Who among us hasn’t been touched by the music of Donna Summer? One of the defining voices of the disco era, Summer has been silenced today after a brave battle with cancer. Yet the music of LaDonna Adrian Gaines, born on New Year’s Eve in 1948, will doubtless continue to transport us back to a time when vivacious music blared “On the Radio.” Donna Summer implored us to take that “Last Dance” on the disco floor with some very “Bad Girls” in a nearly unrivalled string of hits. She reminded us about that cake in the rain in a chart-topping remake of Jimmy Webb’s “MacArthur Park,” and taught Barbra Streisand to have “No More Tears (Enough is Enough).” Today, we remember the sublimely soulful, deeply dramatic Donna Summer. Please share your memories of Donna Summer and her legacy of “Hot Stuff” below.
State of Independence: Donna Summer’s Live Comes to CD, DVD, LP in July
Review: Donna Summer, “Encore”
“Sublimely soulful, deeply dramatic” is a wonderful tribute! Donna is so underrated, there’s so much more to her than just Disco. She consistently wrote good songs on all of her albums, sang expertly in many different styles, and was gorgeous on top of it all. She made records in the ’70s that still sound exciting and innovative these many decades later, “I Feel Love” is still the blueprint for just about every dance track coming into existence. Indeed, she was (is) “The Queen Of Disco” but there is so much more to her, a talent for the ages and for all time.
Dim All The Lights: A legend has passed. Sometimes overlooked in her lionization as the “Queen of Disco” (a title originally held by Gloria Gaynor) was the fact that Donna Summer truly had a rich, versatile and magnificent singing voice. Sadly, for now, the beautiful person who gave life to that voice has left us. But after a period of mourning, her legacy will endure, and the music that brought joy to so many will continue to do so. This Time — and for ALL time — I Know It’s For Real.
I’m saddened to hear about the loss of Donna Summer. She was one of the most talented female artists, in my opinion, but also one of the most underrated. The woman could sing anything – jazz, funk, rock, disco, country, gospel, opera, you name it. She also wrote her own songs. I don’t think she got the credit she deserved. I saw her a few years ago in concert and her voice was still powerful as ever. My favourite album by her is – strangely enough – her Christmas album. She will be missed.
One of the best voices since the 70-s, at a loss for words…
For me, every record she ever made was a highlight. I used to call her one of my D’s. There was Diana (Ross), Dionne (Warwick) and Donna, and they have really acted as the soundtrack to my life. No matter what I was doing, were I was going, how I was feeling, there they were. Today one of these D’s left us, and I feel devestated. Donna, thank you for sharing your gifts. All I can say is that… I feel love.
While Donna Summer was known as The Queen Of Disco through her most popular recordings, a deeper understanding of her was gained through exploring her lesser known material. Donna was a rocker chick at heart, as evidenced by her effortless metal take on her own “Hot Stuff” on Live & More Encore. Her best album, 1980’s The Wanderer, is by far one the best examples of a female artist staking her artistry and committment on vinyl. Tracks like “Running For Cover”, “I Believe In Jesus”. and “Looking Up” exhibit a woman’s faith with very human and universally inclusive results. Along with Deborah Harry Donna set the mold for every female hitmaker to follow. There would be no Madonna, no Janet, or many of the other poseurs on the charts today. Still their standard has yet to be exceeded, and still femininity & womanhood have yet to be as significant or as eloquent on the pop charts through anyone else’s muse.
So saddened by her passing. It appears her estate owns the rights to her back catalogue so we shall see if there are any reissues of her past albums with any bonus material. There is definitely demand for it.