Gloria Gaynor found her voice in this classic disco anthem of empowerment and resilience. 'I Will Survive' was written by producers Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris after separating from Motown. Lyricist Fekaris recalls: "They let me go after almost seven years. I was an unemployed songwriter contemplating my fate. I turned the TV on, and there it was: a song I had written for a movie theme titled Generation was playing right then (the song was performed by Rare Earth). I took that as an omen that things were going to work out for me. I remember jumping up and down on the bed saying, 'I'm going to make it. I'm going to be a songwriter. I will survive!"
Perren and Fekaris formed their own production team and had a number one smash with 'Reunited' for Peaches and Herb. They knew they had a strong song with 'I Will Survive' and saved it for the right diva. When they were commissioned by Polydor to produce a session for Gloria Gaynor to record a version of 'Substitute', which had originally been recorded by the Righteous Brothers and had become a huge European hit for South African band Clout; they played her their demo. Gaynor agreed to record the song and everyone in the studio agreed it was the better track; but it was relegated to the B-side of the single because the company had ordered 'Substitute'. The song features LA session men James Gadson on drums, Scott Edwards on bass, Bob Bowles and Melvin Ragin on guitar, and producer and songwriter Freddie Perren on piano. The song's stripped down sound is due to its B-side status. The production effects that were typically applied to disco hits like Gaynor's 'Never Can Say Goodbye' were not employed for the "extra" song.
When the single was released, many DJ's preferred the flip side. Studio 54's Ritchie Rivers and Boston radio DJ Jack King helped give the song the push it needed to have Polydor re-release the single with 'I Will Survive' as the A-side. The single became a worldwide smash, going to number seventeen in Austria; ten in New Zealand; nine in Italy; seven in Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland; five in Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands; four in Norway and on the US R&B chart; three in Finland and Sweden; two in France and South Africa; and number one on the Canadian adult contemporary chart, as well as in Ireland, the UK, and on the US pop and dance charts. In the US it hit number one in March of 1979 and again in April. The song went on to win the 1979 Grammy for Best Disco Recording, the only time that the Grammys offered this category. The massive success of the song made Gaynor an icon for female empowerment. Gaynor would express at the time: "I'd decided that, come what may, this was going to be my year — I made that decision on New Year's Eve! Anyway, "I Will Survive" came out originally as the 'B' side to "Substitute", a European tune we'd found. Fortunately, my producers — Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren (who also wrote the multi-million seller as well as most of the tracks on Gloria's latest album, "I Have A Right") — were conscious enough of what I'm about to give me a tune I could relate to in "Survive". It conveyed emotions I wanted to express and I just prayed that, when the company put it on the 'B' side, it would not get buried! ... I knew it was hit when I read the lyrics. I knew it was an international and a 'now' lyric — one that people could get into. It became innovative as a disco anthem and I know that contributed to its acceptance...I feel really good that women have accepted me for saying what was said in the song — it's nice to know that I've lent some strength and self-reliance to the whole concept of women being able to continue on without being treated wrongly and without respect. I think that I'm as independent as any woman can be but I know that we all depend on each other — men on women and women on men, that's the way it was planned and that's the way it is...I've talked to some men who didn't care for the song but then my attitude is that they wouldn't feel that way about it if they weren't one of the men the song is talking about — it's enough being one of that group of flakey folks without putting down the fact that it's recognized — that we see them for what they are! ... ['I Will Survive'] confirmed for me the convictions about how to continue my career, what direction it should take. I guess I saw more of what the priorities were."
http://www.gloriagaynor.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I&feature=kp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faf1ch7Q9XE
At first I was afraid I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And now you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I would have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive,
I will survive!
It took all strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself, I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me, somebody new
I'm not that chained up little girl who's still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in
And just expect me to be free
Now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's loving me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to crush me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive, Oh
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to crush me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive,
I will survive!
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept trying' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart
And I spent oh so many nights
Just feeling sorry for myself, I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
And you see me, somebody new
I'm not that chained up little girl who's still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in
And just expect me to be free
Now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's loving me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to crush me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I. I will survive
Oh as long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give and I will survive
I WILL survive
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to crush me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Gaynor re-recorded the song in 2013 for her gospel album 'We Will Survive' with modified lyrics to reflect her Christian faith: "Only the Lord can give me strength not to fall apart."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tth-8wA3PdY
Cake's version from 1996:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkb-1ryitXU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KJjVMqNIgA
Chantay Savage had a top twenty hit in the US and the UK with her slow version in 1996.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMyCXqM8AKM
Leah McFall had a hit with the song after singing it on the UK version of The Voice in 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AimnD68l-w
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