"Eye of the Tiger" was released in 1982 as a hard rock single by the Survivor, a band from the United States. The track served as the title cut of the group's studio album and quickly became associated with the film industry after its creation at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone. Stallone sought an energetic theme for his boxing drama Rocky III, and the resulting recording for the film includes added tiger growl effects in the version heard onscreen.
Origins and recording
Stallone approached Survivor to supply a new song after the band representing the song "Another One Bites the Dust" refused permission; that other group was the Queen, and the refusal led directly to commissioning a fresh composition. The genre of the song is commonly described as hard rock, and some contemporary accounts referred to the commissioning situation as part of a broader exchange between film producers and popular rock artists.
Commercial performance
On release, "Eye of the Tiger" achieved major chart success. In the United States it climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained at the top position for six weeks, becoming one of the defining singles of 1982.
Awards and recognition
The song received industry recognition, including a nomination for the 1982 Academy Award for Best Original Song; this was the only Academy Award nomination for the film Rocky III. In the following awards cycle it was also up for a 1983 Grammy Award in the Song of the Year category, where it lost to Willie Nelson's rendition of "Always on My Mind".
Legal dispute
In 2012, members of Survivor initiated a lawsuit against a political campaign for using "Eye of the Tiger" without authorization. The suit, filed in federal court in Illinois, named Newt Gingrich and noted that the candidate—identified with the Republican Party—had used the recording at rallies beginning in 2009.