CAFFE` LATTE` TOP 2000 TRACKS

THE TOP 100

#96 i will survive

Gloria Gaynor

(1978)

Writers: Freddie Perren & Dino Fekaris

"Never Can Say Goodbye" made Gloria Gaynor disco's first major star. She was commonly referred to as 'The Queen of Disco'. The reality is that Gaynor's subsequent releases failed to sustain the success of that 1974 single. Donna Summer emerged around the same time and was swiftly identified as a contender for the crown. Gaynor's fortunes continued their downward direction in 1978. She slipped on stage in Europe and was paralyzed from the waist down. Having severely injured her spine, Gaynor was bedridden for many months. Around this time, her mother passed away. As she recovered, her label arranged her next single, a song entitled "Substitute". Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris agreed to produce the recording as long as they could write the B-side. As Gaynor explained to me in an interview: "they talked to me about the kind of subject matter that i like". The 2 producers presented Gaynor with the lyrics to "I Will Survive".
Gaynor was instantly impressed with their composition. On the recording, it is clear that the lyrics resonated with her. She was convinced its message would translate into a hit, but her record company disagreed. "They wouldn't even listen to it," Gaynor continued. "I Will Survive" was issued, but as the B-side for "Substitute". The single flopped. Gaynor persevered. The track was given to a DJ at Studio 54 who played it and loved it. More copies were distributed to other New York DJs and the song's appeal became evident. Soon, it was being requested in clubs and at radio stations.The record company had to re-issue it as the A-side.
"I Will Survive" reached #1 in the USA and Britain in 1979. It was a Top 10 in several other countries. To this day, the empowering disco song remains an essential party favourite. It is an anthem for the women's movement and the gay community.     

This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.

A new song from the remaining Top 100 is added each weekday, while another 2 are also included from positions 1501-2000 daily. Check back here every 12 hours for an update of the 2000.