"Feeling Good"
Nina Simone
You've heard it a hundred times. Have you ever heard what it's actually saying?
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What you'll learn
Nina Simone's 1965 anthem hides three grammar secrets and a piece of civil rights history that most listeners never notice. One lesson, and you'll never hear it the same way again.
Why "Feeling Good" may not be the happy song its title promises - and the 1965 civil rights story behind it.
How native speakers break the rules of the present tense to create emotion - and how to hear it.
Three different interpretations across 60 years - including its unexpected reappearance at the cinema.
What's included
"There's no better window into English-speaking culture than music."
Matthew
English Teacher
A message from your teacher
My dad is a huge Nina Simone fan, so I first heard her music at a very young age.
"Feeling Good" is a song that everyone has heard, and it carries a deep history.
The title suggests that the story will be positive.
But is it a happy song? That's what we're discussing in this lesson.
The method
Why a song teaches what a textbook can't
The science behind the method
— Dr. Dennis Murphy Odo Associate Professor, Pusan National University
Questions before you start
Is this lesson too advanced for me?
This lesson is built for B1+ learners. If you can follow a conversation but still miss the nuance, the slang, or how grammar itself creates emotion, this is exactly your level.
What exactly do I get?
11 lessons - 30+ learning activities, 60+ minutes: everything is explored twice - once as a video and once as a reading exercise - plus quizzes to check you've got it. About 41 minutes of video, and it's yours to keep and revisit as often as you like.
How long do I have access?
Forever. A single lesson is a one-time purchase, not a rental - there's no expiry date and no subscription attached to it.
Do I need to create an account?
Yes - you create an account at checkout. It's how you save your progress through the lessons and quizzes, so you can stop mid-module and pick up later on any device.
Can I watch it on my phone?
Yes. Everything plays in the browser on phone, tablet or desktop - nothing to install.
Do I have to subscribe?
No. The single lesson stands completely on its own. The subscription simply exists for people who want unlimited access to past classes and a new class every week.
What if 1960s soul isn't really my thing?
That's fine. Every English in Music class works the same way no matter the genre. If "Feeling Good" isn't your style, there are lessons on other artists and eras, with new classes added every week.
Is this taught by a real teacher, or is it AI?
Every lesson is written and taught by Matthew, a real English teacher - nothing here is auto-generated or auto-translated.
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