I'm a Believer

"I'm a Believer" is a song composed by Neil Diamond, recorded by the band The Monkees in 1966. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the #1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 31, 1966 and remained there for seven weeks, becoming one of the biggest-selling records of all time.

This song was covered by Smash Mouth in 2001, as part of the soundtrack to the movie Shrek (the band also released the song on their self-titled album). Eddie Murphy, portraying the character 'Donkey', also performed a rendition of the song in the film. "I'm a Believer" was a hit for both The Monkees and Smash Mouth. Smash Mouth also performed the song at the end of the 2001 film Rat Race.

Diamond's own recording of the song is available on his greatest hits album, The Essential Neil Diamond.

A cover by British singer-songwriter Robert Wyatt was an unlikely hit in the UK in 1974.

TV/movie occurrences

The Monkees' version

• In the episode of South Park about chickenpox

Smash Mouth version

• Was in the movie Shrek