Believe (Lenny Kravitz song)

1993 single by Lenny KravitzTemplate:SHORTDESC:1993 single by Lenny Kravitz[[Category:**Script error: No such module "pagetype".** with short description]]**Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".****Expression error: Unexpected < operator.****Script error: No such module "SDcat".**

## General information

"**Believe**" is a song by Lenny Kravitz from his third album, *Are You Gonna Go My Way*. It was released as the second single from the album on May 10, 1993, by Virgin Records. It is a rock ballad with string orchestration, and was co-written, arranged and produced by Kravitz, with Henry Hirsch also contributing to the orchestration and composition. Its lyrics concern one being able to achieve freedom and "eternal grace" if they believe in themselves and put their faith in God.

"Believe" was the first song from the album to be issued as a commercial single and to chart in the US, where it reached number 60 on the *Billboard* Hot 100. It found bigger success internationally, reaching number one in Iceland and the top 10 in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

## Critical reception

Like much of Kravitz's previous material and the *Are You Gonna Go My Way* album, critics noted its musical influences, with Scott Poulson-Bryant of *Rolling Stone* pointing out the similarity between its "string-laden" coda and that of the 1971 song "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos. Larry Flick from *Billboard* commented, "Track makes easy switches between styles, from swaying pop ballad to treated psychedelia, and it builds to a grand finish." Writing for the *Chicago Tribune*, Patrick Kampert compared its sound, along with that of album track "Just Be a Woman", to the works of the Beatles. Music writer James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary that "the Beatlesque Believe [is] tipping a nod in the direction of I Am The Walrus coupled with an anthemic chorus". Pan-European magazine *Music & Media* noted, "Church bells ring in the outro... Kravitz sees the light on the finest track off his current album. With this soulful ballad, he'll be the messiah for many formats."

In retrospective reviews of the album, *Renowned for Sound* said the track "still sounds relevant today", calling it an "uplifting rock ballad" and acclaiming its "impressive vocals and violin filled chorus [that is] very pleasant to the ear". Reviewing the album's deluxe edition for *The Morton Report*, Chaz Lipp called it a "rock radio hit" and "one of the biggest production numbers, with lush orchestration and phased lead vocals. It's a soaring, inspirational gem."

## Music video

The accompanying music video for "Believe" was directed by French director Michel Gondry, with visual effects contributed by the French company BUF Compagnie. It is an homage to Stanley Kubrick's 1968 science fiction film *2001: A Space Odyssey*, with the Deutsches Filminstitut calling it "pretty close" to the look of the original film. "Believe" was published on YouTube in May 2011. The video has amassed more than 6,6 million views as of September 2021.

## Track listing

**Script error: No such module "Track listing".**
**Script error: No such module "Track listing".**

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

**Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".**
* Lenny Kravitz – lead and background vocals, bass guitar, drums, production
* Henry Hirsch – Wurlitzer, engineering, mixing
* Craig Ross – acoustic and electric guitar
* Michael Hunter – French horn
* Eric Delente – violin
* Soye Kim – violin
* Robert Lawrence – violin
* Sarah Adams – viola
* Liuh-Wen Ting – viola
* Allen Whear – cello
* Frank Murphy – cello
* Carolyn Davies Fryer – double bass

## Charts

 US Mainstream Rock (*Billboard*) | 15

 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 25

## Certifications

**Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".**

**Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".****Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".**

## References

1. ↑ **Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".**
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
4. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
5. ↑ **Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".**
6. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
7. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
8. ↑ **Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".**
9. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
10. ↑ Template:MVDBase
11. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
12. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
13. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
14. ↑ **Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".**
15. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
16. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
17. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2242." *RPM*. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
18. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
19. ↑ "Lenny Kravitz – Believe" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
20. ↑ Template:Cite newspaper
21. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
22. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
23. ↑ "**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&titel=**Script error: No such module "WLink".**&cat=s Lenny Kravitz – Believe". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
24. ↑ "Lenny Kravitz: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
25. ↑ **Script error: No such module "WLink".**/chart-history/HSI "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot 100)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
26. ↑ **Script error: No such module "WLink".**/chart-history/MRT "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
27. ↑ **Script error: No such module "WLink".**/chart-history/RTT "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". *Billboard*. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
28. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
29. ↑ **Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".**
30. ↑ Template:Cite newspaper
31. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**
32. ↑ **Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".**

Template:Lenny Kravitz singles
**Script error: No such module "Authority control".****Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".**