From Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” to Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams,” there was a definite theme to the songs offered by performers at the US inauguration on Wednesday. One of them, which certainly captured the mood of many around the world, as Joe Biden officially took the reins from Donald Trump, was “Feeling Good.”

Performed in Washington DC by John Legend, the song is mostluy associated with Nina Simone, who recorded it in 1965, though the alternately hushed and brassy sassy tune first appeared in the Broadway show “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd” a year earlier.

Over the years it has been covered many times across a wide musical spectrum, from Sammy Davis Jr. to The Eels, and Canada’s Michael Bublé to Muse (an amazing alternative rock version). Lauryn Hill memorably performed the song at the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony (also worth checking out).

Perhaps less known is this recent duet between Alicia Keys and Kelly Clarkson, whose stunning voices and stylish performance combine to surely produce one of the best-ever versions of the song. It’s also a pairing whose symbolism, at this time, is not lost on us.

But mostly, amongst other things, the song simply makes us feel good!

– Mike

Lyrics

Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by, 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, ooh
And I’m feeling good

Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River running free, you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree, you know how I feel

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me
And I’m feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don’t you know?
Butterflies all havin’ fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done, that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world, for me

Stars when you shine, you know how I feel
Scent of the pine, you know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine
And I know how I feel

It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life for me

I’m feeling good!