Feel Something

Album: Velvet (2019)
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Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from Velvet is an emotional ballad that follows Adam Lambert's struggles with depression and anxiety.

    I built all these walls so no one could break in
    Truth is, I miss those nights when my heart could be naked


    The soft and soulful ballad was quite a departure for Lambert, but he explained to the BBC its vulnerability was crucial. "I didn't want to put out my big crazy pop single first," he said. "I wanted to tell a story about what I've gone through and Feel Something was a way to sum that all up: This is where I was when I was hitting the bottom, and kind of bummed out."
  • Lambert croons the reflective lyrics over a pared-down production of guitar and piano. His vocals are raw – a stark contrast to his theatrical performances at the start of his career.
  • Prior to writing the songs for Velvet, Lambert had been feeling disillusioned with both his career and private life. He explained to his fans this song is reflective of a creative struggle as he sought to climb out of the low period. Said Lambert: "The life of a bachelor can be a laugh, with plenty of flings, but after a while it starts to feel empty. Between frustrations with my career and many lost connections, I felt numb - and though I wanted to fall in love, I knew I wasn't ready. That's what inspired me to cry out, 'I don't need to feel love, I just want to feel something!' It was in this realization that I took my first step toward self-care and nursing my spirit back to health. This song is the emotional starting point of my new album."

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