"I Believe I Can Fly" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singerR. Kelly from the soundtrack to the 1996 filmSpace Jam. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, and was later included on Kelly's 1998 albumR. In early 1997, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached number two on theBillboard Hot 100. It also reached the number-one spot of theBillboard R&B Singles Chart and remained there for six non-consecutive weeks. Internationally, "I Believe I Can Fly" topped the charts in eight countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In a 2013 interview with The Boombox, R. Kelly was asked about the creative process behind the song: "When I met Michael Jordan on a basketball court at an athletic club — we hooped together in Chicago — he came to me and asked me if I wanted to do a song for his upcoming movie," Kelly said. "I was like, 'Yeah!' I didn't even ask what it was. [Eventually] he let me know what it was, we went to a screening to watch it and that's when I ended up coming up with 'I Believe I Can Fly'. I knew from the first melody that was gonna be the song that was gonna take me out of R&B and into another genre of music."[2] "I Believe I Can Fly" has a moderately slowtempo of 60 beats per minute, based on4 4 common time, while composed in the key ofC major (with a key change toD♭ major). Kelly's vocals on the track ranges from the low note of E3 to the high note of A♭4.[3]
A writer forAssociated Press described the song as "majestic" and "gospel-styled", noting that "hearing R. Kelly's booming voice reach a crescendo while backed up by a choir is a rousing performance that will get many replays".[4]Larry Flick fromBillboard wrote that it is "highly inspirational" and "embodying the mind-set of the two superstars [Michael Jordan and R. Kelly]". He added, ""If I can dream it, I can achieve it." A great motivator for the children who will flock to the silver screen for Jordan".[5] A reviewer fromChicago Sun-Times viewed it as a "warm anthem".[6]
Ross Scarano fromComplex said, "Like it or not, R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" works because of R. Kelly. There's not another singer alive with the same combination of ability, earnest conviction, and personal demons—demons that Kelly believes he needs the listener's support to fight." He added that the singer "calls on strings and a choir and every bit of strength available in his lungs and vocal chords to rise above the broad struggle described in the lyrics."[7]David Browne fromEntertainment Weekly opined that the "go-for-it lyrics and florid orchestration seem to have been written with a futureDisney musical in mind."[8]
Tom Ewing ofFreaky Trigger noted "I Believe I Can Fly"'s "genuine power as a redemption song" and also called it "the most convincing self-help song".[9] British newspaperLennox Herald picked it as the "undoubted highlight" of theSpace Jam album".[10] Thessa Mooji fromMusic & Media described it as a "dramatic ballad".[11]Music Week rated it three out of five, calling it "a smoochy gospel-tinged ballad". They added, "A huge hit in the US and should ignite here."[12]
A reviewer forPeople Magazine labeled it as "schmaltzy but potent".[13]Sunday Mirror rated it five out of ten, writing, "'I believe I can soar' sings R. Kelly but I suppose we should be thankful that he's released a proper song for once instead of those awful rap cover versions which are clogging up the charts these days. It's taken from the filmSpace Jam and if you boughtToni Braxton's last single and likedThe Bodyguard then you will buy this for sure. I believe it will fly to the top of the charts though it makes me sore to say it."[14] James L. Brown fromUSC Today deemed it a "long slowballad".[15]
Themusic video for "I Believe I Can Fly" was directed byHype Williams. It begins at an old farm, where a young boy is playing with his ball. By the farm lies an autumn yellow cornfield, where R. Kelly starts singing. In another scene, a large screen by the farm is showing clips fromSpace Jam, while Kelly performs on the ground. Later in the video, the singer sits in an autumn forest. Behind him is the screen where the film's clips are displayed. In the last part of the video, Kelly conducts a large choir in a sports hall, accompanied by an orchestra. After Kelly has sung the last stanzas of the song, the choir claps as the video ends.[17]
The official music video was published to YouTube in October 2013, where it remained until the termination of his channel in October 2021.[17][18]
Jazz saxophonistMarion Meadows also covered the song from the albumDressed to Chill.[20][21]
SingerJames Ingram sang the song on his albumForever More (Love Songs, Hits & Duets) in 1999.
R&B singer/actressPatti LaBelle sang the chorus of the song on her 1998 live albumLive One Night Only as an addition to her signature tune "Over the Rainbow".
Other than appearing on the soundtrack for the filmSpace Jam, "I Believe I Can Fly" was performed by the school band in the 2002 filmDrumline during the high school graduation ceremony of Devon Miles (played byNick Cannon).
In the animated sequel filmIce Age: The Meltdown, Crash the possum (voiced bySeann William Scott) sings the song after Manny catapults him with a tree before he crashes into another.
In the 2003 filmGood Boy!, Wilson briefly sings the song while diving into a pool.
In the first-season episode of the television seriesDa Ali G Show,Ali G performs the song during the opening skit.
In the 2005 comedyFun with Dick and Jane, Jim Carrey sings along with the song as it is played in an elevator.
This song also appeared on thefirst American season ofThe 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 isMelanie Amaro.
This song was also performed on the singing competition seriesThe Voice as the last solo song for theSeason 2 winnerJermaine Paul.
In the Fox musical television seriesGlee, performed a version of the song in episode fourteen ofseason three, "On My Way" (aired on February 21, 2012). It is a mash-up track with the song "Fly" byNicki Minaj featuringRihanna.[22]
In the comedy's third installmentThe Hangover Part III, Leslie Chow sings a 12-second portion of the song, while parachuting throughLas Vegas.
In The TP-2.com Tour, Kelly performed a 10-minute long remix of "I Believe I Can Fly," which included dialogue from a priest, Kelly's mother, and God as characters. The remix was later featured on thebootleg releaseLoveland.[23][24]
STS-122 crew heard this song on flight day 10 as a wake up call.[25]
Since its release, it has become commonly associated with theNBA, most notably withMichael Jordan. The song also played at the conclusion ofNBC's broadcast of the1997 NBA Finals.[26]
In addition to the NBA, the song also found use at other sporting events, most notably atMajor League Baseball'sNew York Yankees home games during their four consecutive World Series runs from1998 to2001, the first three of which they won.
A version of the song, recorded by the Halifax community choir, was used as the backing track to a 2012 UK TV advertisement for theHalifax Bank.[27]
In the 1999 episode "The Best of Both Worlds" of the Nickelodeon animated television seriesKaBlam!, in theLife with Loopy segment, the song was spoofed - in name only - as "I (Don't) Believe I Can Fly."[28][29][30][31]
In the 2012 episode "Food Battle 2012" of the webseriesSmosh, the song was spoofed as "I Believe I’m Able to Fly." It also appeared on the 2015 episode "EVERY CAT EVER".
In 2013, the song was parodied by sports radio showTim & Sid, spoofing the song as "I Believe in Masai", in reference toToronto Raptors General ManagerMasai Ujiri.
In 2016, the song was parodied as "I'm Convinced I Can Swim" by "Art Smelly" from the soundtrack to the hit filmEarth Jelly in an episode ofUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
