Survivor (Destiny's Child song)

Background

In 1999, Destiny's Child members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett split from Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland, and were replaced by Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. However, soon afterwards Franklin was also dropped from the group. According to Knowles, the group was compared to the reality series Survivor, which inspired her to "write us out of all that negativity."

Additionally, the song was Black Entertainment Television's tenth best song of the 2000s (decade).

Music video

Shot in January 2001, the video premiered on "Making the Video" on March 6, 2001, and is styled in the sense of three survivors living on an uninhabited island. It also shows a brief prelude to how the girls got shipwrecked. Following their shipwreck, they uncover an island where they change clothes and walk into a waterfall leading to a deserted temple where it transforms into a dance break. It storms on through the dance bridge and the prelude of the shipwreck. After this, a helicopter starts buzzing leading to where Kelly, Beyonce and Michelle racing out of the island for their escape.

The music video is featured on the DualDisc edition of the album #1's, as an enhanced video on the international edition of the album Survivor and on the 2004 Walmart exclusive DVD titled Fan Pack.

The remix video featuring Da Brat is not featured on any video compilation.

Chart performance

"Survivor" debuted at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group's second highest debuting single to date, just behind "Lose My Breath" at #30, and quickly raced up the charts reaching its peak position of #2 within a month. It was unable to claim the summit spot due to the massive success of Janet Jackson's "All For You", the track remained at the second position for seven consecutive weeks. The song topped the Billboard Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales chart for eight weeks. The song only reached number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The single reached number one on the Hot 100 Airplay chart for five consecutive weeks and peaked at number three on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.

In the United Kingdom, "Survivor" debuted at number one on the singles chart and went on to sell around 290,000 copies. It also topped the singles chart in Ireland, Netherlands, and Japan. Moreover, it held the top position in the United World Tracks Chart for five weeks. It was ranked one in Canada, peaked second in New Zealand, placed in the top 5 in Australia and Germany, and reached number 12 in France.

Controversy

Former group members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson filed a lawsuit against Knowles, Rowland, and former manager Mathew Knowles; they claimed some of the lyrics in "Survivor", such as "You thought I wouldn't sell without you/sold nine million", violated a previous agreement that prevented either party from insulting the other.

Credits and personnel

Formats and track listings

1. "Survivor" (Album Version)
2. "So Good" (Maurice's Soul Remix)¹
3. "So Good" (Digital Black-N-Groove Club Mix)¹
4. "Independent Women Part I" (Joe Smooth 200 Proof 2 Step Mix)

1. "Survivor" (Remix Extended Version featuring Da Brat)
2. "Survivor" (Calderone Club Mix) [aka "Victor Calderone Club Mix"]
3. "Survivor" (Calderone Drum Dub Mix)
4. "Survivor" (CB200 Club Anthem Mix)
5. "Survivor" (Azza'z Soul Remix)

1. "Survivor" (Album Version)
2. "Survivor" (Azza'z Soul Remix Radio Edit)
3. "Survivor" (Digital Black-N-Groove Radio Mix)
4. "Survivor" (CB200 Club Anthem Mix)

1. "Survivor" (Album Version) – 4:14
2. "Survivor" (Azza'z Soul Remix Radio Edit) – 3:56
3. "Survivor" (Victor Calderone Club Mix) – 9:26

1. "Survivor" (Jaimeson Full Vocal Remix) – 6:19
2. "Independent Women Part 1" (Live At The Brits 2001) – 3:52
3. "So Good" (Maurice's Soul Remix)¹ – 7:35
4. Footage of Independent Women Part 1 Live at The Brits 2001

1. "Survivor" (Album Version) – 4:14
2. "Survivor" (Maurice's Soul Survivor Mix) – 7:51

Official versions

-* These remixes contain new lead vocals by Michelle and Kelly and re-recorded vocals by Kelly on her verse and by Michelle on bridge, arranged by Maurice Joshua.

Cover versions

A speedy cover remix was made for Dancemania Speed 7 by Nancy And The Boys, being released in Japan in late 2001. German alternative rock band Die Happy recorded their version of the song for the 2010 album Red Box. Parisian deathcore band Betraying The Martyrs also covered Survivor as a one-off single in 2010. Zebrahead covered this song for their 2009 album Panty Raid. This Song was used in the video game Elite Beat Agents. The Chipettes covered this song for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: Music from the Motion Picture album and for the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked film. The Glee Cast used the song in a mashup with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" for their season three episode, Hold on to Sixteen. American electronic artist Assemblage 23 recorded a cover version of Survivor for the Japanese release of their Let the Wind Erase Me maxi single in 2004.

In 2015, Brazilian singer Clarice Falcão made her own version of the song, adding saxophone and other instruments. A music video with a feminist thematic was released in November 13, 2015.

On 20 January 2016, Gloria Gaynor sang a mash-up of her 70's disco hit "I Will Survive" and "Survivor" at the 21st National Television Awards.