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 in the UK Singles Chart, just behind The Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love?". Lead singer Justin Hawkins performs much of the song in falsetto.
It was named the 276th best track of the 2000s by Pitchfork Media.

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?". Lead singer Justin Hawkins performs much of the song in head voice. 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 is also placed 493 on The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born on Blender magazine. Most recently, it ranked at 276 of Pitchforks 500 Top Tracks of the 2000s and was ranked number one for Classic Rock Magazines 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. 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 ". The song peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart in February 2012 after Justin Hawkins appeared in a commercial during Super Bowl XLVI. It has sold 647,000 copies in the U.S. as of February 2012. In a 2020 poll, Classic Rock Magazine readers awarded the song the "Greatest Song of the Century."

Music video

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

Track listings

CD single
  1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" – 3:37
  2. "Makin' Out" – 3:39
  3. "Physical Sex" – 3:33
Digital EP
  1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" – 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" – 3:37
  2. "Out of My Hands" – 3:33
  3. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" – 3:50
7" vinyl
  1. "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" – 3:37
  2. "Makin' Out" – 3:39

    Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
New Zealand 49

Certifications

Cover versions

This song was featured as a playable track on the music video games Karaoke Revolution Volume 2 and ; as source music in an episode of The Bill; and as part of the soundtracks for the films 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. This propelled the song to the number one spot on U.S. iTunes rock chart. 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.