I Second That Emotion

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For the Futurama episode, see I Second That Emotion (Futurama).

"I Second That Emotion"

Single by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
from the album Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
B-side(s)	"You Must Be Love"
Released	October 1967
Format	vinyl record (7", 45 RPM)
Recorded	Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1967
Genre	Soul
Length	2:48
Label	Tamla T 54159
Producer(s)	Smokey Robinson
Chart positions
#4 (US) #1 (R&B)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles singles chronology
"More Love" (1967)	"I Second That Emotion" (1967)	"If You Can Want" (1968)

"I Second That Emotion" is a 1967 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label. The song was the group's first Top 5 hit on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart credited to "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" (as the group had been credited on their albums since 1965).

The song finds lead singer Smokey Robinson courting a girl who, weary of the game of love, prefers to string her men along and not get romantically involved. Robinson "wants no part" in such a relationship, but promises that if the girl changes her mind, he'll be around ("If you feel like lovin' me/if you've got the notion/I second that emotion.")

Robinson got the idea for the song from his friend and Motown colleague Al Clevland, who mispronounced the phrase "I second that motion" as "I second that emotion" while the pair were Christmas shopping in late 1966. "I Second That Emotion" was a #1 hit on the Billboard Black Singles Chart, and reached #4 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart.

Today, the song, used to anchor the release of the Miracles' Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 release, is one of the most familiar tunes recorded by the Miracles. A 1968 joint cover by Motown labelmates Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations was a Top 20 hit in the United Kingdom, and later covers by Jerry Garcia and Japan were also popular hits. Michael McDonald has also covered the song on his compilation of Motown classics.