Make You Feel My Love Explained

Make You Feel My Love
Cover:Make You Feel My Love Sheet music.jpg
Caption:Sheet music for the first verse
Type:song
Artist:Bob Dylan
Album:Time Out of Mind
Released:September 30, 1997
Recorded:January 1997
Studio:Criteria Studios (Miami, FL)
Genre:Folk rock[1]
Length:3:32
Label:Columbia
Producer:Daniel Lanois
Prev Title:Cold Iron Bonds
Prev Year:1997
Next Year:1998

"Make You Feel My Love", also known as "To Make You Feel My Love", is a song written by Bob Dylan for his album Time Out of Mind, released in September 1997. It was first released commercially in August 1997 by Billy Joel for his compilation album Greatest Hits Volume III.

It is one of the few songs to have achieved the status of becoming a "standard" in the 21st century, having been covered by more than 450 different artists.[2] The best known cover versions are ones by Adele, Michael Bolton, Neil Diamond, Elkie Brooks, Boy George, Bryan Ferry, Joan Osborne, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson with Ben Platt,[2] Nick Knowles,[3] and Pink.[4]

Reception

Spectrum Culture included the song on a list of "Bob Dylan's 20 Best Songs of the 90s". In an article accompanying the list, critic John Paul described it thus:[5]

"Accompanied by a lone piano, ghostlike bass line and slightly woozy sounding organ playing sustained notes throughout, the arrangement of the song isn't terribly remarkable, the meat of the song itself relying on Dylan's surprisingly emotional read and jazz-like chord progression.

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matthew Wilkening rated "Make You Feel My Love" as the 7th best song Dylan recorded between 1992 and 2011, praising it as a "weary, textured masterpiece".[6]

A 2021 Guardian article included it on a list of "80 Bob Dylan songs everyone should know".[7]

Personnel

Additional musicians

Live performances

According to his official website, Dylan performed the song live over 300 times in concert between 1997 and 2019 on the Never Ending Tour.[8] A live version performed in Los Angeles in 1998 was released on Dylan's "Things Have Changed" CD single in 2000[9] and on .[10] The live debut occurred at Columbia Township Auditorium in Columbia, South Carolina on November 2, 1997, and the last performance (to date) took place at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on December 8, 2019.[11]

Cover versions

Billy Joel version

To Make You Feel My Love
Cover:B. Joel - ToMakeYouFeelMyLove.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Billy Joel
Album:Greatest Hits Volume III
Genre:Soft rock
Length:3:53
Label:Columbia
Producer:Peter Asher
Prev Title:Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Hey Girl
Next Year:1997

Billy Joel released his original version of the song, titled "To Make You Feel My Love", for his compilation album Greatest Hits Volume III (1997). It was released as the album's lead single and reached number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[12] Joel's single pre-dated Dylan's release of the song by one month.

Chart history

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 90
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[14] 29
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 50
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[16] 9
US Billboard Hot Singles Sales53

Hope Floats versions

To Make You Feel My Love
Cover:Garth Brooks - to make you feel my love.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Garth Brooks
Genre:Country
Length:3:54
Label:Capitol Nashville
Producer:Allen Reynolds
Prev Title:Two Piña Coladas
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Burnin' the Roadhouse Down
Next Year:1998
To Make You Feel My Love
Artist:Trisha Yearwood
Length:2:57
Label:Capitol
Producer:Don Was, Forest Whitaker

Garth Brooks covered the song as "To Make You Feel My Love" in 1998. It appeared on the soundtrack of the 1998 film Hope Floats, along with a cover version by Trisha Yearwood (whom Brooks would marry in 2005) as the first and last tracks. Yearwood's version would be the only version of the song on the soundtrack's 2007 reissue. It was included first as the bonus track on Fresh Horses for Brooks' first Limited Series box set and then included on all later pressings of that album. Brooks' version resulted in a nomination at the 41st Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and a nomination for Bob Dylan for Best Country Song.

Charts

Year-end charts
Chart (1998)Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[17] 63
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[18] 22
US Country Songs (Billboard)[19] 32

Adele version

Make You Feel My Love
Cover:Adele - Make You Feel My Love.png
Type:single
Artist:Adele
Album:19
Length:3:32
Producer:Jim Abbiss
Prev Title:Cold Shoulder
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Water and a Flame
Next Year:2009

In 2008, English singer-songwriter Adele recorded "Make You Feel My Love" for her debut studio album 19 (2008). It was released as the album's fourth and final single on October 27, 2008, both on CD and vinyl, originally peaking at number 26.[20]

Background

"Make You Feel My Love" is the only cover version on Adele's debut album 19; she either wrote or co-wrote all the others.

She listened to the song under pressure from her manager and loved it, although she did not want a cover version on her album, worried that it implies that she is incapable of writing enough of her own songs.[21]

Piano is played by Neil Cowley and Adele is credited with bass.[22]

Critical reception

According to Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy, the version expresses Adele's affection for the song, "with just piano as backing, her dreamy, passionate vocals are allowed to shine".[23]

According to Dave Simpson of The Guardian, with her "hushed delivery", Adele makes the song "her own".[24]

In January 2013, Heart Radio listed Adele's recording as the UK's number one song of all time in its Hall of Fame Top 500.[25]

Chart performance

Initially, the song only reached a peak of number 26, but found a new lease of life in 2010, two years after its release, following performances by several contestants on the seventh series of The X Factor. In September 2010, after it was performed by Annastasia Baker,[26] it re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 24. The song then surged to number 4 the following month after a second performance by Gamu Nhengu.[27] Following a third X Factor performance and heavy use in the Comic Relief 2010 television, it spent three more non-consecutive weeks in the top 10. Thanks to this newfound attention, "Make You Feel My Love" was the 48th biggest selling song of 2010. In early 2011 the song returned to the top 40 again, at number 34, after it was used on the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent.

After years of trickle selling, "Make You Feel My Love" passed the million sales mark in the UK in 2017.[28]

Music video

The song's music video features Adele singing the song in London Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf. It was directed by Mat Kirkby., the music video has received over 190 million views on YouTube.[29]

Live performances

On Friday, November 20, 2015, Adele sang the song during a BBC special, Adele at the BBC, hosted by talk show host Graham Norton. One segment of the show, which went viral,[30] featured a prank in which eight Adele impersonators were invited to audition at the Wimbledon Theatre for a nonexistent show.[31] Adele herself, disguised as a nanny named "Jenny", pretended to also be an Adele impersonator, and was the last one to sing. When she started singing "Make You Feel My Love", the other performers finally recognized her and realized they had been pranked.[32] [33]

Usage in media

Adele's version features in the soundtrack of the 2010 romantic comedy film When in Rome. Her cover version was also featured in the compilation album for the benefit of those affected by Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines entitled Songs for the Philippines.[34]

During a concert at London's O2 Arena on March 22, 2016, the day of the Brussels bombings, Adele dedicated a performance of the song to the victims of the attacks.[35]

In addition, Adele's video of the song, directed by Mat Kirby, was released on music channels in late September 2008 and continues to be featured on her website.[36]

List of recordings

Digital download

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:32[37]

Digital download

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:32
  2. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:32

CD single

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:32
  2. "Painting Pictures" – 3:33

19 version

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:32

19 Deluxe version

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:52

Chimes of Freedom live version

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 4:04

Live at the Royal Albert Hall live version

  1. "Make You Feel My Love" – 3:48

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2008–2021)Peak
position
scope="row"
Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Songs)[38] 14
European Hot 100 Singles[39] 17
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
US Digital Song Sales[40] 11
Year-end charts
Chart (2009)Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[41] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42] 7

Certifications

Carpenters version

Make You Feel My Love
Type:promo
Artist:Carpenters (feat. Nathaniel Hawk & Cameron Hawk)
Language:English
Recorded:2011
Genre:Pop
Length:3:32
Label:Polar Music
A&M Records
Chronology:Carpenters
Prev Title:Fall Apart
Prev Year:2011
Make You Feel My Love
Year:2011
Next Title:Safe and Sound
Next Year:2011

Tracklist

  1. Make You Feel My Love (feat. Nathaniel Hawk & Cameron Hawk) — 3:32

External links

Notes and References

  1. Kelly Clarkson and Ben Platt Cover Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love' . Zemler . Emily . . October 16, 2019.
  2. Browne . David . How Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love' Became a Modern Standard . . October 28, 2019.
  3. News: I'm a Celebrity: Nick Knowles' kids love dad's budgie smugglers . . December 6, 2018.
  4. News: Pink Covered 'Make You Feel My Love,' and Her Performance Is a Beautiful Escape For Your Mind . Karenna . Meredith . . March 16, 2020.
  5. Read. Gardner. Burge. David. Badings. Henk. Penderecki. Krzysztof. March 1970. A Song of Sixpence, for Soprano and Piano (1967). Notes. 26. 3. 618. 10.2307/896896. 896896. 0027-4380.
  6. Web site: Top 10 Bob Dylan songs of the last 20 years (1992-2011). Wilkening, Matthew. May 24, 2011. 2023-01-10. Ultimate Classic Rock.
  7. News: Beyond Mr Tambourine Man: 80 Bob Dylan songs everyone should know . Docx . Edward . . May 22, 2021.
  8. Web site: Make You Feel My Love . The Official Bob Dylan Site . www.bobdylan.com.
  9. Web site: 2000 . searchingforagem.com.
  10. Web site: Murray . Robin . 2022-11-17 . Bob Dylan Announces 'Fragments - Time Out Of Mind Sessions' News . 2022-11-17 . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews .
  11. Web site: Setlists . The Official Bob Dylan Site .
  12. Web site: Billy Joel: Singles & EPs. AllMusic.
  13. 146.
  14. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . September 22, 1997 . June 24, 2019.
  15. Music: Top 100 - Billboard Hot 100 . Billboard.
  16. Adult Contemporary Chart - Billboard . . August 30, 1997.
  17. Web site: RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1998. RPM. December 14, 1998. July 14, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315194458/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6973&type=1&interval=24. March 15, 2016.
  18. 1998 The Year in Music. Billboard. 110. 52. YE-95. December 26, 1998. September 19, 2021.
  19. Best of 1998: Country Songs . . . 1998. July 14, 2013.
  20. Web site: MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE: Adele . Official Charts Company.
  21. News: Revisiting Adele's Breakthrough: '19' Turns 10 . Quan . Denise . . January 26, 2018.
  22. News: Neil Cowley: 'Adele's Hometown Glory only took one take to record'. Paskett. Zoe. Islington Gazette. September 29, 2016. December 7, 2018. December 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123613/https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/entertainment/music/neil-cowley-adele-s-hometown-glory-only-took-one-take-to-record-1-4713942. dead.
  23. News: Adele: 'Make You Feel My Love' . Fletcher. Alex . . October 23, 2008.
  24. News: Adele – review . Simpson . David . . April 15, 2011.
  25. News: Adele wins Heart's best song of all time . . January 2, 2013.
  26. Web site: Annastasia Baker's X Factor Audition (Full Version) - itv.com/xfactor. https://web.archive.org/web/20100901120312/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ST5uii4pGU . 2010-09-01 . dead. The X Factor UK. August 28, 2010. YouTube.
  27. Web site: Music Week (October 3, 2010). Jones. Alan. October 3, 2010. Buzzjack. en. March 22, 2019.
  28. Web site: The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed. Copsey. Rob. September 19, 2017. Official Charts Company. November 4, 2018.
  29. Web site: ADELE - 'Make You Feel My Love' - YouTube. January 18, 2021. www.youtube.com. September 25, 2008 .
  30. Web site: Goodman . Jessica . Adele impersonator interview: Talullah Windmill explains the BBC video . . November 24, 2015 . May 22, 2019 .
  31. Web site: Adele at the BBC: When Adele wasn't Adele at all... but was Jenny! . . November 20, 2015 . May 22, 2019 .
  32. Web site: Saad . Nardine . Adele gets a make-under for BBC Music special, pranks Adele impersonators . . November 24, 2015 . May 22, 2019 .
  33. Web site: EXTENDED version of 'When Adele Wasn't Adele' - Adele: Live in London . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211218/PQM3XUhiXbQ . 2021-12-18 . live. . February 8, 2016 . May 22, 2019 .
  34. Beatles, Eminem, U2 Set for Philippines Benefit Album. Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Kory. Grow. November 26, 2013. July 23, 2014. May 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140508042323/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beatles-eminem-u2-set-for-philippines-benefit-album-20131126. dead.
  35. News: Adele fans pay tribute to victims of Brussels attacks at London concert . BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat . BBC . March 22, 2016 . March 23, 2016.
  36. Web site: Make You Feel My Love . April 9, 2012 . Adele website . February 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140217010329/http://www.adele.tv/videos . dead .
  37. News: 2016-02-26 . Adele: The full story . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-12-07.
  38. Adele Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales). Billboard. February 28, 2018.
  39. Web site: Chart Search Results – European Hot 100 Singles 2010-10-16 . . August 7, 2012 . August 7, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120807210935/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/chart-search-results/singles/3124142 . dead .
  40. Web site: Digital Song Sales. . November 26, 2021 .
  41. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2009. Dutch Top 40. November 30, 2019.
  42. Web site: Dutch Charts ... Single 2009. nl . dutchcharts.nl . February 15, 2011.
  43. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2010. Official Charts Company. November 30, 2019.
  44. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2011. Official Charts Company. November 30, 2019.