‘I'm a Believer’ is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by American band the Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 31, 1966, and remained there for seven weeks, becoming the last number-one hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling single for all of 1967. Billboard ranked the record as the number-five song for 1967.
Neil Diamond wrote this song. He had his first big hit earlier in 1966 with ‘Cherry, Cherry,’ which got the attention of Don Kirshner, who was looking for material for The Monkees. Kirshner was sold on ‘I'm A Believer,’ and as part of the deal, allowed Diamond to record the song as well. Diamond's version was released on his 1967 album Just For You. The Monkees version benefited from exposure on their television series.
This was The Monkees second single, after ‘Last Train To Clarksville.’ It was released during the first season of their TV show. The Monkees sang on this, but did not play any instruments. The producers used session musicians because they were not convinced The Monkees could play like a real band. This became a huge point of contention, as the group fought to play their own songs.
The song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in January and February 1967 and reached the top spot in numerous countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland. Billboard described the song as "an easy-go dance mover" that "will hit with immediate impact". Cash Box said the single is a "medium-paced rocker [that] is full of the group's top notch harmonies and is laced with infectious sounds." Record World said it was "sensational."
Dolenz has painful memories of performing this on tour. Literally painful. He told Entertainment Weekly in 2016. "I do remember lots of snatches of touring back then. Unbelievable. No monitors. Screaming. Screaming, screaming. [When we played 'I'm a Believer'] I couldn't hear myself. I just had to pound away. Even to this day, I sing with my eyes closed, because I had to close my eyes and hit myself in the leg to keep time on the drums. I had a big bruise. [Laughs]"
Label – Colgems
Songwriter – Neil Diamond
Producer – Jeff Barry
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else, but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
[Chorus]
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
[Verse 2]
I thought love was more or less a givin' thing
Seems the more I gave, the less I got
What's the use in tryin'?
All you get is pain
When I needed sunshine, I got rain
[Chorus]
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
[Solo]
[Bridge]
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
[Chorus]
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
[Outro]
Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
And I'm a believer, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm a believer