Survivor (song)

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“Survivor”
“Survivor” cover
Single by Destiny's Child
from the album Survivor
Released February 13, 2001 (Australia)
April 24, 2001 (Germany)
May 8, 2001 (U.S.)
May 15, 2001 (U.K.)
Format CD single
12" single
DVD Single
Recorded 2000
Genre R&B, pop
Length 4:14
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Beyoncé Knowles
Anthony Dent
Mathew Knowles
Producer Beyoncé Knowles
Anthony Dent
Certification BPI: Gold
Destiny's Child singles chronology
"Independent Women Part I"
(2001)
"Survivor"
(2001)
"Bootylicious"
(2001)

"Survivor" is an R&B song written by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles, Anthony Dent, and Mathew Knowles for Destiny's Child's third studio album Survivor (2001). It was produced by Beyoncé and Dent, and was released as the album's first single in early 2001 (see 2001 in music). The song also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

The video won the 2001 MTV Video Music Award for "Best R&B Video", and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo ("Survivor"). The opening track of singer-songwriter Jill Sobule's 2004 album The Folk Years 2003-2003 is a cover of the song, and a pseudo-cover of the song also opens rapper Vanilla Ice's 2005 album Platinum Underground.

Contents

[edit] Song information

Lead singer Beyoncé was inspired to write the lyrics for "Survivor" after hearing a radio DJ tease about the fact that three members have left Destiny's Child, much like getting voted off the reality show of the same name. The video is consequently styled to seem like three survivors living on an uninhabited island. It also shows a brief prelude to how the girls were shipwrecked. The song has proved to be the signature song of Destiny's Child for its powerful message, along with "Say My Name", "Jumpin', Jumpin'" and "Independent Women (Part I)".

[edit] Controversy

Former group members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson filed a lawsuit against Beyoncé, Kelly, and former manager Mathew Knowles, claiming that some of the lyrics in "Survivor" violated a previous agreement that prevented either party from dishing the dirt on the other in public. The line from the song which caused the most uproar with the former members was,"You thought I wouldn't sell without you/sold nine million."

[edit] Chart performance

"Survivor" debuted at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group's second highest debuting single to date, just behind Lose My Breath at #30, and quickly raced up the charts reaching its peak position of #2 within a month. The song topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales chart for eight weeks. The song only reached number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The single reached number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for five consecutive weeks and peaked at number three on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.

In the United Kingdom, "Survivor" debuted at number one on the singles chart and went on to sell over 260,000 copies. It also topped the singles chart in Ireland, Netherlands, and Japan. Moreover, it held the top position in the United World Tracks Chart for five weeks. It was ranked one in Canada, peaked second in New Zealand, placed in the top 5 in Australia and Germany, and reached number 12 in France.

[edit] Credits and personnel

  • Lead vocals: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams
  • Vocal production - Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Mathew Knowles

[edit] Charts

Chart (2001) Peak
position
Argentinian Singles Chart 3
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 3
Austrian Singles Chart 4
Belgium Singles Chart 1
Brazil Singles Chart 1
Canadian Singles Chart 1
Dutch Singles Chart 1
Finnish Singles Chart 1
French Singles Chart 12
German Media Control Chart 5
Greece Singles Chart 4
Irish Singles Chart 1
Israeli Singles Chart 1
Italian Singles Chart 1
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 2
Norwegian Singles Chart 1
Swedish Singles Chart 1
Swiss Singles Chart 1
UK Singles Chart 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 2
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 2
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play 5

[edit] Official versions

  • "Survivor" (A cappella)
  • "Survivor" (Instrumental)
  • "Survivor" (Azza'z Soul Remix)
  • "Survivor" (CB2000 Anthem Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Digital Black-N-Groove Remix)
  • "Survivor" (Elite Street Pro-Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Jameson Full Vocal Remix)
  • "Survivor" (Maurice's Soul Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Nic Mercy's Immortal Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Remix Extended Version) (feat Da Brat)
  • "Survivor" (Richard Vission's V-Quest Remix)
  • "Survivor" (Victor Calderone Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Victor Calderone Drum Dub Mix)
  • "Survivor" (Josh Hard Main Remix)

[edit] Appearances in other media

A cover version of the song appeared in the Nintendo DS game Elite Beat Agents as the last bonus episode to unlock.

Preceded by
"What Took You So Long?" by Emma Bunton
UK number one single
April 22, 2001 - April 29, 2001
Succeeded by
"Don't Stop Movin'" by S Club 7
Preceded by
"All for You" by Janet Jackson
United World Chart number one single
June 9, 2001July 7, 2001
Succeeded by
"Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink