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: In 2011, Swedish DJ Avicii released "Levels," which featured a heavily filtered version of the Etta James vocal over a progressive house beat.
The track's iconic sound didn't start with Flo Rida; it was a "second-generation sample" sparked by the success of Avicii's "Levels".
While the songs sound similar, their creation involved some industry maneuvering:
: Both songs center on a powerful vocal from Etta James 's 1962 gospel-soul hit, "Something's Got a Hold on Me".
The story behind Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" (2011) is a fascinating chain of musical influence that bridged 1960s soul with modern EDM. The Chain of Inspiration
"Good Feeling" became a massive global hit, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. When Etta James passed away in January 2012, shortly after the song's peak, Flo Rida dedicated the track to her memory, noting that her soul and power were what made the record truly special. Luke to adapt the EDM sound for a pop-rap track? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
: According to some reports, Flo Rida originally asked David Guetta to recreate the "Levels" instrumental for him, but Guetta declined after checking with Avicii's team to see if the collab was official. Impact and Legacy
: Flo Rida became aware of the sample after his A&R representative at Atlantic Records played him "Levels". He was instantly intrigued by the blend of a "classic sound" with "new-age" energy and decided to build a rap anthem around it. Behind-the-Scenes Drama