| I Believe I Can Fly | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Genre |
R&B |
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Artist |
R. Kelly |
“I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song was written, produced and performed by Kelly and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 film Space Jam. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, but later appeared in Kelly's 1998 album R..
In early 1997, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100; it was kept from the #1 spot by Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart". Despite the fact that two of R. Kelly's songs did reach #1, "I Believe I Can Fly" remains the biggest hit of R. Kelly's career. The single was #1 on the R&B Singles chart (for six nonconsecutive weeks), and also topped the charts in the United Kingdom. It has won three Grammy Awards, and is ranked #406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Music video[]
R. Kelly is singing in the hay fields. Scenes such as the grass and the choir. Clips of the film were shown
Cover versions[]
In 2003, punk rock band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered the song for their album Take a Break.
Hong Kong singer William Hung recorded this song for the 2004 album "Inspiration".
Saxophonist Marion Meadows also covered the song from the album "Dressed to Chill".
R&B singer and actress Patti Labelle sang the chorus of the song on her 1998 live album "Live One Night Only" as an addition to her signature tune "Over the Rainbow".
Pop singer and actress Jessica Simpson sang the song on her Dreamchaser Tour in 2001.
The song has also been covered by Etta James, Yolanda Adams (in a duet with Gerald Levert), Ruth Brown, James Ingram, Ronan Keating, Bianca Ryan, and Tyler Carter (of Woe, Is Me).
"American Idol" candidates Katharine McPhee, Anwar Robinson, Aaron Kelly, Curtis Finch Jr., and Jacob Lusk all performed the song in different seasons of the TV show.
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 film "Drumline" during the high school graduation ceremony of Devon Miles (Nick Cannon).
In "Ice Age: The Meltdown", Crash sings the song before he crashes into a tree.
In the 2003 film "Good Boy!", Wilson briefly sings the song while diving into a pool.
In "Fun with Dick and Jane", Jim Carrey sings along with the song as it is played in an elevator.
This song also appeared on the first U.S. season of "The X Factor", where R. Kelly performed "I Believe I Can Fly" for the first time as a duet with the eventual winner of the show Melanie Amaro.
This song was also performed on "The Voice" as the last solo song for the second season's winner Jermaine Paul.
Fox's musical TV series "Glee", performed a version of the song in episode 14 of season three, "On My Way". It is a mashup track with the song "Fly" by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna.
In "The Hangover Part III", Leslie Chow sings a 12-second portion of the song, while parachuting through Las Vegas.
The song does not appear in the 2021 sequel due to the sexual allegations.
Lyrics[]
I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it [Chorus:]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh
If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it
[Chorus]
Hey, cause I believe in me, oh
If I can see it, then I can do it (I can do it)
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it
[Chorus]
Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly-eye-eye-eye
Hum, fly-eye-eye