Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 song “I Will Survive” became an international disco anthem about recovering from a breakup.
The song was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris and recorded by Gaynor for her album Love Tracks. Its confident first-person lyrics, dramatic arrangement, and dance-floor rhythm helped it become one of the defining songs associated with late-1970s disco.
“I Will Survive” was initially issued as the B-side of a single, but radio programmers began playing it after hearing its strong vocal performance. It then became a major hit in the United States and many other countries. The recording won the Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980, the only year that category was presented.
The title is sometimes confused with other empowerment songs, especially Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” or Whitney Houston’s later “I’m Every Woman.” Those songs share a celebratory spirit, but Gaynor’s recording is specifically “I Will Survive.”