branched out into music, but that is the opposite of how they began. After first being brought to life in Bagdasarian's 1950s novelty recordings under the name David Seville and the Chipmunks, the characters were an unprecedented success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon series and motion pictures.
The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create the higher pitched, squeaky voices. This process was not entirely new; Bagdasarian had also used it for a previous novelty song project, "The Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well executed it earned the "trio" two Grammy Awards for engineering. Although the characters were fictional, they did release a long line of "real" albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" becoming a number-one hit single in the United States. After his death in 1972, the voices of the Chipmunks were subsequently recorded by his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., and his wife, Janice Karman, in all subsequent incarnations to date.
Survivor
Alvin and The Chipmunks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so much better
You thought that I'd be weak without you
But I'm stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without you
But I'm richer
You thought that I'd be sad without you
I laugh harder
Now I'm wiser
Though that I'd be helpless without you
But I'm smarter
You thought that I'd be stressed without you
But I'm chillin'
You thought I wouldn't sell without you
Sold 9 million
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
Thought I couldn't breathe without
I'm inhaling
You thought I couldn't see without you
Perfect vision
You thought I couldn't last without you
But I'm lastin'
You thought that I would die without you
But I'm livin'
Thought that I would fail without you
But I'm on top
Thought it would be over by now
But it won't stop
Thought that I would self destruct
But I'm still here
Even in my years to come
I'm still gon be here
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
I'm wishin' you the best
Pray that you are blessed
Bring much success, no stress, and lots of happiness
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon blast you on the radio
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon lie on you and your family
(I'm better than that)
I'm not gon hate on you in the magazines
('m better than that)
I'm not gon compromise my Christianity
(I'm better than that)
You know I'm not gon diss you on the internet
'Cause my mama taught me better than that
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
Oh (oh) oh (oh)
After of all of the darkness and sadness
Soon comes happiness
If I surround my self with positive things
I'll gain prosperity
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm a survivor (What?)
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I will survive (What?)
Keep on survivin' (What?)
The lyrics of "Survivor" by Alvin and the Chipmunks is about the strength of a person's character in the face of adversity after leaving a toxic relationship. The song is expressing that the person is better off alone and that they have found their worth and strength in themselves. It speaks to the joy and resilience that can be found in living without the person they had been in a relationship with. The singer lists off all of the things that had been thought would happen to them once they left, such as struggling to make it or failing, but they have proven themselves to be stronger than ever imagined. By the end of the song, they are wishing the best for the person they had been with and they refuse to let their negativity bring them down.
The song was written by Mathew Gerrard and Bridget Benenate and was produced by both Mathew Gerrard and David Kastle. It was released for the album "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" in 2009. Here are ten interesting facts about this song:
Line by Line Meaning
Now that you're out of my life I'm so much better
I am much better without you now that you're out of my life
You thought that I'd be weak without you But I'm stronger
You thought I would be weak without you, but I am actually stronger
You thought that I'd be broke without you But I'm richer
You thought I would be broke without you, but I am actually richer
You thought that I'd be sad without you I laugh harder
You thought I would be sad without you, but I actually laugh harder
You thought I wouldn't grow without you Now I'm wiser
You thought I wouldn't grow without you, but now I am wiser
Thought that I'd be helpless without you But I'm smarter
You thought I'd be helpless without you, but I am actually smarter
You thought that I'd be stressed without you But I'm chillin'
You thought I would be stressed without you, but I'm actually chillin'
You thought I wouldn't sell without you Sold 9 million
You thought I wouldn't sell without you, but I actually sold 9 million
I'm a survivor (What?)
I am a survivor
I'm not gon give up (What?)
I'm not going to give up
I'm not gon stop (What?)
I'm not going to stop
I'm gon work harder (What?)
I'm going to work harder
I'm gonna make it (What?)
I am going to make it
I will survive (What?)
I will survive
Keep on survivin' (What?)
I will keep on survivin'
Thought I couldn't breathe without I'm inhaling
You thought I couldn't breathe without you, but I am actually inhaling
You thought I couldn't see without you Perfect vision
You thought I couldn't see without you, but I have perfect vision
You thought I couldn't last without you But I'm lastin'
You thought I couldn't last without you, but I am actually lasting
You thought that I would die without you But I'm livin'
You thought I would die without you, but I am actually still alive
Thought that I would fail without you But I'm on top
You thought I would fail without you, but I am actually on top
Thought it would be over by now But it won't stop
You thought it would be over by now, but it won't stop
Thought that I would self destruct But I'm still here
You thought I would self-destruct, but I am still here
Even in my years to come I'm still gon be here
Even in the years to come, I will still be here
I'm wishin' you the best Pray that you are blessed Bring much success, no stress, and lots of happiness
I wish you the best and pray that you are blessed with success, no stress, and lots of happiness
(I'm better than that) I'm not gon blast you on the radio
I am better than that, I will not blast you on the radio
(I'm better than that) I'm not gon lie on you and your family
I am better than that, I will not lie about you or your family
(I'm better than that) I'm not gon hate on you in the magazines
I am better than that, I will not hate on you in the magazines
('m better than that) I'm not gon compromise my Christianity
I am better than that, I will not compromise my Christianity
(I'm better than that) You know I'm not gon diss you on the internet 'Cause my mama taught me better than that
I am better than that, I will not diss you on the internet, because my mama taught me better than that
Oh (oh) oh (oh) After of all of the darkness and sadness Soon comes happiness
After all of the darkness and sadness, soon comes happiness
If I surround my self with positive things I'll gain prosperity
If I surround myself with positive things, I will gain prosperity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Anthony Dent, Beyonce Knowles, Mathew Knowles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Totally Out Of It
Honestly, the voices sound much more in sync and the sound quality is overall better than the original. If the song wasn't pitched higher, I'd say that this probably should have been the original
virginmary
@Taylor hīne obviously?
Retroboy2006
Bruh, this version is REAL DOPE.
It’s so intense my brother and I played it while tickle wrestling. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.
Christiana Page
this song relates to me. i'm a survivor and i never give up.
pigeonal
And
j'aime Lana Del Rey
It's 2019 and I still like this song
fizz
2022
SamTGG
2021 and im still here haha - 10 years after it came out
_theoriginalhopeth
I set it as my ringtone
My battery died from repeating the song over and over :)
Ada Plays
oWo