The original version of the song, featured in the narrative portion of the film, is performed by Sally Dworsky, Michelle Pfeiffer, and a children's choir soloist Andrew Bryan.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics and experienced moderate success, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, despite heavy media attention and live promotion.

It achieved better charting throughout Europe and other nations, reaching number one in Hungary, peaking within the top five in Belgium, France, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

He felt that because the additions Babyface added to the song were not featured in the actual film version, he did not deserve writing credits.

[4] Edmonds expressed how he went through more than one version of the song and described its production as a beautiful film ballad that was something different from anything he, Carey, or Houston had ever previously recorded.

She had characterised it as "a very big ballad but in an inspirational way" and denied speculation that there had been past rivalry or animosity between her and Houston prior to its recording: "I never even really talked to her until this.

While media speculation grew as the film's release date drew near, both singers maintained that they had become close friends, and had only the most positive things to say about each other.

"When You Believe" is sung in the film mainly by Miriam and Tzipporah in an attempt to reassure Moses in the aftermath of the tenth plague and to make sense of and rejoice their new newfound freedom.

They recall tough times that have caused them to question their faith; they have prayed for many nights to God, but those prayers had seemed to remain unanswered.

[4] While describing the song's lyrics and message, Houston said in an interview with Ebony: A powerful ballad; [songwriter] Stephen Schwartz is a genius.

[8] It featured some different instrumentation from the original, and a bridge where a children’s choir sang in Hebrew from the Song of the Sea in the Book of Exodus.

Houston's verse is written in the key of B minor and features a basic chord progression of A-G1, and the song modulates to D major for her chorus.

[10] "When You Believe" was generally well-received by critics, who favorably described the track as "epic",[11] "powerful",[12] "beautiful",[13] "stunning",[14] "bombastic",[15] and "a devout duet".

[16] Chuck Taylor of Billboard wrote: "The Babyface-stamped track is indeed lovely, offering an instantly accessible chorus and a squeaky clean message of "all things are possible when you believe in your dreams".

[24] On March 24, 1999, after fluctuating in the US charts, the song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over 1,000,000 units.

[35] After spending 20 weeks fluctuating in the singles chart, it was certified silver by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).

[36] In Germany, it peaked at number eight on the German Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie, denoting shipments of over 250,000 units.

[4] Both videos are very similar, only the alternate version does not feature an audience, choir or images, only the duo singing together atop the stone altar.

Conti, the academy's musical arranger, found a young female singer to take Houston's place, Janis Uhley.

Before the performance, Carey walked down the stage in a white top and jeans, while choreographer Debbie Allen led the background singers.

After hours of practice and confusion, they reached a compromise; they would sing a mash-up of the film and single versions, which featured an additional bridge and instrumentation by Edmonds.

[147] Likewise, Billboard called Glover's performance "best single showing of the night" and commented on the vocal delivery that "she knows precisely when to hit the sweet spot of a song, building up to that point with masterful restraint".

In 2014, the song was performed live by Teodora Sava when she was 13 years old, in duet with Nico, as special guests of the Romanian kids talent show Next Star.

American Belz Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer covered the song, in his album The Perfect Dream, released in 2019.

[155] Cynthia Erivo and Shoshana Bean, with piano accompaniment by Stephen Schwartz, performed the song as part of the Saturday Night Seder on April 11, 2020.

[156] Erivo would go on to perform the song with her Wicked co-star Ariana Grande at the 2024 Met Gala and by herself at the 35th National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., both in May 2024.

[158] "When You Believe" was recorded by The X Factor winner Leon Jackson in December 2007, with slightly altered lyrics in the second verse, removing some religious overtones within the song.

[161] The music video, like previous X Factor winners singles, is very simple, with Jackson singing the song in front of a large projection, with swooping shots of various landscapes behind him.

It also features several clips from his time in The X Factor, from his first audition to the moment he was announced the winner and performed his single to close the series.

Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh, Dermot O'Leary and runner-up Rhydian Roberts all feature within the clips.