"Burning Heart" by Survivor

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  2519
Date:  11/02/1985
Debut:  64
Peak:  2
Weeks:  22
Genre:  Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Survivor experienced a career revival with their fifth album Vital Signs. Featuring new lead vocalist Jimi Jamison, the LP spawned a pair of Top 10's including the #4 "The Search Is Over." The boost in popularity came at the right time as Sylvester Stallone came knocking on their door to write a song for his film Rocky IV. Survivor had their biggest hit with the #1 "Eye of the Tiger," which they did for Rocky III, so it seemed logical for Stallone to ask for another one. The band's main songwriters, Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik, started working on a song as soon as they read the script. The tune would become the theme song to the movie and it was issued out as a single. Lightning pretty much struck twice for the band as their second Rocky theme song nearly got to the #1 spot. In doing so, it became their second biggest hit after "Eye of the Tiger."

ReduxReview:  Survivor could have easily done a retread of "Eye of the Tiger," but they didn't. Although this has a similar anthem-like feel that fits the Rocky character, it doesn't mimic their previous hit and it stands on its own. It also helped that the band was popular once again with the platinum Vital Signs. While it may not be as iconic as "Eye of the Tiger," this song held its own and it kept the band's streak of hits going.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Apparently, the original title of the song was "The Unmistakable Fire," which was the chorus' final hook line. However, Stallone didn't much care for the title and wanted a change. The original chorus to the song began "In the human heart, just about to burst." Sullivan suggested they change "human" to "burning" and then use "Burning Heart" as the title. Peterik wasn't digging it too much because another band, Vandenberg, had a recent hit by the same title (#39 Pop/#5 Rock) and it reminded him of someone having heartburn. Yet, he relented and the change was made, which seemed to appease Stallone.

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