Music Review: Survivor "Eye Of The Tiger"
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Survivor
Eye Of The Tiger
Album: Rocky III Soundtrack
Year: 1982
Last night, after writing my Katy Perry review, I couldn’t get “Eye Of TheTiger” out of my head. The chorus has been on a constant loop all day. I also felt strangely motivated today. Also, thank you to Wikipedia for the Rocky II and III summaries.
Dave Bickler (as Rocky Balboa) strives to prove to himself he’s an accomplished fighter in the hungry “Eye Of The Tiger.”
Shadowboxing beats open the single, setting an competitive tone. His current boxing career is a lie. How could Mickey not believe in his ability? He has to right the situation, show himself that he’s worthy of the titles, fame and wealth he’s received over the years. Every day, he’s been at the gym, practicing and learning new strategies. He’s ready now to fight again and to show Clubber Lang he’s the real deal. (“Risin' up, back on the street/Did my time, took my chances/Went the distance now I'm back on my feet/Just a man and his will to survive.”)
. With the screaming fans and many titles, he believed himself to be invicible. The screaming fans, the adulation from the press and the awe of his opponents become more important to him and he forgot why he loved to fight. Since he was child, he envisioned himself as legendary boxer with bouts sportscasters would be analyzing long after he had passed. After his trainer, Mickey, gave him the news about the “fixed” fights (in his mind, anyway), that dream didn’t seem possible. But he has to try. Even it’s one more battle. (“So many times it happens too fast/You trade your passion for glory/Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past/You must fight just to keep them alive.”)
In the chorus, he has to remember the type of boxer he was before he was famous. Lang and other people around him believe he can’t do it. By taking the time to prepare and learn, he will show everyone the heavyweight title he won was well-earned. (“It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight/Risin' up to the challenge of our rival/And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night/And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger.”)
He stops halfway on the block and bends his body forward, his hands on his knees and gasps for air. He finished two extra miles yesterday. He can do three extra today. He passes by the newspapers with a photo of him in the corner. Written above his head in bold black font: Will he be able to beat Lang? Lang can’t be his last fight. (“Face to face, out in the heat/Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry/They stack the odds, still we take to the street/For the kill with the skill to survive.”)
The chorus is sung again.
He wasn’t an overnight sensation. His previous rival, Apollo Creed, thought his success was a one-off, something he couldn’t ever replicate again. He was able to tune out his detracterse and knock out Creed. He has come this far. He can’t let himself believe he’s a failure. (“Risin' up, straight to the top/Had the guts, got the glory/Went the distance now I'm not gonna stop/Just a man and his will to survive.”)
The chorus is sung again.
Bickler repeats “eye of the tiger” four times to end the single.
Bickler’s perceptive, adept vocals coach, using his experience from his own career to encourage his current athlete. It’s his job to see things his athletes can’t as he looks out for their health, figuring out what they can handle.. Rocky is capable of winning. He can only hope Rocky is able the beating.
“Eye Of The Tiger,” which according to Wikipedia, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Since its release, it’s been firmly entrenched in pop culture. IMDB lists film and televisions references starting in 1984s “Bedroom Eyes,” multiple mentions in Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the 90s to a Veronica Mars’ 2006 episode. Currently, Katy Perry’s “Roar” references the single.
The on the nose “Eye Of The Tiger” emodies the spirit of the Rocky movies. However, with pop culture infamy comes a caveat: the cliché. After being used in montages and dialogue, it’s become a punchline.