"At first I was afraid, I was petrified"...

From a breakup to a shipwreck, emotional true stories of what Gloria Gaynor's iconic disco anthem I Will Survive means to different people around the world.

A woman sets out to become the first female rower to cross the Atlantic solo.

A woman listens to the song 35 times in a row after a breakup.

A drag queen steps onto the stage of a Berlin nightclub.

A mother watches her daughters sing karaoke at a holiday club on the first foreign holiday since leaving her abusive marriage.

And women gather on the steps of the Courts of Justice to sing the song together as they await a verdict.

Featuring:

Elisabeth Hoff

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact

Producer: Mair Bosworth

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2020.