From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"I Will Survive"
Single by Gloria Gaynor
from the album Love Tracks
Released	October 27, 1978
Genre	Soul Disco
Length	3:18 (45) 4:20.6 (CD) 8:01 (12"/LP)
Writer(s)	Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris
Certification	2x Platinum (US)

"I Will Survive" is a song first performed by Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978. It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris.

The song's lyrics describe a narrator who finds personal strength while recovering from a breakup; it has often been used as an anthem of female empowerment,^[1] and HIV/AIDS awareness - and is a firm favorite on the karaoke circuit^{[citation needed]}. It is one of the most famous disco songs of all time and Gaynor's biggest hit. It received massive airplay in 1979, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, also reaching number one in the UK the next day.

The song was originally released as the B-side to a song first recorded by The Righteous Brothers called "Substitute", a track thought to have more potential for mainstream success by her record label. It became a worldwide hit for Clout in 1978, instead. Disc jockeys began flipping the single over and eventually copies of the record were pressed with "I Will Survive" as the A-side ("Substitute" managed to peak at number 107 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart).

The song was rated number nine on George Carlin's 10 Most Embarrassing Songs of All Time.^[2]

It received the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980, the only year that the award was given. It is ranked #489 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The Song was also listed at #97 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time. [1] In 2000 the song was ranked #1 in VH1's list of the 100 greatest dance songs.^[3]

After the success of fellow '70s stars Sister Sledge's remixed singles in the UK in 1993, this song was also released in a remixed form there in about June/July 1993. Also meriting success, this remix reached number five on the UK Singles Chart (while the original version had topped the chart in 1979), but was her only successful remix single in the UK.

Promotional video

Sheila Reid of Harlem, NY is the featured skater in the video from the skating group, The Village Wizards. They formed at The Village Skating Rink located in Greenwich Village which was the first rollerskating rink to open in Manhattan and was owned by the late Richard "Dick" Clammer. The video remains popular and can be seen on VH-1 and You Tube.

Official Versions

• "I Will Survive" (Album Version)
• "I Will Survive" (1993 Phil Kelsey Classic 12" Mix)
• "I Will Survive" (2009 re-recording)

Chart positions

Cover versions

Cake version

"I Will Survive"
Single by Cake
from the album Fashion Nugget
Format	CD single
Recorded	1996
Genre	Alternative rock
Label	Capricorn
Cake singles chronology
Ruby Sees All (1995) I Will Survive (1996) The Distance (1997)

Cake covered the song in a rock style in 1996 on the album Fashion Nugget. This is Gloria Gaynor's least favorite version of the song, due to its use of profanity:^[6] lead singer John McCrea altered the line "I should have changed that stupid lock" to "I should have changed my fucking lock."

The Cake Version song is also the goalmusic of the Turkish football club Galatasaray SK.

Track listing

1. "I Will Survive"

Music video

The music video for Cake's version features John McCrea as a parking control officer who is writing tickets in San Francisco, often at the expense of normally happy people (such as a newly wed couple). This is combined with footage of Todd Roper playing in the streets, Victor Damiani playing on top of a car, and Greg Brown playing in a crowded courtyard.

• The runner from the video for "The Distance" is seen running by in the background of one scene [02:01].

Chart positions

Chantay Savage version

R&B singer Chantay Savage scored a Gold selling single with her cover of the song. It is the only cover version of the song to be certifed Gold by the RIAA ^[7]

Track listing

1. "I Will Survive"

Other covers

• In 1979, Country singer Billie Jo Spears released a cover version of the song, peaking at No. 13 on the Hot Country Singles chart .

• In 2006, The Puppini Sisters released a cover on their album Betcha Bottom Dollar.

• In 2009, Arab pop princess Haifa Wehbe released an arabic version of the song.

References