Where Is the Feeling? explained

Where Is the Feeling?
Cover:Kylie_Minogue_Where_Is_the_Feeling?.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Kylie Minogue
Album:Kylie Minogue
B-Side:Confide in Me
Studio:Sarm West (London, England)
Genre:Handbag house
Producer:Brothers in Rhythm
Prev Title:Put Yourself in My Place
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Where the Wild Roses Grow
Next Year:1995

"Where Is the Feeling?" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her fifth studio album, Kylie Minogue (1994). The song was written by Wilf Smarties and Jayn Hanna, while production was handled by Brothers in Rhythm. It was released on 10 July 1995 as the third and final single from the album, by Deconstruction and Mushroom Records, seven months after the release of the second single. A new version was recorded for the single release, featuring spoken vocals by Minogue.

The album version of "Where Is the Feeling?" received positive reviews from music critics; the single version was also praised by them. Commercially, the song attained moderate success, peaking at number 16 in the United Kingdom and number 31 in Australia. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Keir McFarlane, and filmed in a school swimming pool in Los Angeles; it saw Minogue being pursued through the water by an ominous figure. "Where Is the Feeling?" was later included on the setlist of Minogue's KylieFever2002 tour, and added to three of her greatest hits albums.

Background and composition

Originally, "Where Is the Feeling?" was recorded by the group Within a Dream in 1993. While working on Minogue's self-titled fifth studio album, it was asked if anyone had ideas for a cover song. Dave Seaman, a member of British duo Brothers in Rhythm and producer of the song, felt it was a "perfect fit" for the record.[1] Frankie Knuckles and David Morales' works influenced the duo when they produced the track, adding live piano, guitar and percussion to the song, making it a "classic extended version".[1] An acoustic version of "Where Is the Feeling?" was also produced for an acoustic EP at the time, but was never released; it later appeared on the expanded edition of Kylie Minogue, released in 2003.[1]

"Where Is the Feeling?" was initially planned to be released as the second single from Kylie Minogue, but "Put Yourself in My Place" was selected instead. The song was then scheduled for an April 1995 release, but was delayed while Minogue completed filming Bio-Dome (1996) in the United States.[2] It was released in the United Kingdom on 10 July 1995 as the third and final single from the album, by Deconstruction and Mushroom Records, seven months after the release of the second single. It featured a re-recorded version remixed by Brothers in Rhythm.[2] [3] [4]

The album version of "Where Is the Feeling?" was written by Wilf Smarties and Jayn Hanna, and produced by Brothers in Rhythm. It was recorded and mixed by Paul Wright and Niall Flynn at Sarm West Studios in London. Musically, the song is described as a handbag house song with elements of disco and acid jazz. Quentin Harrison of Blogcritics noted its "classic disco feel echoed British acts like The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai and Incognito".[1] The remixed version for the single release was described by reviewers as an ambient song with elements of trip hop, featuring spoken vocals by Minogue, as well as the use of an orchestra. According to Herald Express Gareth George, in the remix Minogue utters "breathlessly whispering sexy come-ons over a pleasant enough ambient groove." It also received new lyrics: "Detached and vulnerable / The world on my shoulders...If only I could laugh in the face of irony / Safe in the knowledge of our eternal love".

Reception

Critical response

Both the album and remix versions of "Where Is the Feeling?" received positive reviews from music critics. Whilst reviewing Kylie Minogue, Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote that "the best moments are uncomplicated 'handbag-house' opuses", like "Falling" and "Where Is the Feeling?".[5] Larry Flick of Billboard described the album version as a "swirling, disco-minded jam", and complimented the "sprawling, cinematic epic rife with lush ambient texture and seductive vocal vamping" single release, labeling it as "truly brilliant".[6] In his weekly UK chart commentary in Dotmusic, James Masterton viewed the remix as "another surprisingly sophisticated dance record".[7] Alan Jones from Music Week stated that the single version was "very much a first cousin of Madonna's "Justify My Love", but less commercial."[8] Simon Williams from NME viewed it as "a handbag-a-go-go romp which is so banal, so numblingly nothing that even la Kylie herself sounds stultifyingly bored."[9] Another NME editor, Dele Fadele, wrote, "Brothers in Rhythm provide a modern, pop-dance backing, with lovely strings, whilst Kylie breathlessly whispers to some absent lover, but you might as well listen to The Nine O'Clock News if you want a flicker of emotion, something non-robotic, and something to affirm that you're alive."[10] Record Collector said it pairs "Minogue's feel-good, chart-friendly pop with a wash of disco-fied techno".[11] Birmingham Evening Mail staff deemed the remix as "soulful", and stated that it would "suit Dina Carroll down to the ground."[12]

Herald Express Gareth George felt the single version was "not that bad" and commented that "if this was the sort of pillow-talk bed-hopping Aussie rocker Michael Hutchence enjoyed its a wonder he ever gave her the boot."[13] Classic Pop staff described the album version as "a clash between happy house and SAW’s squeaky-clean convivial pop", while deeming the remixed version as a "hushed, bleepy jam unlike anything she’d put out".[14] Writing for the Herald Sun, Cameron Adams called the original form "one of the deepest house cuts" on the album, as well as an "absolute belter"; he also described the single version as a "sensual epic that was completely re-recorded from the original".[15] According to Guillermo Alonso, from the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair, the album version sounded "too pop, too conventional, too much of what she had left behind", referring to her past bubblegum pop songs; he found the remix version "almost unregonizable" from its original form, as well as "a very interesting and dark house theme with trip hop influences".[16] Josh Martin from MTV Australia classified the track as a "quiet landmark in personal expression in the pop singer’s music".[17] In a review for the album, Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine noted that the song, alongside "Where Has the Love Gone" and "Falling", "all run about two minutes too long".[18]

Commercial performance

Commercially, "Where Is the Feeling?" charted moderately in Australia, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. In Australia, the single debuted at number 31 on the ARIA Charts and stayed on the chart for a total of three weeks. It remained Minogue's lowest and weakest-spanning solo single until "In My Arms" (2008) replaced the status, when it peaked at number 35 and stayed in the charts for two weeks. The song also debuted at its peak of number 15 on the Scottish Singles Chart. In the United Kingdom, "Where Is the Feeling?" debuted at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the chart for three weeks. Despite reaching the top 20, the single spent only three weeks in the top 75. Across the pan-European Hot 100 Singles chart, it attained a peak of number 41, on the issue dated 29 July 1995.

Promotion

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Keir McFarlane, who previously directed the video for "Put Yourself in My Place" (1994), and filmed in a school swimming pool in Los Angeles. It uses the re-recorded version of the single release, and premiered on ITVs The Chart Show on 6 July 1995;[19] it features Minogue sporting red hair, which was dyed specially for her role in Bio-Dome, being pursued through the murky water by an ominous male figure. The video later appeared on Minogue's video compilation (1998).[20] An extended version, which includes an introduction with a countdown, was made available for the first time on Minogue's video compilation Artist Collection (2004).[21]

To further promote "Where Is the Feeling?", Minogue performed the track on Channel 4's Don't Forget Your Toothbrush show,[22] and it also appeared as an interlude on the setlist of Minogue's KylieFever2002 concert tour.[4] The track was also included on three of Minogue's greatest hits albums: Hits+ (2000),[23] (2003),[24] and (2007).[25] The Felix da Housecat Klubb Feelin Mix remix was included on her 2010 remix album 12" Masters – Essential Mixes.[26]

Track listings

  1. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Dolphin Mix) – 4:14
  2. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Soundtrack) – 13:30
  3. "Where Is the Feeling?" (Da Klubb Feelin Mix) – 10:50
  4. "Where Is the Feeling?" (Morales Mix) – 6:15
  5. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Bish Bosh Mix) – 4:49

A. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Soundtrack) – 13:07

B. "Where Is the Feeling?" (Da Klubb Feelin Mix) – 10:48

  1. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Dolphin Mix) – 4:12
  2. "Where Is the Feeling?" (BIR Bish Bosh Mix) – 4:46
  1. "Where Is the Feeling?" – 7:01
  2. "Confide in Me" (Master Mix) – 5:52

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Kylie Minogue:[33]

Recording

Personnel

References

Citations

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Interview: Reviving the Feeling, Brothers in Rhythm on Kylie Minogue's 'Where Is the Feeling?' Turning 20. Harrison. Quentin. 6 March 2015. Blogcritics. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20150307061242/http://blogcritics.org/interview-reviving-the-feeling-kylie-minogues-where-is-the-feeling-turns-20/. 7 March 2015. 24 January 2022. live.
  2. Web site: Where Is the Feeling. Kylie.com. 22 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20120414223531/http://www.kylie.com/discography/singles/where-is-the-feeling/. April 14, 2012. dead.
  3. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 0265-1548. 27. 8 July 1995. 27 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510062644/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-07-08.pdf. 10 May 2021. live.
  4. News: Fortune Favors the Brave: Madonna and Kylie Minogue Pick Up Donna Summer's Torch and Run With It. Harrison. Quentin. 10 February 2014. PopMatters. 29 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20210307043143/https://www.popmatters.com/178875-fortune-favors-the-brave-bedtime-stories-and-kylie-minogue-turn-20-2495689317.html. 7 March 2021. en. live.
  5. Sullivan. Caroline. Music: CD of the week - Kylie Minogue. 23 September 1994. 22 January 2023. The Guardian. subscription. 36. Newspaper.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230124152748/https://www.newspapers.com/image/260578380/. 24 January 2023. live.
  6. Larry. Flick. Victor Simonelli Rolls 'Em Down The Aisles. Billboard. 20 May 1995. 24. 107. 20. 12 October 2020. 0006-2510. Larry Flick. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811171423/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-05-20.pdf. 11 August 2020. live.
  7. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending July 22nd 1995. Chart Watch UK. 16 July 1995. 22 September 2021. James Masterton. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920011525/https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1995/week-ending-july-22nd-1995. 20 September 2020. live.
  8. Alan. Jones. Talking Music. Music Week. 10 June 1995. 10. 9 May 2021. 0265-1548. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510062644/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1995/Music-Week-1995-07-08.pdf#page=10. 10 May 2021. live.
  9. Simon. Williams. Long Play. NME. 24 September 1994. 51. 24 October 2023.
  10. Dele. Fadele. Singles. NME. 15 July 1995. 45. 10 February 2024. Dele Fadele.
  11. Bowler. Paul. 24 January 2016. 450. Album Review: Kylie Minogue – Kylie Minogue. Record Collector. 0261-250X. London. 91. https://web.archive.org/web/20210403032313/https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/kylie-minogue-2. 3 April 2021. live.
  12. News: Chart Success. 1 October 1994. 22 January 2023. Birmingham Evening Mail. subscription. 21. Newspaper.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230122195554/https://www.newspapers.com/image/822429388/. 22 January 2023. live.
  13. News: George. Gareth. Kylie sounding bad isn't half. 2 August 1995. January 22, 2023. Herald Express. 17. subscription. Newspaper.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230124153541/https://www.newspapers.com/image/862310780/. 24 January 2023. live.
  14. Web site: Classic Pop's Top 40 Kylie Tracks. Classic Pop. 8 April 2021. 23 January 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190626032118/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/05/classic-pop-presents-kylie-minogue/. 26 June 2019.
  15. Web site: Adams. Cameron. For her 50th birthday, we rank Kylie Minogue's 50 best songs. Herald Sun. 23 January 2023. 18 May 2018. https://archive.today/20200123094624/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/melbourne/for-her-50th-birthday-we-rank-kylie-minogues-50-best-songs/news-story/f7d1f1f850b7579153567df0cc28528e. 23 January 2020. live.
  16. Web site: Alonso. Guillermo. Todos los singles de Kylie Minogue, ordenados de peor a mejor. Vanity Fair. 23 January 2023. Spain. Spanish. May 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20230123212450/https://www.revistavanityfair.es/sociedad/celebrities/articulos/kylie-minogue-todos-los-singles-de-peor-a-mejor/31328. 23 January 2023. live.
  17. Web site: Martin. Josh. Kylie Minogue's Singles, Ranked. 18 September 2020. 24 January 2023. MTV Australia. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20230111215210/https://www.mtv.com.au/news/08p51b/kylie-minogue-s-singles-ranked. 11 January 2023.
  18. Web site: Disco Down Under: Every Kylie Minogue Album Ranked. Slant Magazine. 5 April 2018. 5 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20190328185711/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/every-kylie-minogue-album-ranked/. 28 March 2019. Sal. Cinquemani. live.
  19. News: Your Weekend Viewing. The Galloway News. 6 July 1995. 22 January 2023. 20. subscription. Newspaper.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230124154434/https://www.newspapers.com/image/857740227/. 24 January 2023. live.
  20. The Kylie Tapes: 94-98. Kylie Minogue. 1998. VHS liner notes. Warner Music Vision. 101623.
  21. Artist Collection. Kylie Minogue. 2004. DVD liner notes. BMG. 82876638799.
  22. Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Channel 4. 10 December 1994.
  23. Hits+. Kylie Minogue. Kylie. Minogue. 2000. CD Compilation; Liner notes. Deconstruction. 74321 80275 2. Europe.
  24. Greatest Hits: 87–99. Kylie Minogue. Kylie. Minogue. 2003. CD Compilation; Liner notes. Festival Mushroom. 337492. Australia.
  25. Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie. Kylie Minogue. Kylie. Minogue. 2007. CD Compilation; Liner notes. Music Club Deluxe. MCDLX043. United Kingdom.
  26. 12" Masters – Essential Mixes. Kylie Minogue. Kylie. Minogue. 2010. CD Compilation; Liner notes. Sony Music. 88697751532. Europe.
  27. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. Australian CD single liner notes. Mushroom Records. D15.
  28. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. UK CD single liner notes. Deconstruction Records. 74321 29361 2.
  29. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. European CD single liner notes. Deconstruction Records. 74321 29865 2.
  30. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Deconstruction Records. 74321 29361 1.
  31. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. UK cassette single sleeve. Deconstruction Records. 74321 293614.
  32. Where Is the Feeling?. Kylie Minogue. 1995. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. Deconstruction Records. BVDP-110.
  33. Liner notes. Kylie Minogue. 1994. Kylie Minogue. Deconstruction Records. 74321 22749 2. United Kingdom.
  34. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 30. 12. 29800226. 29 July 1995. 8 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20221205170631/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-07-29.pdf. 5 December 2022. live.