James Brown - I Feel Good Apr 2026

Brown’s exultant screams at the beginning and end of the track have become some of the most sampled sounds in hip-hop and dance music.

Brown was known for his relentless work ethic, often performing the song while touring 335 nights a year.

It has been used in Good Morning, Vietnam , The Simpsons , and even early animation tests for the film Shrek . James Brown - I Feel Good

An early version titled "I Got You" was recorded in 1964 but was pulled from shelves due to a contract dispute between King Records and Smash Records.

The song has appeared in countless films and TV shows, serving as an instant musical shorthand for happiness or celebration. Brown’s exultant screams at the beginning and end

In 2013, the 1965 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame .

The track is a definitive example of early funk, utilizing a brass-heavy twelve-bar blues arrangement that emphasizes the first beat of every measure—a technique that became a hallmark of Brown’s style. An early version titled "I Got You" was

The song was originally a reworking of " I Found You ," a 1962 single recorded by one of Brown’s backup singers, Yvonne Fair.