Story by: Gail Nobles
Intro by: Gail Nobles
Photo: Steven L. Smith (QZVX.COM), Bellingham, WA, USA - Vimeo
Usage: CC BY 3.0

I vividly recall the moment I first encountered Irene Cara's anthem, "What A Feeling." Instantly, I sensed it was destined for great success. The song captured my heart from the very first note. The opening lines touched deeply, almost feeling like she was speaking directly to me: “First, when there’s nothing but a slow glowing dream.” And then, as the tempo quickens, I find myself swept away, caught up in the exhilarating rush of “Well, I hear the music…”The song became more challenging for me when Irene Cara launched into the chorus of "What I Feelin’." My mom always said it was a fantastic tune for me to practice my singing skills. As the years passed, my mom grew increasingly worried about the silence surrounding Irene Cara in the music scene.

In 2022, my mother had already passed away, leaving a void that was hard to fill. I stumbled upon Irene Cara's song once more and decided to look her up on social media, hoping to drop her a birthday message. After sending my wishes, I found myself eagerly awaiting her response. A few months later, the news hit me hard: Irene had passed away too in November. It was a deep blow, especially as I watched so many of my beloved stars leave us. All I could think was, "What now? Not another one." It felt like something was terribly wrong with so many icons departing from this world.

In July 2025, I found myself captivated by some videos of Irene Cara. As I listened, I felt a gentle message in her voice, reassuring me: "It's okay. Go on through." It seemed that Irene didn't want her passing to cast a shadow over my life and wanted me to move forward. Instead, she encouraged me to embrace life to the fullest, to remain focused on the present and the future, rather than lingering in the sadness of her absence. I could almost hear her say, "You've got that rhythm. You've got that feeling."

Well, that's the story for today. Thank you for listening to Actories, Stories, and Film. I'm your host: Gail Nobles.