Rate-O-Rama: Feeling Good
Songmania Edition Two
Rate-O-Rama : Songmania is a reader participation game.
About once a week I will publish a Rate-O-Rama article which will feature two or three versions of a popular song.
The object is to listen to each of the music videos provided within the post.
After listening to each video you can rate each song in the comments section below.
(You must be a member to comment. If you are not a member you can join Vocal Media for FREE. You don’t ever have to pay for membership unless you choose to upgrade your membership)
The rating method is easy. Simply give each song a rating of 1 to 100.
(The more you like the song the higher the rating).
If possible, please provide a brief comment explaining the reasoning behind your ratings for each song.
After a week or so I will tally the ratings and in the next Rate-O-Rama post I will announce the winner from the previous post.
The winners will be determined on a scale of averages.
If you wish to receive a notice when the next Songmania post is published please mention that you would like a notification in the comments section.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Last week we featured the classic song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" as recorded by The Righteous Brothers (1964), The Human League (1979), and Daryl Hall and John Oates (1980).
The following are the average rating for each song:
The Righteous Brothers = 93.1
Hall and Oates = 84.9
The Human League = 77.1
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
The Second Edition of Rate-O-Rama features three renditions of the classic song: "Feeling Good."
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Nina Simone (1965)
Singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone recorded the song "Feeling Good" for her classic jazz and blues album I Put a Spell on You. The song was written by Anthony Newly and Leslie Briscusse for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd which debuted in 1964.
Although Simone recorded the song in 1965 it wasn't released as a single until 1994 when it was used in a British TV commercial for jj40 in the UK and #63 in France.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Michael Buble (2005)
"Feeling Good" is the lead single from Michael Buble's mega-successful 2005 album It's Time. Though Buble's rendition is well known it did not chart in the US or Canada. It was a semi-hit in Europe. It's highest positions were #36 in Germany and #12 in Poland.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Avicii (featuring Audra Mae)(2015)
The original instrumental track to Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" was used in this rendition by Swedish musician/producer Avicii. Avicii embellished the song with electronic percussive rhythms and enhanced keyboard parts. The song was used by Volvo to promote their image and cars. The video for the Volvo commercial features Tim Berling who is professionally known as Avicii.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
My Thoughts
I am torn here as all three renditions are exceptional. I'm stuck between Nina Simone and Michael Bublé. I am going back to YouTube and listening to both renditions and then figure out my ratings.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
I give Nina Simone a 100. Her deep textured voice and the scat at the end alone deserve the 100. Add the somber brass section and tinkling piano and you have an undeniable classic of all-time.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
Michael Bublé gets a 99. The jazz horns are out of this world and the arrangement is big and dynamic. Michael Bublé was born to sing this song, it fits his voice perfectly.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
I am giving Avicii a score of 91 mostly because the music track is Nina Simone's original track with some musical embellishments and a different lead vocal. However Audra Mae gave us a spectacular reading of the song.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
I will be back next week with the results of this Rate-O-Rama Edition.
Last Week's Rate-O-Rama:
With Love, RHC
About the Creator
Rick Henry Christopher
Writing is a distraction to fulfill my need for intellectual stimulus, emotional release, and soothing the bruises of the day.
The shattered pieces of life will not discourage me.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vocalplusassist
Keep reading
More stories from Rick Henry Christopher and writers in Beat and other communities.
Doing it for the troops
The others dropped like flies around me. We fought and struggled to get to this point. I'm the only one left now. The objective is right there. A mere two hundred feet away. The last of my team got a bullet to the head right next to me, but I couldn't do anything. I was able to locate and neutralise the sniper as he shot my friend, so his death was at least not in vain.
By Mohammed Darasi5 days ago in Fiction
Comments (15)
Of course Nina 100 her voice in this song is amazing Avicii 99 Buble 98 I love all three versions
Points wise then I lean towards the Buble version, I’m a big fan of the lounge singer/big band style that her specialises in. 90 points. Nina Simone has a very good voice, and we wouldn’t have this song if not for her. That takes what would have been an 80 up to 85 points. I believe that there is a special layer of hell reserved purely for dance covers. Now this Aviici version isn’t particularly dance focused, but it isn’t particularly special either. It sounds good, but all versions of this song do. 55 points, mostly for the song. Now, I feel like you have missed a trick here, Rick. Because my best version of this song isn’t even an option. My 100 points would have gone to the Muse cover. I’m not really a Muse fan, but this is by far the best they ever did.
Nina Simone all the way. That song is her, period: 100 Michael Buble is huge in Canada, but I can't stand him. LOL! Yet, his rendition is very nice. He has the perfect voice for it. 80 The Avicii version is ok. Nothing extraordinary. 50
I have to go with Nina Simone, then Micheal Buble. Fun piece!
I am so enjoying this series, Rick!! Again you brought a classic and modern version that I know well… and then one that is completely new to me! And trivia to go along with it. I had no idea Nina’s track wasn’t released until 1994! (I have no clue how I missed the notification for this when you published it! It’s already a favourite of mine. Brilliant idea even more brilliantly executed!) And this one was tough! Bublé’s version is good of course, let’s say a 93 Nina I’m going to give a 97. The reason for the drop in score is that trumpet that chimes in… was recorded too loud. Whenever this song used to come on my restaurant playlist, I had to run to turn the volume down (random memory I forgot until now!). It intrusive and irritating…. And actually…. Going over this makes me want to downgrade more…but I won’t! Now, this Avicci (unsure of spelling. Typing long comments on my phone is a challenge… as I can’t scroll without the comment disappearing 🙄)track is completely new to me. And I am so surprised by how much I love it. I think it’s genius. And her voice…. Ohhhhh!!!!!! I love the xylophone sounds also. I feel like I’ve got to make this the winner here! Which is surprising me as I type!!! Let’s say a 100. I am genuinely that impressed 🥰
Nina Simone - 70 Michael Buble - 80 Avicii - 90 I usually like women who have deep voices but somehow Nina's voice wasn't my cup of tea. I don't usually like male voices but somehow Michael's voice had me smitten. I like Avicii's version the most maybe because it's kinda like my taste in music.
This is fun. I agree with everyone here on the ratings, but Michael ices my cake. Every, and I do mean every night Grayson (3) asks to listen to Michael (end of may) sleep tactics from early on. Thank you Rick, for another creative collaboration
Nina Simone is automatically 100. You may find some who do it differently, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone do it better. Michael Bublé gets a 95 from me. His performance is outstanding but loses a bit of depth in its meaning by virtue of a different & more superficial context. Avicii gets an 80 simply because he managed to recognize greatness. His does little to nothing for me. Far too commercial, completely devoid of the original's context.
I don't find any links. I'm looking them up on YouTube. Be back soon.
👏👏👏 For all of them!!! In the order that I listened to them... Nina 100+ - I could really feel the vibe she induced. Plus, the African styled run at the end was 😮🤩. The note she hits at 2:26 gave me the chills. The resonance is hard to achieve. Also, the natural roll into her vibrato at 2:40 would be hard to emulate. I think I'm in love! Michael Bublé - 94. Loved the music! The tone of his voice is perfect for this type of song. He had a few moments himself of brilliant note changes and runs. Video was awesome!!! Avicii 95- Although you said they used a previous soundtrack, the vocals were slightly better than Bublés' in my opinion. There were a few unique notes that was literally music to my ears... Fun stuff, Rick! Thank you!
Hmm. The first episode included the direct links to the songs. I didn't find them on this episode. Unless I'm mistaken, I will rate after I find and listen to them.
I don’t see a video link but I’m familiar with the songs. Simone is 100, Michael 90, and Avicii a 85.
Nina is always 100 in my book. I agree the others are excellent songs, but they just can’t compare to her!
I will second, Lonzo's ranking!!!❤️❤️💕
I like your thoughts on this and Mine was similar:☁️✨😉 Avicii was my favorite it is actually on my playlist so 100 - for me I agree with you, Michael did Great 👍so-99 And - 100 for Nina❗