"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, 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.
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 Charts
Weekly charts Year-end charts
Decade-end charts Cover versions
In 2003, punk rock band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covered the song for their album Take
a Break.
American singer William Hung recorded this song for his 2004 album Inspiration.
Saxophonist Marion Meadows also covered the song from the album Dressed to Chill.
American singer and actress Patti Labelle sang the chorus of the song on her 1998 live
album Live One Night Only as an addition to her signature tune "Over the Rainbow".
American singer and actress Jessica Simpson sang the song on her DreamChaser Tour in 2001.
The song has also been covered by Etta James, Yolanda Adams, Ruth Brown, James Ingram, Ronan
Keating, Bianca Ryan, and formerly of Woe, Is Me Tyler Carter.
American Idol candidates Katharine McPhee, Anwar Robinson, Aaron Kelly, Curtis Finch
Jr., and Jacob Lusk all performed the song in different seasons of the TV show.
The song was covered by Tim Olstad on season 3 of the The X Factor.
The song was covered by Delvin Choice on season 6 of The Voice.
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.
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".
It is a mash-up track with the song "Fly" by Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna.
In The Hangover Part III, Leslie Chow sings a 12-second portion of the song, while parachuting
through Las Vegas.
Notable other performances R. Kelly performed the song at the 40th Annual
Grammy Awards.
STS-122 crew heard this song on flight day 10 as a wake up call.
Since its release, it has become commonly associated with the NBA, most notably with
Michael Jordan.
The song also played at the conclusion of NBC's broadcast of the 1997 NBA Finals.
On December 21, 2011, R. Kelly performed it on X-Factor as a duet with Melanie Amaro.
A version of the song, recorded by the Halifax community choir, was used as the backing track
to a 2012 UK TV advertisement for the Halifax Bank.
On October 13, 2012, when the Space Shuttle Endeavour was being transferred from Los Angeles
International Airport to the California Science Center through the streets of Los Angeles,
the recording was played as the shuttle left The Forum, and the song was performed live
by James Ingram later that day at Debbie Allen's live show celebrating the Endeavour's arrival
at the corner of Crenshaw Blvd and Martin Luther King Blvd.
Parodies In the 1999 episode "The Best of Both Worlds"
of the animated TV series KaBlam!, in the Life with Loopy segment, the song was spoofed
as "I Believe I Can Fly."
References
External links Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics