Gloria Fowles (born September 7, 1943), better known as Gloria Gaynor, is a… Read Full Bio ↴Gloria Fowles (born September 7, 1943), better known as Gloria Gaynor, is an American singer-songwriter born in Newark, New Jersey, USA. She is best-known for her disco era hits "I Will Survive" (Hot 100 #1, 1979), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Hot 100 #9, 1974), "Let Me Know (I Have A Right)" (Hot 100 #42, 1980) and "I Am What I Am" (Hot 100 #82, 1983). Some of her other hits include "I Never Knew", "Just Keep Thinking About You", "Last Night", "Mighty High", "Be Soft With Me Tonight", "Strive", "Let's Mend What's Been Broken", "This Love Affair", "Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away" and "Casanova Brown".

Gaynor was a singer with the Soul Satisfiers, a jazz/pop band, in the 1960s. Her first solo single was "She'll Be Sorry/Let Me Go Baby" in 1965.

Her first real success came in 1975 with the release of her album Never Can Say Goodbye, which established her as a disco artist. The first side of this album consisted of three disco songs ("Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There"), with no breaks in between the songs. This 19-minute dance marathon proved to be enormously popular, especially at dance clubs. All three songs were released as singles via radio edits, and all of them became hits. This album was so instrumental in introducing disco music to the public, that many later believed that Gloria Gaynor had been the first artist to record disco music. "Never Can Say Goodbye" became the first song to top Billboard magazine's dance chart - in that sense, she was the first. Capitalizing on the success of her first album, Gaynor quickly released her second album, Experience Gloria Gaynor, later that same year. While this album was also successful, it was not quite as popular as her previous album in the mainstream.

Some of her lesser-known singles, due to lack of recurrent airplay, include "Honey Bee", "Casanova Brown", and "Let's Make A Deal" which all became hits in the clubs and reached the Top 5 on Billboard's disco charts. After her 1976 album, I've Got You, Gaynor shifted from her hit production team to work with other productions. While it seemed like a good move, her subsequent producers did not seem to match Gaynor's vocal approach and style as well. This caused her the albums that followed, such as 1977's Glorious and 1978's Park Avenue Sound, to be regarded as merely good albums instead of excellent albums.

For the next few years, Gaynor would only enjoy a few moderate hits. However, in late 1978, with the release of her album Love Tracks, she climbed the pop charts again because of her now-signature song "I Will Survive". The lyrics of this song are written from the point of view of a woman, recently dumped, telling her former lover that she can cope without him and does not want anything more to do with him. The song has become something of an anthem of female emancipation, and is still a staple of office parties and karaoke nights. The song was awarded the first and only Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980 (the category was discontinued upon disco's fall from favor shortly afterward). In 1999, Pixar animator Victor Navone used this song to create an alien music video, which for a time, was a minor internet phenomenon.

Interestingly, "I Will Survive" was originally the B-side when Polydor Records released it in late 1978. The A-side, a song called "Substitute", then a recent worldwide hit for South African girl-group Clout, was considered to be more "radio friendly." Radio DJs flipped the record over, and audience response forced the record company to flip the songs, so that subsequent copies of the single listed the more popular song on the A-side. In late 1979, she released the album I Have A Right, which contained her next disco hit, "Let Me Know (I Have The Right)", featuring Doc Severinsen of The Tonight Show fame on trumpet solo.

Even though she exprienced difficulty having hit records in the U.S. after "I Am What I Am", the majority of her subsequent single chart on the UK Singles Chart. During the late 1990s and the 2000s, Gaynor returned to the American charts. She issued two albums, 2002's I Wish You Love and 2006's The Answer, that were well received with her fanbase.

Strive
Gloria Gaynor Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You got your hopes up for a reason
Now's the time to decide
Don't you wait another season
Get your sights up right
Before your changes pass you by
Time goes on
The world keeps turning
Make your move

Aim for the top
You make a difference
Keep learning
Put your best foot forward
You can make this kind of rock

You've got to strive
Go for what you know
Strive
Don't give up on your dreams
You've got to strive
And let the world know
You're really alive
You've got to strive
Go for what you know
Strive
Don't give up on your dreams
You've got to strive
Let the world know
You're really alive

You know the score
You know what's happening
And don't feel sorry for yourself
Roll up your sleeves
Let's get to crackin'
Shut your doubts up in the closet
Leave your pity on the shell
Keep your nose onto the grindstone
Faith in God will pull you through
Load up your gun
Get off your hindbone
Fire at the target
Hit the mark
Oh why don't you?

You've got to strive
Go for what you know
Strive
Don't give up on your dreams
You've got to strive
And let the world know
You're really alive
You've got to strive
Go for what you know
Strive
Don't give up on your dreams
You've got to strive
Let the world know
You're really alive

Repeat last verse and fade.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Strive" by Gloria Gaynor convey a message of hope and determination to the listener. The song encourages individuals to strive for success and not let their dreams pass them by. Gaynor sings, "You've got your hopes up for a reason, now's the time to decide, don't you wait another season, get your sights up right, before your changes pass you by." Here, Gaynor urges the listener to take action and pursue their aspirations before it's too late.

The lyrics also highlight the importance of perseverance and hard work. Gaynor sings, "You know the score, you know what's happening, and don't feel sorry for yourself, roll up your sleeves, let's get to crackin'." The lyrics encourage individuals to push through obstacles and doubts and have faith in their abilities. Additionally, the lyrics emphasize the importance of having a positive attitude and being proactive in pursuing one's dreams.

In summary, "Strive" by Gloria Gaynor is an upbeat and motivational song that encourages the listener to persevere, work hard, and never give up on their dreams. The lyrics carry an uplifting tone and provide a source of inspiration for anyone who may be facing obstacles.

Line by Line Meaning

You got your hopes up for a reason
You believed in yourself and your dreams for a reason.

Now's the time to decide
It's time to take action and make a decision.

Don't you wait another season
Don't procrastinate or wait any longer.

Get your sights up right
Visualize your goals and aim for them with precision.

Before your changes pass you by
Don't let opportunity slip away or let life pass you by.

Time goes on
Time doesn't wait for anyone.

The world keeps turning
Life keeps moving and changing.

Make your move
Take action and make a change.

Aim for the top
Set your sights high and strive for success.

You make a difference
Believe in yourself and the impact you can make.

Keep learning
Continue to grow and improve yourself.