I Believe I Can Fly is a 1996 song by American singer R. Kelly, released on the Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture soundtrack on November 26, 1996, and later included on Kelly’s 1998 album R. The track blends R&B, soul and gospel, with a moderately slow tempo around 60 BPM in 4/4 time, and a lift that shifts from C major to Db major. Its lyrics celebrate self belief and the dream of rising above limits, making it a powerful motivational anthem. It was a major hit, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the US R&B chart, while also topping charts in eight other countries including the UK and Ireland. At the 40th Grammys in 1998 it won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. The music video was directed by R. Kelly and Hype Williams. The song is closely associated with Space Jam and Michael Jordan and has been cited as an inspirational staple in sports and pop culture.
