Song Review

"I Believe I Can Fly" is a 1996 song written, produced and performed by R&B singer R. Kelly from 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 number two on the Billboard Hot 100; it was kept from the No. 1 spot by Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart". Despite the fact that two of R. Kelly's songs did reach number one, "I Believe I Can Fly" remains the biggest hit of R. Kelly's career. The single was number one 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 was ranked No. 406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004. The music video was directed by Hype Williams and R. Kelly himself.

PERSONNEL

·         Produced and Arranged by R. Kelly

·         Recorded by Stephen George at Battery Studios, Chicago

·         Assistant Recording Engineers: Chris Brickley and Rick Behrens

·         String Orchestra recorded by Carl Robinson at United Sound Systems - Studio A, Detroit

·         Mixed by R. Kelly and Stephen George at Chicago Recording Co.

·         Assistant Mix Engineer: Ron Lowe

·         Programmed by R. Kelly and Stephen George

·         Lead Vocals: R. Kelly

·         Background Vocals: The Luv Club Choir, directed by Percy Bady

·         Keyboard: Percy Bady

·         Strings: Paul Riser and The Motown Romance Orchestra, led by Hart Hollman

·         Executive Producer: Barry Hankerson

IN 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 movie Drumline during the high school graduation ceremony of Devon Miles (Nick Cannon).

·         In Ice Age: The Meltdown, Crash the possum sings the song before he crashes into a tree.

·         In the 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 American 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.

·         American musical TV series Glee, performed a version of the song in episode fourteen of season three, "On My Way" (aired on February 21, 2012). It is a mash-up track with the song "Fly" by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna.^[4]

·         In The Hangover Part III, Leslie Chow sings a 12-second portion of the song, while parachuting through Las Vegas.

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

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

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

Hey, ’cause I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

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

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
Fly-eye-eye

This is the theme song of 1996 movie Space Jam, which is also one of the most inspiring movies. This song is about how there are no goals and dreams that we can’t achieve. If we can see it, we can do it. It all starts with first believing in our ability.