Afraid to Feel

{{Infobox song

| name = Afraid to Feel

|cover = LF System - Afraid to Feel.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = LF System

| album =

| released = {{start date|2022|5|2|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = House

| length = 2:57

| label = Warner Music UK

| writer =

Charles B. Simmons
Joseph B. Jefferson
Richard William Roebuck

| producer = LF System

| prev_title = So Do You

| prev_year = 2022

| next_title = Hungry (For Love)

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|2XF2v9UA0og|"Afraid to Feel"}}|header=Audio video|type=single}}

}}

"Afraid to Feel" is a song by Scottish duo LF System. The mix was created in 2019{{cite web | url=https://chart-watch.uk/week-ending-july-14th-2022 | title=Week Ending July 14th 2022 | access-date=2022-07-12 | archive-date=2022-07-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716091928/https://chart-watch.uk/week-ending-july-14th-2022 | url-status=dead }} and picked up for full release on 2 May 2022, by Warner Music UK. The single rose to popularity in June 2022 and spent eight consecutive weeks at number one in the UK Singles Chart and six non-consecutive weeks at number two in Ireland. The song prominently samples the Philadelphia International Records{{cite web | url=http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Silk.html | title=Silk Page }} act Silk's 1979 song "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)", with Louise Clare Marshall's vocals slowed down and sped up throughout the single.{{cite web | url=https://chart-watch.uk/week-ending-july-14th-2022 | title=Week Ending July 14th 2022 | access-date=2022-07-12 | archive-date=2022-07-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716091928/https://chart-watch.uk/week-ending-july-14th-2022 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/946781/LF-SYSTEM-Afraid-to-Feel-Silk-(Funk-Group)-I-Can%27t-Stop-(Turning-You-On)/|title=LF System's 'Afraid to Feel' sample of Silk (Funk Group)'s I Can't Stop (Turning You On)|website=WhoSampled|access-date=26 June 2022}}Midnight Dancer album by Silk, 1979 Philadelphia International Records (catalogue number JZ 36025)

Writing and composition

The duo found the original track in 2019 while looking for samples to use for loops and vocals. The duo interpolated and re-recorded the original vocal sample from Silk as a replayed use to avoid sample clearance issues. "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)" was a slower 85bpm with "Afraid to Feel" at an uptempo 130bpm, the tempo was altered after playing around with the sample in Ableton Live. The style of production is both similar and pays homage to a disco edit, which started in the 70s to upstart a dance floor, involving cutting one part of a song and chopping it into a different part of the song structure. {{cite web | last=Keens | first=Oliver | title=Cutting up the dancefloor: the glorious, dubious history of the disco edit | website=The Guardian | date=2022-07-13 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/13/cutting-up-the-dancefloor-the-glorious-dubious-history-of-the-disco-edit | access-date=2022-07-16}}

Critical reception

Griff of Knights of the Turntable opined that the song was an "irresistible soul-soaked cut" with "heartfelt, slow moments to pumping" next to "pumping, euphoric house grooves". The duo brings a "pure sense of joy throughout" the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.knightsoftheturntable.co.uk/new-music/lf-system-afraid-to-feel/|title=LF System - Afraid to Feel (Warner Records)|author=Griff|website=Knights of the Turntable|date=4 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022}}

In May 2022, the song was chosen "Hottest Record" by Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1.{{cite web|url=https://themusicessentials.com/music/fatboy-slim-speed-trials-on-acid-lf-system/|title=Dance Music Icons Fatboy Slim And Carl Cox Enlist Scottish Duo LF SYSTEM For Remix Of 'Speed Trials On Acid'|last=Bhanawat|first=Akshay|website=The Music Essentials|date=21 May 2022|access-date=11 June 2022}}

Chart performance

On the UK Singles Chart, the song reached number 13 when it moved up 56 places from number 69 in its second week on the chart, for the issue dated 10 June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/kate-bush-s-running-up-that-hill-claims-new-official-singles-chart-peak-as-harry-styles-reigns-with-as-it-was__36557/|title=Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill claims new Official Singles Chart peak as Harry Styles reigns with As It Was|last=Smith|first=Carl|website=Official Charts Company|date=10 June 2022|access-date=11 June 2022}} "Afraid to Feel" rose to number one on 8 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lf-system-are-official-singles-chart-number-1-with-afraid-to-feel-as-nathan-dawe-and-ella-henderson-burna-boy-and-more-ascend__36803/|title=LF SYSTEM are Official Singles Chart Number 1 with Afraid to Feel as Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson, Burna Boy and more ascend|website=Official Charts Company|date=8 July 2022|access-date=9 July 2022}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2022-10-10\|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=10 October 2022\|access-date=7 October 2022}} \| 19
{{single chart\|Flanders\|20\|artist=LF System\|song=Afraid to Feel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=18 September 2022}}
scope="row"\| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite web\|url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=37&y=2022&list=t40\|title=Track Top-40 Uge 37, 2022\|publisher=Hitlisten\|access-date=21 September 2022}} \| 31
{{Single chart\|Finnishairplay\|44\|artist=LF System\|song=Afraid To Feel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 20, 2022}}
scope="row"\| Global 200 (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2022-07-30/\|title=Billboard Global 200: Week of July 30, 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=26 July 2022}} \| 102
scope="row"\| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web \|title=IFPI Charts \|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html \|access-date=7 September 2022 \|website=ifpi.gr \|archive-date=7 September 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907062224/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html}} \| 62
{{single chart\|Ireland4\|2\|date=20220715\|rowheader=true\|access-date=15 July 2022}}
scope="row"\| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s33/\|title=2022 33-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)\|publisher=AGATA\|language=lt\|date=19 August 2022\|access-date=19 August 2022}} \| 21
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|7\|year=2022\|week=34\|rowheader=true\|access-date=20 August 2022}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|3\|artist=LF System\|song=Afraid to Feel\|rowheader=true\|access-date=18 September 2022}}
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-06-24\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=27 June 2022\|access-date=25 June 2022}} \| 23
{{single chart\|UK\|1\|date=20220708\|rowheader=true\|access-date=8 July 2022}}
{{single chart\|UKdance\|1\|date=20220610\|rowheader=true\|access-date=11 June 2022}}
scope="row"\| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-electronic-songs/2022-09-10/\|title=Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: Week of September 10, 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=7 September 2022}} \| 34

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Afraid to Feel"

! scope="col"| Chart (2022)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2022-10-10|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=10 October 2022|access-date=7 October 2022}}

| 19

{{single chart|Flanders|20|artist=LF System|song=Afraid to Feel|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2022}}

scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=37&y=2022&list=t40|title=Track Top-40 Uge 37, 2022|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=21 September 2022}}

| 31

{{Single chart|Finnishairplay|44|artist=LF System|song=Afraid To Feel|rowheader=true|access-date=September 20, 2022}}

scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2022-07-30/|title=Billboard Global 200: Week of July 30, 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=26 July 2022}}

| 102

scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web |title=IFPI Charts |url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=ifpi.gr |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907062224/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html}}

| 62

{{single chart|Ireland4|2|date=20220715|rowheader=true|access-date=15 July 2022}}

scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s33/|title=2022 33-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=19 August 2022|access-date=19 August 2022}}

| 21

{{single chart|Dutch40|7|year=2022|week=34|rowheader=true|access-date=20 August 2022}}

{{single chart|Dutch100|3|artist=LF System|song=Afraid to Feel|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2022}}

scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-06-24|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=27 June 2022|access-date=25 June 2022}}

| 23

{{single chart|UK|1|date=20220708|rowheader=true|access-date=8 July 2022}}

{{single chart|UKdance|1|date=20220610|rowheader=true|access-date=11 June 2022}}

scope="row"| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-electronic-songs/2022-09-10/|title=Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: Week of September 10, 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=7 September 2022}}

| 34

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web\|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022\|title=Jaaroverzichten 2022\|publisher=Ultratop\|language=nl\|access-date=13 January 2023}} \| 112
scope="row"\| Global Excl. US (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/billboard-global-excl-us/\|title=Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – Year-End 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=3 December 2022}} \| 192
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2022\|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022\|publisher=Dutch Top 40\|language=nl\|access-date=3 January 2023}} \| 55
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2022&cat=s\|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2022\|publisher=MegaCharts\|language=nl\|access-date=4 January 2023}} \| 39
scope="row"\| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20221231/37501\|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|access-date=4 January 2023}} \| 9
scope="row"\| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-dance-electronic-songs/\|title=Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2022\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=5 December 2022}} \| 76

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel"

! scope="col"| Chart (2022)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022|title=Jaaroverzichten 2022|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=13 January 2023}}

| 112

scope="row"| Global Excl. US (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/billboard-global-excl-us/|title=Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 December 2022}}

| 192

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/2022|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=3 January 2023}}

| 55

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2022&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 2022|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=4 January 2023}}

| 39

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20221231/37501|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 January 2023}}

| 9

scope="row"| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-dance-electronic-songs/|title=Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=5 December 2022}}

| 76

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20231231/37501\|title=End of Year Singles Chart – 2023\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|access-date=3 January 2024}} \| 41

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20231231/37501|title=End of Year Singles Chart – 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=3 January 2024}}

| 41

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Afraid to Feel"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|id=12286|access-date=30 March 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=25 June 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|id=11454|access-date=10 December 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2022|access-date=15 December 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=17 April 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=LF System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=7 May 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Lf System|title=Afraid to Feel|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|id=18223-6023-1|access-date=23 September 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

References

Category:2019 songs

Category:2022 singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Warner Music Group singles