Die Bedeutung von Gloria Gaynors "I Will Survive"

Ein Disco Banger wird geboren

Stell dir vor, du schreibst einen echten Disco Banger und bist überzeugt, dass er ein Hit wird, aber dein Label glaubt nicht daran. Genau so erging es Gloria Gaynor in den 70er Jahren mit ihrem legendären Song "I Will Survive". Ja, DEM Discohit schlechthin!

Ein schwieriger Weg als schwarze Künstlerin

Besonders in dieser Zeit hatte Gloria Gaynor es als schwarze Frau in der Musikindustrie alles andere als leicht. Doch Gloria war fest von ihrem Song überzeugt. Ihr Gedanke war, wenn ihr Label das Potenzial des Songs nicht erkennt, dann schickt sie ihn eben einem DJ. Gesagt, getan – der DJ legte den Song auf und schon bald lief "I Will Survive" in nahezu jedem Club und auf jedem Radiosender. Der Song überlebte sie buchstäblich!

Eine Hymne für die LGBTQIA* Community

In den 90er Jahren wurde "I Will Survive" während der AIDS-Krise zu einer wichtigen Botschaft für die LGBTQIA* Community. Obwohl der Song ursprünglich davon handelt, nach einer toxischen Beziehung durchzuhalten, übertrug die queere Community dieses Durchhaltevermögen auf ihr eigenes Leben. In einer Welt, in der Heterosexualität die Norm ist, erfordert es nämlich einiges davon.

Der Spirit vom Pride Month

"I Will Survive" symbolisiert hervorragend, was der Pride Month bedeutet: Ja, es ist eine riesige Party, bei der man sich selbst so feiert, wie man ist. Gleichzeitig bedeutet es aber auch: durchhalten – genauso wie Gloria Gaynor – und sich unermüdlich für die Rechte der queeren Community einsetzen.

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Die Lyrics von Gloria Gaynors "I Will Survive"

At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinkin' 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 have 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?
Did 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
Just tryin' 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 still in love with you
And so you felt like droppin' in and just expect me to be free
Now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' 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?
Did 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?
Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
[Chorus]
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

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Just tryin' 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 still in love with you
And so you felt like droppin' in and just expect me to be free
Well, now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' 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?
Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd break 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

I've got all my life to live, and I've got so much love to give
And I'll survive, yes, I'll survive, yeah, I'll survive

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Noch mehr queere Hymnen

Wir haben uns ein paar Songs über LGBTQIA*-Themen näher angeschaut:

• Queens "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• Bronksi Beats "Smalltown Boy"
• Die Musik von girl in red
• Außerdem gibt's eine ganze LGBTQIA*-Playlist