At the time I categorized it with a number of songs that echoed a favorite text from the Book of Isaiah: вЂњThey that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. I knew it as a secular song that was being embraced by choirs and music educators. But I had recently emceeвЂ™d a concert by gospel great Dottie Peoples, and it was her version of вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ that I played. An ivory tower academic, I was (and am) lax in my engagement with secular popular culture, and I knew little about Kelly, his stardom and his ugly ways. KellyвЂ™s song вЂњI Believe I Can Fly,вЂќ I was spinning records for вЂњThe Uncloudy Day,вЂќ my weekly gospel music radio show at the radio station where I teach. Since the release of вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ, many covers and parodies have been made of the song.(RNS) - The first time I heard R. The corresponding music video was self-directed by R. вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ has gone on to win three Grammy Awards, and was ranked at number 406 on Rolling Stone MagazineвЂ™s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, published in 2004. The song was certified gold in seven countries, including France and Germany, and certified platinum in the United States and the United Kingdom.

вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ has also received similar success in eight other countries by topping the charts, including in the UK. It kept Toni BraxtonвЂ™s вЂњUn-Break My HeartвЂќ from the top position of the charts for four weeks. However, the situation was reversed when вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ peaked at number one on the вЂњBillboard R&B Singles ChartвЂќ and remained there for six weeks, non-consecutively. Kelly had two pop songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ was the most successful one out of the two.

In early 1997, after the release of said song, it quickly gain popularity within the United States and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, but could not top the chart as it was prevented by the successful single released a month earlier on October 21, 1996, Un-break My Heart by Toni Braxton from climbing to number one. вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ was later internationally released on R. Kelly, featured in the soundtrack of and known as the hit single from the film Space Jam, released on November 26, 1996. вЂњI Believe I Can FlyвЂќ is a song written by, produced and recorded by American artist R. If I can see it (Woo), then I can be it If I just believe it, there's nothing to it I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly Oh I believe I can fly (Woo) Hey, 'cause I believe in me Ohhh If I can see it (Woo), then I can do it (I can do it) If I just believe it, there's nothing to it (Hey!) I believe I can fly (Woo!) I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door I believe I can fly ( I can fly) I believe I can fly ( I can fly) I believe I can fly ( I can fly) Hey, if I just spread my wings ( I can fly) I can fly ( I can fly) I can fly ( I can fly) I can fly, hey ( I can fly) If I just spread my wings ( I can fly) I can fly ( I can fly) ( I can fly) (Woo!) ( I can fly)

I believe i can fly free