I Believe in a Thing Called Love

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a song by English rock band The Darkness, released as the third single from their debut studio album, Permission to Land.

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
Single by The Darkness
from the album Permission to Land
B-side	"Makin Out" "Physical Sex" "Out of My Hands"
Released	22 September 2003
Recorded	2002-03
Genre	Hard rock glam rock glam metal
Length	3:40
Label	Must Destroy
Songwriter(s)	Justin Hawkins Dan Hawkins Ed Graham Frankie Poullain
Producer(s)	Pedro Ferreira
The Darkness singles chronology
"Growing on Me" (2003) "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (2003) "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)" (2003)

When released as a single in September 2003, it peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart, just behind The Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love?".

Background

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" was originally issued as a 3-track EP in August 2002; however, as only a small number of copies were printed, it was ineligible to chart. The EP also included early versions of "Love on the Rocks With No Ice" and "Love Is Only a Feeling". When released as a single in September 2003, it was beaten to number one by The Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love?".[1]

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" at number 47 in its list of the 101 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was named the 276th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork.[2] It is also placed 493 on The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born on Blender magazine and was ranked number one for Classic Rock Magazine's list of "The Greatest Rock Songs of the Noughties." The song was also named the 94th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.[3] A live version of the song, recorded at Knebworth House in Knebworth, Hertfordshire in 2003, was featured as a B-side to the group's Christmas single, "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)". In a 2020 poll, Classic Rock Magazine readers awarded the song the "Greatest Song of the Century (so far)."[4]

Commercial performance

It has sold 647,000 copies in the U.S. as of February 2012.[5] Sales in the UK were 381,373 copies as of November 2017 according to the Official Charts Company.[1]

Music video

The music video for the song was designed to launch the band onto the U.S. market.[6] Directed by Alex Smith, the band are shown on a spaceship, performing and battling aliens and monsters.[7][8]

Track listings

CD single

1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (single version) – 3:37
2. "Makin' Out" – 3:39
3. "Physical Sex" – 3:33

Digital EP

1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (single version) – 3:37
2. "Makin' Out" – 3:39
3. "Physical Sex" – 3:33
4. "Out of My Hands" – 3:33

DVD single

1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (single version) – 3:37
2. "Out of My Hands" – 3:33
3. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (music video) – 3:50

7" vinyl

1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (single version) – 3:37
2. "Makin' Out" – 3:39

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 40 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] 2 Canada Rock Top 30 (Radio & Records)[11] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 9 France (SNEP)[13] 37 Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 47 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 10 Norway (VG-lista)[19] 14 Scotland (OCC)[20] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 2 UK Indie (OCC)[23] 1 UK Rock and Metal (OCC)[24] 1 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[25] 19 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[26] 9 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[27] 23 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 35

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 33 Chart (2004) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 49 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Gold 400,000 sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

• Hayseed Dixie on their 2004 album Let There Be Rockgrass.
• Damien Dempsey on the 2003 charity album Even Better Than the Real Thing Vol. 1.
• Shayne Ward as a contestant on The X Factor in 2005.
• Lemar on the 2007 BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge album.
• Artist vs. Poet on the 2010 compilation album Rockin' Romance II.
• Panic! at the Disco in various live shows.[32]
• Dylan Everett and Olivia Scriven on Degrassi in 2012.
• Adam Lambert and Chris Colfer in Glee episode "Frenemies", in 2014.
• Scott Bradlee and Postmodern Jukebox released a New Orleans jazz version of the song in 2015, featuring Maiya Sykes.
• Hanson covered the song on their Roots & Rock 'N' Roll EP in 2015.
• Delta Goodrem on her 2016 album Wings of the Wild.

In popular culture

This song was featured as a playable track on the music video games Karaoke Revolution Volume 2 and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades; as source music in an episode of The Bill; and as part of the soundtracks for the films Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. The song was also featured on the original version of SingStar. It is featured in both Rocksmith and Rock Band 3 as downloadable content. The song was featured in a 2012 commercial during Super Bowl XLVI, for the Samsung Galaxy Note.[33] This propelled the song to the number one spot on U.S. iTunes rock chart.[34] The song also appeared in an Apple Music commercial featuring pop singer Taylor Swift in 2016. The song was also used by Tye Dillinger for a theme song for a little while, while he was in Ohio Valley Wrestling.

References

1. Kelly, Warren (21 November 2017). "Hitmakers: The Darkness reveal the story behind I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Music Week. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
2. "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork.
3. "spreadit.org music". Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
4. June 2020, Fraser Lewry22. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness voted greatest song of the 21st century". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
5. Jason Lipshutz (1 February 2012). "The Darkness Declares 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us' on Comeback Single". Billboard.
6. Harrington, Richard (2 April 2004). "The Darkness Falls on U.S".
7. "The Darkness 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love'". Xfm. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
8. Massimo, Rick (1 April 2004). "Music - Music scene - Darkness: Rock with the benefit of hindsight". The Providence Journal.
9. "Australian-charts.com – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
10. "Ultratop.be – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
11. "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 59. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
12. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115 no. 41. 11 October 2003. p. 79. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
13. "Lescharts.com – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 9 December 2018.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
18. "Charts.nz – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
19. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". VG-lista. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
21. "Swedishcharts.com – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
23. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
24. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
25. "The Darkness Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
26. "The Darkness Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
27. "The Darkness Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
28. "The Darkness Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
29. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
30. "End of Year Charts 2004". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
31. "British single certifications – Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 December 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type I Believe in a Thing Called Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
32. "Panic! At the disco - I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Cover) - Center stage LIVE". YouTube.
33. "Samsung pokes fun at Apple in advert... again". Know Your Mobile.
34. "The Darkness Talk About Their "Surreal, Last Minute" Super Bowl Commercial". Fuse.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics