Feel Like Change Explained

Feel Like Change
Cover:Black Feel Like Change 1991 single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Black
Album:Black
B-Side:Nice
Released:1991
Length:4:33
Label:A&M
Producer:Robin Millar
Prev Title:Now You're Gone
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Here It Comes Again
Next Year:1991

"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]

Background

"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

The song's music video was shot on location in New York.[6]

Critical reception

On 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]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes and the Black CD booklet.[11]

Feel Like Change

Production

Other

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BLACK - full Official Chart History . . 26 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Keeling . Andrew . Black - Essay No. 3 in the series The Music of Black (Colin Vearncombe) . colinvearncombe.com . 24 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Black . 27 December 2020 . colinvearncombe.com . 26 December 2021.
  4. Playlist Chart . . 16 . 18 May 1991 . World Radio History . 26 December 2021.
  5. Black . 1991 . Black . Electronic press kit . . YouTube.
  6. Tilli . Robbert . Spotlight: Black . . 8 . 21 . 15 . 25 May 1991 . World Radio History . 26 December 2021.
  7. Jones . Alan . Market Report: Mainstream Singles . . 12 . 27 April 1991 . World Radio History . 26 December 2021.
  8. Walsh . Martyn . Boon . Clint . 27 April 1991 . Singles . . 22.
  9. News: Kiley . Penny . 25 May 1991 . Black Is Back! . . 21.
  10. Web site: Michael Sutton . Black - Black | Songs, Reviews, Credits . . 26 December 2021.
  11. Black . . 1991 . European CD album booklet . . 397 126 2.