About the song
“Stayin’ Alive,” performed by the Bee Gees, is a quintessential track from the 1977 “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack. Released in December of that year as the second single from the album, this song quickly soared to fame and became one of the Bee Gees’ most iconic hits. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, marking it as a defining moment for the band.
The song was crafted by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, who collaborated with producers Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It is widely recognized not only for its upbeat disco rhythm but also for its influential impact on music. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine placed “Stayin’ Alive” at No. 189 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and an updated 2021 list moved it up to No. 99. Additionally, it was ranked No. 9 on the American Film Institute’s survey of top movie songs in 2004 and was named the fifth favorite Bee Gees song in a 2011 UK poll.
The origins of “Stayin’ Alive” are quite fascinating. The Bee Gees wrote the song while at the Château d’Hérouville studio in France, which was a popular destination for many artists of the era due to tax advantages. The band’s manager, Robert Stigwood, initially wanted the song to share the film’s original title, “Saturday Night.” However, the Bee Gees insisted on keeping the title “Stayin’ Alive” due to the prevalence of “Saturday” in song titles and because the soundtrack already featured a song called “Night Fever.”
The lyrics of “Stayin’ Alive” reflect a deeper narrative than its catchy beat might suggest. According to Robin Gibb, the song’s message deals with survival and resilience, a theme echoed by Barry Gibb, who emphasized the song’s focus on overcoming adversity. The track’s distinctive rhythm was partly achieved by using a loop from another recording, demonstrating the innovative approach the band took during production.
In addition to its commercial success, “Stayin’ Alive” received critical acclaim and won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices in 1979, among other accolades. Despite the song’s association with the disco era, the Bee Gees have had a rich and varied musical career beyond this genre. “Stayin’ Alive” remains a celebrated example of their talent and enduring influence in the world of music.
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Lyrics
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around
Since I was born
And now it’s alright, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive
Oh, when you walk
Well now, I get low and I get high
And if I can’t get either, I really try
Got the wings of Heaven on my shoes
I’m a dancin’ man and I just can’t lose
You know it’s alright, it’s okay
I’ll live to see another day
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive (oh)
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive (oh)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk
Music loud and women warm
I’ve been kicked around since I was born
And now it’s all right, it’s okay
And you may look the other way
We can try to understand
The New York Times’ effect on man
Whether you’re a brother or whether you’re a mother
You’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Feel the city breakin’ and everybody shakin’
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive (hey)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (ah, ah, ah, ay)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me
Somebody help me, yeah (oh)
Life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me, yeah
I’m stayin’ alive