"Something He Can Feel" is a song written by American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer Curtis Mayfield for the 1976 movie Sparkle. The song is a love song in the Chicago and Philly soul style. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart twice, with two different versions: a 1976 recording by Aretha Franklin from the film's soundtrack, and a 1992 version by the girl group En Vogue.
Aretha Franklin original
In the original 1976 version of the film Sparkle, the song "Something He Can Feel" is performed by "Sister & the Sisters," with Lonette McKee singing lead and Irene Cara and Dwan Smith providing background vocals. The version of the song on the film's soundtrack album uses vocals by Aretha Franklin and the Kitty Haywood Singers, while the instrumental music remains unchanged.
The film Sparkle follows the lives of the members of Sister & the Sisters, a 1960s girl group similar to Motown artists. "Something He Can Feel" is part of their musical performances in the movie. Franklin's version of the song was released as the first single from the album. It reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, number 28 on Billboard's Pop chart, and number 30 on Cash Box's Pop chart. This was Franklin's only pop Top 40 hit between 1975 and 1979.
The film Sparkle was remade in 2012, and the song "Something He Can Feel" was also re-recorded. In the 2012 version, Carmen Ejogo sings lead, with Jordin Sparks and Tika Sumpter providing background vocals. In the film, a group named "Sister & Her Sisters" performs the song during a live TV show featuring Aretha Franklin.
- Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
Franklin's version of the song appeared in the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where contestants Jujubee and Tatianna performed it during a "lipsync for your life" challenge.
Afrika Bambaataa feat. Boy George version
In 1988, hip-hop musician Afrika Bambaataa recorded a cover song of "Something He Can Feel." The song was included on the album The Light, which was created as a collaboration with other artists. On this track, Boy George provided the main vocal performance.
En Vogue version
Fifteen years after the release of Sparkle, the American R&B group En Vogue recorded a cover version of the song "Something He Can Feel," which was renamed "Giving Him Something He Can Feel." The song was produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster. Dawn Robinson provided the lead vocals, while Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones sang the background vocals. The En Vogue version was released as the second single from the group's second album, Funky Divas (1992), by EastWest Records in June 1992. It became a successful hit.
The single reached number six on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts. It was the fifth En Vogue single in two years to reach number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. In the United Kingdom, the song was released as a double A-side single with "Free Your Mind" and reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. In New Zealand, it became En Vogue's highest-charting single, peaking at number two for two weeks. The music video was directed by Stefan Würnitzer.
Nichole Cordova performed En Vogue's version of "Something He Can Feel" on the season finale of Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious, where she became the first member of Girlicious. Judges Robin Antin, Lil' Kim, and Ron Fair praised her performance.
Larry Flick of Billboard magazine called the song a "lovely, retro-minded pop/R&B ballad," noting that En Vogue's "remarkable trademark harmonies" reminded listeners of the early work of Aretha Franklin and Mary Wells. He said the song was a "soothing interlude for all formats." Glenn Kenny from Entertainment Weekly described it as "sultry" and named it the best En Vogue song. Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said the group "do it up stunningly," turning the song into something "beyond compare." Everett True from Melody Maker wrote, "Effortless precision. En Vogue are the most perfectly manufactured group since Pan's People." Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times said the track had a "classic finger-snapping Motown R&B feel." Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel called it "exemplary," praising the group's "four superb voices" and their "full gospel fervor." Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily called the song "fabulous," noting its "sultry singing" and "sparse, yet solid, instrumentation."
In a 2017 review, Quentin Harrison from Albumism said En Vogue's version brought the song back to its girl group roots and updated it for a new decade. AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis called it a "sophisticated" and "shimmering" song, originally popularized by Aretha Franklin. Another AllMusic editor, Rob Theakston, called it a "sultry rendition." Daryl Easlea from BBC described it as a "delicious cover." In 2020, Pop Rescue said En Vogue's version was a "credible challenge" to Aretha Franklin's original. In 2007, Laura Checkoway from Vibe called the song "alluring."
A music video was made to promote the single. It begins with En Vogue applying makeup. They then perform for an audience of men in a club, standing on a stage in front of a blue curtain while wearing long red dresses. The video ends with the men giving En Vogue a standing ovation.