| "Hooked on a Feeling" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US single of the original B. J. Thomas recording | ||||
| Single byB. J. Thomas | ||||
| from the albumOn My Way | ||||
| B-side | "I've Been Down This Road Before" | |||
| Released | October 29, 1968 | |||
| Recorded | 1968 | |||
| Studio | American Sound (Memphis, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | Scepter | |||
| Songwriter | Mark James | |||
| Producer | Chips Moman | |||
| B. J. Thomas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Lyric video | ||||
| "Hooked on a Feeling" by B. J. Thomas onYouTube | ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Hooked on a Feeling" by B. J. Thomas onYouTube | ||||
| Live video | ||||
| "Hooked on a Feeling" (live, 2009) by B. J. Thomas onYouTube | ||||
"Hooked on a Feeling" is a 1968 pop song written byMark James and first recorded by American singerB. J. Thomas. Thomas's version featured the sound of theelectric sitar (played byReggie Young) and reached No. 5 in 1969 on theBillboard Hot 100.[3] It has been recorded by many other artists, includingBlue Swede, whose version reached No. 1 in the United States in 1974.[4]
The song was written by Mark James, who was introduced to producerChips Moman around 1967 by Moman's mutual friendSteve Tyrell, a singer and James' manager.[5]: 81–82 James was hired by early 1968[6] to write for Moman's publishing company, which led to him writing songs for many artists, including his childhood friend B.J. Thomas.[5]: 81–82 One of these songs was "Hooked on a Feeling", which James wrote about the thrills of being in love, inspired by his feelings for his childhood sweetheart.[5]: 169 [7] It was recorded at theAmerican Sound Studio inMemphis, Tennessee in 1968,[8] with musiciansTommy Cogbill (guitar)Reggie Young (guitar), Mike Leech (bass) and Gene Chrisman (drums). It was first released on October 29 of that year. Country artistsLouise Mandrell andRC Bannon also recorded and released this song in 1979. The bandMercy included a version on their first album in 1968.[9]
| Chart (1968–1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Go-Set)[10] | 35 |
| CanadaRPM Top Singles | 3 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[11] | 10 |
| USBillboardHot 100[12] | 5 |
| USCash Box Top 100 | 5 |
| Chart (1969) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada[13] | 31 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[14] | 99 |
| "Hooked on a Feeling" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1974 US reissue of the Blue Swede recording | ||||
| Single byBlue Swede | ||||
| from the albumHooked on a Feeling | ||||
| B-side | "Gotta Have Your Love" | |||
| Released | 1973 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock[15] | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | EMI Svenska | |||
| Songwriter | Mark James | |||
| Producer | Bengt Palmers | |||
| Blue Swede singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Vinyl video | ||||
| "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede onYouTube | ||||
In 1973, the Swedish pop rock groupBlue Swede released a cover version, which included theooga chaka introduction from a 1971 cover byJonathan King. It's commonly claimed that King had heardJohnny Preston's "Running Bear", which was the inspiration for theooga chaka chant; however, King states, "the chant had nothing to do with Running Bear – it was my idea to use the reggae rhythm in an unusual way, that's all."[16] The Blue Swede version of the song also tweaked the lyrics to avoid a drug reference.[17]
Blue Swede's version reached No. 1 on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart in April 1974;[4]Billboard ranked it as theNo. 20 song for 1974. There is a popular misconception in Sweden that it reached number one the same dayABBA won theEurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo".[18] "Hooked on a Feeling" also entered the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.[19][20][21] In 1992, the song appeared on thesoundtrack to the Americancrime filmReservoir Dogs.[22] Following this appearance, the song charted in Iceland, reaching No. 2 in March 1993.[23] In August 2014, the song charted in the United Kingdom for the first time, reaching No. 90.[24]
Record World said that "the opening hook will have buyers crying for the 'oogah chugga' record."[25]
Personnel, according to the liner notes of the 2004 compilation albumSkifs Hits![26]
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] | 4 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] | 2 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[21] | 7 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[27] | 1 |
| USAdult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] | 31 |
| USCash Box Top 100[29] | 1 |
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] | 2 |
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[24] | 90 |
| Chart (1974) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[30][31] | 29 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[32] | 27 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[33] | 20 |
| USCash Box Top 100[34] | 34 |
In 1992, Blue Swede's recording was featured on the soundtrack ofQuentin Tarantino's debut feature,Reservoir Dogs.[35]
In 1998, during an episode of thelegalcomedy-drama seriesAlly McBeal, "Cro-Magnon", the main character's neurosis about being able to conceive a child before her biological clock runs out, is illustrated by her imagining acomputer-generatedbaby dancing into her bedroom to Blue Swede's recording of "Hooked on a Feeling". A website featuring the dancing baby and the Blue Swede recording became aninternet meme.[36]
The 2014 filmGuardians of the Galaxy,[37] which featured the brassfanfare and title lyrics of Blue Swede's version prominently in its trailers and theatrical release, resulted in a significant spike in sales for the recording;[38] thefilm's soundtrack topped theBillboard 200 chart in August 2014.[39] The song was also featured in the teaser trailer for the 2017 sequel,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.[40]
The song was performed by Blue Swede's lead vocalistBjörn Skifs as the opening act of the final of theEurovision Song Contest 2024 inMalmö.[41]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[42] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Blue Swede version | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[45] B.J. Thomas version | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[46] Blue Swede version | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
The ooga-chaka-ing cover of B.J. Thomas' '60s top 5 hit that takes a good pop song and makes it immediately unforgettable.
In Thomas' hands, it's a Vegas version of psychedelia...
