A Bite of Donna Summer πͺ
A Bite of Donna Summer πͺ
Fall in love with the Queen of Disco
Fun facts about artists you know and donβt, readable in 3 minutes or less. By Grace Lilly.
β’ 3 min read β’
A few years ago
My friend posted a video on Instagram of her son dancing to a song Iβd never heard before but loved instantly. I couldnβt get it out of my head for weeks.
The song was βState of Independenceβ by Donna Summer. Like the rest of Summerβs music, itβs absurdly catchy and dripping in her syrupy smooth voice β one that Quincy Jones described as βthe heartbeat and soundtrack of a generation.β
With the voice of an angel, sensual magnetic energy, and irresistibly danceable tracks, itβs no wonder she became one of the biggest stars in music history.
In fact, Donna was so prolifically successful that she challenges the very nature of this bite-sized series. Her career is almost impossible to summarize because she made hit after hit (after hitβ¦).
She had a top-40 hit every year for 9 years in a row (1976-1984), and from 1976 to 1982, she had 12 top-10 hits (10 were top-five hits), more than any other act during that period.
Thatβs one iconic queen.
Donna Summer
The basics
π€ American singer and songwriter
π€ b. 1948 (Boston, Massachusetts) - d. 2012 (Naples, Florida)
π€ Known as the βQueen of Discoβ
Why you should know her: A cultural icon and a record-breaking pioneer, ranked at number 122 on Rolling Stoneβs list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
If you like
β¨ Diana Ross
β¨ Grace Jones
β¨ Charli XCX
β¨ Madonna
β¨ ABBA
β¨ BeyoncΓ©
β¨ Earth, Wind, and Fire
Known for
π Her powerful voice, songwriting ability & stage presence β considered the first true diva of the modern pop era
π Credited for the start of electronic dance music for her work on the song βI Feel Loveβ
π 5 Grammy Awards, 6 American Music Awards
π The only artist in history to have 3 consecutive No. 1 platinum double albums
π The first artist to have charted four No. 1 singles in the US within a 12-month period
π 11 gold albums, 32 chart singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, 2 platinum singles, 12 gold singles, 16 number one singles
π Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & ranked 6th on Billboardβs list of the βGreatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artistsβ
π The first Black woman to be nominated for an MTV Video Music Award
Bite-sized facts
πͺ Born Donna Adrian Gaines, started singing as a gospel-belter at church at 10 years old; later sang in high school musicals
πͺ Influenced by 1960s counterculture, moved to New York City and became the lead singer of a psychedelic rock band called Crow
πͺ Moved to Munich in 1968 to perform in a German adaptation of the musical Hair; lived there for years, became fluent in German & released her first single in German
πͺ Started going by Donna Summer after a misprint on the cover of her demo tape
πͺ Broke into international success with influential disco hits like βLove to Love You Babyβ and βI Feel Loveβ
Made a 17-minute version of βLove to Love You Babyβ for nightclubs at the request of the Casablanca Records president who had played the original shorter version at one of his industry parties, where it was so popular with his guests that they insisted that it be played on repeat
Casablanca signed Summer after hearing the extended version, releasing the single in November 1975
πͺ She later successfully branched out into other genres, segued to a pop-rock sound β mixed elements of new wave, rockabilly, and gospel music for her first non-disco album, The Wanderer
πͺ Remained a force on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart throughout her entire career β had a No. 1 song at age 62 in 2010 just two years before her death
πͺ In her obituary, described as the βundisputed queen of the Seventies disco boom" who reached the status of βone of the world's leading female singersβ
πͺ Thereβs a Broadway musical about her life, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, performances started in 2018
In film & TV
πΊ Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): features her song βHighway Runnerβ
πΊ Flashdance (1983): features her song βRomeoβ
πΊ Family Matters: Played Steve Urkelβs Aunt Oona in season five's βAunt Oonaβ (1994) and season eight's βPound Foolishβ (1997)
Songs & dates
β« 1974 βThe Hostageβ and βLady of the Nightβ off her debut studio album Lady of the Night make the album a hit in Europe
β« 1977 Her single βI Feel Loveβ becomes a certified Gold hit, off her certified Platinum concept album I Remember Yesterday (becomes a preserved recording at the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2012)
β« 1978 Wins her 1st Grammy for βLast Danceβ from the film Thank God It's Friday that she acted in; reaches No. 3, the soundtrack and single hit Gold
β« 1978 βMacArthur Parkβ becomes her first No. 1 Hit, the single goes Gold and tops the charts for 3 weeks
β« 1979 Gets 5 big hits: "Hot Stuff,β βBad Girls,β βHeaven Knows,β "Dim All the Lights,β and βNo More Tears (Enough Is Enough)β
β« 1983 βShe Works Hard for the Moneyβ becomes a womenβs rights anthem, reaches No. 3 in the US, the album of the same name becomes certified Gold
β« 2008 Releases three No. 1 singles β βI'm a Fire,β "Stamp Your Feet" and "Fame (The Game)β off her album Crayons (peaked at No. 17 in US)
She said
β βIf you've never been to one of my concerts, I want you to know that it is OK to scream and yell.β
β βI'm just an ordinary person that did some extraordinary things.β
β βWell, I'll say I have an incredible ability to fantasize - I really do. I don't have to have things tangible to be able to see them, and therefore I enjoy so many things, because they're in my mind.β
We love Donna
Dolly Parton
π βDonna, like Whitney, was one of the greatest voices ever. I loved her records. She was the disco queen and will remain so. I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever.β
BeyoncΓ©
π βDonna Summer made music that moved me both emotionally and physically to get up and dance. You could always hear the deep passion in her voice. She was so much more than the queen of disco she became known for, she was an honest and gifted singer with flawless vocal talent. I've always been a huge fan and was honored to sample one of her songs.β
My Donna Summer Playlist
I gathered my fav Donna songs, from me to you with love. Like & save on Spotify and listen all week π
Where to start
Performing live
Hear Donnaβs incredible live voice as she sings her certified-gold hit single βI Feel Loveβ in 1977
γ°οΈ
βShe Works Hard for the Moneyβ Music Video
Directed by Brian Grant, this music video made Donna one of the first Black artists, and the first Black female artist, to have her video played in heavy rotation on MTV. It was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Choreography at the 1984 MTV Music Video Awards.
γ°οΈ
The Donna Summer Special
Donnaβs nationally televised special, which aired on ABC network on January 27, 1980.
Down the rabbit hole
If you wanna dive even deeper:
Love to Love You, Donna Summer (2023)
This documentary that had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival explores never-before-seen home video footage and interviews with friends, family and colleagues of the late Donna Summer. Her music takes her from the avant-garde scene in Germany to the glitter and bright lights of dance clubs in New York.
Directed by filmmaker Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano, daughter of Donna Summer. Watch on HBO Max, Amazon, Youtube, or Hulu .
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What people are saying
γ°οΈ βThis is my favorite post yet.β
γ°οΈ βI so love when you introduce new things to me.β
γ°οΈ βGreat great playlist. Honestly you have the best taste.β
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Absolutely the Queen! Donna is amazing!