Flashdance • What a Feeling • Irene Cara
Inspiration Behind What a Feeling:
The lyrics to What a Feeling come from a metaphor that compares dancing to aspirations for fulfilling your dreams in life. What a Feeling was the theme song for the film Flashdance. Alex Owens wants to pursue dancing as a professional ballerina, but has to put this on hold, working in a steel mill until this goal becomes a reality. What a Feeling was composed by Giorgio Moroder and co-written by Keith Forsey and Irena Cara who sings this song.
Biblical Application:
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds, Daniel 1:17.
Exegesis of What a Feeling:
First, when there’s nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried, silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone
Initially, Alex Owens wasn’t good enough to become a professional ballerina and didn’t have the money to make this happen. Despite being frustrated, she took a full-time job at a steel mill to make a living for herself.
Well, I hear the music close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart
Alex never stopped dreaming, taking music with her every day in the steel mill, playing in her head.
What a feeling, being’s believin’
I can have it all, now I’m dancing for my life
Dancing is Alex’s true passion, what makes her get up every morning.
Take your passion and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
Alex used positive thoughts, seeing herself fulfilling this lifelong dream.
Now, I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart
This enabled Alex to move with the rhythm of each song.
What a feeling, being’s believin’
I can have it all, now I’m dancing for my life
Take your passion and make it happen
Pictures come alive, now I’m dancing through my life
What a feeling
Alex is like a motivational speaker, using passion to make her dream come true.
What a feeling (I am music now)
Being’s believin’ (I am rhythm now)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
This technique of visualization is what modern-day sports psychologists use to help professional athletes reach their full potential.
What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)m
Have it all (pictures come alive when I call)
This is the passion and perseverance needed to make your dreams come true.
(Call, call, call, call, what a feeling)
I can have it all (being’s believin’)
Being’s believin’ (take your passion, make it happen)
Make it happen (what a feeling)
What a feeling
What a feeling is played as the credits roll where Alex has reached the mountain top as a professional dancer.
Final Thoughts:
While you may have the same passion as Alex, sometimes your dreams don’t come true. My quest to become a professional golfer ended on Vancouver Island, failing to make it through Q-School on the Canadian PGA Tour. Despite this set back, I ended up pursuing a career in writing. While writing blogs, books and screen plays is simply a hobby for now, perhaps the passion of Alex will be ignited in me during retirement to make this dream come true.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 