I Believe I Can Fly Explained

I Believe I Can Fly
Cover:IBELIEVEICANFLY.jpg
Type:single
Artist:R. Kelly
Album:Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture R.
Studio:Battery (Chicago, Illinois)
Genre:
Length:
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 4:42 (radio edit)
Label:
Producer:R. Kelly
Prev Title:I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Gotham City
Next Year:1997

"I Believe I Can Fly" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer R. Kelly from the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, and was later included on Kelly's 1998 album R. In early 1997, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the number-one spot of the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and remained there for six non-consecutive weeks. Internationally, "I Believe I Can Fly" topped the charts in eight countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The song received five nominations at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, winning Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while losing Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It was ranked number 406 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. The music video was directed by Kelly with Hype Williams[1] and designed by visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy.

Background and composition

In a 2013 interview with The Boombox, R. Kelly was asked about the creative process behind the song: "When I met Michael Jordan on a basketball court at an athletic club — we hooped together in Chicago — he came to me and asked me if I wanted to do a song for his upcoming movie," Kelly said. "I was like, 'Yeah!' I didn't even ask what it was. [Eventually] he let me know what it was, we went to a screening to watch it and that's when I ended up coming up with 'I Believe I Can Fly'. I knew from the first melody that was gonna be the song that was gonna take me out of R&B and into another genre of music."[2]

Critical reception

A writer for Associated Press described the song as "majestic" and "gospel-styled", noting that "hearing R. Kelly's booming voice reach a crescendo while backed up by a choir is a rousing performance that will get many replays".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it is "highly inspirational" and "embodying the mind-set of the two superstars [Michael Jordan and R. Kelly]". He added, ""If I can dream it, I can achieve it." A great motivator for the children who will flock to the silver screen for Jordan".[4] A reviewer from Chicago Sun-Times viewed it as a "warm anthem".[5]

Ross Scarano from Complex said, "Like it or not, R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" works because of R. Kelly. There's not another singer alive with the same combination of ability, earnest conviction, and personal demons—demons that Kelly believes he needs the listener's support to fight." He added that the singer "calls on strings and a choir and every bit of strength available in his lungs and vocal chords to rise above the broad struggle described in the lyrics."[6] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly opined that the "go-for-it lyrics and florid orchestration seem to have been written with a future Disney musical in mind."[7]

Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted "I Believe I Can Fly"'s "genuine power as a redemption song" and also called it "the most convincing self-help song".[8] British newspaper Lennox Herald picked it as the "undoubted highlight" of the Space Jam album".[9] Thessa Mooji from Music & Media described it as a "dramatic ballad".[10] Music Week rated it three out of five, calling it "a smoochy gospel-tinged ballad". They added, "A huge hit in the US and should ignite here."[11]

A reviewer for People Magazine labeled it as "schmaltzy but potent".[12] Sunday Mirror rated it five out of ten, writing, "'I believe I can soar' sings R. Kelly but I suppose we should be thankful that he's released a proper song for once instead of those awful rap cover versions which are clogging up the charts these days. It's taken from the film Space Jam and if you bought Toni Braxton's last single and liked The Bodyguard then you will buy this for sure. I believe it will fly to the top of the charts though it makes me sore to say it."[13] James L. Brown from USC Today deemed it a "long slow ballad".[14]

Impact and legacy

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked "I Believe I Can Fly" number 406 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2012, Complex placed the song at number 24 in their ranking of The Best 90s R&B Songs.[15]

Music video

The music video for "I Believe I Can Fly" was directed by Hype Williams. It begins at an old farm, where a young boy is playing with his ball. By the farm lies an autumn yellow cornfield, where R. Kelly starts singing. In another scene, a large screen by the farm are showing clips from Space Jam, while Kelly performs on the ground. Later in the video, the singer sits in an autumn forest. Behind him is the screen where the film's clips are displayed. In the last part of the video, Kelly conducts a large choir in a sports hall, accompanied by an orchestra. After Kelly has sung the last stanzas of the song, the choir claps as the video ends.[16]

Personnel

Cover versions

In film and television

Other than appearing on the soundtrack for the film Space Jam, "I Believe I Can Fly" was performed by the school band in the 2002 film Drumline during the high school graduation ceremony of Devon Miles (played by Nick Cannon).

Other performances

Kelly performed this song at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.

In The TP-2.com Tour, Kelly performed a 10-minute long remix of "I Believe I Can Fly," which included dialogue from a priest, Kelly's mother, and God as characters. The remix was later featured on the bootleg release Loveland.[21] [22]

STS-122 crew heard this song on flight day 10 as a wake up call.[23]

Since its release, it has become commonly associated with the NBA, most notably with Michael Jordan. The song also played at the conclusion of NBC's broadcast of the 1997 NBA Finals.

In addition to the NBA, the song also found use at other sporting events, most notably at Major League Baseball's New York Yankees home games during their four consecutive World Series runs from 1998 to 2001, the first three of which they won.

A version of the song, recorded by the Halifax community choir, was used as the backing track to a 2012 UK TV advertisement for the Halifax Bank.[24]

On October 13, 2012, when the Space Shuttle Endeavour was being transferred from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center through the streets of Los Angeles, the recording was played as the shuttle left The Forum, and the song was performed live by James Ingram later that day at Debbie Allen's live show celebrating the Endeavour's arrival at the corner of Crenshaw Blvd and Martin Luther King Blvd. (The shuttle was delayed over five hours in arriving there; to keep the crowd entertained, the performance went on only slightly delayed.)

Parodies

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[25] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[26] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[27] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[28] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29] 45
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[30] 29
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[31] 11
France (SNEP)[32] 57
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 38
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[37] 74
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 87
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[40] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[42] 14
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[43] 7

Decade-end charts

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: mvdbase.com - R. Kelly - "I believe I can fly" This song hit top charts in the united states.. 2014-12-02. 2016-03-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212346/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=15312. dead.
  2. Web site: R. Kelly Reveals Creative Process for 'I Believe I Can Fly' & Most Emotional Song Ever Written [Exclusive Interview]]. McKynzie. Amber. December 2, 2013. The Boombox. August 5, 2019.
  3. R. Kelly's majestic song best on 'Space Jam' soundtrack. The Telegraph-Herald. December 29, 1996. March 15, 2020.
  4. Larry. Flick. Single Reviews. Billboard. October 26, 1996. February 5, 2020. 80. Larry Flick.
  5. "Flying with MJ R. Kelly's anthem takes off". Chicago Sun-Times. November 14, 1996. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. Ross . Scarano . The Best 90s R&B Songs . . October 8, 2019 . April 8, 2020 .
  7. David. Browne. Music Review: 'Space Jam'. Entertainment Weekly. November 15, 1996. February 23, 2020. David Browne (journalist).
  8. Web site: Tom. Ewing. R. KELLY – "I Believe I Can Fly". Freaky Trigger. February 23, 2014. March 6, 2020.
  9. "Top Ten debut for Jam anthology". Lennox Herald. July 11, 1997. page 32. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. Web site: Mooji, Thessa . Reviews: Albums . . February 1, 1997 . 15 . December 8, 2020.
  11. Reviews: Singles. Music Week. February 22, 1997. 14. May 10, 2022.
  12. Picks and Pans Review: Music from and Inspired by the Space Jam Motion Picture. People. December 9, 1996. March 9, 2020.
  13. "The Sugar and Spice Girls Are Playing It Nice". Sunday Mirror. March 2, 1997. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  14. James L. . Brown . Space Jam rocks with new tracks . . February 19, 1997 . 7 .
  15. The Best 90s R&B Songs . . July 27, 2020 .
  16. Web site: R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly (LP Version). https://web.archive.org/web/20131031050834/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc&list=UUZZjtPu39XM1ujnfzooh-ew . 2013-10-31 . dead. YouTube. 1 August 2020.
  17. http://www.discogs.com/Mikaila-Dreams/release/16094871 Mikaila – Dreams
  18. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r834606|pure_url=yes}} Dressed to Chill overview]. Allmusic.com.
  19. Web site: Dressed to Chill Marion Meadows. JazzTimes.com. 2010-07-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052803/http://jazztimes.com/articles/16902-dressed-to-chill-marion-meadows. 2014-08-08. dead.
  20. Web site: GLEE: The New Directions Perform Fly/I Believe I Can Fly on Perez TV. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203223617/http://perezhilton.com/tv/GLEE_The_New_Directions_Perform_Fly_I_Believe_I_Can_Fly/?id=54a9fb8ce6011&autoplay=false. 2013-12-03.
  21. Web site: THE NEW SEASON/MUSIC; The Adventures Of 'Loveland'. Sanneh. Kelefa. The New York Times. 8 Sep 2002. 25 Jul 2018.
  22. Web site: R. Kelly Vows To Clamp Down As New Bootleg Hits Streets. https://web.archive.org/web/20140814105741/http://www.mtv.com/news/1454446/r-kelly-vows-to-clamp-down-as-new-bootleg-hits-streets/. dead. August 14, 2014. MTV. 21 May 2002. 25 Jul 2018.
  23. Web site: STS-122 Wakeup Calls. February 16, 2008. NASA. 2008. NASA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217205720/http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/gallery/audio/shuttle/sts-122/html/ndxpage1.html. February 17, 2008.
  24. Web site: Halifax unveil home insurance ad with Adam and Eve . The Drum . 2012-11-08.
  25. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 14. 19. 18. May 10, 1997. April 14, 2020.
  26. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 17. 16. April 26, 1997. April 14, 2020.
  27. News: Íslenski Listinn NR. 215 Vikuna 3.4. '97 – 9.4. '97. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. April 4, 1997. April 8, 2018.
  28. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1997. austriancharts.at. de. March 6, 2020.
  29. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1997. Ultratop. nl. March 6, 2020.
  30. Web site: Rapports Annuels 1997. Ultratop. fr. March 6, 2020.
  31. 1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 52. 7. 27 December 1997. December 20, 2019.
  32. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1997. SNEP. fr. July 7, 2020.
  33. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997. de. GfK Entertainment. July 15, 2015.
  34. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997. Dutch Top 40. March 6, 2020.
  35. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997. MegaCharts. March 6, 2020.
  36. Web site: End of Year Charts 1997. Recorded Music NZ. December 4, 2017.
  37. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997. ro. Romanian Top 100. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050922001105/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html. September 22, 2005. September 19, 2017.
  38. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1997. Sverigetopplistan. sv. May 26, 2020.
  39. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1997. hitparade.ch. de. March 6, 2020.
  40. Top 100 Singles 1997. Music Week. 27. January 17, 1998.
  41. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1997. August 28, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090611194337/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1997. June 11, 2009.
  42. 1997 The Year in Music. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-82. December 27, 1997. September 13, 2021.
  43. Web site: R&B Rap Hip-Hop Year-End Charts – 1997 – Soul System.
  44. Geoff Mayfield. 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. December 25, 1999. October 15, 2010.

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