Greatest love songs ever: #43 “I’m a Believer”

By Tom Quiner

The Monkees singing “I’m a Believer”

What a shift! From the jazz-drenched “In a Sentimental Mood” last week to this week’s rocker from the sixties, “I’m a Believer!”

Baby Boomers know the song as a #1 smash hit performed by The Monkees on their 60s television show. But the song was written by Neil Diamond, who eventually recorded it himself, where it became a minor hit in 1971. It may not be as sophisticated musically as “In a Sentimental Mood,” but what it lacks in cool chord changes, it makes up for with raw energy and lyrics dripping with youthful exuberance.

The Monkees sing “I’m a Believer”

America became a musical melting pot

Neil Diamond epitomizes what makes 20th century American music so great. Like so many of our country’s greatest composers of the era, he is the product of immigration. His grandparents came to the U.S. from Poland.

Like so many of the songwriters on this list of the 52 Greatest Love Songs Ever, Diamond is Jewish and grew up in New York City. He came of age in the 1960s with the ascendance of the singer/songwriter. Record producers cut these talented musicians a great deal of creative license, in contrast to the manufactured popular music of today. Creativity flourished in the 1960s, and Neil Diamond is a poster child of the fruit that blossomed during the era.

This song is great because of the title itself. “I’m a believer.” Love requires us to believe in something. True love requires us to believe in something other than just ourselves. It requires us to believe in someone. And when we believe in someone, we believe in someONE. God.

I have no idea if Neil Diamond is a religious person. Doesn’t matter. His song taps into something truthful, something that resonates deep down in the heart and soul of his audience as they listen to “I’m a Believer.”

His lyrics tell a story most people can relate to at some time or another:

“Love was out to get me,

That’s the way it seemed,

Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Then I saw her face, now I’m a believer!”

Great love song lyrics!

Years after writing it, Diamond talks about the importance of love in his life as he worked on an album at the age of seventy:

“There’s no better inspiration or motivation for work than being in love. It’s what you dream of as a creative person. I was able to complete this album — start it, write it and complete — under the spell of love, and I think it shows somehow.”

God IS Love. God IS creative. Therefore, Love IS creative. That’s why abortion is such a stain on the fabric of human life. It denies humanity by destroying humanity. It denies God by destroying His creation. Abortion IS destructive, and it is a direct attack on our belief in God.

Neil reimagines it

Great songs can be reimagined. As we dip into the ‘Great American Songbook’ in the weeks ahead, we’ll look at songs by great composers that are performed at different tempos. You’ll be hard pressed to decide which version is the best way. Diamond does the same thing with his slowed down version in this performance (above) from 2010. Diamond was 25 when he wrote the song and seventy when he performed it above. You view love differently at 25 than 70, and this later interpretation reveals a mature, more reflective view of love.

A joyful ode to young love

“I’m a Believer” is a joyful ode to young love at that point in life when we feel rejected. It demonstrates how love inspires us and lifts us up when we’re down.

The song enjoys a rich history. Dreamworks introduced a new generation to “I’m a Believer” when they featured it in the 2001 movie, Shrek, with Eddie Murphy singing it. 

Shrek

Smash Mouth

Smash Mouth covered the song (above), accompanied by a music video featuring characters from Shrek.

If you saw the 2021 movie, “House of Gucci,” you would’ve heard an Italian rendition of the song. Even Great Britain’s Royal Marines Band has covered the song.

Royal Marines Band

Coming up next week is a doozy of a country love song! Can’t wait to tell you more about it.

Thanks for checking in to this week’s installment of the 52 Greatest Love Songs ever. We’re counting down these songs a week at a time to spread a little love. Love is the greatest antidote to abortion, so be sure to encourage your friends to subscribe to our blog.

[If you like this blogpost, be sure to share it. Then donate to help spread pro-life love.]