I Believe (George Strait song)

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"I Believe"
Single by George Strait
from the album Love Is Everything
ReleasedJuly 15, 2013 (2013-07-15)
GenreCountry
Length3:46
LabelMCA Nashville
SongwritersDean Dillon
Bubba Strait
George Strait
ProducersTony Brown
George Strait
George Strait singles chronology
"Give It All We Got Tonight"
(2012)		 "I Believe"
(2013)		 "I Got a Car"
(2013)

"I Believe" is a song recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was written by Strait, his son Bubba, and Dean Dillon. It was released on July 15, 2013, as the second single from his album Love Is Everything.

Content

Strait and his band had finished recording the album when Norma, George's wife, made everyone unpack and cut the single, which was inspired by the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.[1][2][3] Reviewers noted that "At its core, ‘I Believe’ is about faith — a subject this singer has approached with underrated deftness"[2] and that Strait "puts his faith on display as never before."[4] Strait was initially hesitant to include the song on the album for fear of misrepresenting the families of the victims or profiting off of them.[2][3]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country rated "I Believe" 4.5 out of 5 stars and calls it "arguably the best of the 13" and shouldn't keep him from earning a Song of the Year consideration.[2]

Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song an A. She states, "Strait’s voice is as solid as ever" and that "he perfectly emotes the sincerity and compassion that a song of this magnitude requires." She finishes by saying "I Believe" is "just a tribute from a humble man conveying a simple sentiment of real heartbreak, buoyed by faith and hope."[5]

Chart performance

"I Believe" debuted and peaked at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of August 3, 2013,[6] making it the first single of Strait's career to miss the Top 40.

Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[7]50

Later uses

Performed as the last song of Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief it was, by Strait and others, in September 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

References

  1. Gene, Harbrecht. "STRAIT FROM THE HEART" (Document). Pro Quest. ProQuest 1496827842.
  2. Dukes, Billy (2013-07-04). "George Strait, 'I Believe' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  3. "George Strait "I Believe" -- The Story Behind the Song". YouTube. June 28, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  4. Dauphin, Chuck (May 13, 2013). "George Strait, 'Love Is Everything': Track-by-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  5. Ward, Leeann (2013-07-16). "Single Review: George Strait, "I Believe"". Country Universe. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  6. "Chart Highlights: Jonas Brothers, One Direction Debut On Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  7. "George Strait Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.