♫ I Will Survive ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Doggone it!  Every time a song pops into my head and I think, “OHO!  That’s one I haven’t featured on my music posts yet!”,  I find that indeed, I have featured it, often more than once.  I’m beginning to think perhaps my repertoire is too limited … I KNOW there are more songs I love but haven’t played here before!  Anyway, tonight this one is stuck in my head, I haven’t played it for two years, and I like it, so … just sit back and enjoy Ms. Gloria Gaynor at her finest!

This song has become known as a “female empowerment” song, and most often it is associated with the break-up of two lovers.  But …

Dino Fekaris, the song’s lyricist, was a staff writer for Motown until he was fired.  Says Fekaris, of the inspiration for this song …

“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!”

Freddie Perren was another former Motown songwriter, and he & Fekaris paired up on this song, and went on to form their own production duo and scored big with Peaches & Herb, taking Reunited to #1.

Gaynor sees this song as just a simple song about survival, regardless of what you have to overcome.

“I love the empowering effect, I love the encouraging effect. It’s a timeless lyric that addresses a timeless concern.”

When last I played this in early 2020, my dear friend Bee commented and included a link to a handwashing video Ms. Gaynor had done to the tune of this song.  I found it fun, so I’m including it as well!  Thanks, Bee!

And my heartfelt thanks to Ellen Nothstein … if you’re reading this, Ellen … this one’s for you.

I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor

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 so 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 should have made you leave your key
If I’d 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
And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive, hey, hey

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 person and still in love with you
And so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free
Well, 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 break 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
And 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 break 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
And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive
I will survive
I will survive

Songwriters: Dino Fekaris / Frederick J. Perren
I Will Survive lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

27 thoughts on “♫ I Will Survive ♫ (Redux)”

  2. This is a true classic and for the LGBTQ community, its meaning is extra special. Gloria recently came out of retirement and did a disco-tinged duet with Kylie Minogue (another awesome icon) and it’s so nice to see Ms Gaynor back in action. She looks and sounds so great still.

    Liked by 1 person

        • My comment was not supposed to be the sameness 9f the songs. This song was off Donovan’s Fairytale album, recorded years earlier. But the names were “almost” identical, and both songs were about love.

          Liked by 1 person

            • Leonard Cohen was still performing in his 80s, though he almost had to be carried onstage. He still had his voice, though.
              I actually have not heard much of Donovan since his Cosmic Wheels album. It was like he dropped off the face of the earth. So I am glad to hear he is still performing. I always lived his music.

              Liked by 2 people

    • It has a familiar sound to it … perhaps that just the Motown sound coming through, and I love it … but I hadn’t ever heard it before, at least I don’t think I had. Interestingly, when I looked up the background of the song, I found that Berry Gordy ordered all copies of the song destroyed, but that two copies survived! The more I learn about Berry Gordy, the less I like him!
      Cwtch

      Liked by 1 person

        • I wasn’t sure, so I went digging just a bit. Turns out he was married and divorced three times, and had 8 children with 6 different women! One of his lovers was … wait for it … Diana Ross of the Supremes! They had a daughter together in 1971. I don’t see where he was married to the sister of any of his stars, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, for I only did a quick search.
          Cwtch

          Liked by 1 person

  6. Pingback: ♫ I Will Survive ♫ (Redux) — Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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