Feeling Good (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Feeling Good |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 3:19 |
| Alternative titles | - |
| First live performance | 28th September 1999 |
| Latest live performance | 14th June 2016 |
| Recorded | Real World Studio Wiltshire, 2001 |
| Writer/composer | Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley |
| Producer | John Leckie |
| Chart position | 24 |
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darkshines | < | Feeling Good | > | Futurism |
| Album Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showbiz (1999) | < | Origin of Symmetry (2001) | > | Hullabaloo (2002) |
Description
The most popular Muse cover, and covered because of Matt's ex-girlfriend's liking of the song.[1][2] Originally believed to be released as a b-side, the band stated in mid-2000 it was going to be placed on an EP. It instead made the album, surprising many at the time, and wound up being released as a single. The song was used by Nescafé for their advertisement but without the band's permission. The band denied them the use of the song because they didn't believe in having their music used to advertise supermarket products. Nescafé withdrew that version for a different version. Muse were subsequently paid £500,000 of settlement money, which they donated to Oxfam.[1]
In an interview with Rocksound Magazine, Bellamy stated that "our interpretation is quite different from the original, but nowhere near as good. I chose it because it’s got brilliant lyrics, and it fits in with some of the other songs on the album. It’s about becoming you – getting rid of your past and thinking about leading a new life. I just want people to know that underlying what I do is something positive, and that I’m not here to kill myself or to destroy the situation we live in.”[3]
In Taratata part 2, the host tells Matt that he has heard that Matt's mother likes the song. Bellamy replies with "loves the song."
"Feeling Good" was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd", though was made famous when performed by the legendary jazz artist Nina Simone.
Matt stated that the song for him it's about "Looking to the future with hope"[4] he also said in another interview: "The music is very dark and moody but as plain text the lyrics are just a cheesy, happy poem, just so amazingly positive, and It can make you feel like there's really something worth fighting for. It is depressing but it’s almost like humanity singing about how good things could be"[5]
Composition
Feeling Good is written in the key of G minor. It moves in 12/8 time at a slow tempo of 72 bpm.
Bellamy's vocal range spans from F3 to F5. The song contains his highest note in the modal register, B♭4, which is shared with Unnatural Selection, Futurism, Madness, Survival and Big Freeze.
Feeling Good (XX Anniversary RemiXX)
On May 19th, 2021, it was announced that Muse will be releasing a remixed and remastered version of Origin of Symmetry, titled "Origin of Symmetry (XX Anniversary RemiXX)". This was released on June 18th, 2021.
The remix is not hugely different to the original overall, but some notable changes were made. The most notable of which is the presence of some strings during the second and fourth verses that were muted before. Other minor alterations include slightly less bass distortion, the double bass during the third verse having more presence, the piano having more reverb applied, and the drums during the outro being mixed louder.
Additional information
This cover was commonly played live between 2000 and 2003, but wasn't played between Laugardalshöll 2003 and Southside Festival 2006. It was once again played regularly live from 2006 onwards.
This song was played on Spanish TVE:Radio3 as a live recording, in which, after the second verse, Matt Bellamy started swearing in time with the music for two lines; they were told not to swear which angered Muse as they never swore in their music until then, so they swore extensively. The video for this can be found here. Muse have been banned from Radio 3 ever since. During the performance, he sang "Fucking, fucking, fucking, fucking hell! Fucking, fucking little, fucking, fucking fuckers, yeah!".
In live performances, Matt sings the third verse through a megaphone.
This song was used during the credits of an episode of the mini series Luther.
A live version of Feeling Good was released online as the only single from H.A.A.R.P. in 2008, as the track was not included on the H.A.A.R.P. CD itself.
Alternative versions
A radio edit of "Feeling Good" with clean vocals on the third verse and can be found on the second UK "Hyper Music/Feeling Good" promo CD (catalogue number 'MUSE 19'). An isolation of the drum, bass and keyboard feeds from the H.A.A.R.P. show features in the audio setup section of the H.A.A.R.P. DVD. It was first played live as a guitar version in the BBC session in 1999 (also known as "different take session").
Live
This cover of the Anthony Newely & Leslie Bricusse song, made famous by Nina Simone, was commonly played live between 2000 and 2003, but wasn't played between Laugardalshöll 2003 and Southside Festival 2006 with the exception of one 2004 gig in Tokyo. It was once again played regularly live from 2006 until 2010. The song was played only 3 times in 2011 and not at all in 2012. The song saw a resurgence during the last part of The 2nd Law Tour. It was not included in any setlists for the Psycho UK tour but did reappear for the Asian leg of the Drones World Tour with a few sporadic gigs during 2015 and 2016. Feeling Good has yet to be played for 2017 and considering the lack of piano songs in recent setlists, it's unlikely the song will return anytime soon.
Lyrics
Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel Reeds drifting on by you know how I feel It's a new dawn it's a new day it's a new life for me And I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel River running free you know how I feel Blossom in the trees you know how I feel It's a new dawn it's a new day it's a new life for me And I'm feeling good
Dragonflies out in the sun You know what I mean, don't you know Butterflies are all having fun You know what I mean Sleep in peace When the day is done And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel Scent of the pine you know how I feel Yeah freedom is mine And you know how I feel It's a new dawn it's a new day it's a new life for me
Butterflies, ooh Oh, ooh ...
Ooooh... Freer than you... Ooooh...
Feeling good
References
- ↑ a b Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (2007-10-07). Xfm. Retrieved from www.muselive.com. [verify]
- ↑ John Kennedy for Radio X. (2018). John Kennedy - Radio X in conversation with Muse. Retrieved 2018-07-12 from Youtube.
- ↑ Rock Sound Spain 31/07/01
- ↑ Kerrang!October 2001: Muse Shoot Two Videos
- ↑ Rock Sound - 2001