She Believes in Me

"She Believes in Me" is a song recorded by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. It was released in April 1979 as the second single from his 1978 album The Gambler. The song was written by American singer-songwriter Steve Gibb (not to be confused with Steve Gibb, son of Barry Gibb) who first released his version as a 7" single in 1978. A version by T. G. Sheppard appears on his 1978 album Daylight, released a month before Rogers' album.

"She Believes in Me"
Single by Kenny Rogers
from the album The Gambler
B-side	"Morgana Jones"
Released	April 16, 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Country pop
Length	4:18
Label	United Artists
Songwriter(s)	Steve Gibb
Producer(s)	Larry Butler
Kenny Rogers singles chronology
"All I Ever Need Is You" (1979) "She Believes in Me" (1979) "'Til I Can Make It on My Own" (1979)

Content

The song is the tale of a struggling songwriter/performer who has a beloved who supports him, although he sometimes wonders why.

Kenny Rogers version

"She Believes in Me" became one of his biggest crossover hits in the late spring of 1979, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart.^[1] "She Believes in Me" also peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.^[2] It was also a minor pop hit in the UK, reaching number 42.^[3]

Record World said that it is "romantic" and features "Roger's lusty and mature delivery."^[4]

The melody of the chorus also somewhat resembles the chorus of "Lost Without Your Love" by soft rock band Bread (released in 1976), with the chords and structure having some similar properties.

The song "Como Ama una Mujer" ("How a Woman Loves") by Jennifer Lopez, the title track of her fifth album, has a melodic chorus which was noted for being similar to the song.^[5]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peak position Australian (Kent Music Report)^[6] 34 Canadian RPM Top Singles 8 Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 1 New Zealand (Listener)^[7] 39 UK Singles (OCC) 42 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[8] 1 US Billboard Hot 100^[9] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[10] 1 US Cash Box Top 100^[11] 7

Year-end charts Chart (1979) Rank Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12] 30 US Billboard Hot 100^[13] 47 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[14] 11 US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[15] 6 US Cash Box^[16] 61

Ronan Keating version

"She Believes (In Me)"
Single by Ronan Keating
from the album Turn It On
Released	February 9, 2004 (2004-02-09)
Length	4:04
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	Steve Gibb
Producer(s)	Mark Taylor
Ronan Keating singles chronology
"Lost For Words" (2003) "She Believes (In Me)" (2004) "Last Thing on My Mind" (2004)

Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating recorded a cover of "She Believes in Me", retitled "She Believes (In Me)", for his third studio album, Turn It On (2003). The song was released on February 9, 2004, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was successful elsewhere, reaching the top 30 in Austria, Germany, and Ireland. Keating's version of the song slightly alters the lyrics from the original version.

Track listings

UK CD1^[17]

1. "She Believes (In Me)"
2. "Lovin' Each Day" (BBC Radio 2 Live Session)
3. "She Believes (In Me)" (Metro mix)
4. "First Time" (live acoustic session video)
5. "She Believes (In Me)" (video)

UK CD2^[18]

1. "She Believes (In Me)"
2. "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

UK DVD single^[19]

1. "She Believes (In Me)"
2. "First Time" (live acoustic session)
3. "She Believes (In Me)" (video)
4. "The Long Goodbye" (video)
5. The making of the video

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[20] 33 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[21] 30 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[22] 4 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[23] 14 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[24] 8 Germany (Official German Charts)^[25] 22 Ireland (IRMA)^[26] 17 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27] 48 Romania (Romanian Top 100)^[28] 54 Scotland (OCC)^[29] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[30] 53 UK Singles (OCC)^[31] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position UK Singles (OCC)^[32] 78

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Australia	February 9, 2004	CD	Polydor	^[33]
United Kingdom		CD DVD		^[34]

Other versions

• In 1979, Johnny Mathis recorded for his album Mathis Magic
• Also in 1979, Dutch-speaking Belgian pop singer Will Tura sang a Dutch version of the song called "Zij gelooft in mij".
• In 1980, D.J. Rogers released his version on The Message Is Still the Same.
• Two years later, in 1981, Dutch singer André Hazes wrote another Dutch version of the song also called "Zij gelooft in mij". Although both songs bear the same name, the lyrics are completely different. It is also the title of an award-winning documentary by John Appel about André Hazes's life.^[35]
• Also in 1981, Welsh singer Tom Jones covered the song in a live performance at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.^[36]
• Icelandic singer Pálmi Gunnarsson recorded an Icelandic version of the song called "Hún hefur trú á mér", which appears on his 1980 album Hvers vegna varst' ekki kyrr?.
• Roger Whittaker covered it in his 1986 album "Best Loved Ballads"
• Punk rock cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes recorded a version of "She Believes in Me" for their 2006 album, Love Their Country.
• In 2011 Scotty McCreery performed this song on American Idol as his third number in the May 17 episode. It was chosen for him to sing by the judges.
• Around the same time, a Dutch female singer Dominique van Hulst, better known as 'Do', covered the song as "Hij gelooft in mij" (He believes in me).
• The song is also covered in Portuguese by Maria de Fátima.
• Spanish version sung by Spanish singer Dyango "Ella cree en mí".

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 298.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 207.
3. . Theofficialcharts.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
4. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 21, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
5. "Jennifer Lopez - Como Ama Una Mujer (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. Flavour of New Zealand, 29 July 1979
8. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
9. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
10. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
11. . Tropicalglen.com. July 14, 1979. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
12. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
13. "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
14. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
15. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
16. . Tropicalglen.com. December 29, 1979. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
17. She Believes (In Me) (UK CD1 liner notes). Ronan Keating. Polydor Records. 2004. 9816652.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. She Believes (In Me) (UK CD2 liner notes). Ronan Keating. Polydor Records. 2004. 9816653.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. She Believes (In Me) (UK DVD single liner notes). Ronan Keating. Polydor Records. 2004. 9816654.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
21. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
22. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
23. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
24. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 9. February 28, 2004. p. 59. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
25. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – She Believes (In Me)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
27. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
28. (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 22, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
30. "Ronan Keating – She Believes (In Me)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
32. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
33. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 9th February 2004" (PDF). ARIA. February 9, 2004. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2004. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
34. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 7, 2004. p. 33.
35. "GeoTypico, your guide to regions' best and most typical local gifts". Geotypico.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
36. "Tom Jones Setlist at Circus Maximus at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas". setlist.fm.