I just heard on the radio that Donna Summer passed away today at the age of 63 from cancer. Summer, who was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, begin performing at the age of 10, although her first U.S. break came in 1975 with her song, “Love to Love You Baby.” Other songs such as “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” and “Bad Girls” were some of the biggest hits during the disco era. Her 1983 song “She Works Hard For The Money” is often used as an anthem for women’s rights. Although that song was her last major hit, she released an album of original songs as recently as 2008 with Crayons. Throughout her career, Summer distinguished herself from many other artists because she was both an excellent songwriter and powerful singer.
Although disco was never my favorite genre, regular readers will know that I am not snobby about great pop songs. So, I will admit that in the early 1980s I had a cassette tape of Donna Summer’s greatest hits album that is pictured above. At college, one of my roommates with a powerful stereo liked to borrow the tape to blast “Love to Love You Baby” and its moaning sounds out his window at the other dorms.
I always recognized “Last Dance” as her best song, but the slightly lesser-known “On the Radio” also was one of her best. “On the Radio” was released as a single in 1979, and it was used in the soundtrack for the film Foxes (1980), starring Jodie Foster and Scott Baio. The song has been covered by non-disco artists such as Emmylou Harris. The sad sound of the minor chords give it an unusual twist for a disco song, and the lyrics are mysterious. The singer tells about a break-up but ends with a reconciliation while it is all twisted up with that letter that someone read on the radio.
You have to respect a singer who can sing a disco song while sitting down. Sorry to hear the bad news today on the radio, but rest in peace LaDonna.
What is your favorite Donna Summer song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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I was pretty young and impressionable during the disco sucks era and I totally loved disco. I learned the hustle at day camp. Fought adamantly with my boyfriend and fellow 4th grader about the Bee Gees being better than the Beatles. I know, I know–how embarrassing. But come on, I was 9. They used to do concerts at the West Side Tennis Club (where the US Open was until it moved to Flushing) and one of those concerts was Donna Summer. We were too young to go but we all went to the stadium and sat outside wondering which of the limousines brought Donna Summer. We stood outside long enough to hear a song or two but then all had to go home. I have other concert stories, including a friend who was 15 and went to see the Monkees and was inadvertently turned on to Jimi Hendrix. . .
I was pretty young during the disco era too and never quite understood the backlash, although in more recent years I’ve read several interesting theories about it. But it’s nice to see Donna Summer get a lot of respect recently even though it has been many years since her last big hit. Thanks for the comment and memories.