I Will Survive

"I Will Survive"
Single by Gloria Gaynor
from the album Love Tracks
B-side	"Substitute", "Anybody Wanna Party"
Released	October 23, 1978
Format	7", 12"
Genre	Disco
Length	8:01 (Album Version) 3:18 (Radio Edit)
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris
Producer(s)	Dino Fekaris
Certification	2x Platinum (RIAA)
Gloria Gaynor singles chronology
"Let's Make a Deal" (1976) "I Will Survive" (1978) "Substitute" (1978)
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 double 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.^[2][3]

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.^[4] New copies of the record were eventually pressed with "I Will Survive" as the A-side ("Substitute" itself peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in October 1978, equaling to number 107 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart).

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".^[5] In 2000, the song was ranked #1 in VH1's list of the 100 greatest dance songs.^[4]

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'.^[6]

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.

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

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.^[35]

Cover versions

The song has been covered by musicians such as Diana Ross, Shirley Bassey, Billie Jo Spears, Jenni Rivera ,Selena, Melanie, Chantay Savage, Antony and the Johnsons, The Puppini Sisters, Hermes House Band, and the bands Cake and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

A new disco version was released in 1981 by Creme d'Cocoa featuring lyrics re-written from the perspective of the man Gloria Gaynor referred to in her version.

Conan O'Brien has covered this song at some of his live shows, with some lyrics altered to take shots at NBC.^[36]

Jemaine Clement and Kristin Chenoweth covered the song in the 2014 animated film Rio 2.^[37][38]

The song is performed by the cast of the satire comedy film Meet The Spartans at the end of the movie, where they are performing for a satire cast of judges from American Idol

The song is covered in a mashup with Hush Hush by The Pussycat Dolls's Nicole Scherzinger. A music video of this mashup has also been released.

The song was covered by J2 and Blu Holiday for a trailer of the video game Far Cry 4.

Pet Shop Boys in their live shows typically incorporate the song into a medley with their related song "It's a Sin".

Actresses Amber Riley & Naya Rivera covered this song in a mash-up with Destiny's Child's Survivor on the show Glee.

Cuban artist, Celia Cruz recorded a Spanish salsa version of the song, called "Yo Viviré".^[39]

Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan also covered this song in Turkish under the name "Bambaşka Biri".

In addition, Larusso covered a French version of the song called "Je survivrai".

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. Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris are credited as co-writers of this song, along with Williams and his songwriting partner Guy Chambers. Williams said he was inspired to do this when hearing "I Will Survive" hummed by tourists in Switzerland who spoke different languages.

Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Perez sang this as part of a disco medley at her last live concert at the Houston Astrodome shortly before she was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar.^[40]

In 1990, "I Will Survive" was covered by Italian house act 49ers and was featured on their album of the same name. Also in 1990, MC Sean & Randy recorded a house cover entitled "I Will Survive (Or Maybe Not)". ^[41] in 1989, Hong Kong singer Sarah Wong covered this song in Cantonese.

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. 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

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

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.^[42] The song debuted at number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart on 9 June 2013, and in the following week it reached number eight.^[43]

Chart positions

Popular culture

In 1998 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.

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics