Singer Gloria Gaynor says that she always leaves the stage hoping that the audience has had as good a time as she did
American singer Gloria Gaynor sees the hand of god in every aspect of her life, particularly when it comes to the tune that may be the most famous disco song every created.
She recalls when she first was presented with I Will Survive, it was intended to be the B-side of another song, meaning it wasn’t the one that was promoted to be a hit. She clearly remembers calling it a stupid decision, and lobbied for I Will Survive to get top billing, which won over the songwriters of the now classic song. “I’ve always believed that god told them, ‘Look, sit down, write a song, hold onto it, I’m going to send you somebody,”’ she said. “Another divine appointment... it was meant to be the core of my purpose,” she added.
Gaynor won her first and only Grammy for I Will Survive in 1980. Now, 40 years later, she has a chance to add two more trophies to her collection, thanks to her first gospel album Testimony, which is nominated for best roots gospel album, and Talking About Jesus, which is up for best gospel performance. She’s giddy to get back in the Grammy mix.
“I’m waiting to see the fashions, of course, everybody all dressed and looking wonderful and feeling good and happy and all of that,” she said of the January 26 ceremony, “and hoping, of course, that I win at least one Grammy. It will be awesome if I could win them both.”
Gaynor shared recently about her nominations, persevering in the music industry despite health challenges and her divine connection to her most famous song.
What made you want to do a gospel album?
I just wanted to share the love and the knowledge of Christ through my music. I felt that that was what I was called to do.
This album comprises of new material, some which you co-wrote; even the song Amazing Grace is a new tune. What made you decide to go that route?
Well, I feel I’ve always been a bit innovative. I mean, if somebody writes a song that I want to sing and they’ve put something in it with bad grammar, I can’t sing it. I just have to fix it. I just do it. And I wasn’t trying to fix Amazing Grace except that I was trying to make it fit into my life. And the more it is about my story than the original, the better it is. That’s why we went that way with it.
What has it been like to not only have the Grammy nominations but also have this type of success?
Well, I did an album some time ago and felt that I kind of ran out ahead of god. And, when you do that, you find yourself out there by yourself. So it didn’t do well at all. And then when this album happened, it was successful and was quickly received by people. They were writing to me that they not only enjoyed the music, but that the songs were ministering to them ... this was my purpose to do through the music. So I felt like I was right this time. This is God’s timing and I’m on point.
What has I Will Survive meant to you over the years?
At first it was something that I was singing for other people. And then as time went on, different things happened to me and it became my mantra as well. And through the death of my mother, my siblings, through my divorce, I mean, when I did my divorce, I did a marathon version .... So the song has really meant a lot to me as well as to other people. I fully understand because I’ve experienced what the song can do for you.
This song has endured for so long, but have you ever been frustrated that this was your biggest song?
At first I thought that this is a double-edged sword. People think I’m not able to sing anything else except I Will Survive. They don’t want to hear anything else ... I’m not sick of the song, but I wish they would recognise that I could do something else, that I’ve recorded so many other great songs. And then when I came to the understanding that it was the core of my purpose, I kind of settled in and was okay with it. As the song says, It is well with my soul.
You’ve faced a lot physically, with several back surgeries. How are you doing today?
I’ve had five back surgeries and each one has stopped me for a minute. ... The last one threatened to stop me for good. ... With a lot of prayer and faith, we found a doctor in California who did this wonderful surgery, two surgeries on me, two totaling 18 hours and put 12 rods in my back. And now I’m pain free. ... I’m still performing. I do better on stage and in everyday life. That is why I give credit to god and the audience because the love that comes from them really sustains me during that period of time when I’m on stage. And it’s just a wonderful time for me. I always leave the stage hoping that the audience has had as good a time as I did.
Could you see yourself making more dance music?
Well, the only dance music I’m planning is music on which you can dance like David danced, dance unto the Lord.