I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) - Wikipedia

1972 song by Stevie Wonder and Yvonne Wright

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "I Believe" When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
Song by Stevie Wonder
from the album Talking Book
Released	October 28, 1972 (1972-10-28)
Recorded	1972
Genre	Soul
Length	4:53
Label	Tamla
Composer	Stevie Wonder
Lyricists	Stevie Wonder Yvonne Wright
Producer	Stevie Wonder
Licensed audio
"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" on YouTube

"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" is a soul song co-written and performed by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder and Yvonne Wright, for Wonder's fifteenth studio album, Talking Book (1972).

George Michael version

[edit]

"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
Promotional single by George Michael
Released	February 1992 (1992-02)
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	7:01 4:09 (edit)
Label	Columbia
Songwriters	Stevie Wonder Yvonne Wright
Producer	George Michael
Licensed audio
"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" on YouTube

A live recording by English singer-songwriter George Michael was included on a free cassette tape given out to audience members at Michael's Wembley Arena concerts during March 19–23, 1991, and was later released as a B-side of the "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" single in November 1991.

"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" was issued as a promotional single in the United States, and was promoted to urban radio in February 1992.[2] It reached number 90 on the Canadian Top Singles chart.[3] The song was later included on disc two of the 2011 remastered release of Michael's debut studio album, Faith.[4]

Critical reception

[edit]

Cash Box wrote that Michael's remake is "a soft, crossover attempt that should take the 'pop topper' to the R&B charts again,"[1] while the Black Radio Exclusive opined that Michael does "an admirable job on this cover of a Stevie Wonder classic."[5]

Track listing

[edit]

• US promotional CD single (CSK 4429)[6]

1. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (edit) – 4:09
2. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" – 7:01

Charts

[edit]

Chart (1992)	Peakposition
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3]	90

E'voke version

[edit]

"I Believe"
Single by E'voke
B-side	"It's My Life"
Released	1994
Genre	House
Length	5:41
Label	FFRR Pinball
Songwriters	Stevie Wonder Yvonne Wright
Producers	Barry Leng Duncan Hannant
E'voke singles chronology
"I Believe" (1994) "Runaway" (1995)

This song was also recorded by British female vocal duo E'voke in 1994 as their debut single (with the title being shortened to "I Believe"). A B-side to the track titled "It's My Life" written by E'voke producers Barry Leng and Duncan Hannant was recorded. Though the track was not a commercial hit (it reached number 77 in the UK charts[7] and no video was filmed for the track), it was a club hit and E'voke moved on to FFRR's sister label Ffrreedom for their next single "Runaway". The CD single release of the track was released digitally by Pinball Records in 2011.

Critical reception

[edit]

Andy Beevers from the Record Mirror Dance Update wrote, "This cover of the Stevie Wonder song by two 16-year-old girls is an unsubtle pop-house romp produced by Barry Leng who also gave us Rage's 'Run to You'. The main points of interest are the two club mixes from recent dancefloor heroes Tin Tin Out and Tall Paul. The former lifts a couple of choice vocal hooks and drapes them over a galloping house rhythm with sprightly organ and string riffs which individually feature in two excellent breakdowns. The Rock Da House man uses the chorus and the dreamy 'Here I am' vocal snatch over a harder driving production."[8]

Versions

[edit]

• Edited version – 4:03
• 12" mix – 5:38
• A Tin Tin Out mix – 7:38
• Tall Paul mix – 6:39
• The Gems for Jem mix – 7:51

Charts

[edit]

Chart (1994)	Peakposition
Scotland (OCC)[9]	26
UK Singles (OCC)[7]	77
UK Dance (OCC)[10]	18
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[11]	19

Other versions

[edit]

Peter Frampton released his recording of the song in January 1973 on his album Frampton's Camel.[citation needed]

In early 1974, a recording by Songbird was released by Mushroom Records in Canada. This was a studio group consisting of producer Mike Flicker, Howard Leese and Rob Deans, all of whom also worked with Heart.[12] It was the label's first charting single, reaching number 75 on the Canadian chart. Despite its low peak, the single reportedly sold close to 30,000 units.[citation needed]

Colleen Hewett had an Australian single release of the song, titled "I Believe When I Fall in Love", issued in July 1974. Hewett's rendition charted in Australia with a number 51 peak, and was featured on Hewett's album M'Lady.

Art Garfunkel's 1975 album Breakaway opened with "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", in a lush orchestral version produced by Richard Perry.

Michael McDonald recorded the song for his album Motown, released in 2003.[13]

Josh Groban recorded the song for his album All That Echoes, released in early 2013, and released it as a single that peaked at number 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Father John Misty covered the song on his 2022 EP Live at Electric Lady.[14]

In popular culture

[edit]

The song is featured in the 2000 comedy-drama film High Fidelity starring John Cusack and Jack Black, and is included on its soundtrack. It was also included in season 1, episode 10 of the 2020 Hulu series High Fidelity starring Zoe Kravitz.[15]

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Clark, Randy; DeVaney, Bryan (February 8, 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 5. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
2. ^ Flick, Larry, ed. (February 15, 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
3. ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Image 7741". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
4. ^ "Faith – Remastered 2CD/DVD Special Edition [CD+DVD, Box Set]". Amazon. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
5. ^ "Important Records: Singles" (PDF). Black Radio Exclusive. February 7, 1992. p. 13. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
6. ^ I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) (US promotional CD single). George Michael. Columbia Records. 1991. CSK 4429.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart on 16/10/1994 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
8. ^ Beevers, Andy (September 10, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 8. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (16 October 1994 – 22 October 1994)". OCC. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
10. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 (16 October 1994 – 22 October 1994)". OCC. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
11. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). September 17, 1994. p. 4. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
12. ^ "Mushroom & Island In Deal" (PDF). Billboard. December 7, 1974. p. 63. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
13. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Motown – Michael McDonald". AllMusic. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
14. ^ Monroe, Jazz (September 15, 2022). "Father John Misty Shares New Live at Electric Lady EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
15. ^ "High Fidelity Soundtrack: All the Songs in Season 1 of the Hulu Series". Indiewire. February 18, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.

v t e Stevie Wonder
Discography
Studio albums	The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Tribute to Uncle Ray With a Song in My Heart Stevie at the Beach Up-Tight Down to Earth I Was Made to Love Her Someday at Christmas Eivets Rednow For Once in My Life My Cherie Amour Signed, Sealed & Delivered Where I'm Coming From Music of My Mind Talking Book Innervisions Fulfillingness' First Finale Songs in the Key of Life Hotter than July In Square Circle Characters Conversation Peace A Time to Love
Live albums	Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius Stevie Wonder Live Live at the Talk of the Town Natural Wonder
Soundtracks	Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" The Woman in Red The Last Dragon Jungle Fever
Compilations	Looking Back Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection At the Close of a Century The Definitive Collection The Complete Stevie Wonder
Singles	"Fingertips" "Hey Harmonica Man" "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" "With a Child's Heart" "Blowin' in the Wind" "A Place in the Sun" "Someday at Christmas" "Hey Love" "I Was Made to Love Her" "I'm Wondering" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "You Met Your Match" "Alfie" "For Once in My Life" "I Don't Know Why" "My Cherie Amour" "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" "Never Had a Dream Come True" "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" "Heaven Help Us All" "We Can Work It Out" "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" "If You Really Love Me" "What Christmas Means to Me" "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" "Superstition" "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" "Higher Ground" "Living for the City" "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" "He's Misstra Know-It-All" "You Haven't Done Nothin'" "Boogie On Reggae Woman" "I Wish" "Sir Duke" "Another Star" "As" "Pops, We Love You" "Send One Your Love" "Master Blaster (Jammin')" "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" "Lately" "Happy Birthday" "That Girl" "Ebony and Ivory" "Do I Do" "Ribbon in the Sky" "Front Line" "I Just Called to Say I Love You" "Love Light in Flight" "Part-Time Lover" "That's What Friends Are For" "Go Home" "Overjoyed" "Stranger on the Shore of Love" "Skeletons" "You Will Know" "Get It" "Gotta Have You" "For Your Love" "So What the Fuss" "From the Bottom of My Heart" "All About the Love Again" "Faith" "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"
Featured singles	"My Love" "How Come, How Long" "California Roll"
Other songs	"You and I (We Can Conquer the World)" "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" "Golden Lady" "All in Love Is Fair" "They Won't Go When I Go" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Knocks Me Off My Feet" "Pastime Paradise" "Isn't She Lovely" "Black Man" "We Are the World" "Just Good Friends" "Seasons of Love" "True to Your Heart" "Stop Trying to Be God"
Songwriting credits	"It's a Shame" "Tears of a Clown" "Tell Me Something Good" "Uptown Festival" "Let's Get Serious" "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"
Tours	Songs in the Key of Life Tour
Related articles	Lula Mae Hardaway Syreeta Wright KJLH SuperEgo Wonderin' "Wonder-ful" Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show
Category

v t e Colleen Hewett
Studio albums	Colleen Hewett M'Lady Colleen Tenterfield Dreams Black & White
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits
Notable singles	"Superstar" "Day by Day" "Carry That Weight" "Waltzing Matilda" "Sit Yourself Down" "I Believe When I Fall in Love " "If You Could Read My Mind" "Dreaming My Dreams with You" "The Wind Beneath My Wings" "I Hope I Never"
Related articles	The Incredible Penguins

v t e George Michael singles
Discography Songs Awards and nominations
1980s	"Careless Whisper" "A Different Corner" "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" "I Want Your Sex" "Faith" "Hard Day" "Father Figure" "One More Try" "Monkey" "Kissing a Fool"
1990s	"Praying for Time" "Waiting for That Day" "Freedom! '90" "Heal the Pain" "Cowboys and Angels" "Soul Free" "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" "Too Funky" "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "Jesus to a Child" "Fastlove" "Spinning the Wheel" "Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me" "Star People '97" "Waltz Away Dreaming" "You Have Been Loved" / "The Strangest Thing '97" "Outside" "As"
2000s	"If I Told You That" "Freeek!" "Shoot the Dog" "Amazing" "Flawless (Go to the City)" "Round Here" "John and Elvis Are Dead" "An Easier Affair" "This Is Not Real Love" "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)"
2010s	"True Faith" "White Light" "Let Her Down Easy" "Fantasy" "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)"
Promotional singles	"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" "Going to a Town" "Feeling Good"
Other songs	"Hand to Mouth" "Mother's Pride" "My Mother Had a Brother" "You and I"
Featured	"Turn to Gold" "Nikita" "Wrap Her Up" "Jive Talkin'" "Heaven Help Me"
Category

Authority control databases	MusicBrainz work