Afraid to Feel

"Afraid to Feel" is a song by Scottish duo LF System. The mix was created in 2019^[2] 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^[3] 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.^[4][5][6]

"Afraid to Feel"
Single by LF System
Released	2 May 2022 (2022-05-02)
Genre	House[1]
Length	2:57
Label	Warner Music UK
Songwriter(s)	Charles B. Simmons Joseph B. Jefferson Richard William Roebuck
Producer(s)	LF System
LF System singles chronology
"So Do You" (2022) "Afraid to Feel" (2022) "Hungry (For Love)" (2022)
Audio video
"Afraid to Feel" on YouTube

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. ^[7]

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.^[1]

In May 2022, the song was chosen "Hottest Record" by Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1.^[8]

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.^[9] "Afraid to Feel" rose to number one on 8 July.^[10]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" Chart (2022) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 20 Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 31 Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[14] 44 Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 102 Greece International (IFPI)[16] 62 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 2 Lithuania (AGATA)[18] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 3 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 1 UK Dance (OCC)[23] 1 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[24] 34

Year-end charts 2022 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" Chart (2022) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 112 Global Excl. US (Billboard)[26] 192 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 55 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 39 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 9 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[30] 76 2023 year-end chart performance for "Afraid to Feel" Chart (2023) Position UK Singles (OCC)[31] 41

Certifications

Certifications for "Afraid to Feel"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32]	Gold	45,000‡
France (SNEP)[33]	Gold	100,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[34]	Gold	50,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[35]	Gold	40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[36]	Gold	25,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38]	3× Platinum	1,800,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Griff (4 June 2022). "LF System - Afraid to Feel (Warner Records)". Knights of the Turntable. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
2. "Week Ending July 14th 2022". Archived from the original on 2022-07-16. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
3. "Silk Page".
4. "Week Ending July 14th 2022". Archived from the original on 2022-07-16. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
5. "LF System's 'Afraid to Feel' sample of Silk (Funk Group)'s I Can't Stop (Turning You On)". WhoSampled. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
6. Midnight Dancer album by Silk, 1979 Philadelphia International Records (catalogue number JZ 36025)
7. Keens, Oliver (2022-07-13). "Cutting up the dancefloor: the glorious, dubious history of the disco edit". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
8. Bhanawat, Akshay (21 May 2022). "Dance Music Icons Fatboy Slim And Carl Cox Enlist Scottish Duo LF SYSTEM For Remix Of 'Speed Trials On Acid'". The Music Essentials. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
9. Smith, Carl (10 June 2022). "Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill claims new Official Singles Chart peak as Harry Styles reigns with As It Was". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
10. "LF SYSTEM are Official Singles Chart Number 1 with Afraid to Feel as Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson, Burna Boy and more ascend". Official Charts Company. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
11. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
12. "LF System – Afraid to Feel" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
13. "Track Top-40 Uge 37, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
14. "LF System: Afraid To Feel" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
15. "Billboard Global 200: Week of July 30, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
16. "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
17. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
18. "2022 33-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
20. "LF System – Afraid to Feel" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
21. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
23. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
24. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: Week of September 10, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
25. "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
26. "Billboard Global Excl. U.S. – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2022" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
29. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
30. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
31. "End of Year Singles Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
32. "Danish single certifications – LF System – Afraid to Feel". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
33. "French single certifications – LF System – Afraid to Feel" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
34. "Italian single certifications – LF System – Afraid to Feel" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
35. "Dutch single certifications – LF System – Afraid to Feel" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 15 December 2022. Enter Afraid to Feel in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2022 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
36. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 April 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Afraid to Feel in the search box.
37. "Spanish single certifications – LF System – Afraid to Feel". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
38. "British single certifications – Lf System – Afraid to Feel". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2024.