Introduction
Gloria Gaynor, the disco-pop icon behind the anthem 'I Will Survive,' has shared her honest playlist, revealing the songs that have shaped her life and career. From the first song she fell in love with to the track she wants played at her funeral, Gaynor offers a deeply personal musical journey.
The First Song I Fell in Love With
Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, with five brothers and one sister, music was always present. Gaynor recalls her mother singing 'Willow Weep for Me' when she was five or six years old. 'There was something about the sadness in it that really moved me,' she says.
The First Single I Bought
After hearing 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers on the radio, Gaynor bought the single from a local record store. She was singing in the hallway of her building when a neighbor asked if it was her singing, thinking it was the radio. 'That was the moment I decided I was going to be a singer,' she recalls.
The Song I Do at Karaoke
Gaynor has only done karaoke once, about 20 years ago for her birthday. A friend dared her to sing 'I Will Survive' as if she were drunk. 'I thought: if you're going to do it, you might as well commit. So I did – and I nailed it,' she laughs.
The Song I Inexplicably Know Every Lyric To
She knows every word to 'Every Little Bit Hurts' by Alicia Keys. 'I sympathised with the unrequited love in the lyrics, having suffered the same feeling as a young girl,' Gaynor explains.
The Best Song to Play at a Party
Gaynor picks 'Crazy in Love' by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z. 'It's a fun song that makes you want to move your body the moment it comes on,' she says.
The Song I Can No Longer Listen To
She can no longer listen to 'Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel' by Tavares because her ex-husband used to sing it to her. 'Now I can't listen to it without it reminding me of him,' she admits.
The Best Song to Have Sex To
Gaynor chooses 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye. 'It's got a sexy groove, the right tempo, and the words have the right vibe,' she says.
The Song That Changed My Life
'Never Can Say Goodbye' was her first major hit. 'It changed everything. Suddenly there were more shows, bigger audiences and opportunities to travel the world. It took me from being someone with a dream to someone who was living it,' she reflects.
The Song That Gets Me Up in the Morning
'Great Is Thy Faithfulness,' a traditional gospel song, gets her going each day. She loves the version by Carrie Underwood.
The Song That Makes Me Cry
'Amazing Grace' – her version opens her last album. 'Every time I sing it, it touches something deep in my spirit. It reminds me of how God's grace has carried me through my life,' Gaynor says.
The Song I Want Played at My Funeral
She wants a song she wrote called 'I Want to See You.' 'It's about reunion – about seeing your loved ones again in heaven. That's the message I'd want to leave behind,' she explains.
Upcoming Performance
Gloria Gaynor headlines Boogietown in Walton-on-Thames on 11 July.
