Eye of the Tiger
Encyclopedia
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single
by American rock
band Survivor
, from their third album Eye of the Tiger
. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone
, who was unable to get permission for Queen
's "Another One Bites the Dust
". The song was to be the theme song for the movie Rocky III
in which he was playing the main role. The movie version of the song is different from the album version because it features tiger growls. It gained tremendous MTV
and radio airplay and topped charts worldwide in 1982. It is memorable for its famous guitar riff
and anthem
ic chorus.
In an interview with Songfacts, co-writer Jim Peterik
explained the song's title.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Survivor
Survivor (band)
Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme...
, from their third album Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger (album)
Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III....
. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
, who was unable to get permission for Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's "Another One Bites the Dust
Another One Bites the Dust
"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the English rock band Queen. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game . The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100, number two on the R&B charts and...
". The song was to be the theme song for the movie Rocky III
Rocky III
Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's...
in which he was playing the main role. The movie version of the song is different from the album version because it features tiger growls. It gained tremendous MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and radio airplay and topped charts worldwide in 1982. It is memorable for its famous guitar riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
and anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
ic chorus.
In an interview with Songfacts, co-writer Jim Peterik
Jim Peterik
Jim Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the band Survivor and as vocalist and songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March...
explained the song's title.
At first, we wondered if calling it 'Eye of the Tiger' was too obvious. The initial draft of the song, we started with 'It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight, rising up to the spirit of our rival, and the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night, and it all comes down to survival.' We were going to call the song 'Survival.' In the rhyme scheme, you can tell we had set up 'rival' to rhyme with 'survival.' At the end of the day, we said, 'Are we nuts?' That hook is so strong, and 'rival' doesn't have to be a perfect rhyme with the word 'tiger.' We made the right choice and went with 'Eye Of The Tiger'.
Critical acclaim
- Voted by VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
number 63 on its list of 100 greatest hard rock songs of all time. - Its famous guitar riff is listed by DigitalDreamDoor number 41 on its list of 100 Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs.
- Listed as one of the best selling singles of all time because of selling more than 7 million copies (more than 4 million in USA and almost million in UK and France).
- It is regularly cited as one of the greatest sport songs of all time.
- Regularly holds place among top ten positive/motivational songs list.
- It was voted Best New Song by the People's Choice AwardsPeople's Choice AwardsThe People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
in 1982. - It is a staple of 80s rock music compilations.
- It was voted "Favorite Song" by the People's Choice AwardsPeople's Choice AwardsThe People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
(in a tie with "TrulyTruly (song)"Truly" is the title of the debut solo single by R&B singer-songwriter Lionel Richie in 1982 . Richie wrote the song and co-produced it with James Anthony Carmichael....
" by Lionel RichieLionel RichieLionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
) in 1982. - It received an Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nomination for Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
. - It is listed by DigitalDreamDoor number 63 on its list of Top 100 Rock Anthems.
- Kerrang!Kerrang!Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
named it number 3 on its list of 5 singles of the year 1982. - It is listed by DigitalDreamDoor number 13 on its list of 100 greatest songs from 1982.
- Survivor won the Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalThe Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1980 and 2011.The award was discontinued after the 2011 award season in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
for "Eye of the Tiger".
Chart position
- It was #1 song of 1982.
- It was number one on the Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles of 1982 year-end chart.
- It was number two on the Billboard Top Pop Singles of 1982 year-end chart.
- It is certified by BPI platinum.
- It is certified by RIAA 2x platinum.
- Listed number 82 on list of Top 200 Best Selling UK Singles of All Time.
- Listed number 21 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.
Cover versions
- In 1982, Sylvie VartanSylvie VartanSylvie Vartan is a French singer. She was one of the first rock girls in France. Vartan was the most productive and active of the yé-yé style artists, considered as the toughest-sounding of those. Her performance often featured elaborate show-dance choreography. She made many appearances on French...
covered it in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as "Faire quelque chose". - In 1995, the year of his world championship, Boxer Frank BrunoFrank BrunoFranklin Roy Bruno MBE is an English former boxer whose career highlight was winning the WBC Heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests...
released a cover version. It reached #28 in the UK charts. - Alvin and the ChipmunksAlvin and the ChipmunksAlvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered this in 1982 for the album The Chipmunks Go HollywoodThe Chipmunks Go HollywoodThe Chipmunks Go Hollywood is a 1982 album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released by RCA Records.- Side one :#"Eye of the Tiger" #"Tomorrow"...
. - In 1999, GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
power metalPower metalPower metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
/neoclassical metal band At VanceAt VanceAt Vance is a German power metal/Neo-classical metal band. They were formed by vocalist Oliver Hartmann and guitarist Olaf Lenk in 1998.-Biography:...
included a cover of the song for their debut album No Escape. - In 1999, CKYCKY (band)CKY is an American alternative metal band that formed in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 1998. Centred around core members Deron Miller , Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera , the band shares its name with a skateboarding and stunt video series produced by Bam Margera, brother of drummer Jess...
included a cover of the song on the compilation album Volume 2Volume 2 (CKY album)Volume 2 is a soundtrack album by American alternative metal band CKY featuring songs and skits from the 1999 skateboarding/stunt video Landspeed Presents: CKY. Released on February 27, 1999 in conjunction with the band's debut studio album Volume 1, the album has subsequently been reissued a...
. - The New DealThe New Deal (band)The New Deal is a three-piece electronic band formed in 1998 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With a drummer , bass guitarist , and keyboard player , the music incorporates many elements of modern electronica, which they have branded live progressive breakbeat house.The band formed in 1998 after a...
, a live electronica band from TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, occasionally covers the song in concert. - In 2000, Australian band RegurgitatorRegurgitatorRegurgitator are an Australian rock band from Brisbane, currently consisting of Quan Yeomans , Ben Ely and Peter Kostic . The band formed in 1994, its original line-up consisting of Yeomans, Ely and drummer Martin Lee...
recorded a cover version of the song, titled Comeback (Eye Of The Tiger) for their Crush The Losers EP. - In 2003, FinnishFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
melodic death metalMelodic death metalMelodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band Withering recorded a cover version of the song. - American indie artist Josh JoplinJosh Joplin-Biography:Joplin was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Conestoga Valley, in the heart of Lancaster, Pa., until at the age of 12, when his family relocated to Columbia, Md....
recorded an acoustic folk cover of the song. - In 2005, Paul AnkaPaul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
released a swing jazz cover on his album Rock SwingsRock SwingsRock Swings is an album by Paul Anka. Recorded in November 2004 and released on May 31, 2005 in Canada and June 7, 2005 in the United States, it contains swing jazz covers of popular rock and pop songs from the 1980s and 1990s....
. - In 2006, the song was covered by Amel BentAmel BentAmel Bent is a French singer.- Biography :Amel Bent grew up in the French commune of La Courneuve with her Algerian father and a Moroccan mother. She has a brother and a sister...
where it reached #2 in France, #13 in Belgium and #32 in Switzerland. - Punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Green DayGreen DayGreen Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
performed the intro of the song on several occasions. - Rappers DMXDMX (rapper)Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
and Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
covered the song. - In 2006, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n popPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artist Lee HardingLee HardingLee Harding is an Australian pop singer. He is from Frankston, Victoria, where he worked at the local AMC cinema multiplex...
included a cover of the song on his debut album What's Wrong with This Picture? - It has been covered by IncubusIncubus (band)Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
. - Judith OwenJudith OwenJudith Owen is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her first North American album, Emotions on a Postcard, was released in 1996, and has since been followed by five additional releases...
recorded a jazz version for her album Here, also released in 2006. - In 2007, VomitronVomitronVomitron is a heavy metal/experimental band based in Lowell, Massachusetts USA. Their music first circulated in 2002 on mp3.com.-Releases:On January 8, 2007, Vomitron announced on its MySpace that its first, self-titled CD was available for purchase...
covered the song on their self titled album on MySpace. - In 2010, LorenaLorena (singer)Lorena Gomez Pérez is an Spanish pop singer known artistically as Lorena.She was the winner of TV's Spanish Language's talent-search program Operación Triunfo 2006 . In 2007, her debut album, Lorena was released under the Sony BMG label.- Early years :She was born April 12, 1986 in Lleida, Spain...
covered the song on her second studio album De Pelicula. - In 2010, Ten Masked MenTen Masked MenTen Masked Men is a British death metal cover band who specialize in covering pop songs. The band was formed in 1996 when Mark and Dave Hutson did a cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall" to annoy a friend. The song was much the same as the original, except it was played with distorted guitars and death...
covered the song on the album Attack Of The Ten Masked MenAttack Of The Ten Masked MenAttack Of The Ten Masked Men is the latest album from British death metal cover band Ten Masked Men, released in 2008. The title is a parody of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.-Track listing:# "Easy Lover"...
. - In 2010, Great WhiteGreat WhiteGreat White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1978. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"...
covered the song on the album Covered In '80s Hits. - In 2009, the Belgian acappella group Voice Male recorded a cover of the song for their album "At The Movies".
- The song is covered in the 2009 Nickelodeon movie Spectacular!Spectacular!Spectacular! is a 2009 Nickelodeon musical TV-movie. It stars singer Nolan Gerard Funk, Australian singer Tammin Sursok, Zoey 101 and Victorious star Victoria Justice, and Simon Curtis. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, it premiered February 16, 2009...
by Tammin SursokTammin SursokTammin Pamela Sursok is an Australian actress and musician of South African origin. She is best known for the role of Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, as Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless and as Siena in Disney Channel's Hannah Montana...
. - The song has been covered recently by The Jonas Brothers, albeit with a negative reception; some of the main criticisms being the lyrics sung by female vocalist Demi LovatoDemi Lovato"She’s got the range, the full emotional spectrum, incredible control… Vocally, she’s the best thing Disney’s had since Christina Aguilera."—Producer Toby Gad on Demi Lovato's vocals...
and an overuse of the crash cymbals on the drum track. - The song has been parodied on Double TakeDouble Take (TV series)Double Take is an Australian sketch comedy series which premiered on the Seven Network on 23 July 2009. The first series of the show ended in 24 September 2009.-Cast:* Paul McCarthy* Helen Dallimore* Amanda Bishop* Darren Weller* Robin Goldsworthy...
called "Guys From Al-Qaeda". - The song was sung by Stan WalkerStan WalkerStan Walker , is an Australian recording artist and actor. In 2009, Walker was the winner on the seventh season of Australian Idol. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia....
during Power Ballads Night on Australian IdolAustralian Idol (season 7)The seventh and final season of the Australian Idol series began on 9 August 2009, to determine who would succeed Season 6 winner, Wes Carr. Beginning amid controversy, judge Kyle Sandilands was replaced by Sony Music record executive, Jay Dee Springbett. It was the first season where all four...
. - It was also covered by 2010 X Factor Australia winner Altiyan ChildsAltiyan ChildsAltiyan Juric , best known by his stage name Altiyan Childs, is an Australian singer-songwriter. He was the winner of the second season of The X Factor Australia in 2010. After X Factor ended, Childs subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia...
for his self-titled debut albumAltiyan Childs (album)-Release history:...
.
Appearances in other media
- An altered version of the song by the band themselves was featured on a StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
Doubleshot commercial. - Appeared on Pop Idol series one (UK precursor to American Idol) where the rendition by Warren WaldWarren WaldWarren Wald was a former Pop Idol contestant who became famous across Britain in 2003 after performing the 1980s hit song "Eye of the Tiger" in the Pop Idol auditions.-Pop Idol:...
was famously torn apart by Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
. - A parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
entitled, "Theme from Rocky XIII (The Rye or the Kaiser)", was included on his In 3-D"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D is the second studio album by American signer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on February 28, 1984, by Rock 'n Roll Records. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
album from 1984. - Amel BentAmel BentAmel Bent is a French singer.- Biography :Amel Bent grew up in the French commune of La Courneuve with her Algerian father and a Moroccan mother. She has a brother and a sister...
's cover was heard on AsterixAsterixAsterix or The Adventures of Asterix is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo . The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on October 29, 1959...
's 2006 animated film Asterix and the VikingsAsterix and the VikingsAsterix and the Vikings is an animated feature film, produced in France and Denmark, and directed by Stefan Fjeldmark and Jesper Møller. The story was adapted from the graphic novel Asterix and the Normans, which was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo...
. - Has appeared commonly as a previous soundtrack in various Kelloggs Frosties advertisements.
- In the Comedy Central RoastComedy Central RoastThe Comedy Central Roasts are a series of celebrity roast specials which air on the Comedy Central cable network.-History:Between 1998 and 2001, Comedy Central produced and televised the annual roasts of the New York Friars' Club. After the original five-year agreement expired, the network began...
of Charlie SheenCharlie SheenCarlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
, the song is played during footage from his appearance in multiple films and sitcoms, referencing to his claim that he has tiger blood. - In the film PersepolisPersepolisPerspolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire . Persepolis is situated northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. In contemporary Persian, the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid...
, the lead character Marjane sings the song during one sequence. - Linda McMahonLinda McMahonLinda Marie McMahon is an American professional wrestling magnate and politician. She is notable for her career developing WWE with her husband Vince McMahon. She was in the company from 1980 to 2009. During this time, WWE grew from a small regional business in New York to a large multinational...
left the stage to the song after her speech at her victory party, when she had won the ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
Republican primary in 2010.