Something to Believe In (Poison song) explained

Something to Believe In
Cover:Something To Believe In.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Poison
Album:Flesh and Blood
B-Side:Ball and Chain
Released:September 4, 1990
Genre:Glam metal[1]
Length:5:29
Label:Capitol
Producer:Bruce Fairbairn
Prev Title:Unskinny Bop
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Ride the Wind
Next Year:1991

"Something to Believe In" is a song by American glam metal band Poison, released as the second single from their third studio album, Flesh & Blood (1990). "Something to Believe In" was also released on the Best of Ballads & Blues album in 2003, with alternate lyrics (part 2). The ballad[2] peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, number five on the Album Rock Tracks chart, number 35 in the United Kingdom, and number 44 in Australia. It was Poison's last top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

This song was dedicated to James Kimo Maano, a security guard and best friend of Bret Michaels who had died some time earlier.

The cover art for the single depicts a tattoo on Michaels' arm of a cross with the words "Something to Believe In". The tattoo artist, according to Michaels, had been drinking and spelled "believe" incorrectly putting the "e" before the "i". It was attempted to be corrected by adding a rose to the cross that covered the misspelling, but Michaels was never satisfied with the results. In the first season of the reality show Rock of Love, Michaels goes to a tattoo shop where the tattoo artist properly touches up the tattoo.

Music video

During the filming of the video, unbeknownst to Michaels, the director had inserted footage of James Kimo Maano which was playing on a screen in front of Bret. This was done to try to draw an emotional reaction from Michaels. It worked so well that Michaels lost his composure and had to leave the set for several hours. On the final cut of the video, during the second verse, Michaels can be seen visually holding back tears as he momentarily stops singing.

Reception

"Something to Believe In" is widely regarded as one of Poison's best songs. In 2017, Billboard and OC Weekly ranked the song number four and number one, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest Poison songs.[3] [4]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 38
Chart (1991)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 78

Decade-end charts

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Popoff, Martin. The big book of hair metal : the illustrated oral history of heavy metal's debauched decade. 2014. 978-0-7603-4546-7. Minneapolis, MN. 858901054. 201.
  2. Web site: Poison Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
  3. Poison's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Christa. Titus. Billboard. July 5, 2017. September 18, 2022.
  4. Web site: The 10 Best Poison Songs. Michael. Silver. OC Weekly. June 13, 2017. September 18, 2022.
  5. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 45. V. November 10, 1990. June 21, 2021.
  6. Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1990. November 26, 2017.
  7. 1991 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles. Billboard. 103. 51. YE-14. December 21, 1991.
  8. Web site: Top 100 singles of the 1990s. Lwin. Nanda. Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html. August 29, 2000. March 26, 2022.