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Something's Got a Hold on Me

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"Something's Got a Hold on Me" is a song by American singer Etta James. The song was written by James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while production was handled by Leonard and Phil Chess. It was released in 1962 as the third single from her 1962 self-titled album as a 7" vinyl disc. Musically, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track with elements of soul, blues and gospel. Upon its release, the single was an R&B hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart.[1]

"Something's Got a Hold on Me"
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Etta James
from the album Etta James
B-side"Waiting for Charlie to Come Home"
Released1962
Genre
Length2:48
LabelArgo
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Etta James singles chronology
"Seven Day Fool"
(1961) 		"Something's Got a Hold on Me"
(1962) 		"Stop the Wedding"
(1962)
Live video
"Something's Got a Hold on Me" on YouTube

"Something's Got a Hold on Me" has been covered and sampled by various contemporary artists. Australian singer Jessica Mauboy also covered "Something's Got a Hold on Me" in 2013 and released it as a single. The song plays in the opening scene of the Best Picture winning film CODA.

Background and composition

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Etta James (pictured in 1990) recorded the song in 1962 and co-wrote it with Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods.

"Something's Got a Hold on Me" was written by Etta James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while it was produced by two founders of the Chess Records, Leonard and Phil Chess.[2] The song was released as the third single from James' 1962 self-titled studio album.[2] It was served as a 7" vinyl disc with the other song, "Waiting for Charlie to Come Home", as the B-side in the United States.[3] Later, the track was included on the singer's 1963 compilation album Etta James Top Ten.[4] The live version of "Something's Got a Hold on Me" also appeared on Etta James' first live album, Etta James Rocks the House (1964).[5] In 1992, the song was a part of her greatest hits album, My Greatest Songs.[6]

"Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track[7] with elements of soul, blues,[8] and gospel.[9] The song lasts for a duration of 2:48 (two minutes and 48 seconds).[3] According to the sheet music published by EMI Music Publishing, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was composed in the key of D♭ major.[8] James' vocals in the song span on nearly two octaves, from the low-note of E3 to the high-note of D♭5.

Live performances

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On September 27, 1963, Etta James first performed "Something's Got a Hold on Me" at the New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee; later the performance was recorded and was included on her first live album Etta James Rocks the House.[5] During a "King-led all-star concert" which was held at the Ebony Theater, Los Angeles, California in 1987, James performed the song again with American blues musician B.B. King.[10] There, the singer sang the track with backing guitar played by King.[10] That performance was released as a CD and home video entitled "A Night of Blistering Blues".[10]

Track listing

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  • US 7" single[3]
  1. "Something's Got a Hold on Me" – 2:48
  2. "Waiting for Charlie to Come Home" – 2:08

Reception

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Jay Lustig of New Jersey On-Line called "Something's Got a Hold on Me" a "scintillating" track.[10] Upon its release, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was an R&B hit, peaking at number four on the Hot R&B Sides chart, a music chart which was published by American music magazine Billboard and now is the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[7] The single also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 37.[11]

Charts (1962–1963) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 37
US Hot R&B Sides (Billboard)[7] 4

Cover versions and samples

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"Something's Got a Hold on Me" has been covered on numerous occasions. In 1973, it was covered by the choir of the infamous People's Temple cult under Jim Jones.[12] On March 30, 2004, Natalie Cole performed "Something's Got a Hold on Me" at the Apollo Theater in New York City.[13] In 2010, American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera also covered it for the soundtrack album Burlesque.[14] The version by Aguilera met with favorable reviews from critics; a writer from Blogcritics wrote that "[the song] really digs in and makes them show stoppers" and "[it] suits her voice perfectly",[15] while Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic picked "Something's Got a Hold on Me" as one of the three best songs from the soundtrack.[16] Jools Holland, with Paloma Faith, recorded a version for his 2012 album, The Golden Age of Song. Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy recorded a cover version of the track and released it as a single exclusively in Australia in 2013.[17] Blues vocalist Beth Hart and guitarist Joe Bonamassa included the track on their 2011 album of blues and soul covers, Don't Explain.[18] They also released a live version recorded at the Royal Theater Carré in 2013 on their Live in Amsterdam DVD.[19]

Doi-Oing was the first artist to sample "Something's Got a Hold on Me" in his 1991 song "Good Feeling".[20] In 2006, electronic music artist Pretty Lights sampled the song again in his track "Finally Moving" from the album Taking Up Your Precious Time.[21] In 2011, two smash hits sampled "Something's Got a Hold on Me": "Levels" by Swedish DJ Avicii and Flo Rida's "Good Feeling".[11][22]

Jessica Mauboy version

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"Something's Got a Hold on Me"
Single by Jessica Mauboy
ReleasedFebruary 27, 2013 (2013-02-27)
Genre
Length3:26
LabelSony
Songwriter(s)
  • Etta James
  • Leroy Kirkland
  • Pearl Woods
Jessica Mauboy singles chronology
"Gotcha"
(2012) 		"Something's Got a Hold on Me"
(2013) 		"To the End of the Earth"
(2013)
 
In 2013, Jessica Mauboy covered the song and performed it for the 2013 NRL season.

"Something's Got a Hold on Me" was covered by Australian R&B singer Jessica Mauboy. It was released as a digital download single on 27 February 2013.[17]

Reception

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"Something's Got a Hold on Me" by Jessica Mauboy received mainly positive reviews from music critics. Brad Stern of MTV Buzzworthy Brad Stern called Mauboy's version a "power-pop anthem".[23] Daisy Dumas of The Age was positive toward the track, noted it as a "sassy, pop-heavy spin on the Etta James classic".[24] Simone Ubaldi of Beat magazine described the cover as "grotesque dance pop bastardisation",[25] while a writer for radio station 96.5 Wave FM thought that it sounds impressive.[26] A writer for Take 40 Australia called it energetic,[27] while Fox Sports' Anthony Costa wrote that the song does not feel like "a potential rugby league anthem" but "it suits Mauboy's vocal talents".[28] "Something's Got a Hold on Me" won Single Release of the Year at the 2013 Deadly Awards.[29] The song entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number 26 on March 11, 2013.[30] The following week, it fell down to number 50.[30]

Promotion

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On 27 February 2013, the Australian Rugby League Commission released a television advertisement, which features Mauboy singing her version of "Something's Got a Hold on Me", as well as highlights from previous rugby league matches and fans playing rugby league in backyards, on beaches and running down streets.[31][32][33] That same day, Mauboy performed the song during the official launch for the 2013 NRL season, held at The Star Casino in Sydney.[32][34] NRL director of marketing and commercial operations Paul Kind said her version "is very contemporary" and "has a really broad appeal".[31][35] Mauboy is the second female artist (the first being Tina Turner) to be featured in a NRL theme song.[36] "Something's Got a Hold on Me" is also the first theme song in major Australian sport to feature an Indigenous Australian artist.[36]

Charts

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Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[30] 26

References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 290.
  2. ^ a b James, Etta (1962). Etta James (Liner notes). Etta James. Argo Records.
  3. ^ a b c Something's Got a Hold on Me (US single, 7"). Etta James. United States: Argo Records. 1962.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ James, Etta (1963). Etta James Top Ten (Liner notes). Etta James. Argo Records.
  5. ^ a b James, Etta (1964). Etta James Rocks the House (Liner notes). Etta James. Argo Records.
  6. ^ James, Etta (1992). My Greatest Songs (Liner notes). Etta James. MCA Records.
  7. ^ a b c "Etta James – Biography". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Etta James – Something's Got a Hold on Me – Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Etta James Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d Lustig, Jay (26 May 2011). "Song of the Day: 'Something's Got a Hold on Me', Etta James and B.B. King". New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (25 January 2012). "Etta James Sales Jump 378% in Days After Her Death". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  12. ^ Chiu, David (16 November 2018). "'He's Able': Inside the Jonestown Cult's Forgotten Gospel Album". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  13. ^ Weber, Bruce (30 March 2004). "Heat and Light Uptown - Benefit Salutes the Apollo with Songs and Goose Bumps". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  14. ^ Burlesque (Liner notes). Christina Aguilera. RCA Records. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Music Review: Burlesque – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Blogcritics. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  16. ^ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen (22 November 2010). "Burlesque – Original Soundtrack – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Music – Something's Got a Hold on Me – Single by Jessica Mauboy". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  18. ^ Francis, Pete (2 September 2011). "Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa: Don't Explain Review; Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  19. ^ Ward, George (18 March 2014). "Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa: Live In Amsterdam Review; Review". Blues Rock Review. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  20. ^ Good Feeling (Single). Doi-Oing. Northern Exposure. 1991.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Taking Up Your Precious Time (Liner notes). Pretty Lights. Pretty Lights Music. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Hyman, Dan (24 January 2012). "Flo Rida and Avicii Remember Etta James". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  23. ^ Stern, Brad (6 March 2013). "Jessica Mauboy, Misha B, Amelia Lilly + More: 5 Must Hear Pop Songs of the Week". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV. Viacom. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  24. ^ Dumas, Daisy (2 March 2013). "The company they keep". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  25. ^ Ubaldi, Simone (February 2013). "Jessica Mauboy: Something's Got a Hold on Me". Beat. Furst Media. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  26. ^ "Is the NRL on a winner with Jessica Mauboy?". 96.5 Wave FM. Grant Broadcasters Network. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Jessica Mauboy Releases NRL Theme Song 'Something's Got a Hold on Me'". Take 40 Australia. MCM Entertainment. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  28. ^ Costa, Anthony (27 February 2013). "Branding expert says NRL TV campaign simply the best since Tina". Fox Sports (Australia). News Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  29. ^ "Deadly Awards: List of winners". SBS. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  30. ^ a b c "Jessica Mauboy – Something's Got a Hold on Me". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  31. ^ a b Proszenko, Adrian (23 February 2013). "Mauboy gets hold of some soul for new league theme". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  32. ^ a b Otto, Tyson (27 February 2013). "Jessica Mauboy stars in new NRL advertising campaign". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  33. ^ "Jessica Mauboy, the voice behind the NRL ad". Port Macquarie News. Fairfax Media. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  34. ^ Honeysett, Stuart; Read, Brent (28 February 2013). "Name and shame: CEO Dave Smith gaffes again as Jessica Mauboy rescues launch". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  35. ^ Hooper, James (24 February 2013). "Mauboy lends league a touch of soul". The Sunday Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  36. ^ a b "Rugby League has a hold on me". NRL.com. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
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