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She’s the voice of arguably one of the most feminist anthems ever created, but don’t ever call Gloria Gaynor a feminist.
The 81-year-old vocal powerhouse was catapulted to Disco Queen status in the 70s and 80s and has continued to enjoy dizzying heights of success decades later.
Of course, 1978’s I Will Survive is her most famous hit, having become not only a soundtrack for queer liberation but also that of many breakups and moments of personal strife, particularly among women.
However, when expressing her own views regarding gender and equality in today’s society, Gloria emphatically rebukes the ‘feminist’ label—despite admitting it’s probably ‘dangerous’ to do so.
Speaking exclusively to Metro, the New Jersey-born star is asked what the biggest misconception is about her, given she’s probably been subjected to every possible headline under the sun over time.
In a surprising response, she begins: ‘The biggest misconception about me? Hmm. It may be dangerous to say this, but… that I’m a feminist.’
Elaborating, she continues: ‘People say it to me, “And since you’re a feminist…” Erm, no. Not really. I love men.
‘I grew up with five brothers, and I love men.’
The singing legend, who also grew up with one sister, adds: ‘I love men who know who they are and are strong enough to take their place but also strong enough to recognise a woman’s strengths and who are able to allow her to exercise those strengths and realise that we are to be partners and not opponents.’
She agrees that ‘teamwork’ is key, having grown up in a musical environment herself, with her father playing guitar and singing professionally and three of her brothers performing in a gospel quartet.
Gloria is now a household name, but her big break can be attributed to Clive Davis signing her to Columbia Records in 1973.
She’s since released 22 studio albums, two live albums, 10 compilation albums, and 52 singles… and there’s more to come.
The I Am What I Am hitmaker will release a new five-song EP titled Happy Tears in June, with one track in particular creating a nice ‘full circle’ moment for her.
‘All of my songs come out of my life experiences, and the song I like the best on this EP is called Fida Known, and it’s called that because it’s the way Americans say “If I had known.”
‘The song is all about helping people to look back on the things that they’ve overcome and to recognise what they’ve come through.
‘It’s, “If I’d have known this, I wouldn’t have done that,” but you didn’t know that, and you still made it through. The song sort of continues where I Will Survive left off.’
Despite having officially lost count of how many times she’s performed I Will Survive now, it remains a tune Gloria is immensely proud of, she assures us.
On how she ensures live performances of her hit are still fresh for both her and her live crowds, she insists that she means the lyrics ‘every time [she] sings them’.
‘I’m really into it; I really enjoy it, and I live it as I sing it, and I think that getting the audience involved helps. I give them an opportunity to sing it and they love that part!’
Your next chance to belt out I Will Survive along with Gloria in a UK venue will be at Deva Fest at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire this August, where she tops the lineup alongside Happy Mondays and Matt Goss.
Although if you’re counting on her heading to Worthy Farm anytime soon, do not get your hopes up…
Asked if she’d ever play Glastonbury, where Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo are among this year’s headliners, Gloria has a perplexed reaction.
‘Where? I don’t know what that is,’ she muses.
Now, attempting to explain the magnitude of Glastonbury Festival is a bit like trying to explain what air is, but after we gave it a good sell, Gloria seemed up for the challenge.
‘Well, we’ll have to look into that.’
One thing’s for certain, though—she has no plans to slow down anytime soon, whether she’s performing for her British fans or to a 150,000-strong audience in Brazil as she did last autumn.
While Gloria could never have ‘imagined’ even just 30 years ahead in her career upon starting out, she’s still got the bug and has a lot of love for what she does.
‘It’s so wonderful to be here and to be still performing and loving it. I still love the travelling, I still love seeing new places, I still love meeting with the audiences, and it’s great. It’s a wonderful life.’
But… what’s her secret?
Well, Gloria believes it’s simple, and she reckons anyone can have longevity in what they do as long as they ‘fulfil their purpose’, something she thinks she does daily with I Will Survive ‘if nothing else.’
Imparting her words of wisdom for any other artist trying to get their foot in the door today, she says: ‘Remember who you are; always be who you are, because you really can’t be anyone else.
‘If you’re not trying to be the fullest of who you are, then you’re wasting time, and you’re making mistakes that aren’t necessary.
‘Stick with people in your circle who love you for who you are and not for what you do or what you have, and people who will tell you the truth whether you like it or not.’
After many moments in both her personal and professional life when she’s needed a kick in the right direction from her loved ones, Gloria concludes with three powerful words.
‘But that’s love!’
Gloria Gaynor will perform at Deva Fest 2025 in Cheshire on Saturday, August 9. Her new EP, Happy Tears, will be released on June 6.
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