The 1980s had plenty of bands releasing music, including Survivor. What makes Survivor stand out is their tight harmonies and their almost anthem-like singles. Among Survivor’s many, many hits are these three songs that are so good, almost every 80s kid can certainly still sing along with them today.
“Eye Of The Tiger”
Survivor’s first No. 1 single, “Eye Of The Tiger” is part of the Rocky III soundtrack. Out in 1982, it is also the title track of the group’s third studio album. Written by band members Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik, “Eye Of The Tiger” stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks.
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“Eye Of The Tiger” says, “It’s the eye of the tiger / It’s the thrill of the fight / Rising up to the challenge of our rival / And the last known survivor / Stalks his prey in the night / And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger.”
“The Search Is Over”
Every young couple in love in the 1908s likely danced to “The Search Is Over” at some point. On their Vital Signs album, it was written by Sullivan and Peterik.
The sweet love song says, “I was always reaching / You were just a girl I knew / I took for granted / The friend I had in you / I was living for a dream / Loving for a moment / Taking on the world / That was just my style / Now I look into your eyes / I can see forever / The search is over / You were with me all the while.”
“The Search Is Over” was inspired by a real-life love story, although not Peterik’s or Sullivan’s.
“It wasn’t about my life as much as a friend of mine who had a girlfriend – really a play pal throughout their growing up years – and never thought it could be anything more than that,” Peterik tells Songfacts. “It was looking him straight in the face that this was the girl of his destiny. And he looked everywhere to find that dream girl, only to come back to the sandbox. This couple is still married and going strong.”
“Burning Heart”
On the Rocky IV soundtrack is “Burning Heart”. Also written by Sullivan and Peterik, “Burning Heart” is Survivor’s final Top 5 single.
“Burning Heart” says, “In the burning heart / Just about to burst / There’s a quest for answers / An unquenchable thirst / In the darkest night / Rising like a spire / In the burning heart / The unmistakable fire.”
It was Rocky IV actor Sylvester Stallone who asked Survivor to write a song for the movie, which resulted in “Burning Heart”.
Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns
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