Songs As the first ‘Song of the Week’ of the New Year, I tried to think of something that would give us all hope that this year may be better than the last. Something that would inspire us all to look forward to 2010 with high hopes and great expectations. With that idea in mind, I went through all my songs that I have of David Archuleta performances, and I found one that I felt would give us all the hope we need that 2010 could be a good one. We just have to have a little faith and believe!

Did you guess it?

The Song of the Week is…

“When You Believe”

“When You Believe” was written in 1997 by Stephen Schwartz for the animated musical film, The Prince of Egypt, a 1998 feature film by DreamWorks.

Stephen Schwartz’s career spans over four decades. He has written such popular hit musicals as Godspell(1971), Pippin (1972) and Wicked (2003). He has also contributed lyrics to many successful animated films, including Pocahontas(1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), and Enchanted (2007). In addition, Mr. Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, and three Academy Awards, including one for the song “When You Believe” from the film, The Prince of Egypt. Mr. Schwartz has also been nominated for six Tony Awards.

In the film The Prince of Egypt, the inspirational song “When You Believe” is performed by the characters Tzipporah (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) and Miriam (sung by Sally Dworsky). Miriam sings of the tough times that have them both questioning their faith. They have prayed for many nights to God, but it seems to them that their prayers have remained unanswered, and they wonder if they are wasting their time. Nevertheless, they realize that although times may be difficult, “there can be miracles when you believe” in God. They always keep their faith!

A pop version of “When You Believe” was produced as a single with additional music added by writer-producer Babyface for the film’s soundtrack album. It was released as a duet by American singers Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey and was the film soundtrack’s first single in November of 1998. It also became the first single from Houston’s album My Love Is Your Love, as well as a single for Carey’s compilation album #1’s.

“When You Believe” won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. It also received a Golden Satellite Award nomination for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. In 2000, it was nominated by the Grammy Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

David Archuleta sang “When You Believe” while he was a contestant on Season 7 of American Idol. It was during week 9 (Mariah Carey was the mentor that week), that David chose to sing the song. He was given help and advice from Mariah Carey which he took to heart. Here is David performing the song “When You Believe,” ‘live’ in April 2008 for American Idol. Encouraged by Mariah, it was the first time David had demonstrated his beautiful and clear falsetto. (Chills!!!)

David Archuleta’s recorded version of “When You Believe” from American Idol, Season 7.:

Lyrics to “When You Believe”

Many nights we prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood

Now we are not afraid
Although we know there’s much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could

[wwooww]
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
It’s hard to kill

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away

Yet now I’m standing here
My heart so full, I can’t explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I’d say

There can be miracles
When you believe (When you believe)
Though hope is frail
It’s hard to kill (Mmm)

Who knows what miracles
You can achieve (You can achieve)
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
[Ooh]

They don’t always happen when you ask
And it’s easy to give in to your fears
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way through the rain

A small but still, resilient voice
Says hope is very near, oh [Oh]
There can be miracles (Miracles)
When you believe (when you believe, yeah) [Though hope is frail]

Though hope is frail [It’s hard]
It’s hard to kill (Hard to kill, oh, yeah)
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve (You can achieve, oh)

When you believe somehow you will (Somehow, somehow, somehow)
Somehow you will (I know, I know, know)
You will when you believe [When you]
(Ohoh)

[You will when you]
(You will when you believe)
[Oohoohooh]
[Oh…oh]
[You will When you believe]
[You will When you believe]Mmmyeah

Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey singing “When You Believe” from the origin soundtrack of the 1998 animated film The Prince of Egypt:

Have a great week all….and I hope you will never stop believing! It’s a New Year, what have we got to lose?

Keep the faith, 😉
Katie

Listen to Song of Last Week.

David Archuleta, the Voice