Survivor

"Survivor" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. It was written and composed by band member Beyoncé Knowles, Anthony Dent, and Mathew Knowles for the band's third studio album Survivor (2001). In 2002, the song also won the trio a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The video won the 2001 MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video, and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo. The opening track of singer-songwriter Jill Sobule's 2004 album The Folk Years 2003-2003 is a cover of the song, and a pseudo-cover of the song also opens rapper Vanilla Ice's 2005 album Platinum Underground. Lead singer Beyoncé was inspired to write the lyrics for "Survivor" after hearing a radio DJ tease about the fact that three members had already left Destiny's Child, much like getting voted off the Survivor reality show TV series & the song was eventually used in the May 1, 2001 Survivor (reality show) season finale commercial, and on a VH1 interview on April 8, 2006. Beyoncé later confirmed in an interview that the show also did indeed inspire the song. The video 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. The song has proved to be the signature song of Destiny's Child for its powerful message, along with "Say My Name", "Jumpin', Jumpin'", "Bootylicious" and "Independent Women (Part I)".

[Verse 1: Beyoncé] Now that you're out of my life, I'm so much better You thought that I'd be weak without you, but I'm stronger You thought that I'd be broke without you, but I'm richer You thought that I'd be sad without you, I laugh harder Thought I wouldn't grow without you, now I'm wiser Thought that I'd be helpless without you, but I'm smarter You thought that I'd be stressed without you, but I'm chillin' You thought I wouldn't sell without you, sold 9 million [Chorus] I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) [Verse 2: Beyoncé] Thought I couldn't breathe without you, I'm inhalin' You thought I couldn't see without you, perfect vision You thought I couldn't last without you, but I'm lastin' You thought that I would die without you, but I'm livin' Thought that I would fail without you, but I'm on top Thought it would be over by now, but it won't stop Thought that I would self-destruct, but I'm still here Even in my years to come, I'm still gon' be here [Chorus] I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) (Yeah) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) (Yeah) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) (Yeah) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) (Keep on survivin', yeah) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) (Yeah) I'm not gon' stop (What?) (I'm not) I'm gon' work harder (What?) (I'm gon' work harder, yeah) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) (I will survive, yeah) Keep on survivin' (What?) [Bridge 1: Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Both] I'm wishin' you the best Pray that you are blessed Bring much success, no stress, and lots of happiness I'm better than that I'm not gon' blast you on the radio I'm better than that I'm not gon' lie on you and your family yo I'm better than that I'm not gon' hate on you in the magazines I'm better than that I'm not gon' compromise my Christianity I'm better than that You know I'm not gon' diss you on the internet 'Cause my mama taught me better than that [Chorus] I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) (Hey) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) (I'm a survivor) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) (I'm a survivor, yeah) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) [Bridge 2: Michelle Williams] After all of the darkness and sadness Soon comes happiness If I surround myself with positive things I'll gain prosperity [Chorus] I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) (Yeah) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) (Nothin' could stop me now) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) (Yeah) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm not gon' give up (What?) I'm not gon' stop (What?) I'm gon' work harder (What?) I'm a survivor (What?) I'm gonna make it (What?) I will survive (What?) Keep on survivin' (What?) [Outro: Michelle Williams] I will survive being fine (La la la) I will survive being sexy (La la la) I will survive being bootylicious