Believer (Goldfrapp song) explained

Believer
Cover:	Goldfrapp - Believer.png
Type:	single
Artist:	Goldfrapp
Album:	Head First
Genre:	Synth-pop new wave
Length:	3:43
Label:	Mute
Producer:	Alison Goldfrapp Will Gregory
Prev Title:	Alive
Prev Year:	2010
Next Title:	Thea
Next Year:	2014

"Believer" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First (2010). The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel. It was released on 6 September 2010 as the album's third and final single.

Release

The single was confirmed in July 2010 in an email to fans, where it was also confirmed that Vince Clarke and Davide Rossi would remix the single, among others. Goldfrapp performed the song on on 22 August 2010.^[1]

Critical reception

"Believer" received positive reviews from critics. In a review for Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani described the song as "a bit of new wave-inflected computer pop (think B-52s meets Erasure) that finds Alison's faith in Cupid restored."^[2] Ian Wade of BBC Music stated that "the stupendous 'Believer', with its stadium-sized chorus, appears like a turbo-charged Fleetwood Mac."^[3] Heather Phares of AllMusic commented that the song "sounds instantly familiar, but not tired or obvious",^[4] and Digital Spy reviewer Nick Levine wrote that "the synths on 'Believer' bounce along like vintage Erasure."^[5] The Independents Andy Gill opined that the song, "with its childlike lyric [...] set to a basic Eighties' synth riff, is exactly in step with retro-electropop fashion."^[6]

Music video

The music video for "Believer" was directed by Lisa Gunning and consists of live footage from the Head First World Tour. It premiered on YouTube on 11 August 2010.^[7]

Track listing

• Digital single^[8]

1. "Believer" – 3:44
2. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Remix) – 5:46
3. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Dub) – 7:11
4. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:42
5. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix Edit) – 3:56
6. "Believer" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:11
7. "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:40
8. "Believer" (Davide Rossi Reinterpretation) – 3:59

• CD single^[9]

1. "Believer" (Album Version) – 3:43
2. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Remix) – 5:47
3. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:42
4. "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:41
5. "Believer" (Davide Rossi Reinterpretation) – 3:59

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Head First.^[10]

Recording

• Mixed at The Mix Suite UK (London)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

• Alison Goldfrapp – vocals, recording, production
• Will Gregory – recording, production
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Matty Green – mixing assistance
• Pascal Gabriel – additional production
• Bruno Ellingham – additional engineering
• Ted Jensen – mastering

Charts

Chart (2010)! scope="col"

Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)^[11]	180
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)^[12]	31

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alan Carr: Chatty Man – Series 4 – Episode 10 . . 21 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101031081451/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/alan-carr-chatty-man/episode-guide/series-4/episode-10 . 31 October 2010.
2. Web site: Cinquemani . Sal . Review: Goldfrapp, Head First . . 10 March 2010 . 6 September 2019.
3. Web site: Wade . Ian . Review of Goldfrapp – Head First . . 12 March 2010 . 21 October 2010.
4. Web site: Phares . Heather . Head First – Goldfrapp . . 16 December 2016.
5. Web site: Levine . Nick . Goldfrapp: 'Head First' . . 1 April 2010 . 6 September 2019.
6. Web site: Gill . Andy . Album: Goldfrapp, Head First (Mute) . . 19 March 2010 . 21 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107013546/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-goldfrapp-head-first-mute-1923536.html . 7 November 2012.
7. Web site: 'i'm a believer' on tour with goldfrapp. . 11 August 2010 . 23 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130630211951/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1d2ic-QpfA&feature=channel_video_title . 30 June 2013 . dead . YouTube.
8. Web site: Believer by Goldfrapp on Apple Music . . 2 May 2022.
9. Web site: Believer (CD single): Goldfrapp . . United Kingdom . 6 September 2019.
10. Goldfrapp . Goldfrapp . . liner notes . . 2010 . CDSTUMM320.
11. Web site: Chart Log UK (1994–2010): Gina G – GZA . Zobbel.de . 3 March 2011.
12. Web site: Goldfrapp Chart History (Hot Singles Sales) . . 6 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201018064956/https://www.billboard.com/music/goldfrapp/chart-history/hot-singles-sales . 18 October 2020.