In the Comments for our recent Albums Used Record Dealers Won’t Touch, Not Even for a Penny! thread Townsman Chergueverra wrote:
As an aside, I think somebody should write some goofy lyrics to “feels so good”.
We agree, and we’re pretty certain that somebody registered to comment in the Halls of Rock is just the person to do that job! In fact, to ensure that the job is done right, rather than commission the lyric-writing task, how about we make this an open contest? You have until 11:59 PM EST on Friday, September 19 to submit your lyrics to Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good”. The winner will have the option of selecting the Gap Mangione album of his or her choice from Gap’s very own official website or the coveted RTH No-Prize!
To refresh your memory on this groundbreaking smooth jazz classic, here’s Chuck in his prime, on Midnight Special.
Here’s my valiant attempt:
Don’t ya know, it feels so good, really, really good,
it feels so good
It really feels so good, oh yeah!
It feels so good
really really good
Don’t ya know that it feels so good, yeah!
Really, really good…..
This reminds me of the contents of my sister & brother-in-law’s record collection circa 1977 which included the following:
1. The Worst of the Jefferson Airplane;
2. The 2-disc Yardbirds comp that Epic put out in 1970;
3. The Songs of Leonard Cohen;
4. I Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die-Country Joe & The Fish
5. You guessed it, Feels So Good
An inspired idea, Mod! I’m getting to work right now.
The idea is Townman Cher’s; I’m only its proponent. Like BigSteve, I’ve had this song stuck in my head. The fact that I’m even contemplating Gap Mangione tells me that Cher’s suggestion to drive this baby into the ground may be the only way out.
Feels so good
Should be a sin,
To be the king
Of the cut-out bin
Of the cut-out bin!
Somehow I rose
above the din
I’m so well loved
That don’t you know
There’s not a place
where you can go
and not find me there
Try and try as you might
There just no way to feel forlorn
When you see me hug my horn
I’m immune to critics’ scorn
Cause I feel so good.
Just like Miles
Just like Diz
I’ve persevered
In this cutthroat biz
this cutthroat biz
Against the odds
And the reason is
I’m so well loved…
I don’t play
trumpet on this
there’s no cornet
that I would kiss –
I’ll only blow
a flugelhorn
it’s just the thing
watch my face porn, oh whoa
(instrumental buildup)
It feels so good
like my bald pate
Beneath this hat that is size 8
It feels so good
and hides my chest
why did I wear this stupid vest?
Very tangentially speaking of selling one’s used records, I have an extra copy of the original pressing of the first dB’s record. Is it worth anything? Anyone want it?
From the top of the horn:
It-feeeeels-good
So goddamn good
With’a your tongue.
Right’a there. Don’t mind the hair
That’s’a growin’ there
And so on.
Best part of the YouTube: when Mangione suddenly decides “Okay, bored now” and stops playing his electric piano solo in the middle of a phrase.
Though… I… try…
It’s as I feared
I’m just about
As boring as… Walt Becker’s beard
But I sold a ton
Think of the piles
of Nixon’s Head albums
the world has shunned
(cue funky solos)
Just when you think it can’t get worse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC3CaU_kDQE
GREAT find, Petesecrutz! Im Tae Kyung is in the lead, although points off for the cowl-neck sweater.
In fairness to an evil man, 48, he isn’t soloing, but backing up the guitar solo, and stops in time to pick up his horn. I don’t think he shares your assessment of his colossal turd, since the entire gathered culture of his day gave him a resounding salute for a brilliant creation. “Never have so many notes been played by so few, that so many should feel so much, with such little regard.”
After seeing the Korean Robert Goulet sing them I had to go find these lyrics:
There’s no place for me to hide
The thoughts of all the times I’ve cried
And felt this pain that I have known
Because I needed just to hear that special something
And then one day
You just appeared
You said, “Hello, let’s make love along the way”
Your name is music to my heart
I’ll always really love you
Feels so good when I’m with you
I can’t believe you love me too
With you it feels like it should feel
Feels so good let’s make a deal
I’ll trade my baseball cards for you
Now I believe that dreams come true
With you my smile sticks all the time
With you the sun will always shine
According to the internets, Chuck wrote these himself. “Feels so good let’s make a deal/I’ll trade my baseball cards for you”? He missed his calling as a lyricist. “With you my smile sticks all the time” is obviously an allusion to Beefheart’s opening line on Trout Mask Replica:
My smile is stuck
I cannot go back to your Frownland.
I hope Mangione was able to retire on Feels So Good. There’s no way his career could have survived after the over-exposure surrounding his hit. For a while there that song and its creator were everywhere.
To his credit, Mangione did several very funny self-parodying turns on King of the Hill a few years ago, including one episode where he’s trying to jam but everything he plays turns into “Feels So Good.”
Okay, since it was my idea, I guess I have to take a stab. I like the idea of Chuck Mangione being evil and, for him, causing pain is what “Feels so good”. Of course, this is not a reflection of any actual knowledge or opinion of Chuck.
_________________
V1
When I was – a little child
I had a dream – child of the corn
It’d feel so good – to beat to death
A drifter with my super-duper big-ass fleugelhorn
My fleugelhorn – earns me such scorn
I coulda sworn – that I would become a hood
I do bad stuff ’cause I should
Do the things that feel so good
Wearin’ a hat and killing cats
Rockin’ a vest ’cause they’re the best
Growin’ a beard so I look weird
It feels so good, yeah boyeee
(Guitar Solo)
V2
Ro-ches-ter – is freakin’ brutal
I’d stay inside – and play my fleugel
Sure is cold!
I’d freeze my lips – to my mouthpiece
My music is a sexual disease!
It’s understood – it feels so good
clubbing a seal – like to listen to it squeal
(it) cannot be misunderstood
killing cute things feels so good
All it takes to fill you with dread
is this dumb song stuck in your head
My music is so ter-rif-fic
It is Olympic!
(sax/horn solo)
Outro:
I feel so good and so do you
You know, I think my beard just grew!
I’m from upstate not from the South
Would you like to suck my spit valve?
I have got style and jazz and soul
my haircut is from a pudding bowl
When I take my horn from its case
Feels so good – IN YOUR FACE!
Yeah those King Of The Hill’s are great. Chuck is like the town mascot, always playing grand openings and holidays and carnivals. A default entertainer. Whenever he plays FSG, it is always all anemic, too. Hilarious!
I do feel compelled to point out that Tae Kyung is performing Vocalese, which is where an arranger takes an instrumental song and replaces an instrument with lyrics that mimic that instrument’s part. Pioneered by the mildly-entertaining Lambert, Hendricks and Ross with their Vocalese versions of Count Basie charts with lyrics in place of the solos.
Is it possible for Cher to win his own contest? ‘Cuz — mad props to Sammy, Mockcarr and others — he should!
Nice Pince Nez and Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross reference, Eh! I’d love to catch these episodes of King of the Hill. I have trouble tuning into adult cartoons, but the two times I’ve watched that show I’ve liked it a lot.
It IS possible for Cher to win his own contest. So far – Mad props to those you’ve mentioned, HVB – it’s between Cher and Chuck himself. Remember, Townspeople, this contest is open until 11:59 EST on Friday, September 19.
Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner. It was a very tough battle. At the end it came down to Cherguevarra and Chuck Mangione himself, with an assist from BigSteve and the Korean Robert Goulet. Our celebrity guest judge, Gap Mangione, broke the tie:
Cherguevarra has won the contest for writing the best set of lyrics to Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good”. Congratulations, Cher, you may choose between the Gap Mangione album of your choice or the coveted RTH No-Prize. Let me know which prize you desire.
Thanks to all of you for playing along!