I Will Survive

A 1978 disco song performed by Gloria Gaynor, written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. Its lyrics portray a narrator finding strength after a breakup.

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Gloria Gaynor: An American singer whose recordings include the disco hit “I Will Survive.” Her recording gave the song its defining vocal performance.
Disco: A dance-music genre that developed in the 1970s, marked by steady beats and orchestral textures. Its dance pulse and polished production shape the song’s sound.
Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording: A Grammy category awarded once, at the 1980 ceremony, for disco recordings. “I Will Survive” won the category’s sole award.
Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” music video: A promotional video featuring Gloria Gaynor performing “I Will Survive.” Its performance imagery helped give the song a lasting visual identity.
Freddie Perren: An American songwriter, producer, and arranger who co-wrote “I Will Survive.” He co-wrote and produced the recording with Dino Fekaris.
Four-on-the-floor: A drum pattern with a bass-drum beat on every quarter note in a bar. The steady kick drum drives the song’s danceable momentum.
LGBTQ anthems: Songs adopted as expressions of identity, solidarity, or resilience in LGBTQ communities. The song became widely embraced as an anthem of resilience and self-assertion.
Cake's “I Will Survive”: Cake’s 1996 rock cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” Its stripped-down arrangement offers a pointed contrast with the disco original.
Dino Fekaris: An American songwriter and record producer who co-wrote “I Will Survive.” His songwriting partnership with Perren produced the song.
String section: A group of bowed string instruments, often used to add sustained or melodic orchestral parts. The arrangement’s strings intensify the song’s sweep and dramatic lift.