Feel What You Want

{{Infobox song | name = Feel What You Want | cover = Feel_What_You_Want.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Kristine W | album = Land of the Living | released = * 1994 * 1997 (Peter Ries remix) * 2001 (Silk Machete & Pacha Mama remixes) | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * Dance-pop<ref name="larryflick">{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-05-28.pdf|title=New & Noteworthy|magazine=Billboard|date=May 28, 1994|access-date=January 23, 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> * house<ref name="larryflick"/> * hi-NRG | length = 4:10 (Our Tribe vocal edit) | label = * Champion Records * Dance Pool | writer = * Rob Dougan * Rollo * Kristine W | producer = * Rollo * Rob Dougan | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = One More Try | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|6zTV3KyekYM|"Feel What You Want"}}}} }}

"'''Feel What You Want'''" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kristine W, released in 1994 by Champion Records and Dance Pool as the first single from her debut album, ''Land of the Living'' (1996). It was co-written by Kristine W with its producers, British producers Rollo and Rob Dougan, and was critically acclaimed by music critics, whom praised the singer's vocal performance. The song became a huge number-one club hit in both the UK and US, as well as peaking at number four in the Netherlands and number 22 in Belgium. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 83 in September 1994. On the UK Singles Chart, it charted three times; first time at number 33 in 1994, then at number 40 with a 1997 remix by German producer Peter Ries and last time in 2001 at number 85. "Feel What You Want" was also featured on the soundtrack of ''Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories'' on the Rise FM radio station. The accompanying music video was directed by Lindy Heymann, featuring the singer dressed as many different characters.

==Background and release== Kristine W (Weitz) was born in Pasco, Washington, where she and her three siblings were raised by her mother, a jazz singer and guitarist who went by the name Donna Lee. Kristine expressed an interest in music at a very young age, and regularly performed in church and for seniors at a local retirement home. She fell in love with house music after hearing it played frequently in Canada when her mother would perform at resorts there.<ref name="krstinewinterview">{{Citation|title=C895 Celebrates Womxn In Dance - Kristine W(Full Interview)|url=https://soundcloud.com/c895radio/c895-celebrates-womxn-in-dance-kristine-wfull-interview|language=en|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref> Throughout middle and high school, Kristine frequently competed in talent shows, and at age 16, she won a state talent show singing "Last Dance" by Donna Summer. After winning the title of Miss Washington, Kristine competed in the Miss America pageant, where she won a preliminary swimsuit and NFT award. She then found success headlining her own show at the Las Vegas Hilton, winning the "Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year" award for several years.

In the summer of 1993, Champion Records boss Mel Medalie spotted the singer playing the Las Vegas show circuit.<ref name="rm1994">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-05-07.pdf|title=Kickin' Kristine Ko's DJs|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=7 May 1994|page=1|accessdate=10 May 2025}}</ref> He promptly flew her into the UK and put her in a studio with producers Rollo Armstrong and Rob Dougan, StoneBridge and Johnny Jay. The song was recorded in one day.<ref name="jamesarena">{{Cite book|title=Stars of '90s Dance Pop: 29 Hitmakers Discuss Their Careers|last=Arena|first=James|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc.|year=2016|pages=220}}</ref> Of 10 tracks completed in the studio, "Feel What You Want" was given a limited pressing at 100 singles with a handful sent to US DJs only. It was when American DJ Junior Vasquez began playing the tune at Sound Factory in New York in Christmas 1993 that the buzz began.<ref name="rm1994"/> By that time, most of the original pressing had been scrapped to make way for new mixes. Before long, bootleg acetates began appearing on both sides of the Atlantic and Champion Records had to ask DJs such as Judge Jules to stop playing the track.<ref name="rm1994"/> In March 1994, new mixes were surfacing and the tune became one of the highlights of the Winter Music Conference in Miami with Danny Tenaglia playing it five times in his set. Pete Tong heard it in the US and it would become his essential tune for four weeks.<ref name="rm1994"/>

==Lyrics and composition== Kristine W wrote "Feel What You Want" with producers Rollo and Rob Dougan. When asked in an interview about how she came up with this song, she told, "My stepfather had died and I really was depressed over his sudden death. He was my mentor, really, and one of my heroes. And he died of an aneurysm really suddenly. So that was really feeling his loss. That song just made me think about everything from religion to pollution to the planet. I wove a lot of things that I was feeling into that song. {{'}}''Sun rises at 9, it departs at 5 again, ain't doing overtime no more. In this world of color the brightest pictures are plugged right into your wall'',' in television, you know, it just seemed like everything on the news was depressing. So when you're depressed it even seems more depressing. I felt like I was numb from the death and I was not living anymore. I was just kind of existing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/kristine_w/|title=Kristine W interview|accessdate=February 9, 2017|work=songfacts.com}}</ref>

==Critical reception== Upon the release, "Feel What You Want" received critical acclaim from music critics. AllMusic editor John Bush felt that on the song, Kristine W. proves that she probably is "the most soulful vocalist in dance music, period."<ref name="johnbush">{{cite web|first=John|last=Bush|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/land-of-the-living-mw0000180356|title=Kristine W. - Land of the Living|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=February 17, 2020}}</ref> Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine wrote that after being the center of a fierce major-label bidding war, "this European dance/pop smash is finally available domestically—and the odds are mighty good that it will meet with similar success here both on dancefloors and over radio airwaves. Kristine has a striking voice, and she turns in an urgent performance that transforms the house-rooted song into an anthem to be reckoned with. Will sound great on boom-boxes on the beach."<ref name="larryflick"/> William Stevensen from ''Entertainment Weekly'' named it an "infectious anthem".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=William|last=Stevensen|url=https://ew.com/article/1996/07/26/land-living-2/|title=Land of the Living|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 26, 1996|accessdate=February 28, 2020}}</ref> Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' said, "A keyboard and a voice alone usually lead to a ballad. Dance has its own rules though. If there was a prize for the most sparsely arranged pop dance record, this track would win."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-08-20.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=34|date=August 20, 1994|page=7|access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref> Andy Beevers from ''Music Week'' gave it a full score of five out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, stating that "the uplifting and catchy song is highly distinctive."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-04.pdf |title= Market Preview: Dance - Pick of the Week |magazine= Music Week |date= June 4, 1994 |page= 13 |accessdate= April 17, 2021}}</ref> In April 1997, ''Music Week'' editor Alan Jones named it "haunting" and "one of the finest Rollo/Sister Bliss creations".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-04-26.pdf|title=Talking Music|magazine=Music Week|date=April 26, 1997|page=10|accessdate=May 18, 2022}}</ref>

Michael Morley from ''Muzik'' described it as "storming".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Morley|title=Garage: Singles|magazine=Muzik|date=December 1, 1995|page=98|accessdate=April 3, 2020|url=http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik007_december_1995.pdf}}</ref> A reviewer from ''The Network Forty'' remarked that it is "displaying a unique dance groove".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-Network-40/94/Network-40-1994-08-05.pdf|title=Mainstream: Music Meeting|magazine=The Network Forty|date=August 5, 1994|page=22|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> Ben Wener from ''Orange County Register'' called it "irresistible".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Wener|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nf1MAAAAIBAJ|title=Kristine W. prepares to take on dance world|magazine=Rome News-Tribune|date=February 28, 1997|accessdate=March 14, 2020}}</ref> ''People Magazine'' named "Feel What You Want" as the "standout cut" on the ''Land of the Living'' album, noting "the thumping house rhythm, exuberant keyboard motif and her whopping vocal".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-land-of-the-living-vol-46-no-5/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Land of the Living|magazine=People|date=July 29, 1996|accessdate=March 10, 2020}}</ref> Brad Beatnik from the ''Record Mirror'' Dance Update wrote, "A record that needs no introduction, suffice to say that if you haven't heard, or heard of, it by now, you must be living like a hermit. The deliciously deep, swinging tune is topped by Kristine's restrained garage vocals and is at its most upfront and moody on the Our Tribe mix."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Brad |last= Beatnik |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-05-07.pdf |title= Hot Vinyl |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= May 7, 1994 |page= 7 |accessdate= April 17, 2021}}</ref> Another ''RM'' editor, James Hamilton, declared it as "Vegas lounge singer's Rollo & Rob-D created sparse organ stabbed expressive garage skipper" in his weekly dance column.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-11.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= June 11, 1994 |page= 7 |accessdate= April 17, 2021 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}</ref> Frank Own for ''Vibe'' named it the 'Vocal House Cut of the Year' and constated that the former Vegas lounge singer "moved the muscle boys this year with this sparse, smoldering floor filler."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Frank|last=Own|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dywEAAAAMBAJ|title=In 1994...|magazine=Vibe|date=December 1, 1994|accessdate=March 2, 2020}}</ref>

==Music video== A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mvdbase.com/person.php?id=C1014|title=Lindy Heymann|accessdate=January 31, 2017|work=mvdbase.com}}</ref> It features Kristine W. performing the song dressed as many different characters, including as a clown and Elvis Presley. Heyman would also direct the video for the singer's next single, "One More Try".

==Impact and legacy== British ''DJ Magazine'' ranked "Feel What You Want" number 91 in their list of "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/lists/DJ-Magazine-Top-100-Club-Tunes-1998/7390DJ|title=DJ Magazine Top 100 Club Tunes (1998)|publisher=Discogs|date= |accessdate=March 4, 2017}}</ref> Belgian annual electronic dance music festival Tomorrowland featured the song in their official list of "The Ibiza 500" in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Tomorrowland Ibiza Top 500 (2020)|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6RrALk1ve62YYLcyrForW0|publisher=Spotify|access-date=April 27, 2022}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''12", UK (1994)''' :A1. "Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) – 5:28 :A2. "Feel What You Want" (Junior's Factory Dub) – 7:53 :B1. "Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) – 8:15 :B2. "Feel What You Want" (Diss-Cuss Vox) – 7:19

* '''12" Remixes, Germany (1997)''' :A. "Feel What You Want" (Dekkard's Offworld Vocal) – 12:37 :B1. "Feel What You Want" (Junior's N.Y. X-Tended Vocal) – 5:59 :B2. "Feel What You Want" (PeeRee's Extended) – 6:30

* '''CD single, UK (1994)''' #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) – 5:28 #"Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) – 8:15 #"Feel What You Want" (Junior's Factory Mix) – 9:03 #"Feel What You Want" (Kerri Chandler) – 6:10 #"Feel What You Want" (Development Corp) – 7:11

* '''CD single, UK (1997)''' #"Feel What You Want" (Dekkard's Offworld Vocal Edit) – 4:38 #"Feel What You Want" (Greenlight Vocal Remix Edit) – 4:19 #"Feel What You Want" (Rollo's Rhythm Radio Mix Edit) – 4:34 #"Feel What You Want" (Junior's N.Y. X-tended Vocal Edit) – 4:03

* '''CD maxi, Germany (1994)''' #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal Edit) – 4:11 #"Feel What You Want" (Development Corp Edit) – 4:03 #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) – 5:29 #"Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) – 8:15 #"Feel What You Want" (Diss-Cuss Vox) – 7:19 #"Feel What You Want" (Kerri Chandler Edit) – 4:16 {{col-2}} * '''CD maxi, Netherlands (1994)''' #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal (Edit)) – 4:14 #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) – 5:30 #"Feel What You Want" (Junior's Factory Dub) – 7:56 #"Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) – 8:18 #"Feel What You Want" (Diss-Cuss Vox) – 7:22 #"Feel What You Want" (Junior's Factory Mix) – 9:06 #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Dub) – 4:48 #"Feel What You Want" (Kerri Chandler) – 6:13 #"Feel What You Want" (Development Corporation) – 7:12

* '''CD maxi, Scandinavia (1994)''' #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal Edit) – 4:10 #"Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) – 5:27 #"Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) – 8:15

* '''Cassette single, US (1994)''' :A1. "Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal Radio Edit) :A2. "Feel What You Want" (Kerri Chandler Mix) :B1. "Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal Radio Edit) :B2. "Feel What You Want" (Kerri Chandler Mix)

* '''Cassette maxi single, US (1994)''' :A1. "Feel What You Want" (Our Tribe Vocal) :A2. "Feel What You Want" (Development Corporation) :B1. "Feel What You Want" (Dignity Vocal Mix) :B2. "Feel What You Want" (Junior's Factory Mix) {{col-end}}

==Personnel== *Guitar by Skinny Jules *All tracks written by Rob D., Rollo & Kristine W. *Published by BMG Music/Champion Music. *Licensed from Champion Records.

==Remixes== "Feel What You Want" has been remixed and released many times between 2001 and 2010 as listed below:

# "Feel What You Want" (2001 remix by Deep Swing / Pacha Mama (Olivier Berger & Stephan Luke) / Silk Machete) # "Feel What You Want" (2004 remix by Cuba Libre) # "Feel What You Want" (2005 remix by Musaphia & Mayhem) # "Feel What You Want" (2006 remix by DJ Tekin) # "Feel What You Want" (2008 remix by Mark Simmons / Razor N' Guido) # "Feel What You Want" (2009 remix by Bingo Players / Oliver Lang & Danny Whitehead / Danny Dove & Steve Smart)

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1994) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- {{single chart|Flanders|22|artist=Kristine W|song=Feel What You Want|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 May 2025}} |- ! scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-09-10.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=37|date=September 10, 1994|page=13|access-date=January 16, 2018}}</ref> | 83 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|4|artist=Kristine W|song=Feel What You Want|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 10, 2025}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|5|artist=Kristine W|song=Feel What You Want|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 10, 2025}} |- ! scope="row"|Scotland (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19940529/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 29 May 1994 - 02 July 1994|accessdate=May 16, 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> | 67 |- ! scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/feel%20what%20you%20want/|title=Feel What You Want|accessdate=February 9, 2017|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> | 33 |- ! scope="row"|UK Dance (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/19940703/104/|title=Official UK Dance Singles Chart (03 July 1994-09 July 1994)|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=February 9, 2018}}</ref> | 17 |- ! scope="row"|UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-06-25.pdf |title= Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= June 25, 1994 |page= 28 |accessdate= April 26, 2021}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-05-21.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=May 21, 1994|page=4|accessdate=May 15, 2023}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"|US Hot Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs/1994-07-23|title=Dance Club Play Songs 1994-07-23|date=July 23, 1994|accessdate=February 9, 2017|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"|US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-07-30.pdf#page=24|title=Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=July 30, 1994|page=28|access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> | 21 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- ! scope="row"|Belgium Dance (Ultratop)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/dance/1997/19970719|title=Ultratop Dance 19/07/1997|publisher=ultratop.be|accessdate=May 16, 2018}}</ref> | 12 |- ! scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-07-12.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=28|date=July 12, 1997|page=13|access-date=June 21, 2018}}</ref> | 98 |- ! scope="row"|Scotland (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19970629/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 29 June 1997 - 05 July 1997|accessdate=July 3, 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> | 53 |- ! scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC) | 40 |- ! scope="row"|UK Dance (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/dance-singles-chart/19970629/104/|title=Official UK Dance Singles Chart (29 June 1997-05 July 1997)|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=February 12, 2018}}</ref> | 5 |- ! scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-05-17.pdf|title=The Club Chart 17.05.97|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=May 17, 1997|page=7|accessdate=May 26, 2022}}</ref> | 1 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2001) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- ! scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC) | 85 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- ! scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 63 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2010) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- ! scope="row"|US Smooth Jazz Airplay (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/jazz-songs/2010-10-09/|title=Smooth Jazz Airplay Songs 2010-10-09|date=October 9, 2010|accessdate=March 27, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> | 22 |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1994) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1994.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1994|language=Dutch|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|accessdate=November 29, 2019}}</ref> | 47 |- ! scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1994&cat=s|title=JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1994|language=Dutch|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|accessdate=December 12, 2019}}</ref> | 46 |- ! scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-12-24.pdf|title=The ''RM'' Club Chart of the Year|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=December 24, 1994|page=10|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref> | 6 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1997) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"|UK Club Chart (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-01-10.pdf|title=The Club Top 100 of 1997|magazine=Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental insert)|date=January 10, 1998|page=5|access-date=January 9, 2023}}</ref> | 5 |} {{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1994 songs Category:1994 debut singles Category:1997 singles Category:2001 singles Category:2009 singles Category:Kristine W songs Category:Champion Records singles Category:Dance Pool singles Category:Music Week number-one dance singles Category:Music videos directed by Lindy Heymann Category:Songs written by Kristine W Category:Songs written by Rob Dougan Category:Songs written by Rollo Armstrong

Feel What You Want

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