It all started with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" in 1979, perhaps the biggest fluke in popular music history. To follow up her hit "Never Can Say Goodbye", Gloria's label issued a song called "Substitute". The track bombed. Everyone hated it, including the radio DJs and the public. Then DJs started to play the B-Side track "I Will Survive" and the rest is history.

In retrospect, it is no surprise that "I Will Survive" should have become as popular and enduring as it did. The theme of the song is universal. Who hasn't loved and lost? But the song went further and became an Anthem for reclaiming one's power. One could say Gloria is the Godmother of Girl Power. With "I Will Survive", Dance Music's fascination with a Diva declaring her independence was born! The song and theme have proven so popular that even Diana Ross, Diva Supreme herself, did her own version of "I Will Survive" in the late nineties.

Later in 1979, Donna Summer jumped on the bandwagon when she released her duet with Barbra Streisand titled "Enough is Enough (No More Tears)". That song has followed "I Will Survive" into Music History as a Dance Floor Classic inspiring several remakes, including one by KD Lang and Andy Bell (Erasure) and at least two by Donna Herself: one with Tina Arena for her Live and More Encore CD and another with British boy band Westlife for DiscoMania.

In the years since the genesis of the theme's popularity, it seems that no Dance/Pop Music Diva's career is complete without at least one "Declaration of Independence" (DOI) themed track in her catalogue. From Cher's "Strong Enough" to Deborah Cox's "Mr. Lonely", Anastacia's "I'm Outta Love" and "Left Outside Alone", Sheena Easton's "Strut", Amber's "Taste the Tears" (Sex & the City), Britney Spears' "Stronger", Christina Aguilera's "Fighter", Madonna's "You'll See", Destiny's Child's "Survivor", Tina Tuner's "When the Heartache is Over", Toni Braxton's "He Wasn't Man Enough" and "Hit the Highway", Pink's "There You Go", the list goes on and on.

Perhaps the most popular DOI track since "I Will Survive" is Whitney Houston's "It's Not Right, But It's OK". The Thunderpuss Remix of the track became so popular a few years back that it was credited with revivng Houston's career, such is the power of a Diva declaring her independence in song.

And the popularity of the theme continues on current hits. Alicia Keys' "Karmastition" is a current worldwide Radio Hit. And it's still in the pipeline, but Dance Music fans online are buzzing over the track "Sacrificial Lamb" from Amber's New CD "My Kind of World". This wholely original take on the DOI theme has the Pop/Rock Vocalist belting "Now I leave you with your arrogance, now you're crying, now you're dying, like a sacrificial lamb" on the song's powerful chorus.

Dance Music's fascination with a Diva throwing her man to the sidewalk shows no sign of slowing down! Classic hits, current hits, future hits..."Declaration of Independence" tracks are as popular as ever!