"Feels" is a song by the Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris featuring the American musicians Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean. It was released on 15 June 2017 through Columbia Records as the fourth single from Harris's fifth album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 (2017). Starrah assisted the artists in writing the song.
"Feels" peaked at number one in Belgium, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lebanon, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Elsewhere, it charted within the top ten in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland as well as the top 20 in Italy, Sweden and the United States. Emil Nava directed two music videos for the song, which respectively premiered in June and August 2017.
Background and release During 2011, Harris was planned to open for Katy Perry in the latter's California Dreams Tour. When he cancelled his appearance on the tour, it caused a disagreement between the two. According to her, they eventually "bumped into each other" during a Vanity Fair Oscar party. Harris then said that he had a song Perry should "check out". She later agreed and collaborated in the song. Other than Perry, Pharrell Williams and Big Sean collaborated in the song. Starrah helped write the song; the song was produced by Harris himself. Harris announced his fifth album, titled Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 on 9 May 2017. On 14 June, Harris revealed that he would release the fourth single from the album, titled "Feels". The post included the single's cover art and credits. The song was released on 15 June, before the album's release date on 30 June.
Composition "Feels" is a disco-funk and ska song The bassline and chord progression of the song bear resemblance to "Let's Groove" (1981) by Earth, Wind & Fire; its authors, Maurice White and Wayne Vaughn, were later acknowledged in the song's credits.ACE Repertory
Critical reception Andy Cush of Spin called the song "a little flimsy" while also noting that "the groove is unimpeachable" and that "It has a skillful melange of sounds from the mid-70s apex of analog recording, the era of disco and yacht rock: a warm and rounded bassline, some Nile Rodgers-style guitar, a slick descending line on Fender Rhodes." Rolling Stone Elia Leight said that the song is "a simple, lighthearted loop, which combines punctual ska guitar, a playful keyboard line and charming squeaks that recall a cartoon character's slip on a banana peel." Brent Faulkner from The Musical Hype said the song is undercooked, leaving more to be desired, adding that it's "the type of record that is pleasing more because of the sound than the lyricism." Erin Van Der Meer from Grazia said the song was so "right this minute" that it "almost feels forced."
Krystal Rodriguez of Vice reported that the song was "primed for summertime play" and "yet another contender for song of the summer." Rodriguez further said that the song had a "laidback beat" perfect for pool parties and sitting beneath the sun. Saeed Saeed of The National said that "Feels" was the highlight of the album, further stating that it had Pharrell Williams' strongest vocal performance since "Blurred Lines".
Commercial performance In the US, "Feels" debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached a peak of 20, making it Harris' eighth top 20 hit, as well as Perry's eighteenth. It spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. "Feels" peaked at number five on the Canadian charts, giving Perry her eighteenth top ten in the country. In Harris' native United Kingdom, "Feels" topped the UK Singles Chart, making it Harris' eighth, Williams' fourth, Perry's fifth, and Sean's first chart-topping single on the chart. Across the world, and especially in Europe, the song met a widespread acclaim, reaching the summit in Wallonia, Croatia, Iceland and Israel. It also reached the top ten in Finland, Czech Republic, Austria, The Netherlands, Slovenia and France, among others, top twenty in Sweden, Italy, Colombia and Guatemala, top thirty in Spain and Philippines and top forty in Japan.
Music videos The song's accompanying music video was uploaded to Harris' Vevo channel on YouTube on 26 June 2017. The clip was directed by Emil Nava. In the video, Harris, Williams, Perry and Big Sean lounge around on a desert island in tropical-themed attire. Perry is seen frolicking in the grass, Williams in a boat, and Big Sean in the beachside. A second video, also directed by Nava, followed two months later. It features all four artists as a band playing the track in front of a live audience and receiving applause for their performance.
Accolades Awards and nominations +Name of award, year listed, category, and result Award Year Category Result Ref. MTV Video Music Awards 2017 Best Collaboration NRJ Music Awards Video of the Year 2017 NRJ Music Awards: The Official Number One Awards Number One Single The Official Vodafone Big Top 40 Number One Awards Number One Award Planeta Awards Best Hip-hop/R&B Song of the Year Vevo Certified Awards Vevo Certified Award Brit Awards 2018 British Single of the Year British Video of the Year Spotify Awards 2023 Billion-Play Award
Listicles +Name of publication, year listed, name of listicle, and result Publication Year Listicle Result Billboard 2017 Best Songs of the Year: Critics' Picks 59th Cosmopolitan UK Best Songs of the Year 20th HuffPost Best Summer Songs of the Year Placed NME Placed
Track listings
Personnel Credits adapted from the song's liner notes.
Calvin Harris – composition, production, mixing, Ibanez 1200 Bass, Linn LinnDrum, 1976 Yamaha Ux Ebony Piano, Gibson SG Custom, 1965 Fender Stratocaster, Wurlitzer electric piano, claps Pharrell Williams – vocals, composition Katy Perry – vocals, composition Big Sean – vocals, composition Brittany Hazzard – composition Mike Larson – recording Marcos Tovar – recording Gregg Rominiecki – recording Jacob Dennis – recording assistance Iain Findlay – recording assistance Dave Kutch – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Feels" Chart (2017) Peak position Argentina (Monitor Latino) 7 Australia Dance (ARIA) 1 Bolivia (Monitor Latino) 3 Chile (Monitor Latino) 15 Colombia (National-Report) 12 Colombia (Promúsica) 14 Costa Rica (Monitor Latino) 8 Croatia (HRT) 1 Ecuador (National-Report) 19 El Salvador (Monitor Latino) 12 Greece Digital Songs (Billboard) 8 Guatemala (Monitor Latino)17 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 1 Lebanon (OLT20) 1 Malaysia (RIM) 4 Mexico (Billboard Mexican Airplay) 21 Mexico Streaming (AMPROFON) 12 Netherlands (Mega Top 50)"Lijst van 05-08-2017 - MEGA TOP 50 " (in Dutch). Mega Top 50 8 Panama (Monitor Latino) 9 Paraguay (Monitor Latino) 6 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100) 22 Slovenia (SloTop50) 4 South Korea International (Gaon) 21 Uruguay (Monitor Latino) 8 Venezuela (National-Report) 24
Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for "Feels" Chart (2017) Peakposition Russia Airplay (TopHit) 57
Year-end charts +2017 year-end chart performance for "Feels" Chart (2017) Position Argentina Airplay (Monitor Latino) 37 Australia (ARIA) 28 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 44 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 19 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 18 Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) 157 Bolivia Airplay (Monitor Latino) 88 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 32 Colombia Airplay (Monitor Latino) 59 Costa Rica Airplay (Monitor Latino) 16 Chile Airplay (Monitor Latino) 80 Denmark (Tracklisten) 42 El Salvador Airplay (Monitor Latino) 20 France (SNEP) 25 Germany (Official German Charts) 59 Honduras Airplay (Monitor Latino) 51 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 30 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 34 Hungary (Single Top 40) 24 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 27 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 23 Italy (FIMI) 69 Latvia Airplay (LaIPA) 8 Mexico Airplay (Monitor Latino) 77 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 31 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 43 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 30 Nicaragua Airplay (Monitor Latino) 69 Paraguay Airplay (Monitor Latino) 56 Panama Airplay (Monitor Latino) 79 Peru Airplay (Monitor Latino) 70 Poland Airplay (ZPAV) 35 Portugal (AFP) 42 Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50) 35 Spain Airplay (PROMUSICAE) 39 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 82 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 50 UK Singles (OCC) 24 Uruguay Airplay (Monitor Latino) 67 US Billboard Hot 100 74 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 10 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 38 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 42 US Rhythmic (Billboard) 46 +2018 year-end chart performance for "Feels" Chart (2018) Position Argentina Airplay (Monitor Latino) 26 Colombia Airplay (Monitor Latino) 95 France (SNEP) 188 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 13 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 72 Portugal (AFP) 181 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 72
Certifications and sales
Release history + "Feels" release history Region Date Format Label(s) Various 15 June 2017 Digital download Italy 16 June 2017 Radio airplay Sony United States 20 June 2017 Contemporary hit radio Columbia
Notes
References