Believer (Goldfrapp song)
Encyclopedia
"Believer" is a synthpop
song by English duo Goldfrapp
from their fifth studio album, Head First
. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
and Will Gregory
, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel
, the song was released as the album's third and final single
on 6 September 2010.
and Davide Rossi
would remix the single, among others. Goldfrapp performed the song on Alan Carr: Chatty Man
on 22 August 2010.
, 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." Ian Wade from BBC Music
stated that "the stupendous 'Believer', with its stadium-sized chorus, appears like a turbo-charged Fleetwood Mac
." Heather Phares from Allmusic commented that the song "sounds instantly familiar, but not tired or obvious", and Digital Spy
reviewer Nick Levine wrote that "the synths on 'Believer' bounce along like vintage Erasure." The Independent
s 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."
for the song was directed by Lisa Gunning and consists of live footage from the Head First World Tour
. It was uploaded onto YouTube
on 11 August 2010.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
song by English duo Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
from their fifth studio album, Head First
Head First (Goldfrapp album)
Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. It was released in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album's lead single, "Rocket", was released on the iTunes Store on 5 March 2010...
. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp
Alison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
and Will Gregory
Will Gregory
William Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel
Pascal Gabriel
Pascal Richard Marcel Gabriel is a Belgian-born musician based in London. His musical career began in 1977 in the punk rock band The Razors...
, the song was released as the album's third and final single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on 6 September 2010.
Release
The single was confirmed in July 2010 in an email to fans, where it was also confirmed that Vince ClarkeVince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
and Davide Rossi
Davide Rossi
Davide Francesco Rossi , is a violinist, string arranger, composer and a record producer, perhaps best known for being the violinist, guitar and keytar-player for the British electronic music group Goldfrapp, and for his large contribution of electric violin parts and for all the string...
would remix the single, among others. Goldfrapp performed the song on Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man
Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The award-winning show is on Channel 4. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music....
on 22 August 2010.
Critical reception
"Believer" received positive reviews from critics. In a review for Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
, Sal Cinquemani described the song as "a bit of new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
-inflected computer pop (think B-52s meets Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
) that finds Alison's faith in Cupid
Cupid
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. His Greek counterpart is Eros...
restored." Ian Wade from BBC Music
BBC Music
BBC Music is a team working in the department of Audio and Music Interactive at the BBC. Responsible for the BBC Music website - the portal site to music content across the BBC website....
stated that "the stupendous 'Believer', with its stadium-sized chorus, appears like a turbo-charged Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
." Heather Phares from Allmusic commented that the song "sounds instantly familiar, but not tired or obvious", and Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
reviewer Nick Levine wrote that "the synths on 'Believer' bounce along like vintage Erasure." The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
s 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."
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was directed by Lisa Gunning and consists of live footage from the Head First World Tour
Head First World Tour
Head First is the fifth concert tour from British band Goldfrapp in support of their fifth studio album, Head First, released in March 2010.-Development:...
. It was uploaded onto YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 11 August 2010.
Track listings
- UK CD single and iTunes EP
- "Believer" (Album Version) – 3:43
- "Believer" (Joris VoornJoris VoornJoris Voorn is a Dutch DJ who currently resides in Amsterdam. Amongst being a renowned DJ, Joris is a graduate in architecture. Joris is the co-owner of the Amsterdam based labels Rejected & Green...
Remix) – 5:47 - "Believer" (Vince ClarkeVince ClarkeVince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
Remix) – 5:42 - "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:41
- "Believer" (Davide RossiDavide RossiDavide Francesco Rossi , is a violinist, string arranger, composer and a record producer, perhaps best known for being the violinist, guitar and keytar-player for the British electronic music group Goldfrapp, and for his large contribution of electric violin parts and for all the string...
Reinterpretation) – 3:59
- UK promo CD single
- "Believer" (Radio Edit) – 3:33
- "Believer" (Joris Voorn Remix) – 3:56
- "Believer" (Joris Voorn Dub) – 7:10
- "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:41
- "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix - Edit) – 3:56
- "Believer" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:11
- "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:39
- "Believer" (Davide Rossi Reinterpretation) – 3:57
Personnel
- Alison GoldfrappAlison GoldfrappAlison Elizabeth Margaret Goldfrapp is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead singer of the electronic music duo Goldfrapp. Goldfrapp has a soprano vocal range.-Early life:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, art directionArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games.... - Will GregoryWill GregoryWilliam Owen Gregory is best known as a songwriter, and the lead keyboards/synthesizer player & producer of the electronic music group Goldfrapp. Originally a classical music student at the University of York, Gregory is the son of an actress and an opera chorus-line singer...
– producer, engineer - Pascal GabrielPascal GabrielPascal Richard Marcel Gabriel is a Belgian-born musician based in London. His musical career began in 1977 in the punk rock band The Razors...
– additional producer - Matty Green – assistant mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Ted JensenTed JensenTed Jensen is an American recording engineer. Jensen is the chief mastering engineer at Sterling Sound. He started his career as a mastering engineer in 1976 and is currently the most active Mastering Engineer in the industry...
– masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced... - Serge Leblon – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Mat MaitlandMat MaitlandMat Maitland is an English art director and visual artist who lives in London.-Career:Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, he studied design in his home town and then at Croydon College. He started his career at WEA in the early 1990s as a designer...
– cover image, art direction - Mark "Spike" StentMark StentMark 'Spike' Stent is a British record producer, and audio engineer who has worked with The KLF, Björk, Keane, Depeche Mode, Muse, Erasure, Hard-Fi, Massive Attack, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Marilyn Manson, Pet Shop Boys, Dave Matthews, No Doubt/Gwen Stefani, CSS, Beth Orton,...
– mixing
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
180 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs | 31 |