Hooked On A Feeling

Album: On My Way (1968)
Charted: 5
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  • I can't stop this feeling
    Deep inside of me
    Girl, you just don't realize what you do to me

    When you hold me
    In your arms so tight
    You let me know
    Everything's all right

    I, I'm hooked on a feeling
    High on believing
    That you're in love with me

    Your lips are sweet as candy
    The taste stays on my mind
    Girl, you keep me thirsty for
    Another cup of wine

    I got it bad for you, girl
    But I don't need a cure
    I'll just stay addicted and hope I can endure

    All the good love
    When we're all alone
    Keep it up, girl
    Yeah, you turn me on

    I, I'm hooked on a feeling
    High on believing
    That you're in love with me

    All the good love
    When we're all alone
    Keep it up, girl
    Yeah, you turn me on

    I, I'm hooked on a feeling
    I'm high on believing
    That you're in love with me Writer/s: Mark James
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

  • Samspayedpi from Florida"The first use of the chant in this song, however, was in the 1971 version by the English singer and pop mogul Jonathan King…"

    Is this true? The Twinkle Brother's cover was also released in 1971, and to me it seems quite likely that it was actually the first.
  • Beto Ponce from México CityB J Thomas original theme was huge popular in México, translated on radio as "Prendado de un sentimiento" or "Atrapado" and "Atado a un sentimiento" in radio stations. The catchy electric sitar in the intro and solo was absolutely a riff of art but the great voice of Mr Thomas could master some beautiful melismatic lines in the sylables always in perfect tune and chorus, a perfect combination made the difference for his superb version of the Mark James song.
  • Cyberpope from Vancouver, CanadaYup, I only knew this as the Ooga-Chaka song. . . :)
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 1, 1969, B.J. Thomas performed "Hooked On A Feeling"* on the Dick Clark ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #8 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three weeks earlier it had peaked at #5 {for 2 weeks} and it spent sixteen weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #3 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart...
    Between 1966 and 1983 the Oklahoma native had twenty-seven records on the Top 100 chart, five made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head" for 4 weeks on December 28th, 1969 and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" for 1 week on April 20th, 1975...
    Billy Joe Thomas will celebrate his 76th birthday come next August 7th {2018}...
    *Five years later the Swedish rock band Blue Swede covered "Hooked On A Feeling", and on March 31st, 1974 their version peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on the Top 100.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 10th 1974, "Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and seven weeks later on March 31st, 1974 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} and spent 17 weeks on the Top 100...
    The Swedish group had three other Top 100 records and they also charted in 1974; "Silly Milly" {#71}, "Never My Love" {#7}, and "Hush/I'm Alive" {#61}...
    And four years later on December 23rd, 1978 Canadian Carroll Baker's covered version of "Hooked On A Feeling" reached #1 {for 2 weeks} on the Canadian RPM Top Country Singles chart.
  • Ove Lartelius from SwedenThere is another beautiful version of this song that Heart of Stones has done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLBYTns4KmA
  • Martin from Fresno, CaI love B.J.'s version of it.
  • Meocyber from Alma, CoAn excellent song, BJ version. Nice lyrics and sitar sound. As far as the ooga chaga who cares?
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxSince I never cared for the original, I got a perverse pleasure listening to Blue Suede's butchery of it.
  • Mike from Norwalk, CtThis is one of those "reach for the dial to change the station" songs.
  • Michael from Delbarton, WvA somewhat similar "Ooga Chugga Ooga Ooga" background chant appears on the Beach Boys "Bicycle Rider" section of "Heroes and Villains" which predates both the Jonathan King & Blue Swede choruses by several years...
  • Joycemorrison from Phi first heard Vonda's version before i did BJ's. although both are pretty good (nice to hear a guy's voice singing it), i have to say that twas Vonda's soulfulness that made me like the song so much. plus that it is used as a soundtrack in one of my all-time fave tv shows.
  • Tony from Brooklyn, NyDennis as a kid who had botha cowboy and indian outfit in the 60's I can assure you that it was spoken as Cowboys and Indians NOT Indians and Cowboys. "Livestock Corralpersons and Indigenous Peoples" would not have inspired me as a 5 year old. Regarding the Swedes: let them bask on their misconceptions - it may be all they have left.
    To me it comically mimics an African tribal, drug-induced, fireside mating mantric-tantric chant - "Ooga chacka ooga ooga" I am almost shure this is it's intent.
  • Dj from Los Angeles, CaThe "Ooga Chucka" chorus first appeared in Johnny Preston's version of "Running Bear" (Mercury,1959)as mentioned... which was written by J.P. Preston (aka The Big Bopper) and featured Preston and George Jones on backing vocal/chant.
  • Kathy from Karben, Germany:D go to youtube.com and watch david hasselhoffs version....its hilarious....the video, omg, just watch it^^
  • Henry from Kingston, NyUgh. Now, I don't like the B.J. Thomas version, but I loathe Blue Swede's version. "OOGA CHAKA! OOGA CHAKA!" How obnoxious can you get?
  • Jon from Oakridge, OrI prefer the "ooga chucka" version but still a great song, period.
  • Paul from Tucson, AzThe "Ooga Chucka" thing from Blue Swede always reminded of me of the guards at the Wicked Witch of the West's castle in The Wizard of Oz.
    You remember... the ones that chanted "The old one..oh we love..the old one...." (or, if you prefer, "YO-WUM..YO-WEE-UMM!").
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrWhat in the world is an Ooga Chaka Ooga Ooga?
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesI always thought that recording this song with ooga-shakas was meant to contrast the slightly treacly idealism of the lyrics with a caveman approach not only to love but to rock and roll. But then I tend to over-interpret things and to see meaning where none possibly exists. A more realistic view might be: Why ooga-shakas? Why not? It got them onto the charts, didn't it, and here we are writing about them over thirty years later.
  • Dennis from Cebu, Philippines(nat. Swedish, Other"Ooga Chacka!"
    Playing "Indians and cowboys" is, for some unknown reason, very popular among Swedish kids. Or at least was, before Nintendo polluted their minds. (Sorry for the political incorrectness, but it was just never called "Native Americans and cowboys?).
    Anyway, after a tribe catches a cowboy, in Swedish kids? minds, they tie him to the totem pole and do a tribal dance around him singing "Ooga chacka".
    Björn Schiffs, being a very funny and childish person, in Sweden likely as known for his comedy acting as his music, probably remembered his childhood as he wrote the intro.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnB.J. Thomas' version was more of a love song. Blue Swede's version was more of a rock and roll song. The correct chant at the opening and near the end was "Ooga chacka ooga ooga."
  • Jerry from Brooklyn, NyRegarding the Blue Swede cover -- what's up with the "ooga chucka ooga ooga!" ? Where did that come from? Actually, this version is not all that bad, but "ooga chucka"?
  • Kurt from Gothenburg, SwedenThis song was such a huge hit in Sweden that it has become part of the cultural fabric. People become distraught and bewildered when they are told that its origin is not Swedish. In the minds of Swedish people, the song is as inseparable from their own identity as it is from its most famous troubadour, Björn Skifs.
    Most have no clue about B.J. Thomas. Sad, really.
  • Marty from Perth, AustraliaJonathan King got to number 23 in the British charts with the song in Nov 1971.
  • Eric from Salt Lake City, UtSongwriter Mark James also had a hand in writing "Moody Blue" (Elvis Presley) and "Always on My Mind" (Elvis, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys).
see more comments

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