Burning Heart (song)

"Burning Heart"
"Burning Heart"
Single by Survivor
from the album Rocky IV soundtrack
B-side	"Feels Like Love"
Released	October 21, 1985
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:51
Label	Scotti Bros
Songwriters	Jim Peterik; Frankie Sullivan;
Producers	Jim Peterik; Frankie Sullivan;
Survivor singles chronology

"Burning Heart" is a song by American rock band Survivor. It appeared in the 1985 film Rocky IV and on its soundtrack album; the film's star Sylvester Stallone personally commissioned the song.^[2] The single peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks; it was the biggest hit the band had with Jimi Jamison on lead vocals. It was also a hit internationally, topping the charts of Belgium and Switzerland and entering the top 10 in several other European countries.

Content

"Burning Heart", which is about an "all or nothing" battle, was inspired by the Cold War,^[3] as shown by lyrics such as "Is it East versus West?"^[4] and "Can any nation stand alone?" The Communist East versus Capitalist West conflict is reflected in the film by the fight in the boxing ring between Rocky and Ivan Drago.

Music video

The music video for "Burning Heart" features Survivor giving a concert, mixed with scenes from the film Rocky IV.^[5] A version with only the band (no movie footage) also exists, available on YouTube.

Track listings

7-inch single

"Burning Heart" – 3:51
"Feels Like Love" – 3:20

12-inch maxi

"Burning Heart" – 3:51
"Eye of the Tiger" – 3:46
"Feels Like Love" – 3:20

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6]	55
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[7]	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[8]	1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	14
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[10]	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[11]	2
France (SNEP)^[12]	2
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15]	2
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[16]	27
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[17]	5
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[18]	1
UK Singles (OCC)^[19]	5
US Billboard Hot 100^[20]	2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[21]	35
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[22]	11
West Germany (GfK)^[23]	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop)^[24]	19
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[25]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[26]	17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[27]	12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[28]	15
US Billboard Hot 100^[29]	8
West Germany (Media Control)^[30]	30

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[31]	Gold	500,000^*
Italy (FIMI)^[32]	Gold	50,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[33]	Gold	400,000^‡
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

1999: Jimi Jamison released a live version of "Burning Heart" on his album Empires.^[34]
2003: Seventh Avenue^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "FMQB" (PDF). p. 38.
^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 342. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
^ Billboard, 2 November 1985, S. 72 "burning heart" cold war&f=false Google Books
^ Daniel S. Papp: "Contemporary international relations: frameworks for understanding", Macmillan, 1988, S. 15 Internet Archive
^ Music video in Myvideo.de Archived December 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 301. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0628." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 8. March 1, 1986. p. 12.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Survivor". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 251. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Burning Heart". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs A–B". rock.co.za. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor – Burning Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Survivor Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 28.
^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986" (in German). Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "Number One Awards: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.
^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
^ "French single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 19, 2021. Select SURVIVOR and click OK.
^ "Italian single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
^ "British single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
^ "Empires: Jimi Jamison: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-02-09.

[1] "FMQB" (PDF). p. 38.

[2] King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 342. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.

[3] Billboard, 2 November 1985, S. 72 "burning heart" cold war&f=false Google Books

[4] Daniel S. Papp: "Contemporary international relations: frameworks for understanding", Macmillan, 1988, S. 15 Internet Archive

[5] Music video in Myvideo.de Archived December 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

[aus-6] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 301. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Austria_Survivor-7] "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Flanders_Survivor-8] "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-9] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0628." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[10] "European Hot 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 3, no. 8. March 1, 1986. p. 12.

[Finland-11] Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Survivor". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 251. Retrieved June 18, 2022.

[sc_France_Survivor-12] "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Ireland2_-13] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Burning Heart". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Dutch40_-14] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Dutch100_Survivor-15] "Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[16] "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs A–B". rock.co.za. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Sweden_Survivor-17] "Survivor – Burning Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Switzerland_Survivor-18] "Survivor – Burning Heart". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_UK_-19] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Survivor-20] "Survivor Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Survivor-21] "Survivor Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Survivor-22] "Survivor Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[sc_West_Germany_Survivor-23] "Offiziellecharts.de – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[24] "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[25] "European Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 28.

[26] "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[27] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[28] "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986" (in German). Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[29] "Number One Awards: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. December 27, 1986. p. Y-21.

[30] "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2025.

[FranceSurvivorBurning_HeartsingleCertRef-31] "French single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 19, 2021. Select SURVIVOR and click OK.

[ItalySurvivorBurning_HeartsingleCertRef-32] "Italian single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 3, 2024.

[United_KingdomSurvivorBurning_HeartsingleCertRef-33] "British single certifications – Survivor – Burning Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

[34] "Empires: Jimi Jamison: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2012-02-09.

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v t e Survivor
Frankie Sullivan Billy Ozzello Ryan Sullivan Cameron Barton Jeffrey Bryan Jim Peterik Dave Bickler Dennis Keith Johnson Gary Smith Marc Droubay Stephan Ellis Jimi Jamison Bill Syniar Mickey Curry Kyle Woodring Klem Hayes Randy Riley Chris Grove Gordon Patriarca Barry Dunaway Robin McAuley Michael Young Mitchell Sigman Walter Tolentino
Studio albums	Survivor Premonition Eye of the Tiger Caught in the Game Vital Signs When Seconds Count Too Hot to Sleep Reach
Compilations	Greatest Hits Ultimate Survivor The Best of Survivor
Singles	"Eye of the Tiger" "American Heartbeat" "I Can't Hold Back" "High on You" "The Search Is Over" "First Night" "Burning Heart" "Is This Love" "How Much Love" "Man Against the World"
Related articles	Discography The Ides of March

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