When Smash Mouth covered “I’m a Believer” in 2001, they weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel—they were just having fun with it. Originally written by Neil Diamond and made famous by The Monkees in 1966, the song was already a pop classic. But Smash Mouth’s version, powered by chunky guitars and a wink of irony, gave it a whole new life—especially after it landed in the final scene of Shrek.
From sunshine pop to Shrek rock
The band didn’t mess with the formula too much. They kept the structure intact but cranked up the tempo, swapped jangly ’60s guitars for power-pop crunch, and let Steve Harwell’s raspy vocals do the rest. It’s louder, looser, and built for movie montages and kids’ soundtracks—but still catchy enough for mainstream radio.
Produced by Eric Valentine, the track is polished, punchy, and full of that early-2000s alt-pop energy.
Shrek made it iconic
Let’s be real: Shrek made this version a cultural moment. The song plays during the film’s joyful, fourth-wall-breaking finale, with the cast dancing and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) belting out his own version. It was goofy, unexpected, and instantly memorable.
The song wasn’t a traditional single push in the U.S., but thanks to the movie’s massive success, it became a radio and soundtrack hit. It also appeared on Smash Mouth’s self-titled 2001 album.
Chart run and pop culture glow-up
Smash Mouth’s “I’m a Believer” hit #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 in Australia (where it went Platinum), and landed in the Top 20 in New Zealand and Spain. Not bad for a cover that started as a movie tie-in.
The music video, directed by Scott Marshall, leaned into the fairy tale chaos—featuring Harwell chasing a woman through a fantasy convention, with cameos from Shrek characters and a dancing gingerbread man.
It’s not subtle—and it’s not trying to be. Smash Mouth’s “I’m a Believer” is bold, goofy, and built to make people smile. It’s a cover that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it stuck. For a whole generation, it’s the version they grew up with—and it still brings the feel-good vibes.