I'm a Believer#Smash Mouth version
{{Short description|Song by rock band the Monkees written by Neil Diamond}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm a Believer
| cover = The_Monkees_single_02_I'm_a_Believer.jpg
| alt =
| caption = US single cover
| type = single
| artist = the Monkees
| album = More of the Monkees
| B-side = (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
| released = {{Start date|1966|11}}
| recorded = October 15 and 22–25, 1966{{cite book |last1=Sandoval |first1=Andrew |author1-link=Andrew Sandoval |title=The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation |date=2005 |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |location=San Diego, California |isbn=978-1-59223-372-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/monkeesdaybydays00andr/ |url-access=registration |via=the Internet Archive |pages=63–64, 65}}
| genre =
- Pop rock{{cite book|first=Dave|last=Marsh|chapter= The Monkees|editor1-last=Marsh|editor1-first=Dave|editor2-last=Swenson|editor2-first=John|date=1979|title=The Rolling Stone Record Guide|publisher=Random House|location=New York|page= 253}}
- blue-eyed soul{{cite book|first=Bob |last=Stanley|title=Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop|chapter= Bubblegum is the Naked Truth: The Monkees|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9emZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7|date=13 September 2013|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=978-0-571-28198-5|page=276}}
| length = 2:47
| label = Colgems
| writer = Neil Diamond
| producer = Jeff Barry
| prev_title = Last Train to Clarksville
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
| next_year = 1967
| misc = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|G5EuEF05G2M|"I'm a Believer" (2006 Remaster)}}}}
}}
{{Listen
|filename=The_Monkees_-_I'm_a_Believer.ogg
|title=The Monkees - "I'm a Believer"
|description=16 seconds (of 2:47)
|format=Ogg}}
"I'm a Believer" is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by the American band the Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 31, 1966, and remained there for seven weeks becoming the last number-one hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling single for all of 1967. Billboard ranked the record as the number-five song for 1967.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1967 While originally published by Screen Gems-Columbia Music (BMI), it is now published by Stonebridge Music/EMI Foray Music (SESAC), with administration passed to Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group.
The song topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in January and February 1967. Also, it reached number one in several other countries, including Australia, New Zealand,{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qartistid=601#n_view_location|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|website=Flavourofnz.co.nz|access-date=October 16, 2021|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505171710/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qartistid=601#n_view_location|url-status=dead}} Canada, and Ireland.{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 200}}
Billboard described the song as "an easy-go dance mover" that "will hit with immediate impact".{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=March 2, 2021|date=December 3, 1966|page=18|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-12-03.pdf}} Cash Box said the single is a "medium-paced rocker [that] is full of the group's top-notch harmonies and is laced with infectious sounds."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=December 3, 1966 |page=40 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-12-03.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}} Record World said it was "sensational."{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=December 3, 1966|page=1|access-date=2023-07-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/66/RW-1966-12-03.pdf}}
The song was featured in four consecutive episodes of the television series The Monkees in December 1966. The members of the Monkees later performed it live during domestic and overseas tours at that time and many years later at reunion concerts.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}
History
In addition to the Monkees, Neil Diamond also suggested the song to the Fifth Estate, who recorded it as a 1967 album cut to follow up their hit "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" on their album of the same name.
Diamond recorded his own version of the song for his second album, Just For You, in 1967. This version became a minor chart hit in 1971. A new recording by Diamond, featuring additional lyrics, appears on his 1979 album September Morn. Diamond also performed it in a duet with Linda Ronstadt as part of a medley of his songs on an episode of The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour in 1970.
=Charts=
Neil Diamond
Recording
Session guitarist Al Gorgoni (who played on "The Sound of Silence" and later on "Brown Eyed Girl") had worked on Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry" and also contributed to "I'm a Believer." Other personnel on the record include Sal DiTroia on rhythm guitar, Neil Diamond on acoustic guitar, Russ Savakus on bass, George Butcher on electric piano, Stan Free on organ, George Devens on tambourine, and Buddy Saltzman on drums.'More of the Monkees' deluxe reissue, Rhino Records 2017, booklet, Pages 17 and 20, containing personnel as listed by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval, sourced directly from official Musicians' Union records
The song is listed at number 48 on Billboard{{'}}s All Time Top 100.{{cite magazine |title=The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-50.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913210007/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-50.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2008 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 6, 2012}} In 2021, it was listed at number 341 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time{{Cite magazine |date=September 15, 2021 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/ |access-date=July 18, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}
Personnel
The Monkees
- Micky Dolenz – lead and backing vocals
- Davy Jones and Peter Tork – backing vocals
Additional personnel
{{div col}}
- Al Gorgoni, Sal DiTroia – electric guitars
- Neil Diamond – acoustic guitar
- Stan Free – organ
- George Butcher – electric piano
- George Devens – tambourine
- Russ Savakus – bass
- Buddy Saltzman – drums
- Jeff Barry – producer
- Artie Butler – arranger
{{div col end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
=All-time charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1958–2018)
! Position |
|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary |title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 10, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|62 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=single|artist=Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|nocert=true|salesamount=100,000|salesref={{cite magazine|title=Cash Box - Holland|magazine=Cash Box|date=December 30, 1967|page=46|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1960/CB-1967-12-30.pdf|access-date=March 11, 2023}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|award=Platinum|certyear=2021|artist=The Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|source=radioscope|access-date=January 4, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|artist=Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|award=Silver|salesamount=25,000|certref=|salesref={{cite magazine|title=Singing Monkees Wrapping Europe Around Their Tails|magazine=Billboard|date=March 11, 1967|page=68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68|access-date=March 11, 2023}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=The Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|access-date=July 1, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|nocert=true|relyear=1966|salesamount=750,000|note=Original release|salesref={{cite book|title=Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s: an illustrated directory|url=https://openlibrary.org/works/OL120558W/Million_selling_records_from_the_1900s_to_the_1980s|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1985 |publisher=Arco Pub.|quote=It sold over three million in America in its first two months on the market, and over 750,000 in Britain on the RCA label... Global sales are estimated at around ten million|isbn=0668064595|page=227}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2021|id=14199-970-1|note=2005 release|access-date=August 13, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Monkees|title=I_m a Believer|award=Gold|relyear=1966|certyear=1966|salesamount=4,000,000|salesref={{cite journal|last1=Dietz|first1=Lawrence|title=The Monkees' Man Invades the Kiddie Ghetto|journal=New York Magazine|date=September 23, 1968|volume=1|issue=25|page=46|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F9ECAAAAMBAJ&q=%22i%27m+a+believer%22+%224+million%22|access-date=March 11, 2023}}}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=single|artist=Monkees|title=I'm a Believer|nocert=true|salesamount=10,000,000|salesref=}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
Smash Mouth version
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm a Believer
| cover = I'm a Believer by Smash Mouth.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Smash Mouth
| album = Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture {{noitalic|and}} Smash Mouth
| released = {{start date|2001|8|13}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:02
| label = Interscope
| writer = Neil Diamond
| producer = Eric Valentine
| prev_title = Waste
| prev_year = 2000
| next_title = Pacific Coast Party
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|0mYBSayCsH0|"I'm a Believer"}}}}
}}
The American pop rock band Smash Mouth covered the song in 2001 as part of the soundtrack to the movie Shrek, along with their previous Grammy-nominated hit "All Star". The band also released the song on its self-titled album. Eddie Murphy, portraying the character Donkey, also performed a rendition of the song in the film. The song was chosen for its opening line, "I thought love was only true in fairy tales", which matched the fairy tale theme of the film. Subsequently, the song was played as exit music for the Broadway musical adaptation of the film for comic effect. (Weezer also had a version of the song at the end of Shrek{{'}}s 2010 sequel Shrek Forever After, which was inserted into the musical's finale a year into its run.) The Smash Mouth version peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 20 in New Zealand and Spain. In Australia, the cover reached number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart, received a Platinum certification for sales exceeding 70,000 and came in at number 36 on ARIA's year-end chart for 2001.
=Music video=
The music video for Smash Mouth's version was directed by Scott Marshall. It first depicts the band performing in a tent; then, the scene switches to them walking out of a movie theater, complete with cardboard advertisements of Shrek and the characters. Then, lead vocalist Steve Harwell accidentally bumps into a blond-haired woman and tries to catch up with her. However, a man with blond hair comes up as Harwell freaks out and screams. Afterward, the woman walks into a "fairy tale convention" at a hotel. Harwell continues to follow the woman into the hotel. Once in the hotel, Harwell tries to find the woman by looking through different rooms. However, there are short clips from Shrek each time he opens the door. Finally, he tries one more door and thinks it is the woman. However, a blond-haired chimpanzee is dancing with a woman dressed as a banana. With no luck, Harwell walks out of the hotel, but the woman speeds off in her red convertible.
Hoping to catch up, Harwell sneakily takes a red jacket and borrows a silver Lexus car driven by a costumed gingerbread man who is injured and using crutches. Then, Harwell winks at the camera as the chase begins. While driving, he throws the jacket up and into the street. He then stops at a party where the woman is and goes into a tent (the same one where the band's performance takes place). However, he observes several similar blonde-haired women, all dancing and wearing the same red shirt. Harwell somehow recognizes the woman again and catches up with her just as she boards a boat. He asks the boat captain for assistance, and the band performs on the boat during a heavy storm. Meanwhile, Harwell and the captain search for the woman. Finally, he catches her on a dock and informs her that she forgot her keys. Just as he is about to leave, the woman recognizes him as Steve from Smash Mouth and asks for his number. However, Harwell declines and says he has to go. The woman then chases him and yells, "Wait! Please! I love you!"
=Charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2001) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|9|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|14|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer|access-date=December 1, 2018}} |
| Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|archivedate=April 7, 2005|url=http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf|title=Canadian Top 20 in 2001|website=Cross Canada Countdown|accessdate=November 15, 2023}}
| style="text-align:center"|3 |
| {{single chart|Germany|94|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer|songid=44823|access-date=December 1, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|39|artist=Smash Mouth|access-date=January 20, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Italy|23|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer|access-date=December 1, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|87|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|12|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer}} |
| {{single chart|Spain|12|artist=Smash Mouth|song=I'm a Believer|access-date=December 1, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|25|artist=Smash Mouth|access-date=May 25, 2016}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|4|artist=Smash Mouth|access-date=November 3, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|15|artist=Smash Mouth|access-date=November 3, 2019}} |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2018) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Poland|75|chartid=2745|year=2018|access-date=July 2, 2018}} |
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2001) !Position |
| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2001/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001|publisher=ARIA|access-date=December 1, 2018}}
|align="center"|36 |
| Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS){{cite web|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html|title=BDS CHART : Top 100 of 2001|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726115818/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100page2_2001.html|archive-date=July 26, 2002|access-date=March 26, 2022}}
|align="center"|76 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 2001: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=113|issue=52|page=YE-82|date=December 29, 2001}}
|align="center"|20 |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2002) !Position |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=10|issue=51|page=16|date=December 20, 2002}}
|align="center"|99 |
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=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=December 1, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Smash Mouth|title=I'm a Believer|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=January 4, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Smash Mouth|title=I'm a Believer|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|access-date=April 13, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Smash Mouth|title=I'm a Believer|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=14199-3833-1|access-date=September 3, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
=Release history=
Other covers and later uses
An Italian cover by Caterina Caselli, "{{lang|it|Sono bugiarda|i=no}}" ("I'm a liar"), was released in 1967 on her album Diamoci del tu. It was used in Ridley Scott's 2021 biopic House of Gucci.{{Cite web|url=https://soundtracktracklist.com/release/ridley-scott-gucci-soundtrack/|title=House of Gucci Soundtrack|website=Soundtracktracklist.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunefind.com/movie/house-of-gucci-2021|title=Tunefind|website=Tunefind.com|access-date=October 23, 2023}}
British Canterbury scene musician Robert Wyatt issued a cover version of the song as a single on the Virgin label in 1974. The record was produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and reached number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/robert-wyatt-nick-mason-im-believer-made-rules-liked-99106/ | title=Robert Wyatt and Nick Mason on 'I'm a Believer': "We made our own rules and did what we liked" | date=January 27, 2017 }} Wyatt performed the song on BBC's Top of the Pops in September of that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/robert-wyatt-nick-mason-im-believer-made-rules-liked-99106/|title=Robert Wyatt and Nick Mason on 'I'm A Believer': "We made our own rules and did what we liked"|date=January 27, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZUXVo9gJMQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/EZUXVo9gJMQ |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live|title=I'm A Believer (Previously Unreleased Extended Version)|date=February 19, 2017 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
The song was also covered by EMF with Vic and Bob (Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer) in 1995 and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web |title=EMF/REEVES & MORTIMER |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31736/emf-reeves-and-mortimer/ |website=officialcharts |access-date=January 9, 2022}}
The song appeared in the Yugoslav Black Wave film When I Am Dead and Gone directed by Živojin Pavlović. The song appears in the singing competition scene, performed by singer Predrag Jovanović, who would later gain prominence as a member of the German band Jane and Yugoslav band Dʼ Boys.{{cite book|last=Janjatović|first=Petar|title=Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2023|year=2024|publisher=self-released / Makart|location=Belgrade|page=72}}
The song was initially used in the home video version of the Coen brothers' 1984 film Blood Simple, but after licensing issues were settled, it was replaced in the 2001 director's cut of the film by the song used in the theatrical version, Four Tops' "It's the Same Old Song."{{cite web |url=http://www.film365.co.uk/review/dvd/blood-simple |title=Blood Simple - Director's Cut (2013) DVD |date=March 27, 2013 |website=Film 365 |last=Beckett |first=David |access-date=October 5, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102805/http://www.film365.co.uk/review/dvd/blood-simple |url-status=usurped }}
American rock band Weezer performed a cover for the 2010 animated film Shrek Forever After. In 2018, Hot Dad performed a cover for Shrek Retold.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/64667-vampire-weekend-refused-to-capitalize-on-weezers-misfortune-by-replacing-them-on-shrek-soundtrack/ | title=Vampire Weekend "Refused to Capitalize on Weezer's Misfortune" by Replacing Them on Shrek Soundtrack | website=Pitchfork | date=April 7, 2016 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Monkees}}
{{EMF}}
{{Smash Mouth}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in South Africa
Category:Songs written by Neil Diamond
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Eric Valentine
Category:Interscope Records singles