I Will Survive

"I Will Survive"
Single by Gloria Gaynor
from the album Love Tracks
B-side	"Substitute"
Released	October 1978
Format	7-inch, 12-inch single
Recorded	1978
Genre	Disco
Length	4:53 (album version) 3:15 (single version)
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris
Producer(s)	Dino Fekaris
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
Gloria Gaynor singles chronology
"Let's Make a Deal" (1976) "I Will Survive" (1978) "Anybody Wanna Party" (1979)
Music sample "I Will Survive"

"I Will Survive" is a hit song first performed by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978. It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. A top-selling song after its initial release, it has remained a popular disco anthem, as well as being certified platinum by the RIAA.^[1]

The song's lyrics describe the narrator's discovery of personal strength following an initially devastating breakup. It received heavy airplay in 1979, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart on consecutive weeks. The song is also frequently recalled as a symbol of female strength and as a gay anthem.^[2][3][4] In 2016, the Library of Congress deemed Gaynor's original recording to be "culturally, historically, or artistically significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

Releases

Originally released as the B-side to a cover version of the Righteous Brothers song "Substitute", "I Will Survive" became a worldwide hit for Gaynor when disc jockeys played that side of the record instead.^[5] "Substitute" appeared on the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart for four weeks in October–November 1978, peaking at No. 107.^[6] "I Will Survive" then entered the Billboard Hot 100 in December and reached No. 1 on the chart in March 1979.

As a disco number, the song was unique for its time by virtue of Gaynor's having no background singers. And, unlike her first disco hits, the track was not pitched up to make it faster and to render Gaynor's recorded voice in a higher register than that in which she actually sang. Most disco hits at the time were heavily produced, with multiple voices, overdubs, and adjustments to pitch and speed. "I Will Survive" had a much more spare and "clean" sound.

The song received the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980, the only year the award was given. It is ranked #492 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and ranked at #97 on Billboard magazine's "All-Time Hot 100".^[7] In 2000, the song was ranked #1 in VH1's list of the 100 greatest dance songs.^[5]

A promotional video was filmed in 1979 at the New York discothèque called Xenon. Sheila Reid-Pender of Harlem, NY is the featured skater in the video from the skating group, The Village Wizards. Although three videos were filmed that day, the "I Will Survive" video was the only one to survive. Ms. Gaynor was not present during the taping of the rollerskating segment of the video. Ms. Gaynor and Ms. Pender met for the first time on July 7, 2014 in New York at the 92nd St. Y after Ms. Gaynor's lecture and promotional signing of her book 'We Will Survive'.^[8] In this book, Gaynor said, "I wanted everybody—including myself—to believe that we could survive".^[8]

Following the success of fellow 1970s disco stars Sister Sledge with remixed singles in the UK in 1993, "I Will Survive" was also remixed and released that summer. This remix reached number five on the UK Singles Chart.

In November 2013, Gaynor released a gospel album entitled We Will Survive, which includes a new, updated remix of "I Will Survive" by DJ Shpank in both extended and radio edit formats.

Personnel

• Vocals: Gloria Gaynor
• Drums: James Gadson
• Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
• Bass guitar: Scott Edwards
• Keyboards: Freddie Perren
• Guitars: Bob "Boogie" Bowles, Robert White
• Strings and horns: arranged and conducted by Dave Blumberg
• Backing vocals: Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Stephanie Spruill

Official versions

Recorded by Gloria Gaynor

• "I Will Survive" (1978 single version) – 3.15
• "I Will Survive" (1978 album version) – 8.01
• "I Will Survive" (1993 Phil Kelsey Classic 12" Mix) – 7.52
• "I Will Survive" (1993 Phil Kelsey Classic 7" Mix) – 3.45
• "I Will Survive" (2009 re-recording) – 3.17
• "I Will Survive" (2013 Shpank's Pink Ribbon Radio Mix) – 3.37
• "I Will Survive" (2013 Shpank's Pink Ribbon Club Mix) – 7.38

Charts and certifications

Chart performance Chart (1979) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 7 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[12] 1 Canadian RPM Disco Singles[13] 2 Canadian RPM Top 15 12inch[14] 5 Canadian RPM Top Singles[15] 3 Finnish Singles Chart 3 France (SNEP)[16] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 7 Irish Singles Chart[18] 1 Italy (FIMI)[19] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 10 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 4 South African Chart[24] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 7 UK (Official Charts Company)[27] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[28] 1 US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[28] 4 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[28] 1

Chart (1988) Peak position (Remix) Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29] 32 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 15 Chart (1993) Peak position (Remix) UK (Official Charts Company)[27] 5 Chart (1999) Peak position (I will survive '98) France (SNEP)[30] 23 Chart (2000) Peak position (Remixes 2002) France (SNEP)[31] 71 Year-end charts Chart (1979) Rank UK [32] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 6 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[34] Platinum 150,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Platinum 1,020,000[36] United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 2,000,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

Billie Jo Spears' version from her 1979 album, I Will Survive, peaked at #21 in the U.S. Country Chart, #9 in the Canadian Country Chart, and #47 in the UK Singles Chart. Hermes House Band covered the song in 1994. Diana Ross' version from her 1995 album, Take Me Higher, peaked at #14 on the UK and European charts. In the United States, it peaked at #37 on the Billboard Dance Music Charts. Ross also performed it during her celebrated Super Bowl XXX halftime show in 1996.^[38] However, the song has also been covered by many other musicians. Conan O'Brien has covered this song at some of his live shows, with lyrics altered to take shots at NBC.^[39] Filipino rock group Parokya Ni Edgar released a parody entitled "Picha Pie" in their 1999 album Gulong Itlog Gulong. British recording artist Robbie Williams incorporated the string-laden instrumental bridge in a section of his 2000 song "Supreme," which became a major hit in several European markets. Cuban Salsa performer Celia Cruz covered the song in Spanish under the title "Yo Viviré" in her 2000 album "Siempre Viviré." British group Erasure also incorporated the string bridge in a section of their 1991 song "Love to Hate You". The Puppini Sisters covered the song in their 2007 debut album Betcha Bottom Dollar. A cover of the song by Filipina singer Jona was used as the opening theme for ABS-CBN's drama series We Will Survive, along with instrumental versions of the cover serving as incidental music.^[40][41] Demi Lovato covered the song for the soundtrack of The Angry Birds Movie in 2016.

Cake version

"I Will Survive"
Single by Cake
from the album Fashion Nugget
B-side	"Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle"
Format	CD single
Recorded	1996
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	5:10
Label	Capricorn
Writer(s)	Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris
Producer(s)	Cake
Cake singles chronology
"Ruby Sees All" (1995) "I Will Survive" (1996) "The Distance" (1997)

Cake covered the song rock-style in 1996, on their album Fashion Nugget. In addition to many subtle changes, lead singer John McCrea altered the lyrics (leading Gaynor to describe the cover as her least favorite version of the song, due to the presence of "profanity").^[42] The music video of Cake's version features McCrea as a city parking enforcement officer driving around in a Cushman three-wheeled scooter as he leaves tickets on various cars.

Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man and U-God have both interpolated the song on separate solo albums. Method Man on "Release Yo' Delf" off of "Tical" and U-God on "Enter U-God" off of "Golden Arms Redemption"

Track listing

CD single

1. "I Will Survive" (Radio Edit) – 4:14
2. "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle" – 4:12

Promo CD single

1. "I Will Survive" (Radio Edit) – 3:52
2. "I Will Survive" (Long Radio Edit) – 5:11

Chart positions

Chart (1996)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	28

Hermes House Band version

Hermes House Band from The Netherlands, covered the song la la la-style in 1994, and scored several number 1 hits in The Netherlands, Belgium and France with this version. They sold more than 2.5 million copies of I Will Survive-la-la-la worldwide.

Chantay Savage version

"I Will Survive"
Single by Chantay Savage
from the album I Will Survive (Doin' It My Way)
Released	January 23, 1996
Format	CD single, 12"
Genre	R&B
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris
Certification	Gold (RIAA)
Chantay Savage singles chronology
"Give It to Ya" (1994) "I Will Survive" (1996) "Baby: Drive Me Crazy" (1996)
Music video "I Will Survive" on YouTube

R&B singer Chantay Savage covered the song in 1996 as a ballad. Her version peaked at #24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Track listing

12" single

Side A

1. "I Will Survive" (Puff Daddy "Bad Boy Mix")
2. "I Will Survive" (Silk's Old Skool Extended Mix with Clean Rap)
3. "I Will Survive" (Original LP version – edit)

Side B

1. "I Will Survive" (Silk's Classic House Mix)
2. "I Will Survive" (Rhythm Radio version)

Chart positions

Chart (1996)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	12
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	24
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	35
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	10
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	5

Leah McFall version

The Voice UK contestant, Leah McFall, performed the song on the first live show in the style of Chantay Savage. Following the programme, the studio recording of the performance was released and reached number three on UK iTunes.^[43] The song debuted at number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart on 9 June 2013, and in the following week it reached number eight.^[44]

Chart positions

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[45]	39
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[46]	13
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[47]	8

Popular culture

In 1998 de:Victor Navone used the opening sequence of this song as the soundtrack of an animated video "Alien Song" which was virally distributed, primarily by e-mail. Navone went on to work for Pixar.

In the second episode of Season 2 of the television drama Medium which aired on September 26, 2005, the song plays repeatedly in Alison's head, leading her to the MP3 player of a missing student.

The song was ranked number 23 out of the top 76 songs of the 1970s by internet radio station WDDF Radio in their 2016 countdown.^[48]

In the French film One Man and His Cow (La Vache, 2016) the protagonist sings a Raï-style version of the song at a village festival.^[49]

In the 2016 movie The Angry Birds Movie, a cover version was sung by Demi Lovato.

It appears in the video game Just Dance 2014, By Ubisoft

It is featured during the ending credits of the 2015 movie The Martian in which the protagonist left behind on Mars must find a way to survive.

LGBT Community

"I Will Survive" had a particularly large influence within the LGBT community at the time of its release. This was mostly attributed to the lack of acceptance of LGBT individuals at the time. Because of this, the song is often referred to as the Queer Anthem. The LGBT community is said to have identified with "I Will Survive" because the "textual message of defiant and enduring presence was already well tailored to queer identification needs, but this message and the song's titular statement took on even deeper meaning with the dawn of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s".^[50]

References

1. Garfield, Bob (31 January 2012). "'I Will Survive': the ridiculous and the sublime". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
2. Elizabeth Kaminski and Verta Taylor. "We're Not Just Lip-synching Here: Music and Collective Identity in Drag Performances". Identity Work in Social Movements, p. 58. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
3. Nadine Hubbs. "'I Will Survive': musical mappings of queer social space in a disco anthem". Popular Music, 26 , pp. 231–244. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
4. "'I Will Survive': Radio 4 celebrates the enduring success of Gloria Gaynor's classic song". BBC. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
5. "I Will Survive". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
6. Whitburn, Joel (1998). Bubbling Under Singles & Albums. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 84. ISBN 0-89820-128-4.
7. "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs (100-91)". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13.
8. S. Pender
9. Danyel Smith, ed. (1979). Billboard 12 May 1979. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
10. "Austriancharts.at – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
11. "Ultratop.be – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. "I will survive in Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
13. "I will survive in Canadian Disco Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
14. "I will survive in Canadian Top 15 12inch Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
15. "I will survive in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
16. "I will survive in French Chart". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. Retrieved 15 June 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Gloria Gaynor"
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". GfK Entertainment Charts.
18. "I will survive in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 15 June 2013. 3rd result when searching "I will survive"
19. "The best-selling singles of 1979 in Italy". HitParadeItalia (it). Retrieved 15 June 2013.
    38. I will survive - Gloria Gaynor [#9]
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Gloria Gaynor search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
22. "Charts.org.nz – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". VG-lista.
24. John Samson. "I will survive in South African Chart". Retrieved 5 June 2013.
25. "Swedishcharts.com – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". Singles Top 100.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". Swiss Singles Chart.
27. "Gloria Gaynor". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
28. "Love Tracks awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
29. "I will survive (remix) in Belgian Chart". Ultratop and Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
30. "Lescharts.com – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive '98" (in French). Les classement single.
31. "I will survive in French Chart". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
32. "Chart Archive – 1970s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
33. "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
34. "Canadian certifications – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". Music Canada. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
35. "British certifications – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Enter I Will Survive in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
36. Ami Sedghi (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
37. "American certifications – Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
38. "Super Bowl XXX Halftime Show: Diana Ross (1996) | THE DIANA ROSS PROJECT". Dianarossproject.wordpress.com. 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
39. Conan to Fans: They Kinda Tried to Kill Me
40. "'UKG' hosts dance as Jona sings 'I Will Survive'". ABS-CBN News. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
41. Anarcon, James Patrick. "Ex-Kapuso Jonalyn Viray sings OST of ABS-CBN's new show". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
42. 'I Will Survive' is disco queen's mantra for hope, by Kevin C. Johnson, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via archive.org); published February 14, 2008; retrieved April 11, 2016
43. "The Voice UK Favourite Leah McFall Storms iTunes Chart Despite Ratings Hitting New Low". Entertainmentwise. 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
44. "The Voice's Leah McFall scores Official Chart Top 20 hit". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
45. "Chart Track: Week 25, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
46. "Archive Chart: 2013-06-22". Scottish Singles Top 40.
47. "Archive Chart: 2013-06-22" UK Singles Chart.
48. "WDDF Radio".
49. "La Vache (One Man and His Cow) – Mohamed Hamidi". French Cinema Review. Judith Prescott. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
50. Hubbs, Nadine (2007-05-01). "'I Will Survive': musical mappings of queer social space in a disco anthem". Popular Music. 26 (02): 231–244. doi:10.1017/S0261143007001250. ISSN 1474-0095.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics