Irene Cara "What A Feelin'"

What a Feelin' is the second album by American singer-songwriter Irene Cara and her most successful album to date. Released in November 2, 1983, this album is dominated by dance-pop and Euro disco songs produced by the legendary producer Giorgio Moroder, unlike her R&B-heavy debut. Many of the songs were co-written by Cara herself. The album includes the major hit singles, "The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)" (U.S. #37), "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (her only #1 hit in the U.S.), "Why Me?" (U.S. #13), "You Were Made for Me" (U.S. #78) and "Breakdance" (which was her third and last Top 10 single in the U.S., reaching #8).

Although the album was a success thanks to its singles, it struggled to stay in the top 100 of the Billboard Top 200 Albums. Music reviewer William Ruhlmann on Allmusic speculated that it was because the album was released at the end of 1983 and the lead-off single, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" had been released earlier that spring and people had already purchased either copies of the single or the best-selling soundtrack album to Flashdance.

"Flashdance....What a Feeling" was the first, although unofficial, single from the album and the theme song to the hit motion picture Flashdance, released in April 1983. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 28, 1983 where it stayed for six weeks and was also a big hit around the world. "Why Me?" was the second, and first official, single released in October 1983. The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 on October 22, 1983 and charted for fifteen weeks, peaking at #13 on December 3, 1983. "The Dream (Hold on to Your Dream)" was the third single from the album and was featured in the film D.C. Cab. It entered the Billboard chart on December 10, 1983 and peaked at #37 on February 11, 1984, staying on the charts for a total of fourteen weeks.


"Breakdance" was the fourth single from the album, released in March 1984. It entered the chart on March 24, 1984 and charted for a total of nineteen weeks. It peaked at #8 on June 9, 1984, making it her third and last top ten hit on the pop chart. "You Were Made for Me" was the final single from the album and Cara's last charting song on the Billboard Hot 100. It entered the chart on July 28, 1984 and peaked at #78 on August 11 of that year. The song stayed on the charts for only five weeks.