Believe (Staind song)

"Believe"
On a cream-colored background, the word Staind in black stylized text, below it the word believe broken up into three sets of black letters: b-e, l-i-e, and v-e. On the left and right sides of the text are collages of metal objects.
Single by Staind
from the album The Illusion of Progress
ReleasedJune 24, 2008
Recorded2008
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length4:17
Label
Songwriters
Producer
Staind singles chronology
"King of All Excuses"
(2006)		 "Believe"
(2008)		 "All I Want"
(2008)
Music video
"Believe" on YouTube

"Believe" is a song by the American rock band Staind. It was released through Flip Records, Atlantic Records, and Roadrunner Records on June 24, 2008, as the first single from their sixth studio album, The Illusion of Progress (2008). The four members of Staind—Aaron Lewis, Mike Mushok, Johnny April, and Jon Wysocki—collaboratively wrote the alternative rock song, which is a ballad that contains more optimistic lyrics than earlier songs by the band. Johnny K helmed production and recording, while Ryan Williams handled mixing duties. "Believe" peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. It enjoyed significant airplay on rock radio in the United States, topping Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart for three weeks and entering the top five on Mainstream Rock Airplay. However, it drew mixed reviews from music critics; some praised the song for its positivity, while others considered it overly reminiscent of the band's past material. Christopher Sims directed the song's music video, which chronicles a man who embarks on a road trip across the United States after fleeing a failing relationship.

Background and release

Staind released their fifth studio album, Chapter V, in 2005. The album was a commercial success[2] and generated several charting singles on rock radio in the United States, including "Right Here", which spent two weeks at number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[3] When the band began working on a follow-up, its four members—vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki—intended for the resulting album to be their heaviest yet. They instead diversified their influences by drawing from softer sources of inspiration, citing Pink Floyd and blues music as examples,[4] and assimilating a gospel choir into one track.[5] The band also acknowledged industry pressure to release a ballad in the vein of earlier singles such as "It's Been Awhile" and "Outside". On June 19, 2008, the band announced an August 19 release date for their sixth studio album, The Illusion of Progress.[6] "Believe" was released five days later as the album's lead single by Flip Records and Atlantic Records in the United States,[4] and by Roadrunner Records in the United Kingdom.[7]

Composition and recording

A rock band performing on a hazy concert stage illuminated by blue and green lights, with an audience cheering in the foreground
Staind performing live in 2009

Lewis, Mushok, April, and Wysocki collaboratively wrote "Believe",[8] which is an alternative rock ballad with influence from pop rock.[1][9][10][11] Johnny K recorded and produced the song at Lewis's home studio,[4] while Ryan Williams mixed it.[12] The song contains a more optimistic lyrical message than the band's earlier material, with lyrics about overcoming adversity and "chasing [one's] dreams".[11][13] Cillea Houghton of American Songwriter noted that the lyrics also employed dark symbolism such as "the devil, fake smiles, and crying oneself to sleep", and opined that strife was still at the emotional core of the song.[14] In an interview with The Aquarian Weekly ahead of the release of The Illusion of Progress, Mushok described "Believe" as the song that sounded most typical of the band's previous material.[15]

According to guitar tablature published at Musicnotes.com by Warner Chappell Music, "Believe" is set in common time at a tempo of 120 beats per minute and composed in the key of D major. The guitars are tuned to D♭–A♭–D♭–A♭–D♭–F♭, or open Dm with each string tuned down half a step. The intro and verses follow a chord progression of G–F#–G–A–B, switching to G–B–F#–A for the chorus. Lewis's vocals span a range from the low note of D4 to the high note of G5.[8]

Commercial performance

"Believe" received substantial rotation on active rock, mainstream rock, and modern rock radio stations in the United States. On the week ending July 12, 2008, it debuted at number 27 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay[16] and number 25 on Mainstream Rock Airplay.[17] The song reached number one the former chart on the week ending September 13, becoming the band's third to do so after "It's Been Awhile" in 2001 and "So Far Away" in 2003, and remained at the summit for three weeks.[18] On the latter chart, "Believe" peaked at number four on the week ending September 20.[3] It ultimately spent a total of 21 weeks on each chart.[18][3] Billboard ranked it at numbers 14 and 15 on its year-end tallies for Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock Airplay, respectively.[19][20] In addition, "Believe" peaked at number seven on Billboard's Canada Rock chart on the week ending October 4.[21]

The song was a minor crossover success. It debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending July 12,[22] then exited the following week. It re-entered[23] and peaked at number 83 on the week ending September 6,[24] then fell to number 96 before exiting again,[25] for a total of three non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It is the band's most recent appearance there as of August 2026.[24] "Believe" enjoyed some rotation on hot adult contemporary stations; it debuted at number 40 on Billboard's Adult Pop Airplay chart on the week ending August 23[26] and peaked at number 28 on the week ending November 8, spending a total of 16 weeks on the survey.[27] It also peaked at number 78 on the Pop 100, though information on the song's chart trajectory and tenure is unavailable.[28]

Critical reception

"Believe" drew a mixed response from music critics. Steve Morse of The Boston Globe deemed the song "essential" and the best on The Illusion of Progress, and commended its uplifting message.[13] Billboard's Gary Graff also praised the song for its positivity, as well as its catchiness.[11] American Songwriter ranked "Believe" as Staind's eighth best song in November 2022, acclaiming it as emotionally resonant.[14] Conversely, Consequence of Sound twice lambasted the song. When reviewing the album upon release, the magazine's Alex Young panned "Believe" for its perceived similarity to "Right Here".[29] The magazine later ranked it 349th out of the 354 songs which had topped Alternative Airplay as of July 2017, writing for which David Sackllah characterized the song as a rehash of past successes.[1] In his album review for the Los Angeles Times, Steve Appleford contrasted the familiarity of "Believe" unfavorably against the relative sonic adventurousness of some other songs on the album, dismissing it as "mushy sameness".[30]

Music video

Christopher Sims directed the music video for "Believe",[31] which premiered on July 28, 2008.[7][32] The protagonist of the video is a man named Rob[33] who embarks on a road trip across the United States by himself. After waking up on a couch, Rob packs an acoustic guitar and some other belongings and leaves behind a goodbye letter for his girlfriend, Elise.[33] He drives away from Springfield, Massachusetts[7]—the band's hometown[32]—and proceeds to Washington, D.C., where he visits the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool. As Rob drives under a highway sign for the Illinois cities of Grayville and Carmi, the video cuts to Elise walking in the door and reading the goodbye letter. She sits on the couch and tilts her head back in distress, while Rob, now parked in an empty field, writes in a journal. He then plays his guitar on the hood of his car before walking into a field with it, returning to his car off-screen.[7]

The video rapidly flips through shots of heavy weather and nighttime imagery before showing Rob at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, all while Elise is still on the couch. Rob's car breaks down while he traverses the Great Plains, forcing him to hitchhike most of the rest of the way. After riding an empty boxcar on a freight train, he locates a payphone and calls Elise. He hikes across the Rocky Mountains and then watches a herd of cattle running in a field. As he hitchhikes the rest of the way to the West Coast in multiple different vehicles, Elise gets up off the couch and walks out the door. The video ends with Rob sitting on a rock at a beach and smiling as he plays his guitar. Scenes of Lewis singing the lyrics while walking down the same beach are interspersed throughout the video; he also briefly appears in the back of Rob's car.[7]

When interviewed by MTV, Lewis indicated the video was originally conceived as the band going on a cross-country road trip, concluding on a beach in Malibu, California.[5] The music video for follow-up single "All I Want", also directed by Sims, continues the story from the "Believe" music video, and features Elise traveling across the country to see Rob. It was the first time the band made one music video as a sequel to another.[33]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Bandcamp[34] and the packaging of The Illusion of Progress.[12]

Staind

  • Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Mike Mushok – lead guitar
  • Johnny April – bass
  • Jon Wysocki – drums

Technical

  • Johnny K – production, recording
  • Ryan Williams – mixing

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sackllah, David (July 5, 2017). "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  2. ↑ Harris, Chris (August 21, 2008). "Staind Identify Their Biggest Threat: The Jonas Brothers?". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Staind Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Bosso, Joe (June 24, 2008). "Staind Return with New Album, The Illusion of Progress". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Harris, Chris (June 30, 2008). "Staind's Aaron Lewis Tells Fans to Expect Surprises on New LP, The Illusion of Progress". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  6. ↑ Graff, Gary (June 19, 2008). "Staind Sees 'Progress' on Next Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Staind Believe *Kerrang! Video Exclusive*. Kerrang! (music video). July 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. 1 2 "Staind "Believe" Guitar Tab in D Major". Warner Chappell Music. Archived from the original on August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026 – via Musicnotes.com.
  9. ↑ "Staind Is Crowd's Favorite at Dodge". Hartford Courant. September 15, 2021. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ Hatch, Danielle (June 26, 2009). "Staind Proves It's More Than Ballads". The Oak Ridger. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Graff, Gary. "The Illusion of Progress". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  12. 1 2 The Illusion of Progress (back cover of CD case). Flip/Atlantic. 2008.
  13. 1 2 Morse, Steve (August 19, 2008). "That's No Illusion – It's Real Progress". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on May 29, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Houghton, Cillea (November 29, 2022). "Top 10 Songs by Staind". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ Campagna, Cathy (August 14, 2008). "Interview with Staind: The Illusion of Progress". The Aquarian Weekly. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Alternative Airplay: July 12, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Mainstream Rock Airplay: July 12, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 "Staind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Mainstream Rock Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Staind Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Hot 100: July 12, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Hot 100: September 6, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 "Staind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Hot 100: September 13, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Adult Pop Airplay: August 23, 2008 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Staind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Staind Charts & Awards". Allmusic. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  29. ↑ Young, Alex (August 19, 2008). "Album Review: Staind – The Illusion of Progress". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  30. ↑ Appleford, Steve (August 19, 2008). "New CDs: Staind, Amy Macdonald". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Believe | Staind | Music Video". MTV. July 28, 2008. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Staind: 'Believe' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. July 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 All I Want – Making of the Video (behind-the-scenes video). Staind. December 11, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2026 – via YouTube.
  34. ↑ "The Illusion of Progress". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on December 11, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
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