According to him, he never for a moment imagined it would be famous outside of the boxing arena. “Eye of the Tiger” has become a favorite amongst aspiring sportsmen and even individuals going through physical therapy. Simply put, this song is very inspirational. And in hindsight, Jim Peterik logically understands why such is so. However, when he was actually penning the tune, he says that he never imagined it would have such an universal appeal. Sylvester Stallone also contributed directly to the composition of “Eye of the Tiger”. For instance, Survivor had actually watched the scene in “Rocky III” in which “Eye of the Tiger” was to be set before writing the song. Additionally the Italian Stallone made certain suggestions concerning the recording of the track, such as the band actually writing a third verse instead of repeating the first instead as they originally intended to.
This was after he and the movie’s producers could not secure the right to use their initial choice of background music for a pivotal scene in the film. And in fact the song this particular section was first set to is another classic, Queen’s “ Another One Bites the Dust” (1980).
Stallone himself who requested that Survivor provide the movie’s theme song.
This track was written by Survivor members Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan specifically for the purpose of being featured on Sylvester Stallone’s classic film “Rocky III” (1982). Or looked at from another perspective, the lyrics compare surviving in the wild to surviving on “the street”, with “the tiger” being the ideal animal to illustrate the intended points. Thus just as a tiger relishes “the thrill of the fight”, a competitive person should also adopt a similar disposition.Īnd overall the basic sentiment is that a tiger always ‘stays hungry’ and prepared to take on his next competitor. And with this once again being a sports-based song, the implication is that an aggressive and confrontational sportsman like a boxer should behave likewise.Īt the end of the day, we see that conducting himself in such a manner does in fact result in the singer’s success. Indeed he states that having the courage to succeed was a prerequisite to eventually ‘getting the glory’. But now after going “the distance” and reaching “the top”, he is “not gonna stop” aspiring to remain the best. Instead such a lifestyle is now part of his personality, being once again “just a man will to survive”. And what he seems to admire most about this animal is its survival skills and drive to remain dominant in the field. That is the singer desires to adopt some of a tiger’s characteristics to be applied in his own life. Meanwhile the chorus and second verse capture the mood of the song more holistically. Basically the “tiger” in the title is a metaphor for a human being. In this film, the titular character is initially depicted as someone who lets the pleasures of success override his will to remain competitive.
Some versions of the TV Spot show a motorcycle gang parked next to Rosita's car startle her, only to begin headbanging themselves.The singer introduces himself as a humble dude who is surviving simply by his will. However, a general-inspirational mood is set, as he puts forth that an individual ‘must fight to keep his dreams alive’. In other words, despite being a modest person, he has not given up on achieving certain goals. The vocalist also denounces ‘trading passion for glory’. That particular statement is based directly on the storyline of “Rocky III”. In the TV Spot Sing For The Gold, Rosita and her children headbang to "Eye of the Tiger" in the car. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, "Eye of the Tiger" won Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for four consecutive weeks. It spent fifteen consecutive weeks in the top ten, tied with Olivia Newton John's "Physical" and the aforementioned "Another One Bites the Dust" as the longest run in the top ten for a number one song in the 1980s. In the United States, "Eye of the Tiger" was Survivor's only song to top the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for six consecutive weeks. It topped record charts worldwide and gained tremendous radio and MTV airplay in 1982. A demo version of the song was used in the film, while the complete version appears on Survivor's album of the same name and Rocky III's soundtrack.Ī shortened version of "Eye of the Tiger" was released as a single the day after Rocky III. "Eye of the Tiger" was written by guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik, and features singer Dave Bickler on lead vocals. Stallone needed a theme for his 1982 film Rocky III after he was denied permission to use his first choice, Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust". Music video "Eye of the Tiger" is a song composed by American rock band Survivor at the request of American actor, screenwriter, and director Sylvester Stallone.