Today in 1999: the "Cher effect" was topping the Hot 100
"Believe" was the #1 song in America on this day, 17 years ago. The big breakthrough in the production of the track was the distinctive vocal effect, which the producers claimed was done using a Vocoder device. It was later revealed that they used an Auto-Tune processor, which is a device created by Antares Audio Technologies to correct the pitch in recorded vocals. Rap groups were experimenting with the Vocoder sound, resulting hits like "Intergalactic" and "California Love," but this was the first hit pop song to use these techniques. After the massive success of the song, use of Auto-Tune became very popular and many other artists imitated this technique, and it would eventually become known as the "Cher effect". Cher was 52 when "Believe" hit #1. It marked the longest period between Hot 100 chart-toppers for any act. Cher's last #1 on the chart was "Dark Lady" in 1974. At 25 years, this broke the record previously held by The Beach Boys, who went 22 years between "Good Vibrations" and "Kokomo." It was the biggest-selling single in US in 1999 and in UK in 1998. It was also the biggest UK hit by a solo female artist, selling 1,672,108 copies. The song was also nominated for two Grammy Awards; for Record of the Year and Best Dance Recording, winning the latter.
