Chaka KHAN with Melle MEL - I Feel For You (Prince) 1985 Awards Show

CK kills it with a live mic rendition of "I Feel For You" by Prince.
An introduction by Melle Mel of Grandmasterflash and the Furious Five. Khan won the "Best R&B Vocal Performance Female" that night. She was hot and just before she record with Prince's Paisley Park label.
It was Prince, in fact, who sent a tape of his song to producer and mentor Arif Mardin, suggesting that Chaka Khan record the song. Other sources, meanwhile, claim that a representative at Prince’s publishing company sent a cassette of the track to Mardin, but we prefer to think that Prince was involved in encouraging Chaka Khan to record it.
The guitar, drum programming, bass guitar, keyboards and song arrangement were all done by Reggie Griffin, but the bass synthesizer and computer programming were done by the System’s David Frank, using an Oberheim DSX sequencer which he’d connected to his Minimoog synth. Also featured were Steve Ferrone (drums), Philippe Saisse (keyboards, synthesizer, programming) and Robbie Buchanan (keyboards, synthesizer, programming).
Khan recorded her vocals for the track in just a one evening recording session. Barry Manilow was among a handful of singers who sang backing vocals on the track. Prince was going to play guitar on the track but had to pull out of the session at the last minute; he was in the midst of recording tracks for Purple Rain and Mardin has said, simply, he “had schedule problems, couldn’t do it.”
Mardin like the way the track was sounding, but felt it needed something more, and so he asked Griffin to track down Melle Mel - who performed with Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, and a year earlier had rapped on their hit “White Lines” - to improvise a rap section for the track. Melle Mel recorded his his rap, in eight short lines, at Sugarhill Studios.
Mardin having told Melle Mel he didn’t want him to rap hip-hop clichés like money and cars, he wanted the rap to be about “love,” and so Melle Mel kept repeating how much he loved Chaka Khan, saying her name over and over.
One of the lyrics he raps - “Let me take you in my arms, let me fill you with my charms” - was based on a lyric from the 1968 Delfonics song, “La-La Means I Love You,” which featured the same line. Mardin then got the idea to use Melle Mel’s repetition of her name as percussion.
Mardin originally had added Melle Mel’s rap in the middle of the track, which is where most raps still tend to show up in a song, but eventually he decided to start off the song with the rap at the beginning and then added it at the end, bookending the song with Melle Mel’s performance.
Mardin told NPR that the idea of repeating Chaka Khan’s name with a kind of stop-start stuttering staccato beat at the beginning of the track was one of those happy accidents that happen in the recording studio from time to time.
“As we were mounting the recording onto the main master, my hand slipped on the repeat machine. So it happened to be, ‘Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka Khan,’ and we said, Let’s keep that. That’s very interesting.’ And it was an accident.”
Chaka Khan didn’t like hearing her name repeated over and over in the song, but Mardin convinced her it would make the song a hit (years later Khan would talk in interviews about how annoying it was to have fans approach her and, in their imitation of the song, say her name over and over, stuttering).
Director Jane Simpson - who had graduated from UCLA’s film school and worked in animation before shifting over to work on commercials - was brought in as the director for what would be her first music video.
It also featured exciting and then-new dance moves by some of the hottest break dancers and pop-lockers around, including Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers, Adolfo “Shabba Doo” Quiñones, Bruno “Pop N Taco” Falcon and Ana “Lollipop” Sánchez, all of whom had just appeared in a little movie called Breakin’.
If you’ll recall, Chambers was “Turbo,” and Quiñones was “Ozone,” in Breakin’, which had finished filming in February 1984 and was released in early May, beating its closest competitor Beat Street (1984) to the punch by a month.
Some of the other dancers in the Chaka Khan video were a dance troupe calling themselves the Unique Dominos, and all of the dancers were wearing fluorescent hip-hop clothing.
It reached its peak position of #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in November-December 1984 and remained on the Hot 100 for twenty-six weeks and became one of Billboard‘s five biggest pop songs of the year for 1985.
Prince, as a songwriter, won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song, and he and Chaka Khan performed “I Feel For You” as a duet when they toured together in 1998 in support of her collaborative album, Come 2 My House.
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[@Scott-i5o1r]

Chaka's outro with the drummer shows just what a virtuoso she is! That was awesome!

[@RodneyPlayer-tj6fd]

Chaka was a power singer back in the day. When I first saw her live she made the hair stand straight up on my head and my hair is naturally curly. My favorite female vocalist.

[@jonfklein]

Chaka Khan's virtuosic vocals skills on full display here. Even though she is prancing around on six inch stilettos, barely paying attention to the song and sitting down at one point, she is still able to belt out incredible notes effortlessly.

[@scab5793]

Just noticed Michael delorenzo was one of the back up dancers

[@WineSippingCowboy]

40 years 🎂 Produced by Arif Mardin. Written by Prince 🤴. Synth riff is a sample of Fingertips, written by Stevie Wonder. The repetition of Chaka Khan was a mistake. But Arif Mardin decided to keep it. I and many listeners did not know that was a mistake! 🤯

[@Mr.BlackVoice]

she made hitting those high notes look so easy... doesnt even look like she breaths before she does it...

[@roberth5708]

DID YOU ALL NOTICE THE GUY FROM NEW YORK UNCOVER AS ONE OF HER DANCER?????

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

....he started his career as a dancer...his first major gig was a dancer in the movie FAME....if you watch the number HOT LUNCH JAM...you will see him...he was also in the TV version of the movie...he was on the show at least 2 seasons...

[@javierraulmorenojara3798]

Grammy Awards 1985 great performance

[@BassByTheBay]

*Amazing* performance of a highly technical, highly produced song! Chaka and Mel were excellent, of course, but that band 🤯... Holy s***! That synth bass player was on fire! A conflagration! 🔥🔥🔥

[@koguma.newyork1]

Give it up to Grandmaster Melle Mel for that impromptu performance even though he was jet lag, he rocked it and introduced RAP to the mainstream again!

[@barbiejean7947]

Amazing performance! Chaka is finally inducted in the rock & roll hall of fame🎉

[@serpentinefire77]

Chaka Khan is on fire vocally.

[@syncsummit]

They guy is playing the s**t out of those keyboards, Chaka is on point and Mellie Mel is a great addition - classic performance! :-)

[@stevenblackwell7012]

Chaka is like a steak of lightning.

[@oldskoolmusicforever0724]

THIS IS ALMOST TOO GOOD FOR 2021

[@GaryBacaTV]

LOL U R SO RIGHT!

[@MichaelSmith-be5fu]

Detective Eddie Torres from New York Undercover is one of the dancers.

[@wrldonwill]

lol... R.I.P. Torres. Gone too som.

[@MichaelSmith-be5fu]

Michael Delorenzo was good in Resurrection Boulevard

[@pickzkickz]

He was in the Beat It video years earlier.

[@MichaelSmith-be5fu]

@@pickzkickz you're absolutely right

[@stevensimmons2431]

He was also In Michael Jackson beat it

[@fallingstar5934]

Chaka at the height of her career. Much love for her

[@edmondhodge2382]

I had only seen this in '85 when my baby,Chaka performed this on the Grammy Awards!!She deserved that award!@!

[@edmondhodge2382]

That is not the height of her career!It 's just one of the highlights!!!

[@deronreed2945]

@@edmondhodge2382 yup

[@dswintmusic1962]

I was 5 years old when this performance aired... and I was so intrigued! Everything about this performance is amazing.. the vocals, the band, the dancers, and that scat at the end!!!!!!

[@indiehiphop.6560]

😎👍

[@RodneyPlayer-f9l]

Chaka is my girl. For me she can do no wrong.

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

....she has several Grammies for her VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS...she's one of the BEST...

[@gcmacyman]

She SLAMMED that song ! She's amazing !!!!!

[@abdulmuhammad8900]

MELLY MEL TURNED THE JOINT OUT

[@RodneyPlayer-f9l]

Chaka is the goat. Love you all my lifetime ❤

[@LAWIL2330]

Yessss that hair is everything!

[@phillondraclarkrobinson8829]

My favorite sweetheart from New York Undercover is in it!!

[@jasmineiam]

I calmed just to see Torres 😂 and JC can sing, crazy…

[@abdulmuhammad8900]

MELLE MEL HAD ME ROLLING

[@thethornycroftdiatribe9490]

Good to see a great rapper on US television in '85. I came from a very strict household and never knew rap existed until I was in my teens, much to my dad's chagrin.

[@abdulmuhammad8900]

WOW

[@RodneyPlayer-tj6fd]

@thethornycroftdiatribe9490 I hate when parents do that to they're kids. That's deprivation and just down right mean if you ask me no disrespect to you or your dad.

[@maxtheknife]

Her most classic performance.

[@김진영-q2u]

prince ❤❤

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Live vocals. Listen to that fabulous voice !

[@giraffebecky]

That's wonderful! Chaka looks like she's got quite a BUZZ goin' on here! That's cool! Probably nervous as hell to perform! This is a gem! Thanks for uploading this! I love how detailed you are in the description too! That's wonderful!

[@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw]

I've seen Chaka live several times and she doesn't look high to me. I usually can tell when she is. However high or not she still delivers. I can honestly say each time I saw her live it was a great show.

[@GaryBacaTV]

Thank you for the ❤Becky

[@giraffebecky]

@@GaryBacaTV Wait am minute! Are you from Utah Gary? Might you be related to a Danielle Baca (age 40-41)? (I went to school with Danielle.) I'll bet there are many Bacas in the 4 corners though.

[@morpheusxnyc]

0:40 - A young Michael DeLorenzo before his NY Undercover days.

[@blkjedi]

Great call!

[@kinetic97]

He also was a dancer in Micheal Jackson's beat it video..

[@misterhappy5462]

i thought that was him...

[@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw]

Whose the dancer that kissed Chaka's hand at the end of the performance.

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

@@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw ....i forget his name but he worked with MISS ROSS a LOT...

[@CocoChanelle-1]

Great performance and the keyboardist was off the chain.

[@金剛寺尚子]

メリー•メルカッコいい！

[@ChordataWax]

Lmao, that crowd, is like going into a dessert aisle, around the holidays, and seeing all the rows lined with Marshmallow Fluff

[@melregissings]

4:33 wow!

[@omarmccray3282]

Chaka can move, beautifully wow.

[@fredbass77]

The best ...what a performance from all the musicians and dancers, real passion and love, True period

[@Superobert67]

Amazing voice Chaka

[@indiehiphop.6560]

Grandmaster Melle Mel.

[@whatadollslife]

the keyboards and her damned gloves are everything child

[@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw]

Her gloves? Really 😂

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

@@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw ....a lot of ladies back then wore beautiful gloves...JANET being the most memorable...MADONNA did too...i wish gloves would come back for ladies again instead of those ridiculous talon nails they all wear now....

[@305dadeboi7]

Hey it's Eddie Torres from New York Undercover 😁

[@shamoriwall]

This is The Grammys.

[@mellowredrose8205]

The synthesizer 🎹 🔥 two synthesizers 🔥

[@masterdom3246]

Ese intro de Melle es legendario y sin igual!

[@ChordataWax]

Awesome this is raw af 💯 real singing!

[@DigitalPraise7]

Sing the damn song!

[@meeks1201]

3:38 and on the breakdown is everything

[@able76]

I remember this thanks for posting 👍👍👍

[@twinsbarnesfamily9479]

He’s so Talented and wine ohh he’s fine

[@micjakes1]

Just here to see melle mel then i am OUT!!!!!

[@Iknowjasmine]

Look at Detective Torres 😂

[@mjbrooks592]

Loved the detailed background info -- Thanks for posting!

[@edmondhodge2382]

I wasaiting to see this again!!!!This was ki

[@edmondhodge2382]

I haven't seen this since that Monday night in'85!I was soooooooo anticipating this!I don't know who was more excited:me or Chaka!!I was hoping she was the victor!!!

[@rodrixrodrix3585]

Definitivamente nadie cantará este tema como chaka Khan ni el mismo Prince ni las pointer sisters cabe aclarar no hubiera sido posible tambn con la armónica de Stevie wonder que barbaridad tan Bárbara está mancuerna musical

[@aja1108]

Sick

[@michaelwilks6268]

This great woman I feel for her😂.

[@JayPoff]

How did you leave Stevie Wonder out this history. He recorded chromatic harmonica on the song. Maybe update with this info.

[@ghostfacekicker]

This is 🔥 … the bear sounds like something Screech and Lisa would dance to at The Max 😂

[@knowledgesuncere7786]

Damn Melly Mel came a long way from that Rick James look.

[@tata67603]

dietro un ballerino di fame

[@tervatori]

You remember time before autotune and when singers were real talents?

[@gowerbarnes]

🔥

[@fnk101]

Gwaaan

[@bmw3842]

OK who used to wear their hair like Melle Mel ? I did my for my high school graduation

[@RodneyPlayer-qr5pw]

@bmw3842 I wore it when I was in highschool a few times.

[@cleopatrajones2024]

That's the best I've actually seen her PERFORM. Notice I said PERFORM not vocals. The vocals were A+ but that's the norm for her. Her voice was ON EFFING POINT but her performances arent that great but this one WAS.

[@GaryBacaTV]

We agree. It's a hot performance.

[@TemujinScott80]

Chaka is a “flatfoot” singer. Band, singers & mic.

[@jdone7619]

In what sense

[@JeffmChicago]

@@jdone7619 standing in front of a mic and singing. Call it old school.

[@edmondhodge2382]

I take offense to what you said She's ad a plethora of brilliant performances since then!!!

[@ryanadkins7923]

This took me back.Thanks bro.got anymore bay stuff?

[@awman42]

Look at dude from NY undercover lol.

[@pacificanorthwest1015]

Her hair reminds me... I need a new shag carpet. Thanks Chaka Khan... hope you beat Captain Kirk! :)

[@supershockerJGONZALEZ]

Who’s the band and singers

[@drvshawn5356]

That was Chaka Khan's band during that time and her background singers, Lisa Fischer, Sandra St. Victor and Brenda White-King. They were her musical nucleus when she launched the "I Feel For You," tour in the mid 80's. ❤ 🎉 😊

[@sherrygrant317]

Who was that guy that kissed her at the end.

[@misterhappy5462]

pretty sure that was jermaine jackson

[@corneliuswashington-gp1we]

@@misterhappy5462 ....no...i forgot his name but he danced for MISS ROSS a LOT.....

[@DigitalPraise7]

Melle Mel. Lol. Ego much?

[@abdulmuhammad8900]

MEL DID HIS THING

[@cushe83]

Your missing the point. He wanted people to how who he was beck's the grammies weren't recognizing radio categories at the time

[@nitelillie]

Not sure if this is completely live but really good vocals, tacky everything else. I don't care that it was the 80's, still tacky then LOL seriously. The beginning of the end for her career climb for various reasons. Peace to CK tho.

[@TemujinScott80]

Oh please...

[@melregissings]

This was the peak of her career. What are you talking about?

[@nitelillie]

Not in 1986 and beyond..so there's ya clue Regis my friend.

[@nitelillie]

I do like Chaka and have seen her twice. Most recently, last year and met her too.

[@nitelillie]

@jizzmeister Chaka is queen of tacky but gotta love her lol she means well tho tbh and is hopefully ok bc we know she has substance cope issues.

[@KISSMEMELON]

THIT IS ENTERTAINMENT SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!