"Feel Like Change" is a song by English singer-songwriter Black, which was released by A&M in 1991 as the lead single from his third studio album Black. The song was written by Black and produced by Robin Millar. "Feel Like Change" reached number 56 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for two weeks.[1]
| "Feel Like Change" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Black | ||||
| from the album Black | ||||
| B-side | "Nice" | |||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Length | 4:33 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Black | |||
| Producer(s) | Robin Millar | |||
| Black singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Feel Like Change" on YouTube | ||||
Background
edit"Feel Like Change" was released as the first single from the 1991 album Black. Initially there were disagreements between Black and A&M Records over which song from Black would be the first single. The label wanted to release "Here It Comes Again" but Black favoured "Feel Like Change".[2][3] As a single, "Feel Like Change" reached number 56 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1991.[1] It also reached number 38 on the Music Week Playlist Chart.[4]
In 1991, Black described "Feel Like Change" as a "protest song". He added that the song, which shares a similar theme to other tracks on the album, is written from the perspective of feeling sick of things and attempting to outline why.[5]
Music video
editThe song's music video was shot on location in New York.[6]
Critical reception
editOn its release, Alan Jones of Music Week described "Feel Like Change" as "pleasingly downtempo". He wrote, "One of Black's most poignant and sharply observed vignettes, it deserves to be a monster, but it [is] so subtle it will need repeated airplay."[7] Clint Boon and Martyn Walsh of Inspiral Carpets reviewed the single as guest reviewers for New Musical Express. Boon stated, "I like it. It's my kind of number. Nice and slow and stylish. This is the kind of record I could end up taking home [and] the kind of song I'd like to write." Walsh, in response to Boon, commented, "You're welcome to it. It sounds like Michael Bolton or Richard Clayderman to me.[8]
In a review of Black, Penny Kiley of the Liverpool Echo considered the song to be the one "closest to his old style".[9] In a retrospective review, Michael Sutton of AllMusic described it as one of a number of tracks which are "beautifully sung and stylishly composed".[10]
Formats
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Feel Like Change" | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Nice" | 4:29 |
| 3. | "I Can Let Go Now" | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Wonderful Life" | 4:48 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Feel Like Change" | 4:37 |
| 2. | "Here It Comes Again" | 4:20 |
Personnel
editCredits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes and the Black CD booklet.[14][16]
Feel Like Change
- Black – vocals
- Pete Davis – keyboards, programming
- Martin Green – clarinet, electric guitar
- Gordon Morgan – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
- Brad Lang – bass
- Roy Martin – drums
- Luís Jardim – percussion
- Camilla Griehsel-Vearncombe – vocals, backing vocals
Production
- Robin Millar – producer and arranger ("Feel Like Change", "Nice", "I Can Let Go Now" and "Here It Comes Again")
- Dave Dix – producer ("Wonderful Life")
Other
- John Warwicker – art direction, design, photography
- Graham Wood – typography, drawing
- Tom Gidley – incidental photography
Charts
edit| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Germany (GfK)[17] | 72 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 56 |
References
edit- ^ a b "BLACK - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ Keeling, Andrew. "Black - Essay No. 3 in the series The Music of Black (Colin Vearncombe)". colinvearncombe.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Black". colinvearncombe.com. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 18 May 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Black (1991). Black (Electronic press kit). A&M Records – via YouTube.
- ^ Tilli, Robbert (25 May 1991). "Spotlight: Black" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 21. p. 15. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Jones, Alan (27 April 1991). "Market Report: Mainstream Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 26 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ Boon, Clint; Walsh, Martyn (27 April 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 22.
- ^ Kiley, Penny (25 May 1991). "Black Is Back!". Liverpool Echo. p. 21.
- ^ Michael Sutton. "Black - Black | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ Feel Like Change (UK and European 7-inch single sleeve notes). Black. A&M Records. 1991. AM 780, 390780-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Like Change (UK cassette single liner notes). Black. A&M Records. 1991. AMMC 780, 390780-4.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Like Change (UK 12-inch single sleeve notes). Black. A&M Records. 1991. AMY 780.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b Feel Like Change (UK CD single liner notes). Black. A&M Records. 1991. AMCD 780, 390 780-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Feel Like Change (Japan CD single liner notes). Black. A&M Records. 1991. PCDY-10026.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Black (European CD album booklet). Black. A&M Records. 1991. 397 126 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Black – Feel Like Change" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "Black: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2021.