Flashdance... What a Feeling
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| “Flashdance... What a Feeling” | ||
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![“Flashdance... What a Feeling” cover](../../../../images/local/thumb/d/de/What_a_feeling_7".jpg/200px-What_a_feeling_7".jpg) |
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| Single by Irene Cara from the album What a Feelin' and Flashdance |
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| Released | 1983 2001 (re-released) |
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| Format | 12" single 7" single |
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| Recorded | 1983 | |
| Genre | Pop rock | |
| Length | 3:55 | |
| Label | Casablanca Records | |
| Writer(s) | Giorgio Moroder (music) Keith Forsey (lyrics) Irene Cara (lyrics) |
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| Producer | Giorgio Moroder | |
| Certification | Platinum (US) Gold (UK) |
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| Irene Cara singles chronology | ||
| "Anyone Can See" (1981) |
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" (1983) |
"Why Me" (1983) |
| Audio sample | ||
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| Alternative cover | ||
![Cover of the 12" single](../../../../images/local/thumb/1/10/What_a_feeling_12".jpg/200px-What_a_feeling_12".jpg) |
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| Cover of the 12" single | ||
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" is an Academy Award winning song from the 1983 film Flashdance which was performed by Irene Cara.
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[edit] Song information
In addition to topping the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a platinum record in 1983, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1984. Despite the title, the word "Flashdance" is never used in the lyrics. The instrumental backing tracks of the song make extensive use of synthesizers.
The song has appeared on the original soundtrack album of Flashdance, and Irene Cara's second solo album, What a Feelin'.
A variation of the song was used as the basis of an Apple Computer commercial in 1984. The music was slightly different, and the lyrics were changed from "What a Feeling" to "We are Apple". [1]
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" was the last non-Japanese language single to reach #1 on Japan's Oricon singles chart until Celine Dion's "To Love You More" in 1995.
There are additional lyrics in the 12-inch single version of the song. The lines "If I only could take all the love that you give, and escape to a world crystal clear" precede the lines "Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm".
In March 2007, the United World Chart ranked "Flashdance... What a Feeling" as the twenty-second most successful song in music history. The song was also rated on the list as the fourth most successful song by a solo female artist, behind Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On", Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You", and Cher's "Believe", [2]
[edit] The song's use in the film
The soundtrack album has the version that is usually played by radio stations. The song appears twice in the film, during the opening title sequence and as the backing for Alex's audition routine in the final sequence. Both of these versions were recorded specially for the film, and have different arrangements from the album version.
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Brazilian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 1[3] |
| European Singles Chart | 1 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Japanese Singles Chart | 1 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| Preceded by "Let's Dance" by David Bowie |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 28, 1983- July 2, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Every Breath You Take" by The Police |
| Preceded by "Saraba Natsu" by Toshihiko Tahara |
Japan Oricon singles chart number one single September 5, 1983- September 12, 1983 |
Succeeded by "Kinku" by Akina Nakamori |
| Preceded by "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman |
Academy Award for Best Original Song 1983 |
Succeeded by "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red |
[edit] Cover versions
The song has been covered by dance music artist Karen Parry, ABBA tribute group Björn Again, and Australian pop group Young Divas.
In 2005. the Austrian Dance Global Deejays covered this song in their single What a Feeling (Flashdance). In 2008, J-pop singer Namie Amuro sampled the song for her triple A-Side single "60s 70s 80s", which reached #1 in Japan.
