Feel So High

"Feel So High" is the debut single by British singer-songwriter Des'ree, released in 1991.

"Feel So High"
1991 original single cover
Single by Des'ree
from the album Mind Adventures and I Ain't Movin'
Released19 August 1991 (UK)
30 December 1991 (UK re-release)
March 1995 (US)
Recorded1991
Genre
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ashley Ingram
Des'ree singles chronology
"Feel So High"
(1991)		 "Mind Adventures"
(1992)
Alternative cover
USA 1995 single cover
Music video
"Feel So High" on YouTube

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 her debut album Mind Adventures, 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 and reception

The song received good reviews, 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] Music & Media commented that Des'ree 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."[4] John Kilgo from The Network Forty noted the "smooth polished vocals and a subtle hook that entices you to sing along after just one listen."[5] Mark Frith from Select called it a "beautifully haunting gospel-like track".[6]

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 #51 in the UK charts. 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 #13 in the UK charts. 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 #9.

USA release

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 USA 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 USA top ten hit "You Gotta Be" in March 1995. The single failed to catch on as her previous single, and stalled at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Des'ree's last appearance on that 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.

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 USA 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 USA release shows Des'ree singing in a desert.

Covers and 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.[7]

In 1999, it was sampled in Ginuwine's song "Same Ol' G".

In 2009, Nate James released his version on his covers album Revival.

Track listings

1991 release

7" single – UK

  1. "Feel So High" – 3:52
  2. "Got To Be Strong" – 2:07

CD maxi, 12" single (UK)

  1. "Feel So High" – 3:52
  2. "Got To Be Strong" – 2:07
  3. "Stand On My Own Ground" (1st draft) – 4:43

1992 release

7" single, Cassette Single (UK)

  1. "Feel So High" (New Born Again mix) – 3:52
  2. "Save This Promised Land" (a capella) – 3:21

CD single Europe

  1. "Feel So High" (New Born Again mix) – 3:52
  2. "Feel So High" (The Elevation mix) - 5:25
  3. "Save This Promised Land" (a capella) – 3:21
  4. "Got To Be Strong" – 2:07

12" maxi – UK

  1. "Feel So High" (The Elevation mix) – 5:25
  2. "Feel So High" (New Born Again mix) – 3:52
  3. "Save This Promised Land" (a capella) – 3:21
  4. "Got To Be Strong" – 2:07

12" maxi – Promo – UK

  1. "Feel So High" (The Elevation mix) – 5:25
  2. "Feel So High" (The Elevation mix – No Strings)

CD single – Promo – USA

  1. "Feel So High" (radio edit) – 3:53
  2. "Feel So High" (Elevation edit) – 3:39
  3. "Feel So High" (Urban Groove edit) – 3:50

1995 release

CD single – USA

  1. "Feel So High" – 3:53
  2. "Mind Adventures" – 4:45
  3. "Innocent & Naive" – 3:40
  4. "You Gotta Be" (Love Will Save The Day mix) – 4:04

CD single – Japan

  1. "Feel So High" (The Family Stand remix) – 3:53
  2. "You Gotta Be" (Hourglass mix) – 3:51
  3. "Little Child" – 3:53
  4. "I Ain't Movin'" – 3:33
  5. "You Gotta Be" (Love Will Save The Day mix) – 4:04
  6. "Take A Chance" – 5:13

CD single – Promo – USA

  1. "Feel So High" (album version) – 3:53
  2. "Feel So High" (The Elevation mix) – 5:25
  3. "Feel So High" (The Family Stand remix) – 3:53
  4. "You Gotta Be" (Love Will Save The Day mix) – 4:04

CD single – Promo – Canada

  1. "Feel So High" – 3:53
  2. "I Ain't Movin'" – 4:20

Charts

References
  1. "Des'ree: Singer, songwriter". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. "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. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 October 1991. p. 23. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. 10 March 1995. p. 22. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. "Reviews: New Albums". Select. 1 March 1992. p. 64. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  7. Q Magazine, July 1998.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  9. "Australian-charts.com – Des'ree – Feel So High". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Des'ree – Feel So High" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  11. "Lescharts.com – Des'ree – Feel So High" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Des'ree – Feel So High". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Des'ree". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Des'ree – Feel So High" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  16. "Charts.nz – Des'ree – Feel So High". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Des'ree – Feel So High". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  18. "Swisscharts.com – Des'ree – Feel So High". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  20. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 January 1992. p. 24. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  21. "Des'ree Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  22. "Des'ree Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  23. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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