Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)
Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) is a song written by Mike Post (music) and Stephen Geyer (lyrics), and sung by Joey Scarbury. It serves as the theme song for the 1980s TV show The Greatest American Hero and later appeared on Scarbury’s 1981 debut album, America’s Greatest Hero.
How it came about: Mike Post said he was producing Scarbury, a strong singer who hadn’t had big hits yet. The idea to write a lyric about flying in a suit came from producer Stephen J. Cannell, who suggested using a similar approach to Post’s earlier work for the show Richie Brockelman, Private Eye. The result was a catchy theme that bridges love and flight, starting with the famous line: “Believe it or not, I’m walking on air.”
Chart success: The song became a major hit in 1981. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the Top 40 for 18 weeks. It also reached No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and topped the Cashbox and Record World singles charts.
Pop culture and legacy: The opening line and tune have been parodied and referenced many times. It appeared in a Seinfeld episode as a parody voicemail, and a 2021 Tide commercial with Jason Alexander paid tribute to the show. The theme has also popped up in various other shows and films, including Homestar Runner, Family Guy, My Name Is Earl, Gilmore Girls, The Cinema Snob, Supernatural, and the 2021 movie Free Guy.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:05 (CET).