The Godfather of Soul, American performer James Brown, has never been particularly popular with Russian-speaking music lovers. But the song that has become his calling card is familiar to everyone who listens to the radio or watches TV at least sometimes.
We’re talking about I Got You, although it’s better known as I Feel Good. You must have heard it in movies, cartoons or commercials.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song I Feel Good
Interestingly, at first, three years before Brown, this song called I Found You was recorded by Yvonne Fair, his backing vocalist. But the original version of the audience took it with coolness. James did not make many changes to the composition, but his I Got You became an instant hit.
The lyrics of the song are extremely simple. These are a few enthusiastic lines, telling in the first person how great the narrator feels because he has a sweetheart.
James Brown always sang I Got You in his signature style, which makes no sense to describe, since this action is not conveyed in words. Better see for yourself. I specifically chose a concert performance, because the purity of the recording in the case of Brown is not as important as the opportunity to watch him.
The music of I Got You is already a real funk, played in a blues 12-chord sequence with such enthusiasm that you involuntarily start to dance.
Release and achievements
I Got You was released as a single in 1965 and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, Brown’s highest achievement. It was ranked #21 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll and #78 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
For half a century, during which this song pleases fans of positive music, a lot of covers have been made on it. It constantly sounds at stadiums and various shows. It is regularly included in the soundtracks of feature and animated films, and is also used in advertising.
Clip I Feel Good
I propose to watch the video clip for the song by James Brown.
Interesting Facts
- Ninety-nine James Brown songs hit the Billboard Hot 100, but none of them could top it.
- “I Got You” can be heard in the films The Nutty Professor, Home Alone 4, Doctor Dolittle, K-9, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, Garfield, Transformers and many others.
- Channel NTV7 (Malaysia) starts and ends broadcasting daily with the song “I Got You”.
- The phrase “I feel nice, like sugar and spice” is a reworked stanza from the children’s poem “sugar and spice and everything nice that’s what little girls are made of”.
I Got You Lyrics
Wo! I feel good, I knew that I would now
I feel good, I knew that I would now
So good, so good, I got you
Wo! I feel nice, like sugar and spice
I feel nice, like sugar and spice
So good, so nice, I got you
When I hold you in my arms
I know that I can do no wrong
And when I hold you in my arms
My love won’t do you no harm
I Got You Lyrics James Brown
Wow! I’m cool and I knew it would be like this
I’m cool and I knew it would be like this
So cool, so cool, I have you
Wow! I’m so cool that I can’t express in words
I’m so cool that I can’t express in words
So cool, so cool, I have you
When I hold you in my arms
I know that I’m not capable of anything bad
And when I hold you in my arms
My love won’t hurt you
Quote about James Brown
In his
songs, one should not pay much attention to the lyrics. As a rule, they are primitive and at the same time crazy, rough and not in accordance with the canons.
Iggy Pop
