Here we are in 2024. The regular season NCAA men's basketball season is over and the individual conference tournaments are beginning. We'll soon find out who gets invited to the NCAA tournament and March Madness will begin. The State of the Union address has been given, the political primary season is over for the most part and the general election, at least for President has begun its arduous and sometimes tortuous slog to November. With neither candidate being a good choice, it should prove to be an interesting summer. The Oscar went to a bunch of films and actors that I confess I haven't seen and I don't know. Hold the presses! I did see Oppenheimer. Not sure why it is considered worthy of an Oscar... I'm more concerned with who will be the next James Bond...Daylight Saving Time has begun, perhaps for the last time, perhaps not. For many a happy student, Spring Break is happening or will very soon. There is much that has happened in 2024 and we're only 2 1/2 months in. 
2024 still holds much to anticipate. The next 9 1/2 months will without doubt provide challenges. Our attitudes toward those challenges and the other events of 2024 will determine everything about how we remember the year. Our perspectives may very well similarly sway the attitudes of those around us. Regardless of how we feel about it, our circle of influence can have a potent impact on how 2024 finishes out for ourselves and our friends. Will the year show us succumbing to the challenges or will we find ourselves in December of 2024...
There is a pretty large chance that you have never heard of the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell Of the Crowd. It was written in 1964 by English composers Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Talk to the Animals" (Rex Harrison as Dr. Dolittle)). It was performed in that same year exclusively in the United Kingdom. It later migrated to the United States where it saw a modicum of success. There is also a pretty large chance, however, that you have heard of some of the songs introduced by this musical that have since become standards. Today's featured song is one of those songs that continues to find its way into the musical fabric of time. When you hear the opening lines, you know that regardless of how you may be feeling, you are about to be "Feeling Good".
Like all good standards "Feeling Good" has had its share of covers. The first to do it aside from the soundtrack of the musical was Nina Simone on her 1965 album I Put A Spell On You. Including Mr. Buble's version, "Feeling Good" has been recorded by over 20 artists from a wide range of musical ages and spectrums. As recently as 2021, John Legend used the song as a part of the Celebrating America portion of President Joe Biden's inaugural. We don't know Mr. Legend's political leanings, those are his business, Tuesday's Musical Notes does not endorse either of the presumptive candidates for President. We do encourage you to vote, it is a privilege given to us that we should never ignore. I am Randy Cross, and I have approved this message.
Of all of the incredible artists and arrangements, it is only Simone's and Buble's covers that have seen the most success. Oddly enough Simone's version of the song wasn't released as a single until 1994 after its use in a Volkswagen TV commercial in England. Because of its use in that and other commercials, "Feeling Good" peaked at #40 on the UK Singles chart in 1994. Simone's version has also been sampled for new songs by the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Flo Rida, and Mary J. Blige (produced by will.i.am). The original instrumental track to Simone's version was also used in Avicii's recording of the song which was later translated into a Volvo commercial. Volvo XC90 - A new beginning - Avicii - Feel good commercial In June of 2021, Nina Simone's version of the song reached YouTube, 56 years after it was originally released. Nina Simone - Feeling Good
Our focus today, however, is Mr. Buble's cover released as a single on April 4, 2005. The crooner used the song as the debut single from his It's Time album. Michael Buble also recorded "Feeling Good" for his live album Caught In The Act from November of the same year. Buble's cover has been used in ESPN's 2005 World Series of Poker tournament ads as well as the 2010 NBA draft broadcast. The single peaked in the UK at #162 at the time of its release but like Simone's predecessor, went higher up the charts later because of its use in commercials, peaking at #69 on UK charts in 2010.
My favorite aspect of the song and honestly the reason we chose it over some of the other covers is its music video. Classic Buble, Michael Buble. If you've read Tuesday's Musical Notes for very long you may realize that we have a fondness for the Ian Fleming series of Novels and the EON production movies about British Secret Agent, James Bond. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "You Know My Name" (Chris Cornell), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Skyfall" (Adele), Tuesday's Musical Notes - "License to Kill" (Gladys Knight)) Michael Buble's video for "Feeling Good" is a throwback to a James Bond opener complete with a skinny tie tux and an Aston Martin as a backdrop. It's just a fun video and a great way to celebrate this phenomenal song. Auditions are open for the titular spy as we understand it, Mr. Buble. Can you pull off a British accent?
Lyrically, the song describes several scenarios that cause the singer to reflect on new beginnings and the way they feel. These lyrics are not grandiose, but very simple everyday occurrences that cause emotions of well-being. There is a sense of contentment in the laid-back, bluesy feel of the song that makes you want to embrace each note as if welcoming an old friend into a new feeling. That is exactly how the Apostle Paul writes the back portion of his letter to the Colossian church.
Remember Paul was writing during his first imprisonment in Rome. There is a pretty good chance he wasn't feeling good at the time.
He started the letter solidifying his credibility with the church and the partnership with which he saw them having in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus. Paul had never been to the church. He had heard through Epaphras that the church was being diligent in their pursuit of Jesus and their proclamation to their area of what Jesus had done to restore the broken relationship between God and man. He reminded them of who they all were and the mission that they were imbued by the Holy Spirit to carry out.
Paul spent the remainder of his letter (chapters 2-4) highlighting that each day they are to put on the new life they have in Jesus, encouraging them in their walk with Christ, affirming their relationship with Jesus, and providing guidance for their relationship with fellow believers. He closes the letter by asking the church to be supportive of Epaphras and those who had brought Paul the reports about the church in Colossae.
Unlike some of the letters we will encounter in the coming days, Paul doesn't seem to take issue with the Colossians. He encourages them to continue on the pathway and standards they had set in following Jesus. And even with all that Paul had been through he might have even said, "Be alive in Christ, you know how I feel, treat your brothers right, you know how I feel, keep seeking the Light, you know how I feel...It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me, yeah It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo And I'm feeling good". Well, Paul didn't write it quite that way, but I think that's at least some of his sentiment even in his circumstances.
Can we express the same feelings...does your relationship with Jesus got you feeling good...
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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