"I Never Felt Like This Before" is a song by British singer-songwriter Mica Paris. Released in March 1993 by Island Records and 4th & Broadway as the lead single from her third studio album, Whisper a Prayer (1993), it became her second top-20 hit on the UK Singles Chart and the highest-placing release from the album. The song was written by Narada Michael Walden and Sally Jo Dakota, and produced by Walden with Mike Mani.

Critical reception Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Together with Walden, Paris has "Americanised" her sound considerably. Now we all know who Whitney's main competitor will be." Head of music Clive Dickens at Chiltern Network/UK said, "This is a returning to form by Mica Paris, who always had a lot of credit here. Walden managed to get the very best out of her. It's an exceptional song that should have wide appeal. It should cross over from dance to hot ACE and EHR. It's a really great record to start the hour with." James Hamilton from Music Week RM Dance Update described it as a "sultry wailer" in his weekly dance column.

Music video The accompanying music video for "I Never Felt Like This Before" was directed by Australian writer and film director Jonathan Teplitzky and filmed in Barbados. It was produced by Martin Teplitzky for Partizan Films and released on 22 March 1993. In the video, lush hills and sandy beaches along the Barbados coastline provide a luxurious setting, enhanced by saturated colour.

Track listing

UK 7-inch single

UK 12-inch single

UK CD single

Personnel Personnel are obtained from the Whisper a Prayer liner notes.

Performance credits Lead vocals – Mica Paris Background vocals – Claytoven Richardson, Kitty Beethoven, Sandy Griffith, Tony Lindsay, Nicole "Darlin' Nikki" Bradin

Instruments Keyboards – Narada Michael Walden, Mike Mani, Monty Seward Percussion – Narada Michael Walden

Technical and production Arrangement – Narada Michael Walden Songwriters – Narada Michael Walden, Sally Jo Dakota, Mica Paris Engineering – Marc 'Elvis' Reyburn, Mike Mani, John Poppo (Classic Club Mix), Tim Bran ("I Should've Known Better"), Nick Wollage ("Call Me by My Name") Engineering assistants – Jeff 'G' Gray Mastering – Bernie Grundman Mixing – David 'Frazeman' Frazer Production – Narada Michael Walden, Mike Mani, Monty Seward, Frankie Knuckles (Classic Club Mix) Programming – Mike Mani, Monty Seward

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)61Europe (European Dance Radio)4Europe (European Hit Radio)23scope="row" Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)24scope="row" UK Airplay (Music Week)4UK Dance (Music Week)9UK Club Chart (Music Week) 4

Year-end charts Chart (1993)PositionUK Club Chart (Music Week)88

References