay community was successful in creating positive visibility." He noted further, "And then AIDS created a political backlash. I wanted to bring this song forward as a means of picking up these pieces of history and contributing to bringing out a positive image of gay men." Having already covered two other 70's classics; "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Never Can Say Goodbye", Somerville said he was trying to "reclaim what originally belonged to the gay community." He added, "During the '70s, we had all of these gay men expressing their emotions by writing music, and then using women vocalists as a front. We can now front these songs ourselves. It's an important thing to do. The problem is that so few people are willing to jeopardize record sales in order to be the honest and true people they really are."[35]

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard described the song as a "unashamedly hi-NRG/pop cover", noting that it marked Somerville's debut as a solo-singer.[36] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that the song is "an obvious choice for Somerville" and added further that he performs it with "such raw enthusiasm that his version is easily as good as the original. The basic difference is that the backing is tighter and cleaner-a punchy brass riff has been added and there is a video (that mixes fun and gay politics to good effect)."[37] In his review of the song, David Giles from Music Week stated that the singer "makes a very fine job at it."[38] To Tim Southwell of Record Mirror, this song was "more disco pop Europa-style", but considered it "somewhat tepid compared to "Comment te dire adieu".[39]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Steve McLean.[40] It features Somerville, backed by dancers, performing the song at a planet in front of volcanic craters. The video also features archive footage of Harvey Milk and Sylvester, as well as astronauts. The video was later made available on YouTube in 2017 and had generated more than 6.6 million views as of August 2023.[41]

Charts

Certifications and sales

In France, the single reportedly sold at least 100,000 copies.[51]

Byron Stingily version

"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
Single by Byron Stingily
from the album The Purist
B-side"Remix"
Released1998
GenreHouse
Length3:40
LabelClub Tools
Songwriter(s)
  • James Wirrick
  • Sylvester
Byron Stingily singles chronology
"Get Up (Everybody)"
(1997)		 "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"
(1998)		 "Testify"
(1998)
Music video
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" on YouTube

Chicago-born house music singer Byron Stingily, formerly of the band Ten City recorded a cover of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in 1997. Like Sylvester's original recording, Stingily's cover version of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (produced by UK music producer Damien Mendis) also went to number-one on the American Billboard dance chart, where it spent one week atop the chart in March 1998.[52] Although there have been instances where the same song, recorded by two different artists, has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart ("Don't Leave Me This Way" is one example), it is still a fairly rare occurrence. This version also reached number 13 in the UK[6] and number 25 in Italy. In 1998, it was featured on Stingily's debut album, The Purist.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "[Stingily] bravely takes on Sylvester's disco classic and infuses a startling combination of pulpit-pounding preaching and hip-grinding sexuality." He remarked, "His falsetto has never sounded so limber and soulful, and the track percolates with equal parts retro reverence and modern flair. Stingily has recently burst into pop prominence in the UK and Europe with this winning effort. What a treat it would be to see him enjoy comparable success in his home territory."[53] Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt the cover "stays close to the original (sampled here), but doesn't sound at all dated."[54] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, concluding, "The falsetto house king's cover of the Sylvester disco classic hits all the right (high) notes, and could see chart success."[55] A reviewer from Vibe noted that "it's deliciously ironic that the defining moment in Byron Stingily's solo debut, The Purist, occurs during the climax of Sylvester's evergreen". The magazine added that Stingily "whips through a vamp that eerily duplicates the late disco belter's primal intensity."[56]

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[57] 47
France (SNEP)[58] 97
Italy (Musica e dischi)[59] 25
Scotland (OCC)[60] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[61] 13
UK Dance (OCC)[62] 1
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard) 1

Other notable versions

In 1991, actress-comedian Sandra Bernhard recorded her own version of the single, which is a tribute to James, on her album Excuses for Bad Behavior (Part One). A series of 12" remix singles was released in 1994 by Epic Records' 550 Music imprint, who also signed Bernhard and picked up her album for a major push that same year. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and #86 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1994.[6][63]

Appearances in other media

  • The song was used for Danny DeVito's character's strip dance routine in the Friends Season 10 episode "The One Where The Stripper Cries".
  • The song was featured in a 2017 Candy Crush commercial.[64] Beginning in June 2021, it was also used in an advertisement for the Paco Rabanne cologne PHANTOM.[65]
  • The song is featured on the 2021 dance rhythm game, Just Dance 2022.[66]
  • The song was used during a "Lip Sync for Your Life" in the 8th season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
  • The song was used as the closing theme of the 1983 pilot for the 1984 NBC game show, Hot Potato.[67]
  • In May, 2022, a remixed version was released by Solardo and Comanavago.[68]

References

  1. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  2. 1 2 "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  3. 1 2 Andrews, Travis M. (March 20, 2019). "Jay-Z, a speech by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and 'Schoolhouse Rock!' among recordings deemed classics by Library of Congress". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco, Peter Shapiro, p76, Macmillan, 2006
  6. 1 2 3 4 "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 619.
  8. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.), page 252.
  9. ↑ "50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride". Pitchfork Media. June 18, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Top 50 Happiest Songs Ever". Daily Mirror. May 26, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ "500 Best Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ Dolan, Jon; Lopez, Julyssa; Matos, Michaelangelo; Shaffer, Claire (July 22, 2022). "200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ "The 50 Best Gay Songs to Celebrate Pride All Year Long". Time Out. January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  14. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 303. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 9. 2019.
  16. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 9. 2019.
  17. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-03-10. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  18. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-09-16. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  19. ↑ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Sylvester' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 7, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Sylvester".
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sylvester" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Billboard > Sylvester Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Billboard > Sylvester Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Billboard > Sylvester Chart History > Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (song)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  30. ↑ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 20, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  34. ↑ Scaping, Peter, ed. (1979). "Top 200 Singles in 1978". BPI Year Book 1979 (4th ed.). London, England: The British Phonographic Industry Ltd. pp. 186–89. ISBN 0-906154-02-2.
  35. ↑ Flick, Larry (May 26, 1990). "Somerville Peppers His Music With Politics" (PDF). Billboard. p. 33. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  36. ↑ Coleman, Bill (March 31, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 January 1990. p. 26. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  38. ↑ Giles, David (January 13, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  39. ↑ Southwell, Tim (6 January 1990). "Singles reviewed by Tim Southwell" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 30 October 2023 – via World Radio History.
  40. ↑ "Jimmy Somerville: You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)". IMDb. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Jimmy Somerville - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Official Video)". YouTube. October 10, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  42. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 259.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "JIMMY SOMERVILLE - YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL) (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  44. ↑ European Airplay Top 50
  45. ↑ "Music & Media: Europe's Music Radio Newsweekly. Volume 7. Issue 4" (PDF). Music & Media. BPI Communications. 27 January 1990. worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 9 June 2023. (see sections 'Eurochart Hot 100 Singles', p. 17)
  46. ↑ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know - Jimmy Somerville". IRMA. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  47. ↑ Jimmy Somerville = US Billboard Hot 100
  48. ↑ ["Jimmy Somerville". Billboard. PMC. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09.
  49. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 21, 1990". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  50. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1990". Ultratop. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  51. 1 2 "TOP – 1990". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  52. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.), page 247.
  53. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 31, 1998). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 26. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. January 31, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Byron Stingily - The Purist". Vibe. December 1, 1997. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  57. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. February 7, 1998. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Byron Stingily – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  59. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 29, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Byron Stingily".
  60. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Byron Stingily: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  63. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003, (Record Research Inc.), page 33.
  64. ↑ "Candy Crush Saga TV Commercial, 'It's Party Time! Get That Sweet Feeling!'".
  65. ↑ PHANTOM, the new fragrance for men | PACO RABANNE- YouTube
  66. ↑ "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester | Just Dance 2022 [Official]". YouTube.
  67. ↑ "Hot Potato - RARE Game Show Pilot". YouTube. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  68. ↑ "Solardo, Comanavago - You Make Me Feel |". YouTube.
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