"I Believe" is a soul

Soul music

Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...

 song written by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...

 and Yvonne Wright, for Wonder's 1972 album, Talking Book

Talking Book

Talking Book is the fifteenth album by Stevie Wonder, released on October 28, 1972. A signal recording of his "classic period", in this one he "hit his stride"...

.

The song starts as a simple piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 intro, then a verse in minor scales before the harmonized vocal chorus where the writer explains that he believes that his latest love will last forever. The end of the song is a groovier part with muted distorted Clavinet

Clavinet

A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...

.

Cover versions

The song was covered by Peter Frampton

Peter Frampton

Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...

 in 1973 on his Frampton's Camel

Frampton's Camel

Frampton's Camel is Peter Frampton's second album, recorded and released in 1973. It was the first album that Frampton recorded in the United States. Most of the album was written in New York...

album, and again by Mike + the Mechanics on their 1995 release Beggar on a Beach of Gold

Beggar on a Beach of Gold

Beggar On a Beach of Gold is the fourth album by Mike + the Mechanics, released on 6 March 1995. This album contained three UK hits, the No.12 hit "Over My Shoulder", the No.33 hit "A Better on a Beach of Gold", and the No.51 hit "Another Cup of Coffee". All three songs charted in Germany as well,,...

and by both Petra Haden

Petra Haden

Petra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...

 and Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell

William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...

 on their 2003 collaboration album Petra Haden & Bill Frisell. It was also covered by Art Garfunkel

Art Garfunkel

Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...

 on his 1975 album Breakaway

Breakaway (Art Garfunkel album)

Breakaway is the second solo album by Art Garfunkel. It was released in 1975 on Columbia Records. It was produced by Richard Perry who has produced albums for other artists such as Carly Simon. It includes three Top 40 singles: "I Only Have Eyes For You" , "Break Away" and the Simon And...

and by Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald (singer)

Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...

 on his 2003 album Motown. The song is also featured on George Michael

George Michael

George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...

's Faith

Faith (George Michael album)

Faith is George Michael's first solo album, released in October 1987 via Columbia Records/Epic Records. The album has won several awards including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1989. To date, the album has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, and received diamond certification from...

2011 remastered edition.

Portions of the song are sampled in "Don'tcha Wanna" by Anastacia

Anastacia

Anastacia is an American singer-songwriter. Anastacia has been highly successful in Europe, Asia, South Africa and South America, but has had only minor success in her native United States...

 from the album Freak of Nature

Freak of Nature

Freak of Nature is the second studio album by American recording artist Anastacia, released in Europe and the United Kingdom on November 26, 2001, and later in the United States and Australia on June 18, 2002. It was primarily produced by Ric Wake with occasional production from Sam Watters, Louis...

(2002).

Use in popular media

"I Believe" is heard at the end of the film High Fidelity

High fidelity

High fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...

, where the principal character Rob describes making the "perfect mix tape" for his fiancee/girlfriend full of songs that she would like.