Electric Feel
"Electric Feel" is a song written and performed by the American indie rock duo MGMT, serving as the second single from their debut studio album Oracular Spectacular, which was released on October 2, 2007, by RED Ink and Columbia Records.[1] The track was officially released as a single on June 23, 2008, in formats including 7-inch vinyl, CD, and digital download, marking a pivotal moment in the band's early career.[2] Characterized by its psychedelic pop style, "Electric Feel" blends synthesizers, a groovy bassline, and falsetto vocals to create an infectious, otherworldly vibe that evokes the thrill of physical and emotional attraction.[3] The lyrics, penned by band members Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, use electricity as a metaphor for the intoxicating "shock" of love and sensuality, with lines like "Shock me like an electric eel" capturing a playful yet surreal narrative.[4] Produced by Dave Fridmann at Tarbox Road Studios, the song's production emphasizes electronic elements and indie rock influences, contributing to its distinctive synth-funk edge.[5] The single garnered critical acclaim for its innovative sound and catchiness, with Billboard ranking it as the second-best MGMT song in a 2017 retrospective, praising its role in propelling the band toward mainstream success.[6] A remix by French electronic duo Justice, released on July 15, 2008, amplified its appeal in club and electronic scenes, extending its reach beyond alternative radio.[7] The official music video, directed by Ray Tintori and released in 2008, features the band performing amid a surreal, tropical swamp populated by ethereal women, blending live-action with whimsical, dreamlike visuals that complement the song's eccentric tone.[8] Commercially, "Electric Feel" achieved moderate success on international charts, peaking at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart where it spent 25 weeks, and reaching number 7 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.[9] In the United States, it peaked at number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and gained traction on alternative radio, helping Oracular Spectacular achieve platinum certification in several countries.[10] The track's enduring popularity has solidified its status as a defining anthem of late-2000s indie music, surpassing 1 billion streams on Spotify as of November 2025, and is frequently cited for its influence on genre-blending pop and its role in MGMT's breakthrough.[11]Background and development
Writing and inspiration
"Electric Feel" was written by MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser during their time as students at Wesleyan University in the mid-2000s, marking one of the band's earliest tracks to feature complete lyrics.[12] The duo composed the song in Goldwasser's dorm room, utilizing a laptop to generate electronic loops as the foundation for its sound.[12] The main riff was originally conceived as a joke by VanWyngarden, but the band liked it enough to develop it further. Initially approached with a lighthearted, ironic intent to parody pop song structures, the creative process evolved into a more earnest exploration of melody and rhythm.[12][13][14] The track drew inspiration from psychedelic and funk traditions.[13] VanWyngarden and Goldwasser, who met at Wesleyan in 2002 and formed the band that year, infused the song with elements of sensory immersion and youthful exuberance, reflecting their experimental roots in the university's vibrant music scene.[13] This aligned with the broader psychedelic ethos of their debut album Oracular Spectacular, where "Electric Feel" emerged as a standout amid tracks exploring fantasy and overload.[15] Initial demo versions of the song were performed live as early as February 2007, prior to the full album recording sessions later that year, allowing the band to refine its structure through audience feedback during Wesleyan-area shows.[12] These performances often incorporated playful, improvisational elements, underscoring the track's origins in the duo's casual, dorm-bound experimentation.[13]Recording process
"Electric Feel" was recorded in the spring of 2007 at Tarbox Road Studios in Cassadaga, New York, with Dave Fridmann serving as producer.[16][17] The session utilized synthesizers like the Korg Mono/Poly for the track's arpeggiated introduction, alongside bass guitar, layered percussion that blended live drums with electronic kits, and falsetto vocals delivered by Andrew VanWyngarden to achieve a psychedelic funk aesthetic.[17][14] Fridmann's mixing incorporated compression and reverb effects, such as Universal Audio's AKG BX20 spring reverb on vocals, to contribute to the overall dreamy atmosphere.[17] The song's length was finalized at 3:50.[2]Composition and lyrics
Musical elements
"Electric Feel" is classified as a psychedelic pop song incorporating synth-funk and electro-funk elements, characterized by its groovy, danceable rhythm and retro influences.[18][19] The track operates at a tempo of 103 beats per minute in the key of C minor, creating a mid-paced, hypnotic pulse that evokes a sense of fluid motion.[20][21] The song follows a straightforward verse-chorus structure, beginning with an introductory synth riff that sets a mellow, undulating tone before transitioning into verses and choruses built around falsetto-driven hooks.[21] A prominent feature is its limber, wavy bassline, played on a distorted synthesizer, which provides the rhythmic backbone and contributes to the track's smooth, flowing quality.[18][22] Handclaps punctuate the beat during the chorus, enhancing the percussive drive, while the harmonic progression—primarily cycling through C minor, F minor, and G minor chords—lends a subtle complexity with elevated chord-melody tension that nods to 1970s psychedelic rock aesthetics.[21] The rhythmic groove draws influences from funk and disco traditions, including Parliament's funky bass-driven style and the Bee Gees' falsetto vocals, blended with new-wave synth-pop to produce a lithe, minimalistic interplay between bass and vocals.[18] During recording, the band utilized analog synthesizers like the Korg Mono/Poly for key melodic elements, capturing the song's wavy, organic textures.[22] The track builds to a brief breakdown after the second chorus, stripping back to emphasize the synth riff before resolving into the final chorus.[21]Themes and interpretation
The lyrics of "Electric Feel" were primarily written by MGMT frontman Andrew VanWyngarden, employing the central metaphor of an "electric feel" to evoke a range of intense sensory experiences, including sexual attraction, drug-induced euphoria, and the raw energy of natural phenomena like electric shocks from wildlife or environments.[23] VanWyngarden drew inspiration from vivid, hallucinatory imagery, portraying a seductive encounter with a woman whose touch delivers an electrifying jolt, as in the line "Saw her in the Amazon with the voltage running through her skin," evoking a mythical, electrified figure in the rainforest.[24] Key lyrics further amplify themes of hedonistic escapism, such as "Shock me like an electric eel," symbolizing a thrilling, almost dangerous arousal that blurs pleasure and peril, and "This hit, that ice cold Michelle Pfeiffer, white gold," widely interpreted as alluding to the euphoric rush of cocaine—evoking Pfeiffer's role as the glamorous Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983), a film steeped in drug culture, with "white gold" serving as slang for the substance's pure, icy allure.[23][25] During a 2008 performance on Late Show with David Letterman, VanWyngarden explicitly clarified the song's core focus, stating, "This song is not about eels, it's about drugs," underscoring its exploration of altered states that heighten bodily and emotional sensations.[23] The band has articulated their intent as a celebration of uninhibited sensory indulgence, free from moralistic undertones, with VanWyngarden and Goldwasser emphasizing in interviews how the track captures the joy of "making electricity" through life's visceral thrills like intimacy and intoxication, without prescribing judgment or consequence.[23][12] This aligns with broader psychedelic influences in their work, where electricity symbolizes a universal force of ecstasy and connection. The song's infectious groove, with its pulsing bass and falsetto vocals, subtly reinforces these themes by mirroring the euphoric, body-moving rush described in the lyrics.[23]Release and promotion
Single formats
"Electric Feel" was released on June 23, 2008, as the second single from MGMT's debut album Oracular Spectacular through RED Ink and Columbia Records.[26][27] The single was issued in multiple formats to support its rollout, including a 7-inch vinyl edition featuring the album version backed with the Justice remix, a CD single containing the radio edit, a 12-inch promotional vinyl for DJs and radio stations, and a digital download option.[2][28] The UK 7-inch vinyl launched on June 23, 2008, while the US digital download followed in July 2008.[3][29] Promotion emphasized radio airplay, with the track sent to US stations on July 29, 2008, alongside placements in summer 2008 playlists to leverage the album's increasing popularity following its physical release earlier that year.[30] This strategy helped build anticipation amid the re-release buzz for Oracular Spectacular.[6]Music videos
The official music video for "Electric Feel," directed by Ray Tintori, premiered in June 2008 and presents a surreal, psychedelic rave in an enchanted forest setting.[31] The visuals depict MGMT alongside a eclectic group of participants, including hippie-inspired figures, a bear-suited lounge band, and performers using shofars, culminating in a fantastical sequence where the moon is pulled down, sliced open, and its sparkling contents applied to the revelers amid a daring motorcycle stunt.[32] Produced by Partizan with art direction by Sophie Kosofsky, the video was shot on location in Brooklyn, New York, emphasizing a back-to-nature-on-drugs aesthetic inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream to align with the song's dreamy, euphoric vibe.[31] It earned a nomination for Best Art Direction at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.[33] A second official video, also released in 2008, adopts a low-budget, humorous approach by featuring the animatronic Rock-afire Explosion band—originally from 1980s Showbiz Pizza Place locations—performing the track in a garage-like setup.[34] This version highlights the animatronics' quirky, retro charm, with characters like Billy Bob Brockali and Fatz Geronimo lip-syncing and dancing to the song, creating a whimsical contrast to the first video's organic surrealism.[35] The primary video directed by Tintori has amassed over 186 million views on YouTube as of 2025.[36]Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Upon its release as a single in June 2008, "Electric Feel" received widespread praise from music critics for its infectious funk and psychedelic pop blend, often highlighted within reviews of MGMT's debut album Oracular Spectacular. NME commended the track's seductive vibe, noting that it possesses "a sleek, streamlined gloss and undercurrent of sauciness that is impossible to deny," evoking the "background music to a love scene in Miami Vice" as a point of compliment.[37] Pitchfork described how MGMT "pull off lithe, falsetto electro-funk surprisingly well" on the song, praising its Barry Gibb-inspired vocals and limber bassline for fitting seamlessly into the album's eccentric context despite its simplicity.[18] Rolling Stone singled out the falsetto crooning in "Electric Feel" as a highlight, showcasing Andrew VanWyngarden's vocal range while blending infectious funk grooves with psychedelic elements to create a standout track.[19] The Guardian offered a mixed perspective on the album's overall derivative psych-pop influences reminiscent of 1970s acts like Bowie and Pink Floyd, but lauded "Electric Feel" specifically as a "terrific song" where keyboards take the lead over guitars, achieving a fresh energy distinct from the rest of the material.[38] The song's appeal was further amplified by MGMT's live performances, particularly their debut festival slot at Coachella in April 2008, where "Electric Feel" served as part of a climactic set-closing sequence that drew a packed Mojave Tent crowd spilling over with massive cheers, marking an early boost to the track's buzz ahead of its single release.[39]Accolades and retrospective views
The Justice remix of "Electric Feel" received the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009.[40] The original track ranked number 5 on NME's list of the top 50 tracks of 2008.[41] It also placed second on Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown for that year.[42] Retrospective assessments have praised the song's lasting impact. In a 2013 Pitchfork review of MGMT's self-titled album, critic Ian Cohen described Oracular Spectacular—the record featuring "Electric Feel"—as "one of recent history's rare game-changing (read: replicable) pop-rock records," highlighting its influence on subsequent indie and electronic music.[43] A 2018 profile in The Guardian emphasized the track's enduring appeal, noting its sampling by Frank Ocean in "Nature Feels" from the mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra (2011), as well as its revival amid 2000s nostalgia trends that underscore its electro-tinged psychedelia.[44] "Electric Feel" played a pivotal role in launching MGMT's career, alongside tracks like "Kids" and "Time to Pretend," transforming the duo from Brooklyn underground performers into international stars following the 2007 release of Oracular Spectacular.[44] Its fusion of synth-pop hooks and psychedelic elements contributed to the broader 2010s revival of synth-driven indie music, influencing a wave of artists blending retro electronics with modern production.[43] In the 2020s, the song has seen renewed popularity on social media, particularly TikTok, where the track has inspired over 51,000 user-generated videos featuring dances, edits, and nostalgic content as of late 2025, driving a surge in streaming activity.[45]Commercial performance
Chart positions
"Electric Feel" experienced varying levels of commercial success across international music charts upon its release as a single in mid-2008. In the United States, the track did not enter the main Billboard Hot 100 but achieved a peak of number 14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in April 2009, following an initial peak of number 20 earlier that year. The song's trajectory reflected growing radio and digital play, particularly in alternative formats, though it did not register on the primary Alternative Songs airplay chart. Internationally, it debuted on the UK Singles Chart on June 21, 2008, climbing to a peak of number 22 after five weeks and spending a total of 25 weeks on the listing.[9] In Australia, the single entered the ARIA Singles Chart in late August 2008, reaching number 7 and charting for 31 weeks, marking MGMT's first top 50 entry there; it ranked number 34 on the ARIA year-end chart for 2008.[46] The track also performed solidly in New Zealand, peaking at number 10 with 22 weeks on the RIANZ Singles Chart, and in Belgium, where it hit number 17 over 20 weeks.[46] Additional modest placements included number 21 in Ireland (14 weeks), number 53 in Canada (12 weeks), number 60 in Austria (2 weeks), and number 88 in Germany (4 weeks).[46]| Country | Chart | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart | Entry Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) | 14 | N/A | March 2009 (re-peak) |
| United Kingdom | Singles Chart (Official Charts Company) | 22 | 25 | June 21, 2008[9] |
| Australia | ARIA Singles Chart | 7 | 31 | August 31, 2008[46] |
| New Zealand | RIANZ Singles Chart | 10 | 22 | September 1, 2008[46] |
| Belgium | Ultratop 50 Singles | 17 | 20 | August 30, 2008[46] |
| Ireland | IRMA Singles Chart | 21 | 14 | August 27, 2008[46] |
| Canada | Canadian Hot 100 (Billboard) | 53 | 12 | August 16, 2008[46] |
| Austria | Ö3 Austria Top 40 | 60 | 2 | September 5, 2008[46] |
| Germany | Media Control Singles Chart | 88 | 4 | September 19, 2008[46] |