What a Feeling (Flashdance) – Irene Cara | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1983
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1983, What a Feeling became the theme song to the film Flashdance and one of the year’s most recognizable hits. The song was written by Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey, with lyrics by Irene Cara.
Originally conceived with a different lyrical theme, the song was reshaped to reflect the film’s storyline about ambition and perseverance. Cara not only co-wrote the lyric but also recorded the lead vocal, delivering a performance that matched the film’s dramatic tone.
Released in the spring of 1983, What a Feeling climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an international success. Its driving synthesizer arrangement and anthemic chorus reflected Moroder’s electronic production style.
The lyric centers on determination and the pursuit of dreams, reinforcing the film’s focus on personal achievement.
What a Feeling won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, securing its place as one of the defining soundtrack hits of the decade.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics Written by:
Irene Cara
Keith Forsey
Awards:
Academy Award for Best Original Song (1984)
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (1984)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.