Believer (Goldfrapp song)

"Believer"
Single by Goldfrapp
from the album Head First
Released 6 September 2010
Format CD single, digital download
Genre Synthpop, new wave
Length 3:43
Label Mute
Writer(s) Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory
Producer(s) Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory, Pascal Gabriel
Goldfrapp singles chronology
"Alive"
(2010)
"Believer"
(2010)
"Drew"
(2013)

"Believer" is a synthpop song by English duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First. Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel, the song was released as the album's third and final single on 6 September 2010.

Release

The single was confirmed in July 2010 in an email to fans, where it was also confirmed that Vince Clarke and Davide Rossi would remix the single, among others. Goldfrapp performed the song on Alan Carr: Chatty Man on 22 August 2010.[1]

Critical reception

"Believer" received positive reviews from critics. In a review for Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani described the song as "a bit of new wave-inflected computer pop (think B-52s meets Erasure) that finds Alison's faith in Cupid restored."[2] Ian Wade from BBC Music stated that "the stupendous 'Believer', with its stadium-sized chorus, appears like a turbo-charged Fleetwood Mac."[3] Heather Phares from Allmusic commented that the song "sounds instantly familiar, but not tired or obvious",[4] and Digital Spy reviewer Nick Levine wrote that "the synths on 'Believer' bounce along like vintage Erasure."[5] The Independent '​s Andy Gill opined that the song, "with its childlike lyric [...] set to a basic Eighties' synth riff, is exactly in step with retro-electropop fashion."[6]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Lisa Gunning and consists of live footage from the Head First World Tour. It was uploaded onto YouTube on 11 August 2010.[7]

Track listings

  1. "Believer" (Album Version) – 3:43
  2. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Remix) – 5:47
  3. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:42
  4. "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:41
  5. "Believer" (Davide Rossi Reinterpretation) – 3:59
  1. "Believer" (Radio Edit) – 3:33
  2. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Remix) – 3:56
  3. "Believer" (Joris Voorn Dub) – 7:10
  4. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix) – 5:41
  5. "Believer" (Vince Clarke Remix - Edit) – 3:56
  6. "Believer" (Little Loud Remix) – 4:11
  7. "Believer" (Subway Remix) – 5:39
  8. "Believer" (Davide Rossi Reinterpretation) – 3:57

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[9] 180
US Hot Dance Club Songs[10] 31

References

  1. "Alan Carr: Chatty Man – Series 4 – Episode 10". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  2. Cinquemani, Sal (10 March 2010). "Goldfrapp: Head First". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  3. Wade, Ian (12 March 2010). "Review of Goldfrapp – Head First". BBC Music. BBC Online. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  4. Phares, Heather. "Head First – Goldfrapp – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  5. Levine, Nick. "Goldfrapp: 'Head First'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  6. Gill, Andy (19 March 2010). "Album: Goldfrapp, Head First (Mute)". The Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  7. "'i'm a believer' on tour with goldfrapp.". YouTube. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  8. "Believer – EP by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  9. "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010". The Official Charts Company. The Zobbel Website. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  10. "Goldfrapp Album & Song Chart History – Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.

External links