This week, I’ve had Blue Swede’s version of “Hooked on a Feeling” #OnRepeat. I’ve been listening to a lot of music from the 1960s and 70s, and this song has been too catchy to keep from playing more than once, especially because of the “ooga-ooga-chackas” (if you’ve heard the song, you know what I’m talking about).
Blue Swede was a rock band from Sweden that played cover songs. They were led by Sweden’s most popular vocalist at the time, Björn Skifs, and were active during the early 1970s. They rose to international success when they released their version of “Hooked on a Feeling,” reaching the top of the Billboard charts for more than three months. Some of their other well-known cover songs are “Silly Milly,” “Never My Love,” and “Hush.”
“Hooked on a Feeling” is a pop song originally recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1968, and was written by Mark James. The Blue Swede version of this song is actually a cover of the British singer-songwriter, Jonathan King, whose version features the well-known “ooga-ooga-chacka.” They also changed the lyrics slightly to avoid any possible drug references. Songs just aren’t written this way anymore–not overly-sexualized or over-dramatic, playful yet simple and to the point. Plus, the music and arrangement is catchy and Björn’s voice cuts through the band like a knife. His swing and flair, combined with a powerful vocal timbre is reminiscent of Tom Jones (the similarities make sense since Jones was popular internationally during the 1960s).
Take a listen below:
Are there any singers or groups that you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!