It was written by James Wirrick and Sylvester, and released by Fantasy Records as the second single from the singer's fourth album, Step II (1978).

British singer Jimmy Somerville, formerly of the bands Bronski Beat and Communards, released a cover of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in 1989.

Somerville told in a 1990 interview with Billboard, that the track "was originally released during a period of time when the gay community was successful in creating positive visibility."

[36] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote that the song is "an obvious choice for Somerville" and added further that he performs it with "such raw enthusiasm that his version is easily as good as the original.

The basic difference is that the backing is tighter and cleaner-a punchy brass riff has been added and there is a video (that mixes fun and gay politics to good effect).

"[38] To Tim Southwell of Record Mirror, this song was "more disco-pop Europa-style", but considered it "somewhat tepid compared to Somerville's duet with June Miles-Kingston "Comment te dire adieu".

[51] Chicago-born house music singer Byron Stingily, formerly of the band Ten City recorded a cover of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in 1997.

[52] Although there have been instances where the same song, recorded by two different artists, has reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart ("Don't Leave Me This Way" first by Thelma Houston in 1976 and then the Communards with Sarah Jane Morris in 1986 is one example), it is still a fairly rare occurrence.

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "[Stingily] bravely takes on Sylvester's disco classic and infuses a startling combination of pulpit-pounding preaching and hip-grinding sexuality."

He remarked, "His falsetto has never sounded so limber and soulful, and the track percolates with equal parts retro reverence and modern flair.

"[53] Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt the cover "stays close to the original (sampled here), but doesn't sound at all dated.

"[54] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, concluding, "The falsetto house king's cover of the Sylvester disco classic hits all the right (high) notes, and could see chart success.

"[55] A reviewer from Vibe noted that "it's deliciously ironic that the defining moment in Byron Stingily's solo debut, The Purist, occurs during the climax of Sylvester's evergreen".

A series of 12" remix singles was released in 1994 by Epic Records' 550 Music imprint, who also signed Bernhard and picked up her album for a major push that same year.