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. When released as a single in September 2003, it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted worldwide, becoming a top-10 hit in Ireland, New Zealand, and Sweden, as well as on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

For the EP, see I Believe in a Thing Called Love (EP). For the Supergirl episode, see I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Supergirl).

"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"
Released22 September 2003 (2003-09-22)
StudioChapel (Lincolnshire, England)
Genre
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
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)

Background and release

"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". A live version of the song recorded at Knebworth House in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, in 2003 was included as a B-side on the group's Christmas single, "Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)".

Commercial performance

When released as a single in September 2003, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[2] Sales and streams in the UK have surpassed 600,000 units, allowing it to receive a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[3] The single helped the album sell 647,000 copies in the United States as of February 2012.[4] The song became the second highest charting single from a UK band in 2003, finishing behind Lostprophets' single Last Train Home, released in December of that year.[5]

Music video

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

Accolades

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.[9] 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.[10] In a 2020 poll, Classic Rock readers awarded the song the "Greatest Song of the Century (so far)."[11]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Permission to Land album booklet.[17]

Studios

  • Recorded at Chapel Studios (Lincolnshire, England)
  • Additional vocals recorded at Paul Smith Music Studios (London, England)
  • Mixed at Roundhouse Recording Studios (London, England)
  • Mastered at The Exchange (London, England)

Personnel

  • Justin Hawkins – writing, vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano
  • Dan Hawkins – writing, guitar
  • Frankie Poullain – writing, bass
  • Ed Graham – writing, drums
  • Pedro Ferreira – production, mixing, engineering
  • Will Bartle – recording assistant
  • Nick Taylor – mixing assistant
  • Mike Marsh – mastering

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[3] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom 22 September 2003
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • DVD
[42][43]
United States 3 November 2003
[44]
2 February 2004 Contemporary hit radio [45]
Australia 22 March 2004 CD [46]

Cover versions

This song was featured as a playable track on the music video games Karaoke Revolution Volume 2, Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades and Dancing Stage Fusion; 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.[48] This propelled the song to the number one spot on U.S. iTunes rock chart.[49] 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. "Darkness and Light". The West Australian. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  3. "British single certifications – Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  4. Jason Lipshutz (1 February 2012). "The Darkness Declares 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us' on Comeback Single". Billboard.
  5. "Slipknot, Metallica, the Darkness Among 'Best Band' Nominees At Kerrang! Awards 2004".
  6. Harrington, Richard (2 April 2004). "The Darkness Falls on U.S". Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  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. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  9. "The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 500-201". Pitchfork.
  10. "spreadit.org music". Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  11. 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.
  12. I Believe in a Thing Called Love (UK CD single liner notes). The Darkness. Must... Destroy!!, Atlantic Records. 2003. DARK01CD, 5050466889720.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. I Believe in a Thing Called Love (UK limited 7-inch picture disc sleeve). The Darkness. Must... Destroy!!, Atlantic Records. 2003. DARK01, 5050466889676.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. "I Believe In a Thing Called Love – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  15. I Believe in a Thing Called Love (UK DVD single liner notes). The Darkness. Must... Destroy!!, Atlantic Records. 2003. DARK01DVD, 5050466889850.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Australian CD single liner notes). The Darkness. Must... Destroy!!, Atlantic Records. 2003. 2564610712.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Permission to Land (UK CD album booklet). The Darkness. Must... Destroy!!, Atlantic Records. 2003. 5050466-7452-2-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  19. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  20. "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 59. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  21. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 41. 11 October 2003. p. 79. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  22. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  23. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  25. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  26. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  27. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  28. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". VG-lista. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  29. "Paulina Rubio y Alex Ubago, en primeros lugares" (in Spanish). El Universal (Mexico) . 25 April 2004. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  31. "The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  32. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  33. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  34. "The Darkness Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  35. "The Darkness Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  36. "The Darkness Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  37. "The Darkness Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  38. "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  39. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  40. "End of Year Charts 2004". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  41. "American single certifications – The Darkness – I Believe in a Thing Called Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  42. "No, really. We're serious..." The Independent. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  43. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 20 September 2003. p. 31.
  44. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1528. 31 October 2003. p. 20. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  45. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1540. 30 January 2004. p. 23. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  46. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 22nd March 2004" (PDF). ARIA. 22 March 2004. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2004. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  47. "Panic! At the disco - I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Cover) - Center stage LIVE". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  48. "Samsung pokes fun at Apple in advert... again". Know Your Mobile.
  49. "The Darkness Talk About Their "Surreal, Last Minute" Super Bowl Commercial". Fuse.
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