"I Don't Believe You" is a song by American recording artist Pink. It was released as the sixth single from her fifth studio album, Funhouse.[1]
| "I Don't Believe You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pink | ||||
| from the album Funhouse | ||||
| Released | October 5, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | LaFace | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Max Martin | |||
| Pink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I Don't Believe You" on YouTube | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
A sample of the song, in which Pink sings the chorus | ||||
Music and lyrics
"I Don't Believe You" is set in common time and played in the key of A-flat major.[2] The guitar and piano are used for the background music, while Pink's voice follows the A♭ —Fm7—Cm—D♭—A♭ chord progression.[2] Pink explained on her website that, lyrically, the song is about pleading for reconciliation, and is her favourite song from Funhouse "because it's just so naked. It's like taking a deep breathe and saying, 'Here I am. Take me. Take your best shot'."[3] She went on to explain that:
"The first thing that comes to my mind with I Don't Believe You is me standing in the vocal booth listening... Actually in the control room listening to this song, tears running down my face, just like 'fuck, really?' It's the vulnerable weak side of me that I don't let out very often. And it's [sighs], yeah it's that song. And I love it, I love it. I just love it, it's very near and dear to me."[3]
Critical reception
Jonathan Keefe from Slant Magazine praised the song, notably its sparse electric guitar riff and Pink's "phenomenal vocal turn that is both vulnerable and accusatory",[4] while New York Times reporter Jon Caramanica claimed "I Don't Believe You" swells like a classic soul ballad, as Pink pleads for a lover to reconsider walking away.[5] On another side, Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine gave a negative review, claiming the song is a "goopy ballad", which makes the singer sound like "just another big-voiced chart-buster", and that she has shown more personality on previous singles.[6]
Music video
The music video for "I Don't Believe You", directed by Sophie Muller, was shot in September 2009 in Los Angeles, California.[7] The music video premiered in October 2009.[8][9][10] The video is in black and white, it features Pink in the wedding dress she wore to her actual wedding to Carey Hart in 2006, and a diamond encrusted wedding gown as she searches for her lover, to no avail. Scenes include her lying down in the dress, rollerblading around what appears to be the inside of a church (The Los Angeles Theater), singing to an empty wedding dining room, crying over an empty wedding album and singing to herself in front of the mirror.
Live performances
On September 16, 2009, Pink performed "I Don't Believe You" along with "Funhouse" on Jimmy Kimmel Live![11] She also performed the song on February 5, 2010, on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[12] The song was also performed on the Funhouse Tour.
Track listing
Digital download and Australian CD single[13]
- "I Don't Believe You" (album version) – 4:35
- "I Don't Believe You" (music video)
German CD single[14]
- "I Don't Believe You" (album version) – 4:35
- "I Don't Believe You" (live in Australia) – 4:14
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from CD single line cover and Tidal.[15][16]
- Personnel
- Pink – songwriting, vocals
- Max Martin – songwriting, production, bass, guitar, record engineering
- Shellback – acoustic guitar, percussion
- Henrik Janson – arranger, conductor
- Ulf Janson – arranger, conductor
- Stockholm Session Strings – strings
- Al Clay – engineering
- John Hanes – engineering
- dag lundquist – engineering
- Chris Galland – assistant engineering
- Doug Tyo – assistant engineering
- Tim Roberts – assistant engineering
- Tommy Anderson – assistant engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Management
- Pink – A&R
- Craig Logan – A&R
- Rogen Davies – management
Charts
| Chart (2009–2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[17] | 23 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] | 15 |
| Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[19] | 7 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] | 66 |
| CIS (TopHit)[21] | 153 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[22] | 4 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[23] | 36 |
| European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[24] | 50 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[25] | 17 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] | 70 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] | 23 |
| Portugal Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[28] | 7 |
| Scotland (OCC)[29] | 54 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 11 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 33 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[32] | 62 |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[33] | 17 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[34] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[35] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | October 5, 2009 | Hot adult contemporary radio | ||
| Australia | October 19, 2009 | Digital download | Sony Music | |
| United Kingdom | October 23, 2009 | LaFace | ||
| Australia | October 26, 2009 | CD | Sony Music | |
| United Kingdom | November 2, 2009 | LaFace | ||
| Germany | November 27, 2009 |
| Sony Music |