Paul Anka has released his version of the classic song “I Believe,” the first single from his upcoming album Inspirations of Life and Love, due February 13.
The 84-year-old entertainer tells News Of Los Angeles the track is about exploring “amazing revelations” in the universe. “The lyrics in that song, it’s about life. It’s about, what is the higher power?” he says. “There are some amazing revelations that are in front of us.”
The Song’s Message
Written as a triumphant anthem about keeping the faith, “I Believe” finds Anka finding comfort in everyday wonders:
- Drops of rain
- Blooming flowers
- A newborn’s cry
- A single leaf or the open sky
“I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows,” he sings. “I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to show the way.”
A Lifetime Connection
Anka first sang “I Believe” as a child in church and now reimagines it for 2025. “It’s one of the best songs written about life and love,” he says in a statement, calling it “a favorite song” of his.
The tune became a hit for Jane Froman in the early 1950s, followed by Frankie Laine’s popular 1953 version. Over the decades, artists including Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Louis Armstrong and Barbra Streisand have recorded their own takes.
Creative Inspiration
Anka links the spirit of “I Believe” to his 1969 classic “My Way.” He recalls: “When I wrote ‘My Way’ and they asked me about it, I said, ‘I can’t tell you how I wrote it. I was inspired by life… I began to believe that there’s something in the universe where we’re all connected that spiritually happened to me.'”
That sense of connection fuels his new recording. “I’m starting to really believe in that, because when you really study, it’s just remarkable how huge it is and what the possibilities are,” he explains. “What is that higher power about that’s affected our lives?”
Career Milestones
The release caps a banner period for the Canada-born singer-songwriter:
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Documentary | Paul Anka: My Way is now streaming |
| Tour | A Man and His Music Tour launches in March and runs through April |
| Chart Record | Only artist with a Billboard Hot 100 hit in seven consecutive decades |
Inspirations of Life and Love follows Anka’s recent albums Making Memories and Sessions, extending a recording career that began in the mid-1950s.
At a Glance
- Paul Anka releases “I Believe,” a song he first sang in church as a child
- The single previews his February 13 album Inspirations of Life and Love
- The track explores faith, higher powers and everyday miracles
- Anka is the only artist with Billboard Hot 100 hits across seven straight decades
- Why it matters: The 84-year-old legend shows no signs of slowing, reinterpreting a classic to reflect a lifetime of experience
