I Believe in You and Me#Whitney Houston version

The original version recorded by The Four Tops was a moderate success, charting at number 40 on the US Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart.[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-four-tops-p4300/charts-awards/billboard-singles The Four Tops {{!}} AllMusic]

Due to the bigger success of the Whitney Houston version, "I Believe in You and Me" is most popularly known as a Whitney Houston song.

Shortly before the death of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs in 2008, who was sidelined from the group due to complications of a stroke, and confined to a wheelchair, appeared with the other members of The Four Tops, and Aretha Franklin, and sang "I Believe In You and Me" live onstage in Detroit, in his final television appearance on From The Heart: The Four Tops 50th Anniversary Special (2004) on PBS.{{YouTube|h1May52b1RQ}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/50th-anniversary-concert-dvd-mw0001437786 |title=The Four Tops - 50th Anniversary Concert |website=Allmusic |date=May 2, 2006 |access-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523130233/https://www.allmusic.com/album/50th-anniversary-concert-dvd-mw0001437786 |archive-date=May 23, 2017}}

{{Infobox song

| name = I Believe in You and Me

| cover = I_Believe_In_You_And_Me_US_Promo_Single_Cover.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Whitney Houston

| album = The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album

| B-side = Somebody Bigger Than You and I

| released = December 10, 1996 (U.S.)
March 17, 1997 (U.K.)

| recorded = 1996

| studio =

• Signet Studios (Los Angeles, CA){{cite AV media notes |title=The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album |others=Whitney Houston|year=1996 |type=CD album |publisher=Arista |id=07822-18951-2}}
• Crossway Studios (Mendham, NJ){{cite AV media notes |title=The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album |others=Whitney Houston|year=1996 |type=CD album |publisher=Arista |id=07822-18951-2}}

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|gospel}}

| length = 3:55

• 4:01 (soundtrack version)

| label = Arista

| writer = * Sandy Linzer

• David Wolfert

| producer = {{hlist|David Foster (single)

Mervyn Warren|Whitney Houston|(soundtrack version)}}

| prev_title = Why Does It Hurt So Bad

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = Step by Step

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|FQGt6VNm_iQ|"I Believe in You and Me"}}}}

}}

Thirteen years later in 1996, American singer and actress Whitney Houston recorded a cover of the song for her soundtrack album The Preacher's Wife, produced by Mervyn Warren and Houston on the film version, and David Foster on the single version of the song. It was released as the soundtrack's first single on December 10, 1996 by Arista Records. Houston received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her performance of the song at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards on February 25, 1998.{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/whitney-houston |title=Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - The 40th Annual Grammy Awards (1997) |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=February 14, 2018 }}{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rg0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA78 | title = 40th Annual Grammy Awards: Final Nominations | publisher = Billboard | date = January 17, 1998 | access-date = March 6, 2011}}

Whitney Houston's version was edited & sampled to create a duet with Barry Manilow for his album My Dream Duets (2014).

{{listen

| pos = left

| filename = Whitney_I_Believe_in_You.ogg

| title = "I Believe in You and Me

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"I Believe in You and Me" is a slow tempo R&B song with strong gospel influences. Written in the key of B major then modulates to C major, the beat is set in common time and moves at a slow 66 beats per minute. Houston's vocals in the song spans from the low note of G₃ to the high note of A₅.{{cite web|url =http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0074117|title =Whitney Houston – I Believe In You and Me Sheet Music (Digital Download)|publisher =Alfred Music Publishing|work =Musicnotes.com| access-date = 2010-10-07}}

J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun called the song "the Designated Hit Ballad" and added "[it] is pretty much what we've come to expect from Houston ― a slow, Streisand-esque build-up, a subtle sense of drama and a big, full-voiced payoff in the final chorus."{{cite news | author = J. D. Considine | author-link = J. D. Considine | url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/11/28/preachers-wife-lacks-gospel-fire/ | title = 'Preacher's Wife' lacks gospel fire | newspaper = The Baltimore Sun | date = November 28, 1996 | access-date = March 6, 2011 | archive-date = September 19, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120919215417/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-11-28/features/1996333060_1_preacher-wife-houston-gospel | url-status = live }} Also American magazine Billboard gave the song a positive review, saying "As she did with Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You,' Houston redefines the composition with a soaring, glass-shattering performance that will leave her legions of fans breathless."{{cite magazine|url =http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/singles/billboardsingles.htm | title = Reviews & Previews, Singles: I Believe In You and Me| magazine = Billboard | publisher = classicwhitney.com | access-date = October 7, 2010}} While reviewing the soundtrack, Elysa Gardner of Los Angeles Times wrote described it as "a cheesy classic in the tradition of 'I Will Always Love You,' with an instantly familiar melody and a poignant, bolero-like arrangement."{{cite news | author = Elysa Gardner | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-24-ca-2290-story.html | title = Oh, Whitney--for Heaven's Sake | newspaper = Los Angeles Times | date = November 24, 1996 | access-date = March 6, 2011}} A reviewer from Music Week commented, "More serious schmaltz from The Preacher's Wife soundtrack. Clearly destined for the Top 20 and anyone with a chocolate box heart."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-03-08.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=March 8, 1997|page=29|accessdate=May 13, 2022}} In his review for the soundtrack, Neil Strauss from The New York Times praised the song as one of "the year's most virtuosic pop ballads."{{cite news | author = Neil Strauss | author-link = Neil Strauss | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E0D91F3AF932A15752C1A960958260&scp=3&sq=the+preacher%27s+wife+whitney+houston&st=nyt | title = The Pop Life | newspaper = The New York Times | date = November 21, 1996 | access-date = March 6, 2011}}

"I Believe in You and Me", the first single from The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack, debuted at number seven and number six, on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts, the issue date of December 28, 1996, respectively.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA76 | title = The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of December 28, 1996 | publisher = Billboard | date = December 28, 1996 | access-date = March 5, 2011}}{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32 | title = The Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week of December 28, 1996 | publisher = Billboard | date = December 28, 1996 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} Four weeks later, on January 25, 1997, it was released in the R&B marketplace as a two-sided single with "Somebody Bigger Than You and I" from the soundtrack. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-01-25/r-b-hip-hop-songs | title = The Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week of January 25, 1997 | magazine = Billboard | date = January 25, 1997 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} The following week, it also reached a peak of number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Houston's 16th top five hit.{{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-02-01/hot-100?order=position | title = The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of February 1, 1997 | magazine = Billboard | date = February 1, 1997 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} The song entered the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at number 19, the issue date of December 14, 1996 and peaked at number two, making it her 21st top ten hit of the chart, the issue date of March 1, 1997.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA71 | title = The Billboard Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of December 14, 1996 | publisher = Billboard | date = December 14, 1996 | access-date = March 5, 2011}}{{cite magazine | url = http://www.billboard.com/charts/1997-03-01/adult-contemporary | title = The Billboard Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of March 1, 1997 | magazine = Billboard | date = March 1, 1997 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} The song was ranked thirty-three on the 1997 Billboard Year-end Hot 100 Singles chart.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/850366 |title=Year-end Charts - 1997 Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |date=December 31, 1997 |access-date=September 10, 2011 |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009174442/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/850366 |url-status=dead }} Additionally, "I Believe in You and Me/Somebody Bigger Than You and I" two-sided single placed at position number twenty-nine on the 1997 Billboard Year-end Hot R&B Singles chart.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/850265 |title=Year-end Charts - 1997 Hot R&B Singles |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc |date=December 31, 1997 |access-date=September 10, 2011 |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009174450/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/850265 |url-status=dead }} On the Billboard Adult R&B Songs list, the song peaked at number one staying there for four weeks.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/whitney-houston/chart-history/rba/ |title=Whitney Houston: Billboard Chart History (Adult R&B Songs) |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=November 27, 2022}}

The single was certified Platinum for the shipments of 1,000,000 copies or more by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 4, 1997, becoming Houston's fourth Platinum single.{{cite web | url = https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=i+believe+in+you+%26+me&col=certification_date&ord=asc#search_section | title = RIAA certification for "I Believe In You And Me" single | publisher = Recording Industry Association of America | date = February 4, 1997 | access-date = March 5, 2011}}

Worldwide, it was released as the second single from the soundtrack after "Step by Step". The single peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart,{{cite web | url = https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19970323/7501/ | title = UK Singles Chart listing for the week ending March 29, 1997 | publisher = Official Charts Company | date = March 29, 1997 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} number 59 in Canada and number 46 in Sweden.

The music video for Houston's version of the song was filmed in Fishkill, New York. It uses the single version produced by David Foster, which features a different arrangement from the jazz version produced by Houston and Mervyn Warren. The scenery is set in a wintery forest with her singing as she is surrounding with trees decorated with Christmas lights, live orchestration and lightning flashes. Scenes from the movie are intercut in the video.

Houston performed "I Believe in You and Me" on Saturday Night Live on December 14, 1996.{{cite web | url = http://snltranscripts.jt.org/96/96i.phtml | title = Saturday Night Live Transcripts: Season 22, Episode 7 | publisher = snltranscripts.jt.org | date = December 14, 1996 | access-date = March 6, 2011}} Houston also sang the song on the National Lottery show, broadcast live on the BBC in the United Kingdom on March 15, 1997.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFa53KEUlNI | title = "I Believe In You And Me" live performance by Whitney Houston on the National Lottery Show in 1997 | publisher = YouTube | date = October 22, 2009 | access-date = March 5, 2011}} The song was performed in some concerts on her 1998 European Tour. For her 1999 My Love Is Your Love World Tour, it was used to open a medley of movie soundtrack songs.{{Cn|date=February 2022}} Houston performed the song along with "I Will Always Love You" as a part of medley for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Arista Records, taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 10 and later broadcast on NBC, May 15, 2000.{{Cn|date=February 2022}} In 2004, she performed a similar medley as part of a tribute to Clive Davis at the 16th World Music Awards on September 15, 2004.{{cite news | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=luo0AAAAIBAJ&pg=7049,1695005&dq=world+music+awards+2004+whitney+houston&hl=en | title = Top artists descend on Vegas for World Music Awards | newspaper = Lodi News-Sentinel | date = September 16, 2004 | access-date = March 6, 2011}} This performance was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.{{cite web |last=Kellman |first=Andy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-her-greatest-performances-mw0002759110 |title= Whitney Houston - Live: Her Greatest Performances |website=Allmusic |access-date=February 11, 2018 }}

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• US, CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-I-Believe-In-You-And-Me/release/3966281|title=Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1996, CD)|website=Discogs }}

1. "I Believe In You And Me" (Record Version) — 3:51
2. "Somebody Bigger Than You And I" — 4:41 ^A
3. "I Believe In You And Me" (Film Version) — 4:00
4. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" — 4:23
5. "Who Would Imagine a King" — 2:48

• Europe, CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-I-Believe-In-You-And-Me/release/474021|title=Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, CD Single)|website=Discogs }}

1. "I Believe In You And Me" (Single Version) — 3:51
2. "Step By Step" (Radio Remix) — 3:56 ^B
3. "Step By Step" (K-Klassic Remix) — 10:06 ^C

^A Produced and Arranged by Rickey Minor
^B Additional Production and Remix by Tony Moran
^C Additional Production and Remix by K-Klass

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• UK, CD single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-I-Believe-In-You-And-Me/release/901242|title=Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, UK CD)|website=Discogs }}

1. "I Believe in You and Me" (Single Version) — 3:51
2. "Step By Step" (Tony Moran Diva X Diva Mix) — 10:04 ^B
3. "Step By Step" (K-Klassic Mix) — 10:06 ^C

• Australia, CD maxi-single{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-I-Believe-In-You-And-Me/release/7038962|title=Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, Australia CD)|website=Discogs }}

1. "I Believe in You and Me" (Single Version) — 3:51
2. "Step By Step" (Tony Moran Radio Remix) — 3:56 ^B
3. "Step By Step" (K-Klassic Mix) — 10:06 ^C

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• CeCe Winans performed the song to tribute to Whitney Houston, the first ever recipient of the Triumphant Spirit Award at the 10th annual Essence Awards, taped on April 4, 1997 and broadcast later on Fox TV, May 22, 1997.{{cite book | author = J.R. Reynolds | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9w4EAAAAMBAJ&q=1997+essence+awards+cissy+houston&pg=PA22 | title = The Rhythm and The Blues section, Essence Awards Accentuate The Positive; Living Legend Awards Spotlight Clayton | publisher = Billboard | date = April 19, 1997 | access-date = March 6, 2011}}
• At the 12th annual Soul Train Music Awards on February 27, 1998, the song was performed by Kenny Lattimore and Terry Ellis as part of a musical tribute to Houston, who was honored with the Quincy Jones Award for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment on the ceremony.{{cite book | author = Anita M. Samuels| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6w4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 | title = Badu Heads Soul Train; Singer Picks Up 4 Awards | publisher = Billboard | date = March 14, 1998 | access-date = March 6, 2011}}{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiACNJiz5e8 | title = The musical tribute to Whitney Houston on the 12th Soul Train Music Awards | publisher = YouTube | date = February 15, 2009 | access-date = March 8, 2011}}
• Kim Burrell sang the jazzy version of the song to tribute to Houston, who was honoree in entertainment field, and received a standing ovation on The 2010 BET Honors, taped at the Warner Theatre on January 16 and later aired on BET, February 1, 2010.{{cite web | url = http://www.bet.com/specials/bethonors10/tbh10_performers/ | title = The 2010 BET Honors performers | publisher = BET | date = February 2, 2010 | access-date = March 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407091018/https://www.bet.com/specials/bethonors10/tbh10_performers |archive-date=April 7, 2010 }}{{cite web |last1=Argetsinger |first1=Amy |last2=Roberts |first2=Roxanne |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/01/rs-bet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220192234/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/01/rs-bet.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2013 |title=BET's high-five for docs, divas |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 17, 2010 |access-date=September 18, 2018 }}
• Usher performed this song in the CBS special "Grammy presents: We Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston".{{cite web | author = Jessica Sager | url = http://popcrush.com/usher-perform-i-believe-in-you-and-me-whitney-houston-tribute-show/ | title = Watch Usher Perform 'I Believe In You and Me' at the Whitney Houston Tribute Show | publisher = PopCrush | date = October 15, 2012 | access-date = November 21, 2012}}
• American R&B singer, David Peaston, won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist, also recorded the song for his Mixed Emotions album (1991).{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mixed-emotions-mw0000676475 |title= David Peaston - Mixed Emotions |website=Allmusic |access-date=March 29, 2018 }}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Whitney Houston|title=I Believe In You & Me|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76 |title=Best-Selling Records of 1997 |magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|date=January 31, 1998 |access-date=May 9, 2015 |page=76 |issn=0006-2510|volume=110|number=5}}|refname=riaa}}

|}

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{{Reflist|3}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Whitney-Houston-I-Believe-In-You-And-Me/master/222007 I Believe in You and Me] at Discogs

{{Four Tops}}

{{Four Tops singles}}

{{Whitney Houston}}

{{Whitney Houston Singles}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:I Believe In You And Me}}

Category:1982 songs

Category:1983 singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:1997 singles

Category:Four Tops songs

Category:Whitney Houston songs

Category:Songs written by Sandy Linzer

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Rhythm and blues ballads

Category:Music videos directed by F. Gary Gray

Category:Casablanca Records singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:1990s ballads