Eye of the Tiger – Survivor | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1982
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1982, the rock band Survivor was asked to contribute a song for the film Rocky III. After Queen declined permission to use “Another One Bites the Dust,” actor Sylvester Stallone approached Survivor to write an original theme tailored to the movie.
Guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik composed Eye of the Tiger specifically to match the film’s opening montage. Built around a distinctive guitar riff and steady, driving rhythm, the track reflected the determination and focus of the film’s central character.
Released in the summer of 1982, Eye of the Tiger climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six weeks. It became one of the year’s biggest singles and established Survivor as a major presence on rock radio.
The lyric centers on perseverance and competitive spirit, emphasizing discipline and resilience. Delivered with a forceful vocal performance by Dave Bickler, the song reinforced its association with athletic training and personal challenge.
Eye of the Tiger earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and remains one of the most recognizable theme songs of the 1980s.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Frankie Sullivan
Jim Peterik
Lyrics Written by:
Frankie Sullivan
Jim Peterik
Awards:
Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1983)
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song (1983)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.