She was a classic case of someone who ruined her career when she found religion and started to dis her gay fan base. Later she realized she was wrong and apologized, but it was too late.
I saw her perform at a corporate event about 15 years ago. She was amazing live. It's sad that she did that to her career, since she really was talented. Rest in peace, Donna.
EmEyeKay, Donna Summer and Andy Gibb in one post? Love it.
My song was "Love To Love You Baby", it sure brings back memories of crusing San Diego with the long version blaring on the stereo. I think it was an eight track. Jeez, I'm old.
My other fave song was On The Radio and I've got that on my iPod.
Donna stood the test of time from eight track to iPod.
She sued and settled out of court against the publication that stated she said those horrible things about her gay fan base so I would take that rumor with a grain a salt.
Two observations: My how production values have improved. Well, it's British, now it makes a bit more sense. Look at easily she sings/produces that voice. How many singers do you think that about when you watch them today?
Yes Montana, she denied saying anything derogatory, and actually sued over it. The apology she issued was because she was unaware of the alleged comments allegations at first, explaining why her denial wasn't immediate.
I just loved her so much. I remember the summer I was 17 dancing to her music at a disco bar in the basement of the bowling alley. I also loved sneaking into bars, but that's another story...
The way I heard her career arc went (some years ago) was that she was tired of being known as "the Disco Queen" and wanted to expand her range...so she went to Moroder and said she wanted to do what became "The Wanderer" album. When the execs said no, she threatened to walk and go back to the church. Since at the time she was pretty much automatic platinum with any release, they of course freaked and agreed to let her do it. When the record tanked (something unheard of at the time for a Donna Summer album), she went back again to the execs and said she wanted something different again - when they said no, she again tried the threat of going back to the church. That's when they said go. She was off the radar for a few years until "She Works Hard for the Money" which was seen as an anthem for working women and breathed new life into her career, but nothing near what she had before. My own experience with her was seeing her perform in a Las Vegas showroom some years back - at the time, a relative had been killed in an auto accident, and I fully expected her to cut her run short in order to deal with that, however she proved herself to be a consumate professional by not cancelling the rest of the shows and finished the run. For that, and all the years I personally enjoyed her music, I say thank you, and rest in peace. I'm sure there's an awesome duet going on in Heaven right now between her and Whitney.
I was in college during the disco era (yeah, I'm old) and remember dancing to her music in the clubs and having a great time. I'll miss her more than Whitney any day. She had talent AND class.
RIP Donna...I spent a lot of time listening to you at night on WABC when I was a teenager, twirling around my room, and your greatest hits album is still a damn good party-starter. *sigh* And yes, FUCK cancer!
I was in Middle School and Donna Summer, Earth Wind and Fire and early Michael Jackson were the soundtracks of my life. I went to see Thank God its Friday with my best friend and her father (because we couldn't get in without him) and he loved that movie so much, watching people change from working stiffs into these great characters at the disco. When the house was empty I would sing On the Radio and some of her other songs at the top of my lungs, I think she was part of the reason I wanted to be a singer when I was young. Her duet with Barbra Streisand was so awesome, one of her many anthem type songs. So sad that she's gone, but just shaking my head at the idiots on the local news in L.A. that think she sang I will survive. Eejits.
People laugh at the disco era and claim it was an embarrassment, but it's influence on music since then is everywhere.
I need to snag "Thank God It's Friday" and watch it this weekend. It's dumb and it meanders, but I like how it shows people with a wide variety of background hanging out and dancing.
Donna was an absolutely lovely person. My wife and I knew her through mutual friends and last saw her during the Holidays in 2009. We knew there were some physical issues but had no idea how bad.
I can tell you from first hand experience that she was absolutely a loving caring and inspiring person. She would never judge or wish ill on another human being and she was very down to earth. The first time we met her she was very open and warm and we NEVER witnessed anything close to being "divaish" behavior or treating anyone rudely or disrespectfully.
When I was a kid, I wanted Donna Summers' double album as my birthday present. My mother said it was too much. So instead I got Blondie's Parallel Lines. Donna Summer was awesome and so was my Blondie album.
She was a classic case of someone who ruined her career when she found religion and started to dis her gay fan base. Later she realized she was wrong and apologized, but it was too late.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you're actually reporting a death when it happens and not hours or days later. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThey said it was lung cancer, not breast cancer.
ReplyDeleteI feel the urge to wear gold lamé.
ReplyDeleteThe first record I ever bought was a Donna Summer album. There is one serious disco party happening in heaven right now.
ReplyDeletenutty flavor - I never knew that. I always wondered about her disappearance...
ReplyDeleteShe was the voice, along with Earth, Wind and Fire, and Stevie, for every college party.
When I was a little kid, "Macarthur Park" was one of the first 45s I ever purchased. I played it over, and over, and over...
ReplyDelete(The one I bought with it? "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb.)
Aaaaaand I just dated myself.
RIP, Donna!
Sad. One of my favorites. Even if she weren't, still sad. RIP, Ms. Summer.
ReplyDeleteI saw her perform at a corporate event about 15 years ago. She was amazing live. It's sad that she did that to her career, since she really was talented. Rest in peace, Donna.
ReplyDeleteI loved her voice.
ReplyDeleteOh nooo! I loved her! :( My mom and I used to groove in the car on our long drives.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Ms. Summer
I will play some Last Dance and Bad Girls this weekend in her honor.
One of the most sweetest beautiful both spiritually and physically women I have ever met. God watch over her family in their time of need.
ReplyDeleteI read anal cancer....but cancer is cancer.
ReplyDeleteMy mom would play her and we'd dance around the apartment...
TMZ is saying it was lung cancer that Donna felt she got from breathing in all the debris after 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI loved her as a kid, I was a Donna Summer fan over Diana Ross any day.
EmEyeKay, Donna Summer and Andy Gibb in one post? Love it.
ReplyDeleteMy song was "Love To Love You Baby", it sure brings back memories of crusing San Diego with the long version blaring on the stereo. I think it was an eight track. Jeez, I'm old.
My other fave song was On The Radio and I've got that on my iPod.
Donna stood the test of time from eight track to iPod.
She sued and settled out of court against the publication that stated she said those horrible things about her gay fan base so I would take that rumor with a grain a salt.
ReplyDeleteRIP Donna
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of watching Works Hard for the Money on early MTV.
Two observations:
ReplyDeleteMy how production values have improved. Well, it's British, now it makes a bit more sense.
Look at easily she sings/produces that voice. How many singers do you think that about when you watch them today?
*^how easily, that is.
ReplyDeleteYes Montana, she denied saying anything derogatory, and actually sued over it. The apology she issued was because she was unaware of the alleged comments allegations at first, explaining why her denial wasn't immediate.
ReplyDeleteSorry Lady Gaga. I don't care what you wear. You will never be this awesome.
ReplyDeleteI just loved her so much. I remember the summer I was 17 dancing to her music at a disco bar in the basement of the bowling alley. I also loved sneaking into bars, but that's another story...
ReplyDeleteOh man, @califblondy just reminded me of "Love To Love You Baby" and I got CHILLS! Her voice was crazy good in that song.
ReplyDeleteLast Dance is THE BEST song evah!
ReplyDeleteFuck cancer in the face for taking another one.
RIP Donna Summers- you gold lamé goddess~
The way I heard her career arc went (some years ago) was that she was tired of being known as "the Disco Queen" and wanted to expand her range...so she went to Moroder and said she wanted to do what became "The Wanderer" album.
ReplyDeleteWhen the execs said no, she threatened to walk and go back to the church.
Since at the time she was pretty much automatic platinum with any release, they of course freaked and agreed to let her do it.
When the record tanked (something unheard of at the time for a Donna Summer album), she went back again to the execs and said she wanted something different again - when they said no, she again tried the threat of going back to the church.
That's when they said go.
She was off the radar for a few years until "She Works Hard for the Money" which was seen as an anthem for working women and breathed new life into her career, but nothing near what she had before.
My own experience with her was seeing her perform in a Las Vegas showroom some years back - at the time, a relative had been killed in an auto accident, and I fully expected her to cut her run short in order to deal with that, however she proved herself to be a consumate professional by not cancelling the rest of the shows and finished the run.
For that, and all the years I personally enjoyed her music, I say thank you, and rest in peace.
I'm sure there's an awesome duet going on in Heaven right now between her and Whitney.
I was in college during the disco era (yeah, I'm old) and remember dancing to her music in the clubs and having a great time. I'll miss her more than Whitney any day. She had talent AND class.
ReplyDeleteRIP Donna.
ReplyDeleteRIP Donna i loved her and her songs so much. She was much bigger than disco.
ReplyDeleteRIP.
ReplyDeleteI had (and may still have somewhere) the 45 with Hot Stuff on one side and Bad Girls on the other.
RIP Donna...I spent a lot of time listening to you at night on WABC when I was a teenager, twirling around my room, and your greatest hits album is still a damn good party-starter. *sigh* And yes, FUCK cancer!
ReplyDeleteI read it was lung cancer, but either way cancer sucks. RIP Donna
ReplyDeleteRIP, Donna. :(
ReplyDeleteWhitney, MCA and Donna Summer. 2012 is a bad year for music.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
RIP Donna. I loved She Works Hard For The Money when I was little. Of course all her disco songs too. She was such a talent.
ReplyDeleteOh noooo! I didnt read a thing about it! Rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI Feel Love is my favourite. There's something so hedonistic about that song, I guess it's the haunting voice and thrusting beat.
ReplyDeleteWhat?! Devastated. :( love her. RIP
ReplyDeleteI was in Middle School and Donna Summer, Earth Wind and Fire and early Michael Jackson were the soundtracks of my life. I went to see Thank God its Friday with my best friend and her father (because we couldn't get in without him) and he loved that movie so much, watching people change from working stiffs into these great characters at the disco. When the house was empty I would sing On the Radio and some of her other songs at the top of my lungs, I think she was part of the reason I wanted to be a singer when I was young. Her duet with Barbra Streisand was so awesome, one of her many anthem type songs. So sad that she's gone, but just shaking my head at the idiots on the local news in L.A. that think she sang I will survive. Eejits.
ReplyDeletePeople laugh at the disco era and claim it was an embarrassment, but it's influence on music since then is everywhere.
Chuck Brown yesterday and now Donna Summer. This is a sad week indeed. RIP to both.
ReplyDeleteI need to snag "Thank God It's Friday" and watch it this weekend. It's dumb and it meanders, but I like how it shows people with a wide variety of background hanging out and dancing.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Donna...
Don't worry, EmEyeKay. You may be older than some here, but I bet you're still younger than others (myself included). There. Feel better now?
ReplyDeleteRIP, Donna.
ReplyDeleteHere is a fabulous performance of "Love to Love You Baby" by her on Midnight Special. The band is smoking.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jWfDiyEfec
And "Last Dance"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH_8Cu3FxQs
And a very different arrangement of "Love To Love You Baby" on Soul Train.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zufp5zVN86I
Love to love you baby.
Donna was an absolutely lovely person. My wife and I knew her through mutual friends and last saw her during the Holidays in 2009. We knew there were some physical issues but had no idea how bad.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you from first hand experience that she was absolutely a loving caring and inspiring person. She would never judge or wish ill on another human being and she was very down to earth. The first time we met her she was very open and warm and we NEVER witnessed anything close to being "divaish" behavior or treating anyone rudely or disrespectfully.
She will be missed.
So sad, such a loss to the music world. RIP to the original queen of disco!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, I wanted Donna Summers' double album as my birthday present. My mother said it was too much. So instead I got Blondie's Parallel Lines. Donna Summer was awesome and so was my Blondie album.
ReplyDeleteI loved Donna, and Disco.
ReplyDeleteRIP MS Summer. Last Dance.
A bit of trivia for you.
ReplyDeleteLove to love you baby was the first single ever to be recorded as a 12 inch.
I remember there was a bit of a kerfuffle about the sexy moaning at the time.
I'm only 34 and LOVE Donna Summer songs ... :( RIP
ReplyDelete