Feel Again (song)

***Feel Again*** is a song recorded by American rock band OneRepublic for their third studio album *Native* (2013).  It serves as the third track on the 2013 standard edition and fourth of the 2014 re-release. It was the first song to be released for the album. It was written and produced by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Drew Brown and Noel Zancanella.

"Feel Again" talks about coming back into your own and embracing life, as well as, transforming from "a lonely soul" to a man who is able to love again. It received positive reviews from music critics, who called it "wonderfully catchy" and that it would make a brilliant sing-along at larger festivals. Some critics compared the song to Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days Are Over". The song was mildly successful in North America, peaking at number 36 on the *Billboard* Hot 100; however, it saw most of its success in Europe, particularly Germany where it peaked at number 9 on the Media Control Charts.

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to Save the Children's Every Beat Matters campaign to support training frontline health workers around the world.

## Release

"Feel Again" was unveiled on ABC's *Good Morning America*, on August 10, 2012, and on August 22 the group released an audio stream for everyone to listen the track. The single was also delivered to radio on August 22, and the song was released to iTunes on August 27, 2012. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the single will be donated to Save the Children's Every Beat Matters campaign to support training frontline health workers around the world. The song was also heavily featured in the trailers for the 2013 film *The Spectacular Now*.

## Writing and inspiration

"Feel Again" was written by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Drew Brown and Noel Zancanella, while production was handled by Tedder. Tedder revealed that last year he was inspired by gospel melodies and harmonies. "The song itself was kind of a departure for anything we've ever done before on every level," frontman Ryan Tedder said. "It's very much an uptempo song and has a lot of gospel influence in it." "For whatever reason that's something that was resonating with me and I felt that I really wanted to shift as many of our songs into that vibe as possible," he said.

Tedder said their partnership with Save the Children was serendipitous and it actually helped him finish the lyrics to the song.

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A video of the making of the track, in coordination with Save the Children was uploaded to Save the Children USA's YouTube channel on August 31, 2012.

## Composition

"Feel Again" is an up-tempo song, featuring an uplifting, hook-laden melody filled with hope and optimism. It showcases a richer, fuller sound palette that accentuates the anthemic qualities of their songwriting. The uplifting, emotional song contains similar catchy melodies to their past work, such as "Good Life", "Stop and Stare", "Apologize" and "All the Right Moves".

The song's emotional pull is given a massive boost by its powerful lyrics about coming back into your own and embracing life. "Heart still beating but it's not working. I reach out trying to love but I feel nothing," Tedder aches before bursting into the melodic chorus that is filled with bliss, "But with you I feel again." The hand-clap song is ultimately a tale about grabbing life by the horns and feeling new again no matter what happened the day prior. In the chorus, Tedder sings about transforming from "a lonely soul" to a man who is able to love again; "I'm feeling better since you know me/I was a lonely soul but that's the old me."

## Critical reception

The song received a favorable reception from music critics. Arjan Writers gave a very positive review for the track, stating that "Feel Again represents everything fans have come to love about the group, it clearly demonstrates that the group is evolving their brand of pop." The review further added: "In world saturated by bleak news headlines, conveying a message of living life in the moment is a timeless concept that truly has a universal appeal. And leave it up to Tedder and his friends to package such a powerful sentiment in a tightly-produced and radio-ready package that has the potential to spread like wildfire." Sam Wilbur of AOL Radio followed the same thought, writing, "The single is destined to be a top radio hit and a live favorite, with its hand-clapping beats and enjoyable chorus." Huw Hopkins of Alt Sounds commented, "The main chorus melody is wonderfully catchy and would make a brilliant sing-along at larger festivals. There is a certain soul to the voice of Ryan Tedder, but the production skills and teamwork of Zach Filkins adds an extra kick on the choral backing vocals."

Some critics realized that the track is very similar to Florence + the Machine songs. Scott Shetler of Pop Crush gave the song 3 out of 5 stars, writing that "With its urgent hand-clapping and swelling vocal hooks, 'Feel Again' sounds so similar to 'Dog Days Are Over' that the band might as well add a 'Featuring Florence + the Machine' credit." Shetler also said that "Though 'Feel Again' is far from original, the optimistic message and those 'woo-ooh-ooh' chants are hard to resist." Christina Lee of Idolator also noticed a Florence and the Machine influence, writing "Perhaps it's the handclaps. Perhaps it's the booming drums. Perhaps it's Ryan Tedder's hopeful tone, or the way his voice builds, collapses and then surges again without ever sounding defeated. Regardless, OneRepublic's new single, reminds us a lot of Florence + The Machine's breakout single 'Dog Days Are Over'. And that's not a bad thing."

## Music video

The music video was filmed in a redwood forest near San Francisco, California from July 31, 2012 to August 2, 2012. It premiered on Vevo on August 28, 2012. The video begins with Ryan Tedder walking over leafy ground in front of a beautiful sunset in the San Francisco Bay area. He stoops to pick up a glowing yellow ball. He then sees what appears to be a string of yellow lights. There is a shot of Ryan following the lights, then the video cuts to alternating shots of the band with strings of lights in the background, and different people dancing to the music. He is shown with the yellow ball in his heart, glowing through his clothes, and suggesting he had lost his heart or it had been broken, and he had regained it. The video cuts with an aerial view of the forest, and the sun rising.

      Carl Williot of Idolator wrote a positive review, commenting, "The hypercolor lights complement the effervescence and effortlessness of Tedder's voice, and the total package is bright, it's colorful, it's earthy. Like a delicious music video salad." Amy Sciarretto of Pop Crush commented: "'Feel Again' won't wow you with spectacular graphics but it what it will do is allow you to concentrate on the song, which is slated to appear on the band's upcoming third studio album. Perhaps that was OneRepublic's intention by selecting this no frills treatment for the first visual taste of their next record. It was an effective strategy since it reeled us in hook, line and sinker."

The video was accompanied by a behind the scenes video, posted on September 13, 2012. A lyric video was also posted on October 10, 2012.

## Track by Track

   A video explaining the story behind *Feel Again* was posted on OneRepublicVEVO's YouTube channel on March 25, 2013. In the video Ryan Tedder explains how the track is the first one finished for the album. It started off as a 90 second piece of music when they were approached by Save the Children, requesting the band to write an original song. An agreement was reached to donate proceeds from *Feel Again* to Save the Children. It was released so far in advance of the album, that only one or two other songs had been written at that time, and no songs produced or finished.

## Lyrics

It's been a long time coming since I've seen your face
I've been everywhere and back trying to replace
Everything that I've had till my feet went numb
Praying like a fool that's been on the run
Heart still beating but it's not working
It's like a million dollar phone that you just can't ring
I reach out trying to love but I feel nothing
Yeah, my heart is numb

But with you, I feel again
Yeah with you, I can feel again, yeah

I'm feeling better since you know me
I was a lonely soul but that's the old me

It's been a long time coming since I've seen your face
I've been everywhere and back trying to replace
Everything that I broke till my feet went numb
Praying like a fool who just shot a gun
Heart still beating but it's not working
It's like a hundred thousand voices that just can't sing
I reached out trying to love but I feel nothing
Oh my heart is numb

But with you, I feel again
And with you, I can feel again

But with you (I'm feeling better since you know me)
I feel again (I was a lonely soul but that's the old me)
Yeah with you (I'm feeling better since you know me)
I can feel again (I was a lonely soul)

Woo hoo (Woo hoo)

I'm feeling better ever since you know me
I was a lonely soul but that's the old me
A little wiser now from what you showed me
Yeah, I feel again, feel again woo hoo

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Native*

* Midnite Miracle (ASCAP)/Sony ATV
* Matzah Ballzack Music / Where Da Kasz At (BMI)
* Acornman (ASCAP)
* Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Worldwide, America Inc.
* Butterfoot (ASCAP)
* Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Worldwide, America Inc.
* Blastronaut Music (BMI) / Patriot Games Publishing
* Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing