"I'm a Believer" by Giant

Song#:  4050

Date:  09/30/1989

Debut:  94

Peak:  56

Weeks:  10

Genre:  Hard Rock

Pop Bits:  This Nashville-based band was formed by brothers Dann and David Huff. Both had been members of another popular band (see below) and each left at different times to pursue other opportunities. Eventually, they floated back together and founded Giant. A&M Records developed an interest in the outfit and signed them on. A debut album to be titled Last of the Runaways was recorded and this first single was issued out. The original tune (it was not a remake of the Neil Diamond/The Monkees hit) would do well at Rock and get near the Top 10 at #13. The song would cross over to the Pop chart where it stopped short of the halfway point.

ReduxReview:  This muscly slab of AOR kind of bridged a gap between 70s/80s rock bands like Foreigner and the glam-leaning Bon Jovi. The track sounded great with its heavy production and emphasis on Dann Huff's guitar and vocal work. The chorus had just enough of a hook to garner airplay and gain listeners. This helped at Rock, but it seems the song didn't have quite enough mainstream zing to go further than it did. Of course it would take a power ballad (natch) to move the band up another level (see below), which eventually helped them in getting a second shot, but sadly those results couldn't maintain the band's momentum. It didn't help that grunge was the preferred taste at the time.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1)  A second single, "Innocent Days," was released and it got to #11 Rock, but failed to make the Pop chart. But then the band pushed out the ballad "I'll See You in My Dream." That track broke the band wider when it reached #7 Rock and #20 Pop. In turn, their debut album would get to #80. For their next effort, '92's Time to Burn, the band would move over to Epic Records. The only charting song from the LP was the #16 Rock entry "Chained." The results brought an end to the band's major label days and before the 90s concluded the band had split. An iteration of the band would surface in the next decade. A few albums and tours would follow.  2) Dann and David Huff were founding members of the contemporary Christian rock band White Heart. They would issue out a self-titled debut album in '82 that would earn the band a Grammy nod for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group. After a second album, Dann Huff would leave the band. David would stay on for one more before departing. White Heart would continue on recording several successful albums over the years. They would earn a second Grammy nod in 1992 when their album Tales of Wonder would be nominated for Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album. Dann Huff would go on to be a highly successful producer mainly in the country genre. He would earn two Academy of Country Music awards for Producer of the Year (2006 and 2009). In 2012, Huff would co-produce three tracks on Taylor Swift's Red album including "Begin Again," which was issued out as the LP's second single and would reach #7 Pop/#10 Country.

_________________________________________________________________________________