Believe (Cher album)

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Believe
Studio album by Cher
Released November 10, 1998
(See release history)
Recorded 1998
Genre Dance-pop, house, disco, Latin
Length 44:02 (Regular album)
62:37 (Bonus Mixes edition)
Label WEA (Europe)
Warner Bros (North America)
Producer Mark Taylor, Todd Terry, Junior Vasquez, Brian Rawling, Rob Dickins
Cher chronology
It's a Man's World
(1995/96)		 Believe
(1998)		 If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits
(1999)
Singles from Believe
  1. "Believe"
    Released: November 24, 1998
  2. "Strong Enough"
    Released: May 4, 1998
  3. "All or Nothing"
    Released: July 6, 1999
  4. "Dov'è l'amore"
    Released: October 25, 1999

Believe is the twenty-third studio album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 10, 1998[1] by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 233,000 copies and had sold 3.6 million copies in the United States until November 2011.[2] The RIAA certified it Quadruple Platinum on December 23, 1999, recognizing four million shipments in the United States.[3][4] In 1999 the album received three Grammy Awards nominations including "Record of the Year", "Best Pop Album" and winning "Best Dance Recording" for the single "Believe". The album has sold 20,000,000 copies world-wide which makes it her best-selling album,[4] and also one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Contents

[edit] Background and history

After the poorly-received previous record It's a Man's World, Warner talked Cher into recording a dance album.[5] Cher began working on Believe in summer 1998 in London, meeting with producers Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling, who had previously worked with Rob Dickins; additional producers included Todd Terry ("Taxi Taxi") and Junior Vasquez (who had to originally worked on "Dov'è L'Amore" but when he sent back his version from New York, it was rejected by Dickens, who decided instead to give the production of the track to Taylor and Rawling as well[6]). Cher worked also with long-time collaborator Diane Warren (who wrote "Takin' Back My Heart") and covered two songs: "The Power" and "Love Is the Groove". Furthermore she decided to introduce a remix form of her 1988 single "We All Sleep Alone" from her 1987 Cher album.

The "Believe" single was originally written only by Brian Higgins, Matt Gray, Stuart McLennen and Tim Powell and circulated at Warner Bros. as an unwanted demo for months. Mark Taylor said, "Everyone loved the chorus but not the rest of the song; As we were already writing other songs for Cher, Rob asked us if we could sort it out. Two of our writers, Steve Torch and Paul Barry, got involved and eventually came up with a complete song that Rob and Cher were happy with."[6]

During early sessions Cher recorded a cover version of "Love Is in the Air" that she previously performed a cappella on the talk show The Magic Hour in 1997. The song was mixed and produced by Junior Vasquez but it did not appear in the final cut of the album. Now it is only available on file sharing networks.

The album featured a new musical direction for Cher, with use of auto-tune, most notably in the title track. The album was influenced by Sonny Bono's death in a skiing accident earlier that year. Believe is dedicated to him.

[edit] Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2.5/5 stars[7]
Entertainment Weekly B− [8]
Robert Christgau (choice cut) [9]

Upon release, the album received mixed responses from international music critics. Allmusic's Michael Gallucci called Believe Cher's "latest playground move" and described Cher "merely moves through the beat factory with one drab vocal range into one endless, and personality-free, thump session" and "determinedly, if not wholeheartedly, clinging to the tail end of it". In his review he gave the album two and a half out of five stars.[7] The major criticism was the strong use of vocoder which changed Cher's voice. Beth Johnson gave it a B- rating, comparing it to Madonna's Ray of Light (1998). She said "One minute, this dance grab bag is mimicking Ray of Light; the next, paying homage to Donna Summer's disco days — then both at once!". But did say "Believe is erratic (and sometimes cheesy) as hell, but you gotta love how her Cher-ness shines".

[edit] Commercial response

The album had debuted at number thirty-nine on the Australian Albums Chart, and eventually peaked at number thirteen there, and was certificated X2 Platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). The album also peaked at number forty-one, and peaked at number one on the New Zealand Albums Chart and was certificated X2 Platinum by Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). It had peaked at number two on the Swedish Albums Chart, and was certificated Platinum in there country. It is also the 73rd Best Selling of All Time in Sweden.[10] It had peaked at number five on the French Albums Chart, and stayed in the charts for forty-seven weeks. The album was certificated Platinum in that country. It peaked at number one in Austria, and stayed in there for thirty-seven weeks. It was certificated 2X Platinum in that country. The album was very successful worldwide, becoming one of Cher's most successful and iconic albums to date. The album has sold 20,000,000 copies world-wide which makes it her best-selling album,[4] and also one of the best-selling albums of all time.

[edit] Awards and nominations

In 1999, the album received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Pop Album" and the title track was nominated for "Record of the Year", as well as winning the Grammy Award for "Best Dance Recording". Throughout 1999 and 2000 Cher was nominated for, and won, many other awards for the album, including a Billboard Music Award for "Female Vocalist of the Year".

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Believe"   Brian Higgins, Stuart McLennen, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Matthew Gray, Timothy Powell 4:01
2. "The Power"   Tommy Simms, Judson Spence 3:56
3. "Runaway"   Mark Taylor, Barry 4:46
4. "All or Nothing"   Taylor, Barry 3:58
5. "Strong Enough"   Taylor, Barry 3:46
6. "Dov'è l'amore"   Taylor, Barry 4:18
7. "Takin' Back My Heart"   Diane Warren 4:32
8. "Taxi Taxi"   Todd Terry, Mark Jordan 5:04
9. "Love Is the Groove"   Betsy Cook, Bruce Woolley 4:31
10. "We All Sleep Alone" (1998 version) Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora 5:10
Japanese and Australian bonus tracks
No. Title Writer(s) Length
11. "Believe" (Club 69 Future Full Mix) Higgins, McLennen, Barry, Torch, Gray, Powell 9:20
12. "Believe" (Xenomania Mix) Higgins, McLennen, Barry, Torch, Gray, Powell 4:20

[edit] Credits and personnel

  • Main Vocals: Cher
  • Background Vocals: Tracie Ackerman
  • Background Vocals: Sylvia Mason James
  • Background Vocals: Paul Barry

[edit] Production

[edit] Design

  • Photography: Michael Lavine

[edit] Charts, certifications, and sales

[edit] Weekly charts

Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[11] 13
Austrian Albums Chart[12] 1
Belgian Flanders Albums Chart[13] 3
Belgian Wallonia Albums Chart[14] 3
Canadian Albums Chart[15] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[16] 7
French Albums Chart[17] 5
German Albums Chart[18] 1
Hungarian Albums Chart[19] 3
New Zealand Albums Chart[20] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[21] 4
Swedish Albums Chart[22] 2
Swiss Albums Chart[23] 2
UK Albums Chart[24] 7
United States Billboard 200[15] 4

[edit] Year-end charts

Year Chart Position
1999 Australian ARIA Singles Chart[25] 23
U.S. Billboard Pop Albums[26] 17

[edit] Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[27] Platinum 60,000x
Australia (ARIA)[28] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[29] Platinum 50,000x
Belgium (BEA)[30] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[31] 6× Platinum 600,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[32] Gold 32,682[32]
France (SNEP)[33] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[34] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[35] Gold 100,000^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[36] 2× Gold 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[37] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RIANZ)[38] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[39] Platinum 50,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[40] Platinum 100,000*
Portugal (AFP)[41] 2× Platinum 40,000x
Sweden (GLF)[42] Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[43] 2× Platinum 100,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[45] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[46] 4× Platinum 4,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

[edit] Release history

Release format Country Release date Label
Regular album France October 22, 1998 WEA
Regular album United Kingdom October 26, 1998 WEA
Regular album Germany November 2, 1998 WEA
Regular album Canada November 4, 1998 WEA
Regular album USA November 10, 1998 Warner Bros.
Japanese album1 Australia, Japan February 23, 1999 WEA

1 contains the regular album with two bonus remixes. The Japanese version was also sold in Australia.

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Copyright Office records about setlist
  2. ^ "Ask Billboard: Cher Information, Yes?". Billboard. 2011-11-05. http://www.billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/ask-billboard-twice-is-nice-twice-for-adele-1005477572.story?page=2. Retrieved 2012-03-11. 
  3. ^ Rolling Stone - Cher Comeback
  4. ^ a b c http://www.mtvla.com/bands/az/cher/bio.jhtml[dead link]
  5. ^ "Cher Records: 1965-2002". Cher Scholar. http://www.cherscholar.com/recordreview.htm. [unreliable source?]
  6. ^ a b "Recording Cher's 'Believe'". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb99/articles/tracks661.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2011. 
  7. ^ a b Gallucci, Michael. Believe - Cher at Allmusic
  8. ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,285682,00.html
  9. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Cher". robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Cher. Retrieved 8 August 2011. 
  10. ^ http://swedishcharts.com/bestall_a.asp
  11. ^ "australian-charts.com - Cher - Believe". australian-charts.com. http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 24 August 2011. 
  12. ^ "austriancharts.at - Austria Top 40 - Hitparade Österreich". austriancharts.at. http://www.austriancharts.at/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Cher&artist_search=starts&title=Believe&title_search=starts. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  13. ^ "ultratop.be - Cher - Believe". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  14. ^ "ultratop.be - Cher - Believe". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  15. ^ a b "Believe - Cher". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/cher/believe/328135. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  16. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. http://www.dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Cher&artist_search=starts&title=Believe&title_search=starts. Retrieved 30 December 2010. 
  17. ^ "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. http://lescharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&artist=Cher&artist_search=starts&title=Believe&title_search=starts. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  18. ^ "charts.de". charts.de. http://www.charts.de/album.asp?artist=Cher&title=Believe&cat=a&country=de. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  19. ^ "Archívum - Slágerlisták - MAHASZ - Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége". mahasz.hu. http://mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum&lista=top40&ev=1999&het=18&submit_=Keres%E9s. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  20. ^ "charts.org.nz - Cher - Believe". charts.org.nz. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  21. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Cher - Believe". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  22. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Cher - Believe". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  23. ^ "Cher - Believe - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Cher&titel=Believe&cat=a. Retrieved 31 December 2010. 
  24. ^ UK Albums Chart . Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  25. ^ Australian Albums Chart of 1999 [1] . Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  26. ^ USA Albums Chart of 1999 [2] . Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  27. ^ "Argentinian album certifications – Cher – Believe". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=Cher&album=Believe&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP. 
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2000.htm. 
  29. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in German). IFPI Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin.  Enter Cher in the field Interpret. Enter Believe in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  30. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina - 1999". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. http://www.ultratop.be/xls/Awards%201999.htm. 
  31. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Cher – Believe". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Believe&sa=Cher&smt=0. 
  32. ^ a b "Finnish album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/artistit/Cher. 
  33. ^ "French album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1999&type=12. 
  34. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Cher; 'Believe')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Believe&strInterpret=Cher&strTtArt=alben&strAwards=checked. 
  35. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/index.html. 
  36. ^ "Mexican album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?artista=Cher&titulo=Believe&categoria=ALBUM&contenido=buscar. 
  37. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. http://www.ifpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=61112&documentid=1237837. 
  38. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Cher – Believe". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://rianz.org.nz/rianz/oldchart.asp?chartNum=1146&chartKind=A. 
  39. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/lst_trofeer_sok.asp?type=artist. 
  40. ^ "Polish album certifications – Cher – Believe" (in Polish). Polish Producers of Audio and Video (ZPAV). http://www.zpav.pl/rankingi/wyroznienia/platynowe/index.php. 
  41. ^ "Believe in Albums...". Prometheus Global Media. Billboard. http://books.google.co.ve/books?id=sA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP2&dq=cher+billboard+2000+january&hl=es&sa=X&ei=UNVjT_ztDYKP0QHCo-yzCA&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=cher%20billboard%202000%20january&f=false. Retrieved 17 March 2012. 
  42. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1999" (in Swedish) (PDF). IFPI Sweden. http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-19991.pdf. 
  43. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Cher; 'Believe')". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Cher+Believe. 
  44. ^ "British album certifications – Cher – Believe". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Believe in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  45. ^ "American album certifications – Cher – Believe". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Believe%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  46. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat1999.html. 

[edit] External links

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