Some songs define an era, and some change the sound of music long after their initial success. Cher’s “Believe” managed to do both.
Released on October 19, 1998, the dance-pop hit became one of the defining songs of the late ’90s, thanks in part to its instantly recognizable, digitally altered vocals. Nearly three decades later, the effect remains a fixture in pop, hip-hop, and other genres, making “Believe” one of the most influential records of its time.
“I honestly think that the most fun I ever had making a song was ‘Believe’,” Cher told Billboard in 2015.
The song’s signature sound came from producers Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling, who used Auto-Tune in a way listeners had rarely heard before. Originally developed to correct pitch, the technology was pushed to an extreme on “Believe,” giving Cher’s voice a robotic, almost futuristic quality. Rather than hiding the digital manipulation, the production made it impossible to miss.
The idea emerged as Taylor experimented with Cher’s vocals in the studio. Cher had also heard a similar vocal effect in a recording by British singer Roachford and encouraged the producers to try it. When Taylor played her the results, she loved the sound. Warner Bros. executives were less enthusiastic and wanted the effect removed, but Cher reportedly refused, telling them, “Over my dead body.”
Her instincts proved right. “Believe” topped charts around the world, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1999 and earned Cher the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2000. At 52, she also became the oldest female artist to top the Hot 100 with a newly released song, a record she still holds.
The track’s impact extended far beyond its own chart success. Its conspicuous use of Auto-Tune helped turn the technology from a behind-the-scenes correction tool into a defining creative effect. Artists including T-Pain, Kanye West, and Future would later use vocal processing in their own distinctive ways, helping make digitally transformed voices a familiar part of contemporary music.
“Believe” also marked a remarkable late-career triumph for Cher, who had been recording music for decades before the song introduced her to a new generation of listeners. Its combination of dance-floor energy, heartbreak lyrics, and futuristic production helped make it a lasting pop classic.
While the song may be turning 28 this year, Cher told Today in 2023 she and aging are not friends.
“My mother didn’t mind. But I do. I hate it,” she said.
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