I Feel the Earth Move

Last updated

"I Feel the Earth Move"
Carole King I Feel the Earth Move.jpg
US vinyl single; picture is also used for the "It's Too Late" side and the parent album Tapestry
Single by Carole King
from the album Tapestry
A-side "It's Too Late"
ReleasedApril 16, 1971 (1971-04-16)
Genre Pop rock
Length3:00
Label Ode
Songwriter(s) Carole King
Producer(s) Lou Adler
Carole King singles chronology
"He's a Bad Boy"
(1964)		"It's Too Late" / "I Feel the Earth Move"
(1971)		"So Far Away" / "Smackwater Jack"
(1971)

"I Feel the Earth Move" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Carole King, for her second studio album Tapestry . Additionally, the song is one half of the double A-sided single, the flip side of which was "It's Too Late". Together, both "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late" became among the biggest mainstream pop hits of 1971.

Contents

Jon Landau's review of the Tapestry for Rolling Stone praised King's voice on this track, saying it negotiates turns from "raunchy" to "bluesy" to "harsh" to "soothing", with the last echoing the development of the song's melody into its chorus. [1] Landau describes the melody of the refrain as "a pretty pop line". [1] Forty years later, Rolling Stone stated that King's "warm, earnest singing" brought "earthy joy" to the song. [2] Music journalist Harvey Kubernik wrote that "I Feel the Earth Move" was "probably the most sexually aggressive song on the Tapestry album" and a "brave" opening to an album whose mood is mostly "mellow confessionality". [3] AllMusic critic Stewart Mason describes the song as "the ultimate in hippie-chick eroticism" and writes that it "sounds like the unleashing of an entire generation of soft-spoken college girls' collective libidos". [4] Cash Box described the song as being a "forceful 'earthquake song'" and considered its pairing with "It's Too Late" as a single to be "double dynamite." [5] Record World said that it is "quality contemporary pop." [6]

Author James Perone praised the way the lyrics and music work together. [7] As a prime example, he notes the syncopated rhythm to the melody on which King sings "tumbling down". [7] This rhythm, putting the accent at the end of the word "tumbling" rather than at the beginning, produces a "musical equivalent of a tumble." [7] Perone also notes that the fast tempo allows the listener to feel the singer's excitement over being near her lover, and that the lyrics also express sexual tension even though that tension is left implicit. [7] Perone attributes some of the song's success to producer Lou Adler's decision to highlight King's piano playing in the mix, giving it a different feel from the guitar-based singer-songwriter approach King took in her prior album. [7] Mason also attributes the song's success to the "piano-led groove" and to King's vocal delivery. [4]

King's version of "I Feel the Earth Move" peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated June 19, 1971. It remained there for five consecutive weeks. [8] It also peaked at number 6 in the United Kingdom.

Given its upbeat nature, Ode Records selected "I Feel the Earth Move" as the A-side to Tapestry's first single. It achieved airplay, but then disc jockeys and listeners began to prefer the slower, lamenting B-side "It's Too Late". Both sides received airplay for a while, but eventually "It's Too Late" dominated. In fact, on the concurrent Cash Box singles chart, which still tracked the progress of both sides of a single separately, "It's Too Late" spent four weeks at number 1 while "I Feel the Earth Move" did not chart at all. Regardless, since Billboard had declared the record a double A-side and their chart gradually became seen by many as the "official" singles chart, it is generally listed in books and articles that both "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late" reached number 1.

Together with "It's Too Late", "I Feel the Earth Move" was named by the RIAA as number 213 of 365 Songs of the Century.

Personnel

Charts

All entries charted with "It's Too Late".

Martika version

"I Feel the Earth Move"
Martikaifeeltheearthmove.jpg
Single by Martika
from the album Martika
B-side "Quiero Entregarte Mi Amor"
ReleasedAugust 1989
Genre Dance-pop [13]
Length4:12
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Carole King
Producer(s)
Martika singles chronology
"Toy Soldiers"
(1989)		"I Feel the Earth Move"
(1989)		"Water"
(1990)

Released in mid-1989, "I Feel the Earth Move" is the third single from American singer-songwriter and actress Martika's self-titled debut album, Martika (1988). It reached number seven in the United Kingdom and number two in Australia. The single also reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but quickly fell down the chart after radio stations pulled it from their playlists in the wake of the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. The music video was shot during the promotional tour for this album.

Track listing

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [31] Platinum70,000^
United States (RIAA) [32] Gold500,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other notable covers

In 1989, British boy band Big Fun recorded their version of the song, which was intended to be released as a single, but was eventually only one of the songs on the B-side of their single "Can't Shake the Feeling", and was included on their 1990 album A Pocketful of Dreams , produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman team, on which it appears as a bonus track on the CD and cassette formats. Brix Smith of Record Mirror panned this version he called a "massacre", adding that the fact of "discofy[ing]" the track shows "a lack of imagination, avarice, and insensivity to music". [33]

Related Research Articles

Marta Marrero, better known by her stage name Martika, is an American pop singer and actress. She released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which sold over four million copies worldwide. Her biggest hit was "Toy Soldiers", which peaked at #1 for two weeks on the American chart in mid-1989. She is also known for her role as Gloria on Kids Incorporated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carole King</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1942)

Carole King Klein is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has been active since 1958. One of the most successful female songwriters of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, she wrote or co-wrote 118 pop hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005.

Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. Soft rock was prevalent on the radio throughout the 1970s and eventually metamorphosed into a form of the synthesized music of adult contemporary in the 1980s.

<i>Tapestry</i> (Carole King album) 1971 studio album by Carole King

Tapestry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released on February 10, 1971 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler. The lead singles from the album—"It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move"—spent five weeks at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got a Friend</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer-songwriter Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.

<i>Martika</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Martika

Martika is the debut studio album by former child actor and teen pop singer Martika, released October 18, 1988 through CBS Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toy Soldiers (song)</span> 1989 single by Martika

"Toy Soldiers" is a song by American singer-songwriter Martika, appearing on her eponymous debut album (1988) and released in the United States as the second single from the album on April 26, 1989. It was her only song to top the charts in the United States, reaching the number-one on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in mid-1989. An edited version of the song is included in the imported version of the album Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika. Its music video was directed by Jim Shea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Too Late (Carole King song)</span> 1971 song by Carole King

"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later platinum-certified by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman</span> 1967 song by Aretha Franklin

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 song by American soul singer Aretha Franklin released as a single by the Atlantic label. The words were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was composed by Carole King. Written for Franklin, the record was a big hit reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of her signature songs. It made history on the UK Singles Chart a week after her death, finally becoming a hit almost 51 years after it was first released, entering at No. 79. Franklin also included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love... Thy Will Be Done</span> 1991 single by Martika

"Love... Thy Will Be Done" is the first single released from American singer and actress Martika's second album, Martika's Kitchen (1991). The Prince-produced single, written by Martika and Prince, was released on July 18, 1991 by Columbia, and reached the top 10 on the charts of seven countries, including Australia, where it peaked at number one in October 1991. The song's black-and-white music video was directed by Michael Haussman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand in My Pocket</span> 1995 single by Alanis Morissette

"Hand in My Pocket" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). The song was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard and was released as the second single from the album on October 16, 1995, five months after the album release. The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who applauded Morissette's songwriting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will You Love Me Tomorrow</span> 1960 single by the Shirelles

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song with words by Gerry Goffin and music composed by Carole King. It was recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The producer was Luther Dixon.The song was the first by an African-American all-girl group to reach number one in the United States. It has since been recorded by many other artists including a 1971 version by co-writer Carole King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Hear You No More</span>

"I Can't Hear You No More" is a composition written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded as "I Can't Hear You" in 1964 by Betty Everett. The most successful version was the 1976 top 40 single by Helen Reddy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainy Days and Mondays</span> 1971 single by Carpenters

"Rainy Days and Mondays" is a song by the Carpenters from their self-titled third album, with instrumental backing by the Wrecking Crew. It was written by Paul Williams (lyrics) and Roger Nichols (music), who had previously written "We've Only Just Begun," another hit for the duo. The B-side on the single is "Saturday," a song written and sung by Richard Carpenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazzman</span> 1974 song by Carole King

"Jazzman" is a 1974 song performed by Carole King, from her album Wrap Around Joy. King composed the music for the song, while David Palmer wrote the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Far Away (Carole King song)</span> 1971 single by Carole King

“So Far Away” is a song written by Carole King, which appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. The recording features James Taylor on acoustic guitar. In addition to Taylor, and King on piano, instruments include Russ Kunkel on drums, Charles Larkey on bass guitar and Curtis Amy on flute.

"Where You Lead" is a song written in 1970 by Carole King with lyricist Toni Stern, introduced on King's iconic 1971 album Tapestry. A Top 40 hit for Barbra Streisand in both a studio and a live version — the latter in a medley entitled "Sweet Inspiration/ Where You Lead'" — the song has also served as the main theme song for The WB dramedy series Gilmore Girls in a lyrically revised version recorded by King and Louise Goffin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh! Carol</span> 1959 single by Neil Sedaka

"Oh! Carol" is an international hit written by Neil Sedaka in 1958. Co-written with Howard Greenfield, the song is noted for Sedaka's spoken recitation of the verse, the second time around.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Seasons</span> 1972 single by Carole King

“Sweet Seasons” is a song written by Carole King and Toni Stern which appeared on King's 1971 album Music. It was the only charting single from the album, and was her second of four Top 10 hits in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smackwater Jack (song)</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"Smackwater Jack" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first released on King's 1971 album Tapestry and then on the second single from that album, along with "So Far Away", charting at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was subsequently covered by many artists, most famously by Quincy Jones as the title song of his 1971 album Smackwater Jack.

References

  1. 1 2 Landau, Jon (April 29, 1971). "Carole King: Tapestry". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008.
  2. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Tapestry". Rolling Stone . May 31, 2009. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kubernik, H. "Troubadours: Carole King / James Taylor & The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter: Carole King's Monumental Tapestry Album". PBS. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Mason, S. "I Feel the Earth Move". AllMusic . Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 1, 1971. p. 24. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. May 1, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Perone, J.D. (2006). The Words and Music of Carole King. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 33–34. ISBN   9780275990275.
  8. ↑ "The Hot 100: June 19, 1971". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Carole King Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1971". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ Breihan, Tom (August 2, 2021). "The Number Ones: Martika's "Toy Soldiers"". Stereogum . Retrieved October 11, 2022. Her next single, an OK dance-pop cover of Carole King's 'I Feel The Earth Move'...
  14. ↑ "Martika – I Feel the Earth Move". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Martika – I Feel the Earth Move" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Martika – I Feel the Earth Move" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6592." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6613." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 6, no. 48. December 2, 1989. p. V. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  20. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
  21. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Feel the Earth Move". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Martika – I Feel the Earth Move". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Martika – I Feel the Earth Move". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Martika Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Martika Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  27. ↑ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Martika – I Feel the Earth Move" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  29. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  30. ↑ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror . January 27, 1990. p. 44.
  31. 1 2 "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990 (61–100) (from The ARIA Report No. 50)". ARIA . Retrieved November 14, 2020– via Imgur.
  32. ↑ "American single certifications – Carole King – I Feel The Earth Move". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  33. ↑ Smith, Brix (June 17, 1989). "45 reviewed by Brix Smith" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved October 24, 2021– via World Radio History.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.