Feel It Again

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Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin "Feel It Again" by Honeymoon Suite from their killer album The Big Prize! This track, penned by the band’s keyboardist Ray Coburn, was a major hit, climbing to #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and becoming the band’s only Top 40 single in the U.S. to date. In Canada, it was their first Top 20 hit, and its enduring popularity earned Coburn a SOCAN Classic Award in 2015 for over 100,000 radio plays. The song’s music video, directed by Daniel Kleinman, is a wild ride with Johnnie Dee singing against an animated backdrop, chasing a reconciliation with a woman while the band rocks out. Fans on Facebook still rave about its catchy hooks, with one post calling it “a melodic rock masterpiece that defined ‘80s AOR.”

Digging deeper, "Feel It Again" was a standout on The Big Prize, an album produced by Bruce Fairbairn and engineered by Bob Rock, both legends in the rock world. The track’s infectious energy came from Coburn’s songwriting, a rare departure from guitarist Derry Grehan’s usual dominance in the band’s catalog. A 1986 X post by music journalist Mitch Lafon praised the song as a “classic” from an album that’s a must-spin for melodic rock fans. The song’s lyrics, with lines like “I thought that this heart would never mend,” capture a raw, emotional longing that resonated with listeners. Some fans on the Honeymoon Suite Fan Club Facebook group speculate the song’s jealous undertones were inspired by real band experiences, though no official interviews confirm this juicy tidbit.

Let’s rewind to how Honeymoon Suite got their start. Formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the band’s name is a cheeky nod to the city’s reputation as the honeymoon capital of the world. It all began with Johnnie Dee (vocals, guitar), Brad Bent (keyboards), and Mike Lengyell (drums). By 1983, the lineup shifted, with Dee as the sole original member, joined by Derry Grehan (lead guitar) and Dave Betts (drums). Grehan’s song “New Girl Now” won a Toronto radio station Q107’s unsigned band contest, catching the attention of WEA Canada. With Ray Coburn on keyboards and Gary Lalonde on bass, they dropped their self-titled debut in 1984, which spawned four Canadian Top 10 hits, including “New Girl Now.” Their blend of hard rock and melodic AOR, paired with Dee’s gritty vocals and Grehan’s slick guitar riffs, set them apart in the ‘80s rock scene.

Despite lineup changes, Honeymoon Suite kept rocking, with The Big Prize in 1985 cementing their status as Canadian rock staples. The band’s journey wasn’t without hiccups—keyboardist Coburn left in 1988, returned for a 2007 reunion, and exited again in 2009. Still, Dee and Grehan have remained the heart of the band, touring and releasing new music, like their 2024 album Alive. You can keep up with their latest gigs and releases on their official website, follow their posts on Facebook, check out their visuals on Instagram, and join the conversation on X. For diehard Zoo Freaks, the Honeymoon Suite Fan Club on Facebook is a vibey spot to connect with fellow fans and share your love for the band’s timeless sound.

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