Believe

by Cher

Overview

Taking a cue from Madonna's Ray of Light, Cher goes Euro-disco on this platter of electro-beats and pulsating club rhythms. But where Madonna's ease into the genre offshoot almost was an identifiable part of her career and culture (and therefore a sonically charged and thrilling listen), Believe comes off like Cher's latest playground move. Working with a stable of competent European studio craftsmen, Cher herself merely moves through the beat factory with one drab vocal range, blending butt-shakers (like the title tune and "Strong Enough") and semi-ballads ("Dov'e L'Amore") into one endless, and personality-free, thump session. Anyone could have been signed on as the voice in front of these generic tracks (which at times slip into glossy, overproduced late-'80s plastic); Cher brings only her name and star clout, no soul whatsoever. So, all aboard! The techno bandwagon is packing up and moving on. And Cher is determinedly, if not wholeheartedly, clinging to the tail end of it. ~ Michael Gallucci

Product Details

Release Date:	12/07/2018
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0190295576240

Tracks

1. Believe
2. The Power
3. Runaway
4. All or Nothing
5. Strong Enough
6. Dov'e L'Amore
7. Takin' Back My Heart
8. Taxi Taxi
9. Love Is the Groove
10. We All Sleep Alone

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cher   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Tracie Ackerman   Vocals (Background)
Paul Barry   Vocals (Background)
Paulette McWilliams   Vocals (Background)
Audrey Wheeler   Vocals (Background)
James Williams   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Chris Anderson   Piano,Piano
Robin Smith   Strings
Georg O. Luksch   Keyboards
Tony Coluccio   Keyboards
Antoinette Roberson   Vocals (Background)
Bernd Schoenhart   Guitar
Everett Bradley   Vocals (Background)
Eddie Martinez   Guitar
Marlon Graves   Guitar,Keyboards
Adam Phillips   Guitar
Ada Dyer   Vocals (Background)
Tom Salta   Keyboards
Adam Philips   Guitar
Johan Brunkvist   Keyboards
Barry Paul   Vocals (Background)
Winston Blissett   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Nikki Richards   Vocals (Background)
Hamish Stewart   Vocals (Background)
Mark Taylor   Guitar,Strings,Keyboards
Sylvia Mason James   Vocals (Background)
Gypsyland   Guitar,Vocals
Dave Shulmer   Percussion
Tracy Ackerman   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Tony Moran   Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Paul Barry   Composer,Lyricist
Betsy Cook   Composer
Bill Klatt   Engineer
Lawrence Dermer   Remixing,Programming,Remix Engineer
Fabio Venturi   Vocal Engineer,Vocal Recording
Emilio Estefan, Jr.   Remixing,Programming,Remix Engineer
Desmond Child   Composer,Producer
Junior Vasquez   Mixing,Producer
Robin Smith   Arranger,String Arrangements
Judson Spence   Composer
Peter Rauhofer   Additional Production
Ray Roc   Remixing
Todd Terry   Composer,Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Giuseppe D.   Programming
Diane Warren   Composer
Tim Powell   Composer
Timothy Powell   Composer
Marc Goodman   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Tommy Sims   Composer
Brian Rawling   Producer
Club 69   Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Humberto Gatica   Mixing,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Jon Bon Jovi   Composer,Producer
Mark Jordan   Composer
Richie Sambora   Composer,Producer
Matthias Heilbronn   Editing,Arranger,Programming
Tom Salta   Programming
Bruce Woolley   Composer
Danny Tenaglia   Remixing,Remix Engineer
Metro   Producer,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Brian Higgins   Composer
Matt Gray   Composer
Tommy Simms   Composer
Jeffrey Bernstein   Programming
P. Dennis Mitchell   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Barry Paul   Composer
Ray Roc Checo   Arranger,Remix Engineer
Jeff Taylor   Laughs,Producer,Remixing,Production Engineer,Additional Production,Producer
Phat & Phunky   Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer,Additional Production
Pumpin Dolls   Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Michael Lavine   Photography
Juan Belmonte   Additional Production
Mark Taylor   Composer,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming,Mixing Engineer,String Arrangements,Keyboard Programming
Rob Dickins   Executive Producer
Mark Jordon   Composer
Dave Saranson   Mixing Engineer
Ryan Art   Design
Martyn Norris   Producer,Remix Engineer,Additional Production
Almighty Associates   Remixing
Kevyn Aucoin   Make-Up
Matthew Gray   Composer
Stuart McLennan   Composer
Abel Arana   Additional Production
Colleen Callaghan   Hair Stylist
Na   Arranger
Jon Dixon   Producer,Remix Engineer,Additional Production
Steven Torch   Composer
Larry Derner   Remixing
Stuart McLennen   Composer
Dom McLennon   Composer
Borryd Torch   Composer

Editorial Reviews

Taking a cue from Madonna's Ray of Light, Cher goes Eurodisco on this platter of electrobeats and pulsating club rhythms. But where Madonna's ease into the genre offshoot almost was an identifiable part of her career and culture (and therefore a sonically charged and thrilling listen), Believe comes off like Cher's latest playground move. Working with a stable of competent European studio craftsmen, Cher herself merely moves through the beat factory with one drab vocal range, blending butt-shakers (like the title tune and "Strong Enough") and semi-ballads ("Dov'e L'Amore") into one endless, and personality-free, thump session. Anyone could have been signed on as the voice in front of these generic tracks (which at times slip into late-'80s glossy, overproduced plastic); Cher brings only her name and star clout, no soul whatsoever. So, all aboard! The techno bandwagon is packing up and moving on. And Cher is determinedly, if not wholeheartedly, clinging to the tail end of it. --All-Music Guide

Michael Gallucci