SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:35 Min.
This ‘lost’ Survivor ballad was recorded for 1985’s Rocky IV soundtrack, but director Sylvester Stallone deleted it from the film’s final cut. Included as a bonus for the soundtrack’s 2006 re-release, it is the concluding Track # 11. According to Survivor’s liner notes for the re-release, “Man Against The World” was supposedly a Stallone favorite.
REVIEW:
Clearly, “Man Against the World” wasn’t included in the soundtrack’s initial release for a reason. Even so, this ballad’s best asset is its elegant, piano/keyboard-driven melody reminiscent of Air Supply. Yet, “Man Against The World” doesn’t mesh with Rocky IV’s energetic machismo whatsoever. More specifically, Survivor’s overly sappy lyrics zoom don’t conjure up the intended poignancy. If a schmaltz-meter was a carnival strength test with a mallet, unfortunately, this tune would be ringing the bell.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars
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