The band tweaked its musical direction in 1988 with the release of the slightly heavier Too Hot to Sleep, but due to changes in the music industry, the album barely reached the Billboard 100 in the United States. Because of this, the band split for several years each embarking on other areas of the music business. Jamison (the most popular frontman in the groups history) re-united with Sullivan in 2000 and the band released the Reach cd in 2006.
Early Years
Survivor was formed in 1977 by Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan, Dave Bickler, Gary Smith and Dennis Keith Johnson. Initially, the group was known as The Jim Peterik Band. But Peterik liked the idea of a band identity better, so the Survivor name was adopted by 1978. Peterik was previously the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band Ides of March.[1] After playing in small clubs for several years, Survivor released its first album, the self-titled Survivor, in 1979, but the album did not achieve the level of success that the band had hoped for, producing no Top 40 singles. In 1981 Johnson & Smith had schedule conflicts with their other projects, so they were replaced by Stephan Ellis & Marc Droubay in time for the band's follow-up album, Premonition,which achieved only Top 40 single, "Poor Man's Son".
In 1982, Survivor's breakthrough arrived when actor Sylvester Stallone asked it to provide the theme song for his movie Rocky III. Stallone had heard their single "Poor Man's Son" and wanted a song similar to it.[2] The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger". It had an enormous impact on the Billboard charts, peaking at #1 and remaining there for a total of six weeks. It also topped the British Billboard charts. It was in the Top 40 for a total of 18 weeks and was Australia's #1 single for four weeks.[3] The song won the band a Grammy Award, was voted "Best New Song" by the People's Choice Awards, and also received an Academy Award nomination.[3] The album of the same title, Eye of the Tiger, was released by the band later in 1982.
In 1983, Survivor tried to duplicate the success of Eye of the Tiger by releasing Caught in the Game. The album turned out to be a commercial disappointment, stalling at #82 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The album's only single, the title track, peaked at #77. The band suffered another setback before a tour in late 1983, when lead singer Dave Bickler was fired and replaced by Jimi Jamison who led the band to a string of hit songs, videos and soundtracks, beginning with the hit album "Vital Signs" in 1984.
The Hit Years
After recording "The Moment of Truth" with Jimi Jamison on vocals (#63 US), the theme song of the box office smash hit The Karate Kid (1984), the band recorded its first full album with Jamison. Vital Signs gave the band a massive comeback, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Album Chart with the hits "I Can't Hold Back" (#13 US), "High on You" (#8 US), and "The Search Is Over" (#4 US).
In 1985, the band had another hit with "Burning Heart," a song from the Rocky IV soundtrack, when it peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100.
When Seconds Count was released in 1986 and included the hit "Is This Love" (#9 US). On the Billboard album chart, the album peaked at #49 but still managed to sell over 500,000 copies and reached certified gold status.
During pre-production of their seventh album, Too Hot to Sleep (1988), Ellis and Droubay were replaced by studio session vets Mickey Curry (drums) and Bill Syniar (bass). Produced BY Frank Fillipetti . Though the album presented a harder-rocking Survivor, similar to the sound in the band's the early days, Too Hot to Sleep failed to make a dent on the charts (#187 US). There were, reportedly, a few live dates done by the band during this period that included Syniar on bass and Kyle Woodring on drums
1989-2000: Work on Greatest Hits Album
After the disappointing sales of Too Hot to Sleep, Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan decided to put the band on hiatus indefinitely. Jamison decided to continue touring and playing Survivor songs with local musicians. He subsequently recorded a solo album in 1991. Jamison continued to tour successfully in the US and overseas and in 1992, Sullivan contacted Jamison's management and asked to be included on the tour; he performed on eight to ten dates before being replaced.
Soon after, in late 1992-early 1993, Survivor was tapped to do a new and more extensive hits package with two new songs. For a short time Peterik, Sullivan, and Jamison were reunited in the studio to record new material for the new package and forthcoming world tour.
In Spring 1993, Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with original lead singer Dave Bickler, released a new 'Greatest Hits' album with two new songs ("Hungry Years" co-written by Bickler and "You Know Who You Are" originally sung by Jamison), and embarked on a world tour with Bill Syniar and Kyle Woodring returning on bass & drums. Klem Hayes took over on bass in 1994 after Syniar departed.
When the band tried to move in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band, playing his last show with Survivor on July 3, 1996, at "The Eye in the Sky" fest in Lisle, Illinois. Survivor replaced Peterik with keyboardist Chris Grove. Peterik returned to recording and touring with the Ides of March and also formed the group Pride of Lions.
In the fall of 1996, bassist Stephan Ellis and drummer Marc Droubay rejoined Survivor. But Ellis quit again by early 1999 and was replaced by Billy Ozzello.
In 1999, Jimi Jamison released his second solo album Empires.
2000-2006: Release of a new album
In early 2000, Bickler was fired, severing the then Sullivan/Bickler Survivor and resulting in Sullivan's reestablishment of a partnership with Jamison. The band then began recording material for a new album. The Peterik/Sullivan-penned track "Velocitized" was set for inclusion on the Soundtrack to the Sylvester Stallone film Driven. However, it did not make the cut.
In 2000, the band threatened to sue CBS for using the name "Survivor" as the title of their hit reality show Survivor.
In 2003 Billy Ozzello was replaced on bass by Randy Riley.
In 2004, a Starbucks television commercial debuted for their Double Shot espresso beverage. It featured the band following a man named Glen, singing a modified version of "Eye of the Tiger" while he did his day-to-day tasks. This commercial has gained a number of fans and was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Survivor emerged into popular culture once again on the soundtrack album to the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2005). Burgundy states that he believes Survivor is "the best that ever was" and that "everyone else is an imitator" including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bach, and Beethoven. He then goes on to point out that Survivor won't return his calls, which he understands because "They're Survivor and I'm not." He then introduces Who's That Lady by The Isley Brothers with the line "It's not Survivor, but it'll have to do."
Barry Dunaway took over bass chores for the band on the road in 2005. But by early 2006 Billy Ozzello was back
On April 21, 2006, Survivor released a new album called Reach. Consisting of mostly new songs, it also includes some re-recordings from the "Fire Makes Steel" sessions.
Two of the album's songs, "Reach" and "Fire Makes Steel", had been considered for inclusion in the 2006 Rocky sequel Rocky Balboa but were not included, nor did they appear on the 2006 album Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky.
On July 14, 2006, it was announced that Jimi Jamison and Barry Dunaway (Ingvie Malmsteen) were leaving and the band struggled to find a replacement finally settling on Robin McAuley.
2007-present: New vocalist
According to Sullivan, the band is said to be going back into the studio to record brand-new material for a new Survivor record (featuring McAuley on lead vocals) for a 2008 release, but still no record to date.
2008 Jamison released the highly acclaimed cd "Crossroads Moment" on Frontiers Records in Europe produced by Jim Peterik and Larry Milas
[2009] Jamison's "Crossroads Moments" cd is released in the (US)
The current lineup is a mix of old and new members: newcomer Robin McAuley (vocals), original member/songwriter Frankie Sullivan (guitar/vocals), longtime member Marc Drowbay (drums), and veteran members Billy Ozzello (bass).
Grove, a classically trained pianist, who stayed with the group for more than ten years has recently left and is performing with Eddie Money. Randy Riley and Barry Dunaway both briefly filled in on bass after Ozzello's departure. Dunaway departed shortly after recording Reach. Ozzello, who recorded an album with the band Blind for a Day in 1998, recently returned to the lineup.
The band continues to play regular concerts in North America, Europe, and Asia.
The band performed "Eye of the Tiger" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars on April 3, 2007.
On December 16, 2007, Survivor performed for the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Christmas Party, at the Canyon Club in Agoura, CA.
Frankie Sullivan is now producing the second album of the critically acclaimed band Mecca led by Singer/Songwriter Joe Vana. Coincidentally, he replaces Jim Peterik who produced the first Mecca album. The album is due out the first part of 2008 on Frontiers Records Worldwide.
Chicago
2. Survivor was a band from Shreveport, Louisiana who released one self-titled album in 1979.
Desperate Dreams
Survivor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So lonely, wouldn't if feel right to love this night away
Your name keeps echoing down this wishing well
Wild hearts on an endless flight, set free in our dreams tonight
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
Torn pages, more than a memory, pieces of the past
One vision, your image keeps haunting me, a love too good to last
Your voice keeps echoing down this wishing well
Wild hearts on an endless flight, set free our dreams tonight
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Those nights live on forever
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
One love divided burns brightly through the night
Two dreams united until the morning light
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Those nights live on forever
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
Lost in a desperate dream
It was a desperate dream
Only a desperate dream
The lyrics of Survivor's song "Desperate Dreams" tell the story of two dreamers who are both lonely and seeking love. They imagine what it would be like to meet during the day, but for now, they are resigned to loving each other in the night. Their love is represented by "wild hearts on an endless flight, set free in our dreams tonight," suggesting that they are passionately in love with each other, but their love can only exist in the dream world.
The two souls are drawn to each other, but there is a sense that they are fighting an uphill battle against their own desires. They are two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes, and the memory of their lost love haunts them. The girl is lost in a reverie, consumed by her memories of a love that was too good to last. Despite this, their love lives on forever in their dreams.
The song is a poignant reminder of the power of love and the longing that often comes with it. It captures the feeling of desperation that can be present when one is seeking love, but also the hope that comes with it. Ultimately, the song suggests that even though their love may be lost or impossible, it lives on in their dreams and memories, giving them some solace in the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Two dreamers, what would it feel like to meet by light of day
Two people who have mutual dreams ponder how their meeting would be in broad daylight.
So lonely, wouldn't if feel right to love this night away
They acknowledge their loneliness and believe making love under the moonlight would be perfect.
Your name keeps echoing down this wishing well
They keep wishing that their desires come true.
Wild hearts on an endless flight, set free in our dreams tonight
Their restless hearts yearn for liberation and they find it through their heavenly dreams.
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Their souls are attracted to a passionate flame in their dreams where they yearn for love.
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
Their hearts are consumed by the desperation of their desires.
One girl lost in a reverie
One of them was lost in a pleasant daydream.
Lost love found in a memory
They found a love that was lost to them only in their memories.
Those nights live on forever
The memories of the passionate nights continue to live on in their minds.
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
The two of them were foolishly caught up in the intense longing of their dream.
Torn pages, more than a memory, pieces of the past
The remnants of their lost love remain more than a mere memory, similar to torn pages of an old book.
One vision, your image keeps haunting me, a love too good to last
Their love was too beautiful to continue, and now the memory of the other person only haunts them.
Your voice keeps echoing down this wishing well
Their wish for each other remains unfulfilled, and thus the person's voice echoes repetitively down the wishing well.
One love divided burns brightly through the night
Their love was split, but the passion still persists and continues to burn through the night.
Two dreams united until the morning light
Both our dreamers share an intense longing and a common goal.
Lost in a desperate dream
They were caught up in a dream that was desperate, beyond their control.
It was a desperate dream
The dream they shared was filled with an intense desperate longing.
Only a desperate dream
The whole fervor they both feel for each other remained only in their dreams and imaginations.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK SULLIVAN, JIM PETERIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ricardogonzalezavendano6448
Two dreamers, what would it feel like to meet by light of day
So lonely, wouldn't if feel right to love this night away
Your name keeps echoing down this wishing well
Wild hearts on an endless flight, set free in our dreams tonight
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Those nights live on forever
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
Torn pages, more than a memory, pieces of the past
One vision, your image keeps haunting me, a love too good to last
Your voice keeps echoing down this wishing well
Wild hearts on an endless flight, set free our dreams tonight
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Those nights live on forever
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
One love divided burns brightly through the night
Two dreams united until the morning light
Two souls drawn to the fire in desperate dreams
Two hearts lost to desire's desperate schemes
One girl lost in a reverie
Lost love found in a memory
Those nights live on forever
Two fools lost in a desperate dream
Lost in a desperate dream
It was a desperate dream
Only a desperate dream
@DannyBrownPodcasts
Jimi Jamison is right up there with Steve Perry as a singer who brings so much emotion to every song he sings. Timeless voice.
@dodobombon2147
Totally agree
@philhague4048
100% amigo! Fking brilliant 👏
@victoriarodriguez4333
I cannot agree more!!!!!❤
Miss this guy. 😢
“Is the singer, not the song….”
@aaronherbison7316
100% both great... Rip Jimi
@danharris2007
Jimi had and amazing voice love all of his songs with survivor and all his solo stuf was really good
@vivisantiago8484
A man who knows how to sing with the heart. He's alive every time we listen to his songs.
@andy81231
❤
@janinepeters1068
I just can't get enough! That face, that voice
@hectorvega-galindo7093
I feel my late brother Ricardo he is next to me listening to Survivor every time. Yesterday April 9th my brother would have been his 55th birthday...and my Mother same day yesterday It's her 4th anniversary of her trip to heaven.