Giving Him Something He Can Feel
Encyclopedia
"Something He Can Feel" is a song composed by Curtis Mayfield
for the soundtrack to the 1976 motion picture Sparkle
. The song, a love ballad in a Supremes
/Motown-esque style, became a number-one hit on the Billboard's R&B singles chart
in the United States
twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by Aretha Franklin
from the film's soundtrack (see 1976 in music
), and a 1992 cover by girl group
En Vogue
(see 1992 in music
).
In the Sparkle film, the song is performed by "Sister & the Sisters", with Lonette McKee
on lead vocal, and Irene Cara
and Dwan Smith on backing vocals.
replaces the vocal tracks with those of Aretha Franklin
and the Kitty Haywood Singers, with the instrumental tracks remaining the same.
Sparkle revolves around the lives of the members of Sister & the Sisters, a 1960s Motown-esque girl group
, and "Something He Can Feel" is present in the film as part of their repertoire. Franklin's recording of the song was issued as the first single from the album, and became a number-one hit on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles
chart, peaking at number twenty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100
, becoming Aretha's only pop Top 40 hit during the second half of the 1970s.
recorded a cover version
of "Something He Can Feel" (issued as "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"), produced by Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster. The En Vogue cover, released as the second single from the group's second album, Funky Divas
, was also a successful hit, with lead vocals by Dawn Robinson
. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and became the fifth En Vogue single in two years to peak at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
for the soundtrack to the 1976 motion picture Sparkle
Sparkle (1976 film)
Sparkle is a 1976 American film directed by Sam O'Steen and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. Inspired by The Supremes, Sparkle is a period film set in Harlem, New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s which follows the rough lives and careers of singer Sparkle Williams and her family and...
. The song, a love ballad in a Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
/Motown-esque style, became a number-one hit on the Billboard's R&B singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
from the film's soundtrack (see 1976 in music
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
), and a 1992 cover by girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
En Vogue
En Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
(see 1992 in music
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
).
In the Sparkle film, the song is performed by "Sister & the Sisters", with Lonette McKee
Lonette McKee
Lonette McKee is an American film and television actress, music composer/producer/songwriter, screenwriter and director.-Biography:...
on lead vocal, and Irene Cara
Irene Cara
Irene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
and Dwan Smith on backing vocals.
Aretha Franklin Version
The version of "Something He Can Feel" present on the film's soundtrack albumSparkle (Aretha Franklin album)
Sparkle is an Aretha Franklin album, written and produced by Curtis Mayfield. The disc is the soundtrack album for the 1976 Warner Bros. motion picture Sparkle, starring Irene Cara...
replaces the vocal tracks with those of Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and the Kitty Haywood Singers, with the instrumental tracks remaining the same.
Sparkle revolves around the lives of the members of Sister & the Sisters, a 1960s Motown-esque girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, and "Something He Can Feel" is present in the film as part of their repertoire. Franklin's recording of the song was issued as the first single from the album, and became a number-one hit on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, peaking at number twenty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, becoming Aretha's only pop Top 40 hit during the second half of the 1970s.
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | 28 |
| Billboard Hot Soul Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
En Vogue Version
Fifteen years after Sparkle was released, R&B group En VogueEn Vogue
En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music...
recorded a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Something He Can Feel" (issued as "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"), produced by Thomas McElroy & Denzil Foster. The En Vogue cover, released as the second single from the group's second album, Funky Divas
Funky Divas
Funky Divas is the second album by the U.S. female vocal group En Vogue. Released in 1992, it became their highest selling album to date and one of the top selling albums of the year, shifting over 5 million copies worldwide.-Background:...
, was also a successful hit, with lead vocals by Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson
Dawn Robinson is an American R&B/soul/Dance-pop singer best known for her work as a member of hit Urban/Dance-pop group, En Vogue....
. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and became the fifth En Vogue single in two years to peak at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 | 31 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 29 |
See also
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1976 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)