Survivor
Eye of the Tiger (1982)
Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan
Commissioned by Sylvester Stallone for Rocky III, this track became the definitive cinematic sports anthem of the 1980s. Its driving rhythm and staccato guitar riff masterfully capture the spirit of perseverance and competitive fire, cementing its legacy in pop culture history.
The song's harmony is defined by its use of the Aeolian mode (natural minor). It eschews the leading tone (B natural) found in harmonic minor, opting for the flatter, grittier bVII (Bb). The iconic 'stabs' in the intro establish a rhythmic-harmonic hook where…
Sylvester Stallone contacted Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan after being denied permission to use Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust'. Stallone sent the band a video montage consisting of the first three minutes of 'Rocky III' and asked them to write a song…
“The iconic opening riff was intentionally written to match the rhythm of punches being thrown in a boxing ring.”
The song's harmony is defined by its use of the Aeolian mode (natural minor). It eschews the leading tone (B natural) found in harmonic minor, opting for the flatter, grittier bVII (Bb). The iconic 'stabs' in the intro establish a rhythmic-harmonic hook where the movement from i to bVII and bVI creates a sense of urgent, forward motion. The chorus's reliance on the subdominant (iv) creates a melodic arc that resolves powerfully back to the tonic, reinforcing the theme of endurance and struggle.
Sylvester Stallone contacted Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan after being denied permission to use Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust'. Stallone sent the band a video montage consisting of the first three minutes of 'Rocky III' and asked them to write a song with a 'strong beat'. The demo version, featuring the sound of punches timed to the rhythm, was actually used in the film's final cut because Stallone preferred its raw energy over the polished studio version.
Commissioned by Sylvester Stallone for Rocky III, this track became the definitive cinematic sports anthem of the 1980s. Its driving rhythm and staccato guitar riff masterfully capture the spirit of perseverance and competitive fire, cementing its legacy in pop culture history.
Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song.
Genre
Rock
Era
80s
Mood
Uplifting
Tempo
Upbeat
Key
Minor
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Guitar-driven
Feel
Straight
11.9M
Plays
1.8M
Listeners
747K
Genius Views
7
Annotations
100%
Popularity
4:02
Duration
4/4
Time
From the album Rocky IV: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Harmony The song's harmony is defined by its use of the Aeolian mode (natural minor). It eschews the leading tone (B natural) found in harmonic minor, opting for the flatter, grittier bVII (Bb). The iconic 'stabs' in the intro establish a rhythmic-harmonic hook where the movement from i to bVII and bVI creates a sense of urgent, forward motion. The chorus's reliance on the subdominant (iv) creates a melodic arc that resolves powerfully back to the tonic, reinforcing the theme of endurance and struggle. Deep Analysis Available Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song. Request Full Analysis
No musician information available for this song yet.
Composition Sylvester Stallone contacted Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan after being denied permission to use Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust'. Stallone sent the band a video montage consisting of the first three minutes of 'Rocky III' and asked them to write a song with a 'strong beat'. The demo version, featuring the sound of punches timed to the rhythm, was actually used in the film's final cut because Stallone preferred its raw energy over the polished studio version. Inspiration: The lyrics were inspired by a line of dialogue in the film spoken by Apollo Creed: 'You had that eye of the tiger, man, the edge.' The band wanted to capture the struggle and determination of the Rocky character. Recording Studio: Rumbo Recorders (Canoga Park, CA) and Holy Hollywood Studios Producer: Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik The iconic opening riff was intentionally written to match the rhythm of punches being thrown in a boxing ring. The song features a 1960 Fender Stratocaster played by Frankie Sullivan for all guitar parts. A 1981 Fairlight CMI synthesizer was used to augment the track's texture, handled by Daryl Dragon.
Chord Sheet Chords Used Hide functions Cm i T Bb VII D Ab VI T Eb III T Fm iv P Progression by Section PreChorus Ab VI Eb III Bb VII T Ab VI Eb III Bb VII Chorus Fm iv P Eb III Bb VII T Fm iv T Eb III Bb VII Fm iv Eb III Bb VII Cm i Verse Cm i T Ab VI Bb VII T Cm i T Chord Fingerings Cm Standard Bb Standard Ab Standard Eb Standard Fm Standard Harmony Analysis The song's harmony is defined by its use of the Aeolian mode (natural minor). It eschews the leading tone (B natural) found in harmonic minor, opting for the flatter, grittier bVII (Bb). The iconic 'stabs' in the intro establish a rhythmic-harmonic hook where the movement from i to bVII and bVI creates a sense of urgent, forward motion. The chorus's reliance on the subdominant (iv) creates a melodic arc that resolves powerfully back to the tonic, reinforcing the theme of endurance and struggle. Find Tabs & Chords Songsterr Interactive tabs Ultimate Guitar Chords & tabs Cifra Club Chords
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