Dr. Feel Good

Album: Lazarus (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from Lazarus, the debut solo album by Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy. The song was produced by The Smeezingtons, who were also the production team behind McCoy's hit single "Billionaire" and B.o.B's chart-topping "Nothin' on You."
  • The song features American singer-songwriter Cee-Lo Green, who is best known as being one half of the duo Gnarls Barkley. McCoy told Alternative Press: "It's been a dream of mine to work with Cee-Lo since I first heard him on [Outkast's 1994 album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik] when I was a kid. He was on a song called 'Git Up, Git Out.' I was like, 'Who is this dude?' He wasn't really singing as much back then, but he had this awesome voice."
    I worked with [Bruno Mars and Philip Lawrence of] the Smeezingtons on this track. When Bruno sang the reference for the hook, I was like, 'We really need to get Cee-Lo on this song.' We had Cee-Lo do it and it was like magic. I remember coming home after getting the track done and playing it to my friends and they flipped out. I had to play it a million times."
  • McCoy told Alternative Press about the track: "I think 'Dr. Feel Good' sets the tone for the album. It's placed perfectly kicking off the album. The song is basically about escapism through music. I'm a pretty reclusive dude, and in the early stages of this album, I was kind of in a dark place. I was writing a lot of sad s--t and when I wrote this song, it captures where I was at during the time. It captures what it was like to get out of that rut. It was one of the songs I feel set the bar for the rest of the album."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.