In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Gloria Gaynor decided to contribute in her own way with the #IWillSurviveChallenge. By resuming her world hit and which had become the anthem of the Blues in 1998, the singer recalls in 20 seconds in front of a mirror, on the chorus of the song (released in 1978), how important it is to wash your hands .
Video posted on the TikTok social network and taken up millions of times. The opportunity to interview the disco diva from her home in South Carolina (United States), near Charleston.
Who had the idea to film this video?
GLORIA GAYNOR. My press officer and my manager. We talked about the fact that a lot of people don't have the reflex of washing their hands when they go to the bathroom in restaurants ... and how ridiculous this is, even more so now with coronavirus. So we decided to make this little video to encourage people to wash their hands in a fun way
The video went viral. Surprise?
Completely, but if it can help people become aware, that's fine. I hope that Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys… will perpetuate the challenge!
What is your state of mind regarding coronavirus and the precautions you take?
The first thing is not to panic, but to follow the instructions of the health and government authorities. To follow what they tell us to do or not to do to try not to catch this virus which makes us very sick and also kills. We must react intelligently until they find a solution to eradicate it.
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How do you react, personally?
I go out when I need to go shopping. But as soon as I get home, I wash my hands, the surface of the boxes and the items I bought.
VIDEO. How to wash your hands well in 6 steps
You have just won the second Grammy of your career last January for your new Gospel CD: "Testimony" ...
It's great to have this award forty years after the first. And to receive it with this album which evokes my faith and my belief in God, is a real honor.
You have interpreted your hit "I Will Survive" around the world. Is there a particular place where you haven't sung it yet?
Yes in Africa. I went to Egypt, to Morocco, but I would like to go to Central Africa in countries where there is a lot of poverty, misery or people need hope. It is a song of hope, which exudes a lot of force. I always thought that this song was for my career a good, but also somewhere a challenge because the public seems to have retained only this one so much it went around the world.
Do you have any plans?
Yes, I have been making a documentary about my existence for four years. This allowed me to return to the traces of my childhood, it is very moving. It should soon be released in theaters and or on television.