Cher - Believe turns 25 and a Berlin musical keeps her songs alive

Cher remains one of pop and rock’s most enduring figures. Her dance-pop single Believe marked a turning point in her career when it was released in 1998, and the song’s 25-year legacy is now reflected in a German-language musical production that brings her story to Berlin’s Stage Theater des Westens.

Anniversary of Believe and its German resonance

The single Believe was released in October 1998 as the lead track from Cher’s album of the same name, blending Eurodance, pop and a distinctive Auto-Tune vocal effect that quickly became its sonic signature. It was produced by Mark Taylor and Brian Rawling and written by a team including Taylor, Rawling, Paul Barry, Steve Torch and Cher.

In Germany, Believe achieved significant chart success, reaching No. 2 on the Offizielle Deutsche Charts, according to the country’s official listings. While it did not reach No. 1 in Germany, the single topped the charts in several other markets, including the UK and the US Billboard Hot 100, helping to reframe Cher as a contemporary dance-pop artist even after three decades in the industry.

The Cher Show brings the songs to Berlin’s stage

The stage musical The Cher Show, which dramatizes Cher’s life and career using her catalog of hits, has been adapted into a German-language production in Berlin. The musical opened at Stage Theater des Westens, a historic venue in the city’s Charlottenburg district that frequently hosts major musical productions. The Berlin run features three actresses portraying Cher at different stages of her life, performing songs such as Believe, If I Could Turn Back Time and I Got You Babe.

According to the German production information, the musical emphasizes Cher’s journey from her early days with Sonny & Cher through her solo success and later reinvention as a dance-pop artist. This Berlin staging serves as a local anchor for German-based fans, offering a live theatrical interpretation of her music in their own language while retaining the core songs that defined her international career.

How the music of Believe sounds

Believe is built around a four-on-the-floor dance beat, synthesizer hooks and processed vocals, aligning it with late 1990s Eurodance and mainstream pop while preserving Cher’s recognizable contralto voice. The Auto-Tune effect, used not just for pitch correction but as a prominent sound design element, became one of the track’s distinguishing characteristics.

The album Believe extends this aesthetic across other songs, blending dance rhythms with pop ballad moments and touches of contemporary R&B, which helped Cher reach younger listeners who might have known her primarily through her earlier rock and pop work. This sonic approach contrasts with her 1989 album Heart of Stone, which leaned more heavily on rock arrangements, illustrating her ability to adapt to changing trends while retaining a clear vocal identity.

Where Cher stands today

Cher currently has no announced live date at present, with her recent public activity focused on recordings and appearances rather than a touring schedule.