Nathaniel Rateliff Gives His Best Rocky Impression In 'Survivor' Video

Rocky Balboa ain't got nothin' on Nathaniel Rateliff. In the new visuals for "Survivor," the singer-songwriter gets whipped into fighting shape, trading in a hoagie for a pair of boxing gloves, as he prepares to meet Prince Charles Martin in the ring. Seeing how Martin is an actual IBF Heavyweight Champion of The World and has 25 KOs in 31 fights, it's a pretty short match. But the journey is a hilarious one.

The cinematic video was directed by Rateliff's longtime collaborator Brantley Gutierrez. “I’ve been friends with Brantley for years and we have been talking about making a video like ‘Survivor’ for 14 of those years,” Rateliff revealed in a statement. “I’ve always loved his work be it video or photography. He has an amazing eye and the ability to make you feel comfortable in front of any lens.”

“As soon as Nathaniel sent me the track, the boxing imagery sprang to mind, but I wanted to try and take a different approach to a classic story," Gutierrez added. "I tried to imagine what Raging Bull or Rocky might have looked like if Wes Anderson had dreamed them up. I’ve known the band for such a long time, and they are such funny guys with real comedic timing. So, I tried to create fun little parts for them to play.”

And it worked!

"Survivor" is the lead single off Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' upcoming third album The Future, which is slated for a November 5 release. Watch the video above.