I bet , a sizable portion of the Generation Y who watched and raved about Guardians of the Galaxy do not know that the soundtrack is as old as their moms and dads . " Hooked on a Feeling " was originally sung by BJ Thomas and was released in 1968. Yeah , 1968. However , this first version , is softer .Gentler. You know , that kind of song your old folks would enjoy listening to on a lazy Sunday afternoon . The tempo varies throughout the song , however . The beat picks up towards the end --- so , it won't really lull you to sleep .
A 1971 version by English musician Jonathan King saw the addition of the chant " hooka , chakka " , which lent the song a little ethnic appeal . Some don't like it , though. Maybe , the chant conjures images of wild tribal rituals in remote Pacific islands.
Then in 1974 , a Swedish pop group called Blue Swede , recorded a new version . This was the one used in Guardians of the Galaxy. They retained the chant and made it more rock . It's more virile. Their vocal power oozes with masculinity. While BJ's rendition reminds us of a naive , young man falling in love for the first time , this version seems to come from a man of the world , finally finding his true love . BJ's version brings the listener to slow-moving brooks and idyllic meadows where a boy and his girl pick flowers and chase butterflies. On the other hand , Blue Swede's version transports us to extra-terrestrial kingdoms where a muscled warrior snatches his damsel from the claws of a monster.
This song catapulted Blue Swede to international fame. However , the band disbanded in 1975 when the lead vocalist Bjorn Skifs , decided to go solo.
So , what happens when you fuse this kind of music with a story full of cool characters , action, adventure , humor and astounding special effects ? A blockbuster film , of course ! GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is the highest grossing superhero film of 2014 , with estimated earnings of US$ 765,100,032 .
I have here the links to the two versions. Both are " feel good " songs . You decide which one suits you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqt_iZBvtCo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NrI-UBIB8Jk#t=38
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B.J. Thomas 