Dionne Warwick | Feels So Good

Dionne Warwick | Feels So Good (Bright Music Records)
by Brent Faulkner

Once a musician has become a music icon and has veteran music status, that respective musician’s legacy has been cemented forever. For Dionne Warwick, her stature as a preeminent pop/soul icon has long been secured and her latest album Feels So Good does little to alter that. Known for her subtler, cooler vocal approach, Warwick has served as a contrast to many of her contemporaries. Even so, given her own personal style, Warwick has an eclecticism about her that is showcased throughout Feels So Good. A duets album, Feels So Good features an assortment of guests led by big names such as Cyndi Lauper, Gladys Knight, and Ne-Yo.

The Burt Bacharach Hal David classic “Close To You” initiates Feels So Good, featuring Mya. Interestingly, the track receives a contemporized update, but still maintains soulfulness. Warwick’s pipes remain pleasant, even in her 74th year. A rousing take of “A House Is Not A Home,” featuring Ne-Yo is even stronger, benefitting from its grinding pace and lush production work. While Warwick’s vocals sound coarser than in her past, the defining features are still firmly in place. Besides “A Houses Is Not A Home,” “I Know, I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” featuring legendary soul alto Gladys Knight, gives Feels So Good it’s most dynamic, riveting performance. Another Bacharach/David gem, the cool “Message To Michael,” featuring Cyndi Lauper, shines oppositely, given its smooth, reserved approach.

Feels So Good also features other sound moments, such as “You’ll Never Get To Heaven If You Break My Heart” featuring Ruben Studdard. Here, Warwick sounds in her natural element, never needing to push vocally given the lightness of the song. Similar comparisons could be made on country music collaboration “Every Once in A While,” featuring Eric Paslay. The unexpected collaboration picks up steam, but overall, Warwick stays true to herself for the best. On the powerful “Let There Be Love,” Warwick allows Cheyenne Elliott to do the ‘heavy lifting,’ but the duo complement each other well. Besides the aforementioned, the album also has its head scratching moments, such as “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” which becomes a reggae joint, featuring Ziggy Marley. While “Déjà Vu” featuring Jamie Foxx is smooth with fine urban sensibility, it’s also a bit blasé compared to the likes of say, “I Know, I’ll Never Love This Way Again.” Other selections are also sound, if not truly distinctive.

Ultimately on Feels So Good, Dionne Warwick doesn’t reinvent the wheel. That said reinventing the wheel isn’t even likely the goal in the least for the pop/soul legend and why would she need to? Furthermore, does anyone expect her to? The goal for Warwick is to continue to record and flexing her musical gifts. While Feels So Good is imperfect and doesn’t match her classic performances, it has some truly fine moments that remind everybody just how legendary Dionne Warwick is. That doesn’t mean she’s pitch perfect or flawless in her execution, but it does mean that Dionne Warwick is still THE Dionne Warwick, period!

Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene