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I Believe in You and Me

Summary

"I Believe in You and Me" is a song written by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert in 1982. The song was first recorded and released by the R&B group The Four Tops, who released it as a single from their album One More Mountain (1982). While it failed to reach the US Top 40, it became a moderate hit for the group on the US Billboard R&B chart, peaking at number 40 in early 1983.

"I Believe in You and Me"
Single by The Four Tops
from the album One More Mountain
A-side"Sad Hearts"
Released1983
Genre
Length4:02
LabelCasablanca
Songwriter(s)
The Four Tops singles chronology
"Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over"
(1982) 		"I Believe in You and Me"
(1983) 		"I Just Can't Walk Away"
(1983)

In 1996, R&B/pop singer Whitney Houston recorded a cover of the song for her film The Preacher's Wife and released it as a single. Following its release, the song became a top 5 pop and R&B hit in the US, also peaking on music charts worldwide.

History and composition edit

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.[1]

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.[2][3]

Charts edit

Chart (1983) Peak
position
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[1] 40

Whitney Houston version edit

"I Believe in You and Me"
 
Single by Whitney Houston
from the album The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album
B-side"Somebody Bigger Than You and I"
ReleasedDecember 10, 1996 (U.S.)
March 17, 1997 (U.K.)
Recorded1996
Genre
Length3:55
  • 4:01 (soundtrack version)
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Whitney Houston singles chronology
"Why Does It Hurt So Bad"
(1996) 		"I Believe in You and Me"
(1996) 		"Step by Step"
(1997)
Music video
"I Believe in You and Me" on YouTube

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 herself 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.[4][5] Whitney Houston's version was edited & sampled to create a duet with Barry Manilow for his album My Dream Duets (2014).

Composition edit

 
"I Believe in You and Me
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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.[6]

Critical response edit

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."[7] 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."[8] 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."[9] A reviewer from Music Week commented, "More serious schmaltz from The Preacher's Wife sountrack. Clearly destined for the Top 20 and anyone with a chocolate box heart."[10] 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."[11]

Commercial performance edit

"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.[12][13] 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.[14] The following week, it also reached a peak of number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Houston's 16th top five hit.[15] 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.[16][17] The song was ranked thirty-three on the 1997 Billboard Year-end Hot 100 Singles chart.[18] 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.[19] On the Billboard Adult R&B Songs list, the song peaked at number one staying there for four weeks.[20]

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.[21]

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,[22] number 59 in Canada and number 46 in Sweden.

Music video edit

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.

Live performances edit

Houston performed "I Believe in You and Me" on Saturday Night Live on December 14, 1996.[23] Houston also sang the song on the National Lottery show, broadcast live on the BBC in the United Kingdom on March 15, 1997.[24] 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] 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.[25] This performance was included in the 2014 CD/DVD release, Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances.[26]

Track listings and formats edit

Notable cover versions edit

  • 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.[31]
  • 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.[32][33]
  • 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.[34][35]
  • Usher performed this song in the CBS special "Grammy presents: We Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston".[36]
  • 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).[37]

Charts and certifications edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b The Four Tops | AllMusic
  2. ^ Video on YouTube
  3. ^ "The Four Tops - 50th Anniversary Concert". Allmusic. May 2, 2006. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  4. ^ "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - The 40th Annual Grammy Awards (1997)". The Recording Academy. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  5. ^ 40th Annual Grammy Awards: Final Nominations. Billboard. January 17, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Whitney Houston – I Believe In You and Me Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  7. ^ J. D. Considine (November 28, 1996). "'Preacher's Wife' lacks gospel fire". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  8. ^ "Reviews & Previews, Singles: I Believe In You and Me". Billboard. classicwhitney.com. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  9. ^ Elysa Gardner (November 24, 1996). "Oh, Whitney--for Heaven's Sake". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 8, 1997. p. 29. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  11. ^ Neil Strauss (November 21, 1996). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  12. ^ The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of December 28, 1996. Billboard. December 28, 1996. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  13. ^ The Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week of December 28, 1996. Billboard. December 28, 1996. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  14. ^ "The Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart listing for the week of January 25, 1997". Billboard. January 25, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  15. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart listing for the week of February 1, 1997". Billboard. February 1, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  16. ^ The Billboard Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of December 14, 1996. Billboard. December 14, 1996. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  17. ^ "The Billboard Adult Contemporary chart listing for the week of March 1, 1997". Billboard. March 1, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  18. ^ "Year-end Charts - 1997 Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1997. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  19. ^ "Year-end Charts - 1997 Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 31, 1997. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
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  21. ^ "RIAA certification for "I Believe In You And Me" single". Recording Industry Association of America. February 4, 1997. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
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  23. ^ "Saturday Night Live Transcripts: Season 22, Episode 7". snltranscripts.jt.org. December 14, 1996. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
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  25. ^ "Top artists descend on Vegas for World Music Awards". Lodi News-Sentinel. September 16, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Whitney Houston - Live: Her Greatest Performances". Allmusic. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  27. ^ "Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1996, CD)". Discogs.
  28. ^ "Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, CD Singe)". Discogs.
  29. ^ "Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, UK CD)". Discogs.
  30. ^ "Whitney Houston - I Believe in You and Me (1997, Australia CD)". Discogs.
  31. ^ J.R. Reynolds (April 19, 1997). The Rhythm and The Blues section, Essence Awards Accentuate The Positive; Living Legend Awards Spotlight Clayton. Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  32. ^ Anita M. Samuels (March 14, 1998). Badu Heads Soul Train; Singer Picks Up 4 Awards. Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  33. ^ "The musical tribute to Whitney Houston on the 12th Soul Train Music Awards". YouTube. February 15, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  34. ^ "The 2010 BET Honors performers". BET. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  35. ^ Argetsinger, Amy; Roberts, Roxanne (January 17, 2010). "BET's high-five for docs, divas". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  36. ^ Jessica Sager (October 15, 2012). "Watch Usher Perform 'I Believe In You and Me' at the Whitney Houston Tribute Show". PopCrush. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  37. ^ "David Peaston - Mixed Emotions". Allmusic. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  38. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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  58. ^ "1997 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 1997. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
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External links edit

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