I Believe (1953 Song)

I Believe (1953 Song)

"I Believe" is the name of a popular song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953.

"I Believe" was commissioned and introduced by Jane Froman on her television show, and became the first hit song ever introduced on TV. Froman, troubled by the uprising of the Korean War in 1952 so soon after World War II, asked Drake, Graham, Shirl and Stillman to compose a song that would offer hope and faith to the populace. In addition to Froman, "I Believe" has been recorded by many others, and has become both a popular and religious standard.

Frankie Laine had the big hit version of the song, which still holds the record for the most weeks spent at number one in the UK Singles Chart. However, that total of 18 weeks was not consecutive, as the hit had three separate periods at number one in the UK. For comparison the longest consecutive period at number one in the UK was 16 weeks by Bryan Adams with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (1991), whilst Wet Wet Wet spent 15 consecutive weeks there in 1994 with "Love Is All Around".

During Laine's single's stay at number one, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, Mount Everest was climbed and the England cricket team won back The Ashes after nineteen years.